News

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left:  Gaza bombing by Israel, WAFA for news agency APA, creative commons via WIkiPalestine

January 15, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – President Joe Biden today announced, “After many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal.”

The deal is slated to halt fighting in Gaza, surge humanitarian aide to Palestinian civilians, and return hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7, 2023 attack in Israel, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Biden indicated the cease-fire is based on a plan he laid out May 31,which the United Nations Security Council endorsed. The action comes after a cease-fire in Lebanon with Hezbollah and weakening of Iran, both allies of Hamas.

The Hamas attack killed over 1,200 Israelis. Israel’s military retaliation in Gaza has killed tens of thousands, displacing up to 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, according to the Associated Press. Many of those are injured, have lost homes, or at risk of famine.

Photo, right:  Hamas attack at Jewish kibbutz in Israel, via Israeli press office

“It is long past time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin,” said Biden, who voiced empathy for Israeli families who lost loved ones in the Hamas attack  as well as for the “many innocent people killed in the war that followed.”

An estimated 100 hostages remain in Gaza, though the Israeli military believes at least a third are dead, according to the Associated Press. Seven American families have members taken hostage by Hamas, of whom three are believed to still be alive.

The cease-fire calls for a phased plan starting with release of 33 women, children, wounded civilians and older adults in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian women and children prisoners. Soldiers and other male captives  will be released in the second-phase.

The deal comes after U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump stated on social media last month that  there would be “hell to pay” if hostages were not released by his inauguration on January 20.  “It will not be good for Hamas and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone,” he later told reporters.

News of the cease fire prompted mixed reactions.

The Jewish Democratic Council of America stated that its members are “relieved and hopeful that the hostages will soon be reunited with their loved ones” and thanked President Biden and his team. The group urged the incoming Trump administration to “follow through on the measurable progress made by President Biden to end the war in Gaza and ensure that all parties honor their commitments.”

Crowds gathered in Gaza to celebrate news of the cease fire deal,  CBS reports.  "I am very happy, and today is the day I wished to hear about since the beginning of the war. God is sending us hope,” an elderly man told CBS.

Hamas leader al-Hayya, however, hinted at revenge, Al-Jazeera reports.  “We say, in the name of the orphans and the children and the widows, in the name of people with destroyed homes, in the name of the families of the martyrs and the wounded, in the name of all the victims, in the name of every drop of blood that was spilled, and in the name of every tear of pain and agony: We won’t forget, and we won’t forgive,” al-Hayya said.

The World Jewish Conference took a longer term view, “This is not just Israel’s battle; it is a fight for the values of humanity itself,” the group stated,  San Diego Jewish World reports. “The international community must keep up the pressure on Hamas and refuse to again allow terror to reign over the Gaza Strip. Only when terrorism is eradicated and the rule of law and decency restored can Israelis and Palestinians begin to live side by side in lasting peace and security. “Today, we are grateful to those who brought about this agreement, and we insist that it by fully implemented. But we also redouble our commitment to a secure future for Israel and the region. The road ahead is steep, but we are steadfast in our belief that even in darkness, light can prevail.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the ceasefire announcement, adding, “The priority now must be to ease the tremendous suffering caused by this conflict. The United Nations stands ready to support the implementation of this deal and scale up the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief to the countless  Palestinians who continue to suffer,” he said at a news conference.

Suicidal suspect had doused self in gasoline before intentionally ramming officer,  ECPD reports

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: Two officers train guns on driver after Sergeant Maxwell was struck.

January 11, 2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police Department has released surveillance and body cam video from the officer-involved shooting outside ECPD headquarters on December 11 during preparations for a retirement ceremony. (Warning: graphic content.)

The video shows a Toyota Tundra SUV driven by Benjamin Grube, 24, a nonbinary person earlier identified as Andrea Grube, park and later drive onto a sidewalk and ram Sergeant Kevin Maxwell as he tried to run from the oncoming vehicle. He was thrown into the air before the vehicle struck a bush. The injured sergeant managed to grab his service revolver while still on his knees, ordering Grube to exit the vehicle.

A lieutenant nearby called for backup. Officer Evan Drescher arrived on the scene, shouting “Don’t move!”   But Grube instead pulled forward, trying to run over Maxwell a second time even as both officers had guns trained on her.

Photo, right: Vehicle driven by Benjamin Grube strikes Sergeant Kevin Maxwell, who was thrown into the air before rising to his knees, gun drawn, ordering suspect to exit the vehicle.

Both Maxwell and Drescher fired their weapons, Maxwell through the windshield and Drescher through the driver’s side window. Maxwell jumps out of the path of the oncoming vehicle. Several shots can be heard on the audio from body cam footage (the earlier surveillance footage has no audio).

Officers pulled Grube from the vehicle and rendered medical aid, as did paramedics. Grube was transported  to a hospital, where the suspect was pronounced dead.

“Grube was found to be soaked in gasoline and three gas cans were found in the truck,” captions on the video state. “During the follow-up investigation, Grube was found to have suicidal ideations and was anti-law enforcement.”

Sergeant Maxwell was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries including a concussion, and was later released. No other officers or civilians were injured.

San Diego Police is conducting an investigation, as is customary for officer-involved shootings involving other local police agencies. The District Attorney’s office will review results of that investigation. El Cajon Police is also conducting an administrative review into the officers’ use of force involving discharge of their service guns.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Lakeside Fire Department, which has sent firefighters to battle the Palisades wildfire

January 11, 2025 (Los Angeles) – After days of massive destruction and widespread evacuations, firefighters are finally making progress on four remaining wildfires in the Los Angeles area.  At least 13 people have died in the fires, which have destroyed an estimated12,000 structures, the Los Angeles Times reports.

At least 90 firefighters from San Diego County have been dispatched to help fight the L.A. fires, including Lakeside Fire Department, which posted photos on social media of the Palisades Fire that their firefighters have been battling since Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands remain evacuated, as firefighters slowly make progress toward controlling fires fueled initially by hurricane-force winds.

Here are the latest updates from Cal Fire and L.A.-based news outlets:

The Palisades Fire has burned 22,600 acres and is now 11% contained. The wildfire has ravaged Pacific Palisades, portions of Malibu, and homes along Pacific Coast Highway.  Current evacuation orders include much of Brentwood, Encino,Calabasas, Sansta Monica,Malibu and Pacific Palisades.  This fire has damaged or destroyed around 5,300 homes; another 12,000  structures are still threatened.

The Eaton Fire has scorched14,117 acres and is 15% contained. Around 7,000 structures have been damaged or lost, according to fire officials, in Pasadena and Altadena.

The Kenneth Fire is now 80% contained after burning 1,052 acres near the Los Angeles and Ventura county lines. All evacuation warnings have been

lifted.

Evacuation orders have also been lifted for the Hurst Fire, which burned approximately 779 acres in the Sylmar area.  The Hurst Fire is now 76% contained.

At least two other fires have been fully contained, including a blaze that threatened portions of Hollywood.

Firefighters have come from across the region and as far away as Canada and Mexico. Canada has deployed 250 firefighters, while Mexico has sent at least 101 “bomberos” or firefighters to L.A.  Numerous inmate firefighters are also help to control the conflagrations.

After Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state emergency, President Joe Biden cancelled a planned trip to Italy to meet with the pope in order to get aid to California. President Biden announced that the federal government will cover “100 percent of all the costs” to fight fires in Los Angeles County, higher than the 75% customarily granted by the federal government to states during disasters.

It is unclear whether President-elect Donald Trump’s administration will continue to provide aid to California, since Trump has previously threatened to withhold disaster aid from states that didn’t vote for him.  Asked if he is confident that the Trump team members will continue to send disaster aid to California,  Biden responded, ”I pray to God they will,” Politico reports.

By Miriam Raftery

January 10, 2025 (La Mesa) – When a luggage wheel split open just three weeks after I purchased the large suitcase for $68, I tried to return it to Burlington in La Mesa. After waiting nearly an hour in line (since they have no customer service desk for returns),  Burlington’s employee refused to refund my money for the suitcase. She stated that this was because “you traveled with it.”

The whole point of a suitcase, obviously, is to travel! So apparently if you use their product for itrs intended product, you're out of luck if it breaks. I bought the the luggage specifically for a holiday trip, because it has wheels that rotate in all directions. I have a permanent shoulder injury, and it’s easier to pull a suitcase alongside instead of dragging a bag behind me, as I'd done with my older luggage. Even worse, I wound up having to carry this heavy bag filled with winter clothes, boots and a coat. 

The bag seemed fine after taking it off the luggage return at the airport, but as soon as we got outside and wheeled it into the parking lot, the wheel suddenly split in two, forcing me to carry the extra-large suitcase. This cost me a trip to my chiropractor upon returning home, to relieve the shoulder pain caused by Burlington’s shoddy product.

Burlington looked for any excuse to refuse to refund the money.  They claimed the bag was ”dirty” because of a few hairs where my cat sat on it, which easily brushed off. They claimed it was scarred up because of a small scuff mark, typical of any checked baggage. It’s not like they could resell the merchandise with a broken wheel.

I asked for a manager, prompting another long wait.  The manager also refused to issue a refund. I then asked her to provide me with contact info for the manufacturer.  The only name on the bag is “On-Tour.”  Burlington’s manager refused to provide any manufacturer’s information, and I could not find the manufacturer on the website. So no chance of getting a refund or even a replacement wheel, apparently.

The Burlington manager in La Mesa gave me a bogus national number for their customer service, but when I dialed it, the number was disconnected.

I then called my credit card company, which issued a temporary credit while I file a format dispute over the $68 that I paid for a suitcase that is now absolutely useless.

I did a Google Search and found a site for pissed-off customers that claims Burlington has only a 2.0 rating out of 5 possible, with a majority of customers voicing dissatisfaction. On Yelp, Burlington rates  a dismal 2.5.

I will not be shopping at Burlington for anything in the future and suggest that anyone who values quality or customer service take their business elsewhere.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

January 10, 2025 (San Diego) - The County’s Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board is taking applications to fill an opening on its board.

• Must be a registered voter in San Diego County.
• Cannot be a County employee.
• Cannot be affiliated with the County.
• Cannot currently hold a position as a sworn law enforcement officer.
• Serve a three-year term for no more than two consecutive full terms.
• Attend a regular CLERB meeting or watch a past meeting prior to applying for the vacant seat.
• Must complete a training course within three months of the appointment.

Photo, left to right:  Councilmembers Lauren Cazares and Patricia Dillard, Mayor Mark Arapostathis, Councilmembers Laura Lothian and Genevieve Suzuki

Source:  City of La Mesa

January 10, 2025 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa welcomed two new councilmembers during its City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The occasion marked a historic milestone in La Mesa as the council now consists of a majority of women, including women of color, with four women and one man who serves as mayor.

“This is a proud and historic moment for La Mesa,” said Mayor Mark Arapostathis. “Our City Council reflects the strength and diversity of our community. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to continue making La Mesa a place where everyone feels represented and empowered.”

Joining the council are the newly elected members, Lauren Cazares and Genevieve Suzuki. Both Cazares and Suzuki have deep roots in the La Mesa community. Cazares, lifelong La Mesan, currently serves as Policy Advisor at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and has been actively involved in various boards and committees, including the City of La Mesa Community Police Oversight Board.

“I‘m deeply honored to serve as a member of the La Mesa City Council and continue the work of building a safer, stronger, more affordable community for all,” said Councilmember Cazares. “As a proud Latina, the youngest Councilwoman in La Mesa history and first openly LGBTQ+ Councilmember, I’m committed to ensuring that our City remains a place where everyone feels heard, valued, and empowered to thrive.”

Suzuki, a family law attorney with more than a decade of legal experience, is a dedicated advocate committed to community service in La Mesa. She has served on the Community Services Commission and the La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation Board.

“I'm honored to have been elected to represent our vibrant community and work with Mayor Arapostathis, Vice Mayor Patricia Dillard, and fellow Councilmembers Laura Lothian and Lauren Cazares,” said Councilmember Suzuki. “I look forward to making sure everyone feels heard and using my time on the City Council to continue the progress made by outgoing councilmembers Colin Parent and Jack Shu.”

The election of these new councilmembers by the people of La Mesa reflects the city’s diverse makeup, with women representing approximately 52% of the population. This milestone builds on the foundation set in 1980 when Jerri Lopez was elected La Mesa’s first female City Councilmember.

“History, history, and more history! I’m thrilled to have made history at Tuesday’s final City Council meeting of the year,” said Vice Mayor Patricia Dillard. “I’m especially excited to welcome our two new Councilmembers, Lauren Cazares and Genevieve Suzuki, as they were sworn in helping form a supermajority female council. Together, we will continue to represent our community with dedication and excellence. Four highly qualified women, each with diverse multicultural backgrounds, are poised to lead. Congratulations to us all!"

“I first attended La Mesa City Council meetings when the council comprised of Mayor Art Madrid and Councilmembers Dr. A, Ernie Ewin, Ruth Sterling and Dave Allen,” said Councilmember Laura Lothian. “Since then, our City Council has always been majority male. This new council, with four women and one man, will be very different and interesting. We are a diverse council, with a Greek mayor and the four councilmembers who are female, Black, Hispanic, and Asian.  My ethnic background is half Guatemalan and half English. We are also diverse in age, with Vice Mayor Dillard and I being grandmothers, Genevieve Suzuki as a young mom, and Lauren Cazares, the youngest councilmember elected since the 1970s!”

Cazares and Suzuki are replacing Colin Parent and Jack Shu on the City Council. Parent served on the City Council for eight years, where he focused on housing policies and championed labor initiatives. Shu served on the City Council for four years, earning recognition for his commitment to environmental advocacy.

The swearing-in ceremony took place during the City Council’s regular meeting.

The City encourages residents to engage with the new councilmembers and participate in upcoming City Council meetings. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located at 8130 Allison Ave., La Mesa.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Henri Migala: Palisades Fire in Los Angeles

January 9, 2025 (Los Angeles) – Over 179,000 people are under evacuation orders as massive fires continue to burn across Los Angeles County, with no containment as yet on the worst conflagrations.  Fire officials’ estimates of homes lost range from several hundred to over 1,000, and at least five people have died.

The Palisades Fire has scorched over 1,700 acres, burning all the way to the Pacific Ocean.  Videos posted online show massive destruction of homes along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Most of Pacific Palisades has been destroyed, with evacuations as far away as Santa Monica. It remains 0% contained.  Low water pressure left some hydrants without water and high winds have restricted firefighting aircraft, leaving the blaze to burn out of control in its crucial early hours, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The Eaton Fire has charred over 10,000 acres in Pasadena and Altadena.  It is 0% contained; this is the fire in which five people are confirmed dead, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills also forced evacuations. It has burned 42.8 acres and is 0% contained, per the Watch Duty App.

In Sylmar, the Hursts Fire has burned 855 acres and is 10% contained.

The Lidia Fire in Soledad Canyon is reportedly 40% contained, with forward progress stopped.

Only the Woodley Fire, which started in an L.A. nature preserve, has been 100% contained.

The wildfires have been fueled by in some cases hurricane-force winds amid the driest conditions in more than a century for this time of year.  The winds are forecast to continue, making firefighters’ work challenging.  “We are absolutely not out of danger yet,” Los Angeles FireDept. Chief Kristinj Crowley stated today.

Firefighting reinforcements have come in from numerous areas, including San Diego County.  The Governor has declared a statewide emergency and President Joe Biden has pledge reimbursement for firefighting expenses, though President-Elect Donald Trump has threatened to withhold firefighting aid for California. 

How you can help

GoFundMe has launched the California Wildfire Relief Hub to help those affected by wildfires in Los Angeles County and potentially other California communities if future fires occur. Each fundraiser in the hub has been verified by GoFundMe’s trust and safety team

Resources available for impacted customers at community resource centers

January 8, 2025 (San Diego) – This week marks the driest start to the rainy season in San Diego County in 174 years. As a result of these dry conditions and Santa Ana winds, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) continues to implement Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in an effort to reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety.

As of tonight, 8,946 customers have power shut off.  Another 69,155 are at risk of power shutoffs.The effort aims to prevent hellacious firestorms such as those currently ravaging L.A., as wind gusts up to 85 miles per hour are forecast to reach San Diego County soon.

Because of the extended wind forecast, customers may experience prolonged or more than one PSPS. An up-to-date list of impacted communities can be found at sdge.com/ready.

Available Resources for Impacted Customers

SDG&E is opening of Community Resource Centers in affected communities. These Centers are equipped with resources such as Wi-Fi and phone and medical device charging, and they will remain open for customers in need until conditions improve. A list of active Community Resource Center locations and their hours of operation can be found at sdge.com/ready.

SDG&E has also partnered with 211 San Diego and Orange County United Way (formerly 211 Orange County) to offer enhanced community resources during a PSPS. 211 is free, confidential and available to answer customer calls 24/7, in over 200 languages. Customers with hearing impairment can dial 211 or 711 and ask to be connected to 211 at 858-900-1211.

PSPS & Unplanned Outage Safety Tips

High winds and other weather conditions also have the potential to lead to unplanned outages throughout the region, which are separate from a PSPS. Customers are encouraged to visit SDG&E’s outage map at sdge.com/outages for unplanned outage details and expected restoration times.

• Customers should never approach damaged infrastructure or downed power lines and should instead report them by calling 911 or SGD&E’s call center at 1-800-411-7343.
• Generator Safety: While backup generators can be a valuable tool when a power outage occurs, using a generator incorrectly can be dangerous. Customers are encouraged to visit sdge.com/generator to find safety guidelines to help keep their family and home safe.

For ongoing updates about this PSPS, visit SDGEtoday.com or follow SDG&E’s X channel, @SDGE.

McElroy speaks out against mass deportations as "incompatible with Catholic doctrine" in first appearance as Archbishop

By Miriam Raftery

Photo of Cardinal McElroy by Chris Stone, Times of San Diego

January 8, 2025 (San Diego) – Pope Francis on Monday named San Diego’s Cardinal Robert McElroy has the new Archbishop of Washington D.C., where is expected to provide a strong moral voice opposing some policies of the incoming Trump administration.

McElroy was appointed by Pope Francis to serve as Bishop in San Diego in 2015 and in 2022 was elevated to Cardinal. He replaces retiring Cardinal Wilton Gregory,77, as Archbishop in the district that includes the nation’s capitol and is home to more than 667,000 Catholics.

Archbishop McElroy, in an online press conference Monday, acknowledged that each nation has a right to control its borders, but he denounced Trump’s call for mass deportation of immigrations.  “We are called always to have a sense of the dignity of every human person, and thus plans which have been talked about...of having a wider indiscriminate massive deportation across the country would be something that would be incompatible with Catholic doctrine.”

McElroy also spoke of climate change,  which the Trump administration refuses to acknowledge as a real threat to humanity.  “I think one of the greatest challenges for the Church in the world at this moment is that of the care for our home on this Earth, for the planet, and all of the abuse which it is suffering,” said McElroy, who supports Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical, Catholic News Agency reports.

The new Archbishop has also questioned why issues such as poverty, racism, immigration and climate change are not identified as priorities at the U.S. Bishops’ conference over social issues such as abortion. McElroy has supported providing Communion to politicians regardless of their stances on abortion. He has also denounced bullying of LGBTQ+ youths.

Support for McElroy’s appointment is not universal. Attorneys representing alleged victims of sexual abuse by priests in the San Diego Roman Catholic Diocese have criticized the appointment, NBC 7 reports.

Praise by some for McElroy’s often progressive views “ignores the fact that he has been anything but progressive when it comes to protecting victims of child sexual assault in San Diego,” attorney Morgan Stewart states. “These victims have suffered pain for a lifetime because of their horrendous sexual abuse by San Diego priests.”

Though the alleged abuse occurred before McElroy came to San Diego, Stewart faults McElroy for putting the San Diego Archdiocese into bankruptcy last year, a move McElroy said was to balance the competing needs of compensating victims vs. continuing good works of the diocese, but which the attorney says could “delay or deny compensation to over 500 victims.”

Update January 10, 2025 -- A third suspect has been arrested and charged with aiding and abetting in the murder of Darron Willie Singleton, Jr.  On Thursday January 9, 2025, 45-year-old Valena Marie Gonzales of San Diego was apprehended by the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force near Valley Road and Rio Drive in San Diego. She has been booked into custody at Las Colinas Detention Facility.

East County News Service

January 8, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – The Sheriff’s office today announced the arrest of two men suspected in the murder of 23-year-old Darron Willie Singleton, Jr.  

On Sept. 18 around 10:55 p.m., deputies responded to reports of gunfire and found Singleton suffering gunshot wounds to the torse in the 2200 block of Dain Street in Lemon Grove. Despite lifesaving efforts by San Miguel Fire Department personnel and Sheriff’s deputies, Singleton died at the scene.

“Months of intensive investigation led to the arrests of two individuals believed to be involved in this heinous crime,” says Lieutenant Michael Krugh.

Yesterday, Richard Charles Lee, 47, of San Diego, was apprehended in San Diego. Additionally, 44-year-old Reality Grayson of Temecula was arrested Temecula. Both suspects have been booked into custody at the San Diego Central Jail on charges related to the murder of Darron Willie Singleton Jr.

The San Diego Sheriff's Office extends its gratitude for the collaborative efforts of the San Diego Police Department, the Riverside Sheriff's Department, and the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force for their support in executing the arrests.

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.