By Miriam Raftery
Photo: Doris Bittar, a Lebanese-Palestinian woman with a Jewish husband, wants a resolution that protects everyone equally without infringing on free speech rights.
March 12, 2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s City Council once again waded into contentious waters at yesterday’s meeting, weighing a resolution to condemn antisemitism, with the Council majority refusing to remove a definition of antisemitism that has drawn controversy.
Mayor Bill Wells and Councilman Gary Kendrick introduced a resolution to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism as an education resource for police and other city departments. The agenda report on the item notes a rise in antisemitism since the Oct. 7,2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Even before then, a 2022 FBI report found that though Jewish people are only 2 percent of the U.S. population, they were the victims of 60 percent of religious-based hate crimes.
Mayor Wells recalled learning about the Holocaust as a child and believing such “cruelty and blind bigotry” would not happen again. But recently, antisemitism has become “rampant” on college campuses, in cities, and in countries around the world, according to the mayor. “I’m asking the City Council today to help us write a resolution stating that antisemitism is wrong and should be condemned,” he said.
Councilman Gary Kendrick, coauthor of the resolution, told of his mother’s trauma from living in Czechoslovakia in 1939 and seeing close friends who were Jewish, as well as her employer, hauled away by Nazis. They were never seen again. “We need to protect Jewish refugees from discrimination,” said Kendrick, adding that he wants to add an amendment to the resolution to “formally condemn all racism against any immigrant, refugee or asylum seeker...This is supposed to be a city of love, not hate.”
Thirteen people spoke on the resolution, most voicing opposition.
Vicky Estrella noted that some international organizations have concluded that some of Israel’s retaliatory actions in Gaza constitute “genocide” such as bombings of schools and hospitals. “They have destroyed the whole country...We should be free to speak out against this kind of oppression, as we did against the holocaust,” she said, adding, “This is a ploy to silence criticism against what Israel is doing.”
Doris Bittar, a Lebanese-Palestinian woman married to a Jewish man, wants protection for people on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict. “Discrimination is up by 300 percent in Arab and Palestinian communities,” she told the Council. She also voiced concern about a Columbia University student whose green card was revoked by the Trump administration because he helped organize pro-Palestinian protests which the administration equates to supporting Hamas, a designated terror group. His lawyer denies any ties to Hamas. “He’s in a Louisiana prison,” Bittar noted. “What allowed that to happen? This definition (of the IHRA).” She wants any resolution to be “meaningful to all groups” and to be sure that it does not “squash our First Amendment Rights.”
Multiple speakers said they are members of Jewish Voices for Peace. They opposed the resolution, suggesting it conflates anti-Zionism, or opposition to the Israeli state, with anti-Semitism; meaning discrimination, violence or dehumanizing action toward Jews.
Summer Ismail with the Council of Islamic Relations said, “America is all about free speech,” but said in some U.S. states such as Arkansas, it’s now illegal to boycott Israel. She told the mayor, “I would like to work with you to come up with a better definition of anti-Semitism” and also “address anti-Muslim hatred.”
Liat, a who spoke in favor of the resolution but did not give her last name, however, maintained that the resolution “does not limit free speech.” She said that Jewish Voices for Peace does not represent most American Jews, citing a study that found 95 percent of American Jews consider Isarel an essential part of their Jewish identity. She noted that the IHRA definition has been “adopted by 95 percent of all Jewish organizations, 37 countries, 33 U.S. states and even the global imams’ council.”
During Council discussion, Councilmember Michelle Metschel said adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism would bring in “a political agenda.” She asked who the bill’s sponsor, the Antisemitism Task Force of San Diego, is, since an Internet search found no reference to any so-named organization. Metschel said she opposes antisemitism, but felt this resolution would “stir up chaos.” She said she reached out to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and proposed tabling the resolution until after the ADL issues a report due the third week in April.
She also objected to having Council vote on adopting the IHRA’s definition without being provided the 11 points in that definition. In addition, she called for Councilmembers to “sit down with the community” to discuss the issue with members of the Jewish community, as well as with church groups and Muslim groups to “have a community that is united.”
Kendrick said, “I’m okay with tabling it....I want to be sure that there’s no limitation on free speech,” adding, “I heard some pretty good testimony today, and I would like to talk with people from all sides.”
But Mayor Wells objected. “I’d be opposed to that.” He insisted that Israel is not an apartheid state, as one speaker claimed, stating that while there are 2.1 million Arabs in Israel, Arab nations such as Saudi Arabia, Syria and Lebanon have almost none. He called Jewish Voices for Peace a “hard-core Marxist group that is a danger to America” and likened the liberal Jewish group to the Ku Klux Klan. Wells disputed Metschel’s contention that El Cajon has not had any antisemitic actions in recent years, noting that a Jewish doctor was shot and killed last year. However, authorities have not found the shooting by a disgruntled patient to be a hate crime.
Councilman Phil Ortiz said of the IHRA definition, “I don’t see anything in here that is going to stifle any kind of free speech.” He said if the resolution passes and a city employee were to post criticism regarding deaths of children in Gaza on social media, “nobody is getting fired” in the city for such actions.
Councilman Steve Goble opined, “I think you can be anti-Zionist and not antisemitic.” He said he would support any group being harassed or murdered, and indicated he would support the measure despite concerns it could “open Pandora’s box.”
Metschel said she would consider supporting the resolution if the IHRA definition was removed, which the mayor would not support.
The Council voted 4-1, with Metschel voting no, to direct the city manager to draft a revised version of the resolution, which is expected to be heard in two weeks.
By Miriam Raftery
March 10, 2025 (San Diego) -- As President Donald Trump rolls out hefty tariffs on imported goods from America’s biggest trading partners—Mexico, Canada, and China, American businesses and consumers are bearing the brunt, with higher prices on everything from steel and lumber to food and consumer products.
The action has drawn opposition even from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, normally a staunch Republican ally. In a press release, the Chamber warns, “Tariffs on Canada and Mexico will have a real, devastating impact on thousands of small businesses across the nation — and on all Americans in the form of higher prices.”
While the U.S. Chamber shares concerns about border security and the scourge of fentanyl, unfair trading practices, tariffs on Canada and Mexico won't solve those problems and instead would lead to higher prices for Americans, the business organization states.
Chamber President and CEO Suzanne Clark, in her annual State of American Business, said pointedly. “"The bottom line is this: tariffs are a tax paid by Americans and their broad and indiscriminate use would stifle growth at the worst possible time.” She stressed that to boost economic growth, America must participate in the global economy. That includes seizing opportunities to increase trade.
Trump has justified the tariffs as intended to encourage production of goods made in America and ultimately boost the economy.
He signed an executive order on February 1st to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and 10% on Chinese imports. He did so by declaring a national emergency over undocumented immigration and drug trafficking. Trump later paused the Mexican and Canadian tariffs by 30 days and extended an exemption for the auto industry.
China meanwhile countered by announcing hefty new duty charges on numerous American goods ranging from cars and agricultural machinery to crude oil, coal and liquified natural gas.
Next up in mid-February, Trump announced a whopping 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, metals that are used in many consumer products from vehicles to cookware. He also called for reciprocal tariffs on any goods that other countries tax, a move that economists warn could create chaos for the global business community.
He’s also pledged to soon add tariffs on products from other countries, including a 25% tariff on some goods from our allies in Europe as well as tariffs on imports from India.
On March 4th, Trump doubled the tariff on Chinese imports to 20%.
After Trump doubled the Chinese tariffs, China imposed tariffs of up to 15% on numerous American farm exports and levied export controls on some two dozen American companies, Associated Press reports.
Canada slapped tariffs on over $100 billion worth of American goods over just 21 days. One Canadian province removed all U.S.-made alcoholic beverages from store shelves, replacing them with Canadian liquor. Canadian travelers have begun cancelling visits to the U.S., harming the American tourism industry.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheibaum has said her country will also impose retaliatory tariffs but has not yet provided details.
In early March, Trump postponed the 25% tariffs on some Mexican and Canadian imports for a month, crediting Mexico’s president with working to reduce drug smuggling and illegal border crossings, though the U.S. has also ramped up border security under the Trump administration.
The impacts have sent the stock market tumbling, fueling fears of a recession. Trump has said he doesn’t know if a recession can be avoided.
The effects of the Trump tariffs are also being felt locally.
Brent Schertzer, managing director of apartment developer Holland Partner Group, told the San Diego Union Tribune that tariffs on steel and other building materials could add millions of dollars to large construction projects. He said that material suppliers will have no choice but to charge more for steel, or risk going out of business.
Alan Gin, a professor of economics at the University of San Diego, told KUSI Fox 5 that some of the biggest cost hikes for Americans will include vehicles, oil and gas, electronics, and groceries — further fueling the inflation that have already caused hardships for many U.S. households.
East County News Service
March 10, 2025 (San Diego) – The Greater San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR), San Diego County’s largest trade association for San Diego-area real estate professionals, recently honored California Senator Pro Tem Emeritus Toni Atkins with the “Golden State Private Property Champion Award” for her dedication and significant contributions to protect California’s private property rights for homeowners and renters.
An SDAR resolution presented to Atkins said that Atkins has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the State of California through her extensive public service, notably in the California State Assembly and State Senate.
It said, “Atkins has been a steadfast advocate for housing accessibility and property rights, authoring and championing legislation to expand homeownership opportunities and protect private property.” SDAR noted that Atkins authored Senate Bill 9, the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency (HOME) Act, which simplifies the process for homeowners to create duplexes or subdivide properties, which increased housing supply and affordability.
The resolution also said, “Senator Atkins played a pivotal role in the creation of the California Dream for All program, a shared appreciation loan initiative that has enabled thousands of families across California to achieve homeownership. Senator Atkins has consistently supported legislation aimed at protecting consumer rights and enhancing access to affordable housing, thereby strengthening the economic stability and well-being of California residents. Her leadership has been instrumental in addressing California’s housing crisis, promoting fair housing initiatives, and ensuring the protection of consumer and commercial private property rights.”
Atkins was honored at SDAR’s “New Laws and Industry Outlook” conference that featured up-to-date information on new laws and regulations affecting the industry and what to expect just over-the-horizon for real estate. More than 350 people attended the event.
Atkins, a Democrat, is running for governor in 2026 after current Gov. Gavin Newsom hits a term limit. She made history as only the third person in 150 years and the first woman to hold both of the state Legislature’s top jobs, including speaker of the Assembly (2014) and president pro tempore of the Senate (2018-2023). Due to term limits, she left her Senate seat after November 2024. She was the first woman and first openly gay person to lead California’s upper legislative chamber.
Atkins came to California in 1985 to work at a women’s health clinic before getting elected to the San Diego City Council in 2000. In 2005, after former Mayor Dick Murphy’s resignation, her council colleagues elected her deputy mayor to lead the city until voters chose Jerry Sanders as Murphy’s replacement.
By Suzanne Potter, California News Service
March 9, 2025 (Los Angeles) -- The American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association are suing the Trump administration over a threat of funding cuts and investigations of schools that integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into their policies or lessons.
The letter schools received purports to reinforce anti-discrimination laws - but casts efforts to hire or help disadvantaged people of color as a form of discrimination.
Roderick Castro, assistant superintendent of educational services at Santa Rosa City Schools, noted that the letter criticizes using race as a factor in hiring and training.
"A letter like this is basically giving them the directive to abandon those," said Castro. "That cuts us off at the knees. We're looking for educators to be more representative of the students that are in the classrooms. It's a blow, more of a gut punch, to us."
The letter is critical of courses that involve certain racial groups. Castro said ethnic studies classes rightly lift up students' cultural heritage.
And he said he thinks teachers and students should be free to examine the facts about topics like slavery or civil rights.
Schools were given until last Friday to comply with the Trump administration's anti-DEI directive, and many colleges are pulling back, even reevaluating campus groups like the Black Student Union.
Chuck Flores, PhD, is an associate professor of educational administration at California State University-Los Angeles and UCLA - and teaches social justice and educational leadership at Cal State LA.
"We have to provide an open forum for all people of all races to discuss what it is that we need to achieve as a country," said Flores. "Eliminating DEI doesn't really go in that direction. I just feel that we're going down a dark hole we're not going to be able to pull out of, if people don't wake up and start taking a stand for what's right."
The letter from the Department of Education also says diversity and social justice are not valid reasons to take race or a proxy for race into account for admissions and financial aid.
Council fields questions and concerns regarding County’s project planned on Caltrans property
Story and photos by Karen Pearlman
March 6, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – The controversy and concerns surrounding a planned interim housing project at Troy Street and Sweetwater Road continues to drive a wedge between residents and members of the Lemon Grove City Council -- and looks to be headed for discussion in a future closed session.
San Diego County-spearheaded the temporary housing project, an $11.1 million plan to build up to 70 tiny homes for people experiencing homelessness on Caltrans-owned property in Lemon Grove. The project was the subject of a special Lemon Grove City Council meeting held March 4 at the Roberto Alvarez Auditorium.
The cabins are expected to start construction this year and be finished sometime in 2026.
The meeting included a presentation by four county staff members and brought out nearly 200 residents plus other interested individuals packing the auditorium. Some said they have been asking for the City Council to listen to their concerns and act on their behalf since last July.
First-term Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow and veteran City Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza were candid about the need for housing in the city.
Mayor Snow (photo, right, with Councilmember Mendoza) said, “I understand that there is a population of people here in Lemon Grove who don’t want these cabins. There’s also a population of people who absolutely, desperately need these cabins... a population who really need help, and this is a big help to that.”
Mendoza said she has long been part of the Interfaith Shelter Network that advocates for those individuals who are homeless, and said there is a dire need for Lemon Grove to step up for those living on the street or in their vehicles.
Newly elected Lemon Grove councilmembers Jessyka Heredia and Steve Faiai as well as newly appointed councilmember Yadira Altamirano -- who previously served on the council in 2019-20 -- peppered the county staff with questions and concerns about who would be living in the homes, how they would be chosen and why their presence could impede the safety of residents.
All three said they understand the need to house those who are living on the street, but expressed interest in making unhoused Lemon Grove residents the top priority when considering who should live in the cabins—not homeless people from other areas.
Photo, left: tiny homes in El Cajon, courtesy of Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon
A majority of the approximately three dozen speakers shared concerns, including the close proximity of the planned cabins to a school, potentially reduced property values, a liquor store across the street and the exorbitant cost, which will also include annual charges of $3 million for ongoing operations needs.
A contingent of those opposed to the plan to house a mixture of unsheltered veterans, senior citizens, transitional aged youths and adults held little back at the nearly four-hour meeting.
Former Lemon Grove City Council member Liana LeBaron called out Snow, who defeated LeBaron in the race for mayor last year, and called the project “a money grab.”
“County officials’ intentions are to put people who are suffering from drug and alcohol addiction and severe mental health issues right next to a preschool,” LeBaron said.
LeBaron encouraged the Council to meet in closed session to take legal action against the county about the cabins “and plan a strong legal fight against the project,” and told them to “stand up for us.”
Larry Bonamo, who said he is a longtime resident of the city and who owns a Spring Valley business directly across the street from the site, said while “we all want to help the homeless,” those individuals experiencing homelessness who have mental illness and drug problems “don’t want to live by rules and regulations” and should not be in the area.
He said Spring Valley, which “turned down the project”, will be impacted the most.
Initially, the project was supposed to bring 150 sleeping cabins to Spring Valley. Objections from Spring Valley residents to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors about the location of the cabins near residences and protected sites led to the county’s decision to move the project to Lemon Grove, but with less than half the number of cabins originally planned.
Last July, Supervisors voted 4-0 to move forward on the project, with then-chair Nora Vargas absent, a vote that came two days before a previously planned community forum in Lemon Grove about the project.
Bonamo said the project “doesn’t do anything for the homeless in Spring Valley or Lemon Grove.”
“We don’t need another 70 to 140 people,” he added. “We already have enough problems here at this location. We the business people and the citizens have to deal with shopping carts, trash, fights, property they’re using as a toilet, bothering our customers, breaking into homes, breaking into cars.”
While county staff told those at the meeting that coordinated referrals and intakes into the program would be led by the county’s Office of Homeless Solutions and would exclude those with certain criminal backgrounds such as registered sex offenders, arsonists or active felony warrants, many in attendance said they didn’t believe that.
Amy Reichert, who lost a 2023 bid for county supervisor in District 4 (which encompasses Lemon Grove) to Monica Montgomery Steppe, said that residents of the city had been lied to when Snow told residents that the project would house working families and seniors.
“Cabins only accommodate two people,” Reichert said. “These... are not habitable for a family of four.”
Four people who have been homeless or currently are experiencing homelessness spoke in favor of the cabins, including Rachel Hayes (photo, left), who said she has been “homeless for over 10 years, including in Lemon Grove and probably in every city in San Diego... and in almost every shelter in San Diego.”
Hayes said she found housing through Alpha Project about 1½ years ago in permanent, supportive housing.
She credited the nonprofit’s wraparound services as being crucial to her ability to feel safe, then shared the importance of being able to have a home with a door that shuts.
"Not everybody out there are drug addicts or mentally ill,” Hayes said. “I support these cabins and you (elected officials) are brave to go ahead and do this. If I were on the streets, that’s where I would want to be, in one of your cabins. Because you have a door that you can close and with that door comes peace, serenity and dignity.”
A few city councilmembers and former elected officials from other jurisdictions also attended, with two speaking out about the need for compassionate care for those who are unhoused.
El Cajon City Councilman Steve Goble (photo, right) shared that he is proud of the success of his city’s tiny homes project, on the grounds of Meridian Baptist Church on Third Street since 2022.
“Forty-two women have gone through those cabins, and 78 percent have gone on to permanent housing,” said Goble, who helped hammer nails to build those cabins.
Snow acknowledged that Lemon Grove is without shelter and without resources, and that the City needs to step up.
“We send our people who are unhoused out to (other) communities to get services,” she said.
Since 2022, the County has been exploring emergency housing options as part of the Compassionate Emergency Solutions and Pathways to Housing Implementation Plan.
The plan outlines community desire for non-congregate shelters such as sleeping cabins, safe parking and RV parking options.
The Troy Street site can host up to 70 sleeping cabins, restrooms, laundry, and onsite services, county staff said at the meeting.
Onsite services would include case management, housing navigation to permanent housing options, access to behavioral health services for those who have the needs, access to public benefits, employment or support with disability benefits, credit repair and other supportive services.