COMPLAINT CHALLENGES DOGE ACTIONS AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

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By Miriam Raftery

February 20, 2025 (Greenbell, Md.) -- A legal complaint filed by 26 unnamed former and current employees in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland alleges that Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has violated the Constitution’s Appointments Clause.  That clause mandates that presidential appointments require the advice and consent of the Senate, which President Donald Trump did not seek when he appointed Musk and delegate vast powers.

Musk, without any Congressional approval, has virtually deleted entire agencies such as USAID, accessed millions of Americans’ private data, deleted government records such as health reports and  records on missing and murdered indigenous persons, and ordered mass firings, some without required authorization. Even employees charged with overseeing air traffic safety and nuclear weapons lost their jobs in the purge by Musk’s team.

“Questions regarding Defendant Musk’s and DOGE’s role, scope of authority, and proper appointment processes are not merely academic. Plaintiffs — among countless other American individuals and entities — have had their lives upended as a result of the actions undertaken by Defendants Musk and DOGE,” according to the lawsuit.

The employees, though unidentified, collectively have decades of service at federal agencies, including USAID, where on Feb. 2 Musk’s DOGE personnel broke into the agency’s headquarters and cancelled international aid programs such as those to ease hunger in Africa, Gaza and Ukraine, distribution of vaccines and life-saving medicines in countries around the world.

Citing damages to their careers and financial security, the plaintiffs are asking the court to block “Defendant Musk and his DOGE subordinates from performing their significant and wide-ranging duties unless and until Defendant Musk is properly appointed pursuant to the U.S. Constitution.”

The lawsuit is one of several filed over DOGE’s actions, though the first based on the Constitution’s appointments clause.

 

COUNTY SAFE PARKING IN EL CAJON IS CLOSED FOR UPGRADES; PEOPLE LIVING IN VEHICLES ARE REDIRECTED TO SPRING VALLEY SITE

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By Miriam Raftery

February 20, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The County-run safe parking site on Magnolia in unincorporated El Cajon, one of two East County sites set up to help homeless people living in their vehicles, is temporarily closed for renovations. The improvements will include picnic and meeting areas, a dog run, improved bath and shower areas, and permanent structures to house staff offices,

“The site is anticipated to reopen in summer 2025,” says Fernando Lopez, group communications officer for San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency. “People experiencing homelessness and their vehicles are currently being served at Bancroft Safe Parking,” which is located in Spring Valley.

The El Cajon site opened in 2022. The Bancroft site opened in August 2024 and has space for 27 cars to park overnight, starting at 5 p.m.  The site has security, along with clean restrooms, hot showers, a small kitchen and a dog run for people with pets. Dinner and breakfast are provided.

The lot is operated by County contractor Dreams for Change.

Those in the program are also paired with a Dreams for Change case worker to help them find housing options.

Gillie and Henry drove their black sedan onto the County’s Bancroft Safe Parking site in Spring Valley in January and since then, they say they have been able to breathe a sigh of relief.  

The couple spent months staying at various shelters or sleeping in their car on the side of the road, after increased rent and a job loss forced them out of their long-term rental apartment and into their vehicle.  

“No matter how we tried to keep our boat afloat, it was impossible,” Gillie explained, County News Services reports. She says being at Bancroft Safe Parking “makes a whole world of difference to know that at five o’clock, we can come here, we get a shower, there’s a heater, there is coffee, oatmeal for the morning. It’s a relief.” 

Gillie and Henry were referred to Bancroft Safe Parking by a County Office of Homeless Solutions outreach worker.

“Safe parking lots provide people with a place to park and sleep for the night, without the risk of being towed or asked to move,” said Dijana Beck, Director of the County Office of Homeless Solutions. “Participants also have support to get things like documents in order, reunifying with family and of course finding a more permanent housing solution.”  

The goal is to help the families, couples, and other people find more stable housing. Pets are welcome, too. On average, residents stay at Bancroft Safe Parking between three to six months.  

For Gillie and Henry, their wait is over as they move into a studio thanks to support from the program.  

The County’s Bancroft and Magnolia Safe Parking sites are part of County’s broader efforts to expand emergency housing options for people experiencing homelessness in the unincorporated communities.  

Next up, the County aims to open Troy Street Sleeping Cabins in Lemon Grove in 2026.

 Learn more about programs and resources on the County’s Office of Homeless Solutions website.  

 

LAWSUIT FILED OVER DOGE ACCESS TO PRIVATE DATA

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East County News Service

February 20, 2025 (New York) – The Electronic Frontier Foundation and a coalition of privacy defenders filed a lawsuit in New York on February 11 asking a federal court to block Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing the private information of millions of Americans that is stored by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and to delete any data that has been collected or removed thus far. The lawsuit also names OPM, and asks the court to block OPM from further sharing data with DOGE.

“We will not accept the brazen ransacking of millions of people’s sensitive data,” a press release from the EFF states. “Our case is fairly simple: OPM’s data is extraordinarily sensitive, OPM gave it to DOGE, and this violates the Privacy Act of 1974. “

OPM’s records are one of the largest, if not the largest, collections of employee data in the U.S. With co-counsel Lex Lumina, State Democracy Defenders Fund, and Chandra Law Firm, the EFF suit represents current and former federal employees whose privacy has been violated.

This massive trove of information includes private demographic data and work histories of essentially all current and former federal employees and contractors as well as federal job applicants. Last week, a federal judge temporarily blocked DOGE from accessing a critical U.S. Treasury payment system under a similar lawsuit. These violations of data privacy must not stand.

EFF Legal Director Corynne McSherry states, “The question is not `what happens if this data falls into the wrong hands.’ The data has already fallen into the wrong hands, according to the law, and it must be safeguarded immediately. Violations of Americans’ privacy have played out across multiple agencies, without oversight or safeguards, and EFF is glad to join the brigade of lawsuits to protect this critical information.”

OUR GUIDE TO RESTAURANTS SPECIALIZING IN INTERNATIONAL CUISINE IN SAN DIEGO’S EAST COUNTY

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San Diego is home to many immigrants from around the world. As a result, our inland region alone has restaurants specializing in cuisine from over 40 nations on six continents. You can take a culinary tour around the world—without leaving East County!

Below is our directory of internationally-themed restaurants.

AFGHAN

Kabul Kabob House (El Cajon)

Kunduz Kabob and Pizza (Santee)

AFRICAN

African Spices (Rolando) African and Somali

Faridas Somali/East African Cuisine (Euclid)

Fatuma Restaurant (Euclid) African, Somali,  Mediterranean

Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant (City Heights)

Taste of Africa Cuisine (SDSU College area)

Taste of Egypt Café (Grantville)

AMERICAN

For our separate guide to local restaurants specializing in American cuisine, click here.

ASIAN

House of Fortune (Sycuan Casino Resort in El Cajon)

Ho Wan  Noodle Shop (Barona Resort & Casino, Lakeside) - Asian

Loft 94  (Jamul Casino) – Asian fusion cuisine

Pink Buddha (Sycuan Casino & Resort)

Ginger Noodle Bar (Viejas at Alpine)

Wei Wei Asian Express  (La Mesa and other locations)

AUSTRALIAN

Outback Steakhouse (El Cajon)

BRAZIILIAN

Rodizio’s Brazilian Steakhouse (El Cajon)

BRITISH - ENGLISH

Aubrey Rose Tea Room (La Mesa) – traditional English-style tea service with finger sandwiches, soups, savories, scones and more

Julian Tea and Cottage Arts (Julian) – traditional English-style tea service with finger sandwiches, scones, and more, plus seasonal specialties

Phileas Fogg’s (Sabre Springs) – British pub/English

BURMESE

Burma Place (Rancho Bernardo)

CAMBODIAN

Trieu Chao (City Heights)

CHINESE

China Fun (Rancho Bernardo)

Emerald Chinese Cuisine  (Jamul Casino)

Hi Dumplings (Grantville/Mission Gorge)

Panda Machi  (Alpine)

Panda Express  (La Mesa) 

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Jibaritos de la Isla (Bonita)—Dominican Republic and Puerto Rican

EGYPTIAN

Taste of Egypt Café (Grantville)

ETHIOPIAN

Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant (City Heights)

EUROPEAN

Lemon Grove Bistro and Beer Garden (Lemon Grove)

Tour de Tapas (La Mesa)

FILIPINO

Chamorro Grill (Grantville/Mission Gorge) – island barbecue with dishes from the Philippines as well as Hawaii and Guam

Kujo Eats (Rolando)

FRENCH

Bleu Boheme  (Kensington) – French cuisine

Café Amor (Spring Valley) Menu – crepes and more

A Delight of France (Escondido) -French bakery and bistro

French Oven Bakery and Café (Scripps Ranch) -French bakery and cafe

Pine House Café and Tavern (Mount Laguna) –French, fondue and American

Tour de Tapas (La Mesa) – Tapas, small plates and desserts from Spain, France and Italy

GERMAN

Marisco’s German Seafood (City Heights) – German seafood

GREEK

Grecian Café (Spring Valley)

Greek Chicken (El Cajon and Lakeside) 

Greek Gyros (Grossmont Center, La Mesa)

Yanni’s Bar and Grill (Scripps Ranch)

GUATEMALAN

Chiroy’s Café (Casa de Oro/Spring Valley) – Guatemalan, Mexican and American

INDIAN

Aromas of India (La Mesa)

Darbar Fine Indian Cuisine (Rancho Bernardo)

Naturally Desi (Rancho Bernardo)

Tandoori Vibes (SDSU College area)

INTERNATIONAL

Chandelier Lounge (Jamul) – international healthy food

Epicurious Social Club (Borrego Springs) – globally inspired comfort foods

IRAQI

Ali Baba (El Cajon)

Nahrain Fish and Chicken (El Cajon) –traditional grilled and masgoof Iraqi-style fish and chicken

Ney Restaurant (La Mesa) –Iraqi and Middle Eastern

Sahara Taste of the Middle East (Rancho San Diego) – Middle Eastern and Iraqi

Zad, Mediterranean (Spring Valley)

IRISH

Hooleys Irish Pub  (La Mesa and Rancho San Diego) 

ITALIAN

Antica Trattoria  (La Mesa)

Aromi Italian Cuisine (La Mesa)

Bongiovanni’s Italian Restaurant (Alpine)

Di Leone’s Italian Restaurant  (El Cajon)

Dolci Café Italiano (Rancho San Diego)

Donato’s Italian Restaurant  (Alpine)

Filippi's Pizza Grotto  (Jamul, Santee, and other San Diego locations)

Franca’s Italian Kitchen and Bar (Alpine)

Gaetanos Italian Restaurant  (Spring Valley and Lakeside)

Giardino Neighborhood Cucina (Lemon Grove)

Italian Cucina (Barona Resort and Casino, Lakeside)

Lido’s Italian Foods (Lemon Grove)

Limoncello Modern Italian (La Mesa)

Little Roma Italian Restaurant (La Mesa)

Marechiaro's on Olde Highway 80  (El Cajon/Flinn Springs)

Mediterraneo Italian Bistro & Bar (Alpine)

Mona’s Italian Restaurant (Allied Gardens)

Nicolosi’s Italian Restaurant (Santee) -- Italian

Olive Garden (La Mesa and Santee)

Ottavio’s Italian (Lakeside)

Pietro’s Cucina Italiana  (La Mesa) 

Testo Pepesto (El Cajon)

ITALIAN—PIZZA

Chicago Pizza (Santee) – pizza

Corner Deli and Pizza (Sycuan Casino Resort)

D'Amato's Pizza (La Mesa) – pizza and Italian food

Del Cerro Pizza and Beer (Del Cerro) – pizza and beer

Filippi's Pizza Grotto  (Jamul, Santee, and other San Diego locations) - Italian

Franco’s Giant Pizza  (Rancho San Diego/El Cajon) - pizza

Frank's Pizza Joint (La Mesa) – pizza

Heroes Restaurant and Bar (Santa Ysabel) – wood-fired pizza

Long Island Mike's  (Spring Valley) – pizza

Mamma Ramona’s Pizzaria (Ramona) – pizza

New York Giant Pizza  (El Cajon) – pizza

Pizza Hut  (Alpine and La Mesa) – pizza

Round Table Pizza (La Mesa and Spring Valley) – pizza

Surfrider Pizza (La Mesa) – pizza

Tommy’s Pizza and Subs (Santee) – sub sandwiches and pizza

Woodstock's Pizza (SDSU college area)  -- pizza

JAMAICAN

Island Spice Jamaican (SDSU College area)

Caribbean Taste (near Skyline)

JAPANESE AND SUSHI

Banbu Sushi (La Mesa) –Japanese and sushi

Kawaii Sushi (La Mesa) -Japanese and sushi

Oishi Thai Japanese Cuisine (Rolando)

Vibes Sushi Bar and Grill (Ramona)

KOREAN

Dongbu Korean Barbecue (Escondido)

Kagnan Korean Barbecue (Rancho Bernardo)

Tong Sake House (Poway)

LAOTIAN

Pha Kao Lao Cuisine (SDSU College area)

LEBANESE

Alforon (SDSU College area) – Lebanese and Middle Eastern

MEDITERRANEAN

Ali Baba (El Cajon)

Happy Time Mediterranean  (Rancho San Diego/El Cajon)

Luna Grill  (El Cajon/Rancho San Diego) -Mediterranean

Mystic Grill (La Mesa) -Mediterranean

Oyster and Pearl Bar Restaurant (La Mesa) – Mediterranean

Tarbosh (El Cajon) – Syrian and Mediterranean

Yanni’s Bar and Grill (Scripps Ranch) – Northern Mediterranean

Zad, Mediterranean (Spring Valley) - Mediterranean

MEXICAN

Al Pancho's (Alpine)

Albert's Fresh Mexican Food (La Mesa and Lakeside)

Alpine Taco Shop  (Alpine)

Carmelita’s Mexican Grill and Cantina (Borrego Springs)

Casa de Pico  (La Mesa)

Frida’s Taqueria (Ramona)

Casa Gabriela (La Mesa)

City Tacos  (La Mesa and other locations)

El Mariachi  (El Cajon)

El Torito (La Mesa)

Hacienda Casa Blanca (El Cajon)

Las Pinches Tortas  (Rancho San Diego/El Cajon) 

Mañana’s Mexican Food  (Alpine)

Marieta’s (Alpine, El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee)

Pablito’s Mexican Bar and Grill (Borrego Springs)

Picante Taqueria (Allied Gardens)

Poncho’s Mexican Food  (Rancho San Diego/El Cajon)

Por Favor  (El Cajon)

Quecho’s Elevated Mexican Eatery (Julian)

Roberto’s Taco Shop (Santee)

Rosarito’s Mexican Food (Lemon Grove)

Rubio's Coastal Grill  (Alpine, El Cajon, La Mesa and other locations)

Salsa Mexican Food  (Alpine) 

Sombrero’s Mexican Restaurant  (El Cajon and La Mesa)

Suerte Cantina (Sycuan)

Terramar Mexican Kitchen (Ramona)

MIDDLE EASTERN

Ali Baba (El Cajon)

Alforon (SDSU College area) – Lebanese and Middle Eastern

Happy Time Mediterranean  (Rancho San Diego/El Cajon)

Luna Grill  (El Cajon/Rancho San Diego) -Mediterranean

Ney Restaurant (La Mesa)

Sahara Taste of the Middle East (Rancho San Diego)

Schwarma Guys (La Mesa) – Middle Eastern

Tarbosh (El Cajon) – Syrian and Mediterranean

Zad, Mediterranean (Spring Valley)

MONGOLIAN

Stir Fresh Mongolian Grill (Rancho Bernardo)

NEPALESE

Himalayan Restaurant  (La Mesa) - Nepalese and Indian

Taste of the Himalayas (El Cajon) – Nepalese

PERSIAN (IRANIAN)

Shiraz (Rancho Bernardo) – Persian/Iranian cuisine

PERUVIAN

Eli’s Peruvian Kitchen (City Heights)  

Sangucheria Peruvian Street Food (Tierrasanta)

SALVADORAN

Pupusa’s Express (El Cajon)

SOMALI

African Spices (Rolando) African and Somali

Bisbas Restaurant (Rolando) – Somali, African (website coming soon at https://bisbasrestaurant.com/

 

Faridas Somali/East African Cuisine (Euclid) -Somali, East African

Fatuma Restaurant (Euclid) African, Somali,  Mediterranean

Taste of Africa Cuisine (SDSU College area)

SPAIN

Tour de Tapas (La Mesa) – Tapas, small plates and desserts from Spain, France and Italy

SYRIAN

Mal Al Sham (El Cajon)

Tarbosh (El Cajon) – Syrian and Mediterranean

THAI

Basil Thai Bistro  (San Carlos)

Busy B Thai Cafe (El Cajon)

Panya Thai (Escondido)

Pinto Thai  (Ramona)

PR9 Thai Restaurant (La Mesa)

Signature Thai Cuisine (La Mesa)

Tamarind Thai  (La Mesa)

TURKISH

Brother’s Turkish Cuisine (El Cajon)

Finjan Shop and Café (El Cajon)

VIETNAMESE

Lakeside Pho and Grill (Lakeside)

Pho Hoa Noodle Shop (SDSU College area)

Ph’o Minh and Grill  (Spring Valley)

Phra Ram 9   (La Mesa)

Pho Superbowl Vietnamese Cuisine (El Cajon)

Saigon Star Restaurant (Allied Gardens)

LA MESA CHAMBER INVITES YOU TO MEET LOCAL BUSINESSES AT MARCH 5 SPRING FLING BUSINESS EXPO

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Source:  City of La Mesa

February 20, 2025 (La Mesa) - On Wednesday, March 5th, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them at the 10th Annual Spring Fling Business Expo.  This special evening will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego El Cajon, 141 N. Magnolia Avenue in El Cajon between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  There will be raffles and business vendors who will offer free door prizes that evening.

The Chamber thanks the event sponsors: 

Presenting Sponsor – U.S. Bank

Premier Sponsor – Kirk Paving, Inc.

Printing Sponsor – AAA Imaging

Friendship Sponsor – Lily’s Manufactured Homes

Supporting Sponsors – Amanda Hammett Insurance & Financial Services – State Farm, California Coast Credit Union, Feeding the Flock SD and Mattia & Yousif Law.

You will meet Chamber member business owners showcasing their business services. To date, businesses signed up include: AAA Imaging, Amanda Hammett Insurance & Financial Services--State Farm, California Bank & Trust, California Coast Credit Union – La Mesa, Carrie Smedley Photography, Deano’s Pub, Deliberately Adopted Floral & Design, Express Blinds & More,  Feeding the Flock SD, Foothills Art Association, Dave Lemox -Bridlewood Medicare Insurance, La Mesa Lion’s Club, La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation, La Mesa Rotary, Lemon Grove Media and Communications, Local Umbrella Media, Mattia & Yousif Law, Miracle Youth Productions, Nightwalker Caverns & Escape Room, North Island Credit Union, Orange Theory Fitness, Preplan CA, San Diego Community Power, San Diego County Credit Union, Spa Piel, St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, Stills by Hill, Sungarden Terrace Retirement Community, Sunset Finishing Door & Trim, The Montera Senior Living, UCSD Health, U.S. Bank and Westmont of La Mesa.

The evening will be captured by Chamber photographers – Carrie Smedley Photography and Sandra Small Photographer who will be aided by social media partner, Lemon Grove Media & Communications.

Join the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce for this fun-filled evening that begins at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m. Order your tickets at: www.lamesachamber.com.   

ALPINE COUNTRY GIFTS AND CRAFTS HOSTS SPRING FESTIVAL MARCH 20-22

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East County News Service

February 20, 2025 (Alpine) – Alpine Country Crafts and Gifts (2156 Alpine Blvd. in Alpine) invites you to a Spring Festival and Easter Celebration.

The event takes place on:

Thursday, March 20  4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday, March 21  9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 22  9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

COUNTY BREAKS GROUND ON NEW CASA DE ORO LIBRARY

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 By Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office
 
Video by James Kecskes
 
February 20, 2025 (Spring Valley) - County officials and community members broke ground Wednesday on a project that will bring a new library branch to Casa de Oro to meet the growing needs of the community.
 
The new library will be located at 9610 Campo Road in Spring Valley near Spring Valley Academy.
 
The current facility is in a leased location and is 6,000 square feet. The new library will double in size to 12,000 square feet with an approximately 2,000 square foot Community Room. In 2022, nearly 30,000 customers visited the branch and checked out over 63,250 items.
 
Some of the features of the new library will include:
 
  • Public computers plus laptops for checkout
  • High speed internet access and Wi-Fi throughout the branch
  • Community Room with after-hours access for community events
  • Teen area with study rooms
  • Children’s area with early literacy play equipment
  • Patio space and a Friends of the Library Bookstore
  • Designated parking lot

 

The library is being built on Zero Net Energy and LEED Gold standards. This means that the library’s solar panels will produce the electricity it needs to operate.
 
The County gathered community input and engaged residents, businesses and other stakeholders about their needs for the library. This feedback helped to shape the design and types of features planned for this location. County staff will continue to engage with the community about future design concepts as the project moves forward and revisions are made.
 
This project supports the library’s mission to celebrate our communities and help you create your own story. The project is funded by the County of San Diego.
 
The construction phase will begin winter 2025 with the branch set to open spring 2026. For more information about the project, visit sdcl.org.

“NOT MY PRESIDENT” PROTESTS HELD NATIONWIDE ON PRESIDENT’S DAY

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East County News Service

Photo via 50501: thousands rallied against Trump in Washington D.C. outside Capitol

February 19, 2025 (San Diego) –  Protesters held “Not My President” rallies at state capitols in all 50 states and other locations to oppose unprecedented attacks on our democratic system’s checks and balances by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

“We witness, with growing alarm, how our constitutional rights are trampled upon, how the authority of the President is being usurped by those who seek to consolidate power for Personal gain. Meanwhile, President Trump systematically dismantles the very guardrails designed to ensure accountability across the branches of government,” reads a statement from the events’ organizer, the 50501 Movement.  The name stands for 50 protests in 50 statements, one movement  and has been organized on social media.

Trump has asserted king-like power on his social media, posting this week, “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” an action CNN likened to channeling  Napolean. He is asking the Supreme Court to give him absolute power to hire or fire agency officials that Congress established to operate with independence from political pressures.

Calling for justice, transparency, and an end to executive overreach, the group adds, “We stand firm at a critical moment in history, demanding that the American people be heard and that the White  House be governed by the true will of the people—not by a tech billionaire who seeks to buy influence and control.” The latter statement refers to tech mogul Musk, owner of Space-X, Tesla and X (formerly Twitter).

Trump bypassed the Senate to appoint Musk to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Musk’s workers have drawn criticism for accessing private data of millions of Americans and deleting massive amounts of critical data on everything from healthcare to school test results, eliminating entire departments such as USAid, and mass firing government workers, even firing people in charge of overseeing nuclear weapons, workers responsible for airline safety oversight, and preventing foreign intervention in U.S. elections. DOGE workers also locked Congressional members out of the Department of Education, when the legislators attempted to oversee actions of Musk’s team.

In Washington D.C., a massive protest included rallies outside the Capitol, White House, and Lincoln Memorial. Rallies in New York and Los Angeles reportedly drew more than 10,000 people each.

In San Diego, anti-Trump protesters rallied at Waterfront Park.

Photo by Genevieve Seaman: San Diego protester objects that DOGE is not one of the three branches of government.

“We need to stand up to stop the overrunning of the rule of law,” Genevieve Seaman, who participated in the San Diego rally, told ECM.  Seaman, who formerly lived in East County and now resides in San Ysidro, added, “Failure of Congress Republicans to stop the overturning of the check and balance system is frightening. Unless we act, we could lose it all. Grass roots must show we care.”

A lone counter-protester turned up, 10 News reports. The man, who declined to provide his name, said Trump “needs support where other people go against him, even if it’s just one person at that moment.”

 

FATHER ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED MURDER OF BABY IN SPRING VALLEY

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By Miriam Raftery

February 19, 2025 (Spring Valley) – David Ruiz, 22, was arrested by Sheriff’s deputies today for the murder of his newborn son.

Responding to a 1:20 p.m. report of battery at a home on Sacramento Avenue in Spring Valley, San Miguel Firefighters arrived at 1:26 p.m., followed closely by Sheriff’s deputies from the Rancho San Diego station.  “Firefighters discovered a newborn male infant unconscious on the living room floor, suffering from apparent trauma to his head. Tragically, the baby was pronounced dead at the scene,” says Lieutenant Michael Krugh.

The biological father, 22-year-old David Ruiz, was taken into custody and will be charged with the murder of his newborn son.

The motivation and circumstances surrounding this tragic homicide are still unclear. Sheriff's Homicide investigators are working to gather more information to determine the facts of the case.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330/after hours at (858) 868-3200.  You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

 

LEMON GROVE TO HOLD MEETING ON TINY HOMES MARCH 5; EX-COUNCILMEMBER ARRESTED FOR DISRUPTING HEARING

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View video of this incident, via Lemon Grove Media on Facebook

By Miriam Raftery

February 19, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – During last night’s Lemon Grove City Council meeting, former Councilmember Liana LeBaron urged members to agendize a discussion on 70 tiny homes for the homeless slated to be built on Troy Street. County Supervisors approved building the project in Lemon Grove before holding any public discussion, angering many residents.

For months, members of the public have clamored for Lemon Grove’s City Council to put the tiny homes on the agenda for discussion and a vote.  Last night, during public comments, LeBaron stated, “Our community wants to be heard. They want you to take action on their behalf.”

City Manager Lydia Romero then announced that she was finally able to get a commitment from county staffers to come to a March 4 meeting and give a presentation, including staff involved in both design and operations of the tiny homes project.  The meeting will be held at Alvarez Auditorium to accommodate a crowd.

Mayor Alysson Snow told the audience, ”We wanted it done much sooner,” adding that it took time to find a large enough space.

LeBaron then shouted from the audience, “Most important, we want to know what our city’s position is on it.” 

The mayor warned LeBaron not to interrupt the meeting or she would have to leave the meeting.

“I’m not leaving the meeting,” Le Baron said.

A man in the audience also disrupted the meeting and both were told to leave.

Sheriff’s escorted LeBaron out of the room as she objected, ”Take your hands off of me.”

She was later arrested briefly and cited for disrupting the meeting, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The misdemeanor offense is punishable by a fine of up to $400,  or up to 90 days in jail, or both.

LeBaron was arrested in 2022 when her husband accused her of domestic violence, and again in 2024 when he accused her of violating a restraining order.

After Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Snow told the Union-Tribune that it was not her intent to have LeBaron arrested, however, but merely to assure that she left the room.