Reader's Editorials

Cesar Chavez passed away in 1993. Where are today’s heroes?

By  Dr. Sergio R. Conti, MPH

March 23, 2025 (El Cajon) -- I once asked a 12-year-old seventh grader who his Latin idol was. Without hesitation, he replied, “El Canelo Álvarez.” I explained to him that a hero is admired for their brave actions, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Heroes can emerge in history, literature, film, or real life. They are individuals who fight for justice, save lives, inspire others, or demonstrate extraordinary courage in the face of adversity. The boy looked at me thoughtfully and admitted he didn’t know anyone like that.

If I posed the same question to a child in Mexico, they might name Juárez, Madero, or Los Niños Héroes, among others. It made me reflect on how white children in the U.S. have figures like Washington, Roosevelt, and Kennedy. At the same time, African Americans look up to Martin Luther King Jr. Meanwhile, in the Latin community, we should honor figures like César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, but Chávez’s legacy is often overshadowed by claims that he referred to undocumented workers as “wetbacks.”

The absence of unifying heroes in the Latin community is no accident. Despite being over 20% of the U.S. population—more than 62 million people—we lack a figure who can bring us together. This results from the age-old tactic of “divide and conquer,” used since colonial times. The English employed it in Latin America, fragmenting the continent into small, distrustful nations. Those who sought to divide us crushed the vision of a united “Gran América” dreamed of by San Martín and Bolívar.

The Legacy of César Chávez

César Chávez, an American labor leader and civil rights activist, dedicated his life to defending the rights of farm workers. Born on March 31, 1927, in Yuma, Arizona, to a family of Mexican origin, Chávez experienced firsthand the injustices and harsh conditions faced by migrant workers. These experiences fueled his lifelong fight for their rights.

In 1962, Chávez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) with Dolores Huerta, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Chávez championed nonviolent tactics like strikes and boycotts to improve working conditions for farmworkers. His efforts led to significant victories, including recognizing the UFW as a representative body in negotiations with employers.

The Grape Boycott One of Chávez’s most notable achievements was the grape boycott, a pivotal part of the Delano strike (1965–1970).

The Strike Begins: On September 8, 1965, Filipino farmworkers initiated a strike against grape growers in Delano, California, protesting low wages and poor conditions.

Chávez Joins: On September 16, 1965, Mexican Independence Day, Chávez and the NFWA joined the strike.

Boycott Expansion: The boycott spread across North America, becoming a powerful tool for the movement. Chávez emphasized nonviolence and unity among workers of all ethnicities.

Victory: By July 1970, the boycott succeeded, securing a collective bargaining agreement that benefited over 10,000 farmworkers.

Context and Criticism

Some criticize Chávez for using derogatory terms like “wetback” to describe undocumented workers. To understand this, we must consider the context. In 1973, farmworkers in California earned an average annual wage of $2,500–$3,000. The UFW fought to secure a minimum wage of $2.50 per hour (equivalent to $20.34 in 2025). However, vineyard companies undermined the movement by hiring undocumented workers as strikebreakers. Faced with this challenge, Chávez’s frustration was understandable, though not excusable.

Personal Reflection

No one is without flaws. As humans, we all have moments we regret. Even so, Chávez’s achievements remain extraordinary. He and Dolores Huerta paved the way for labor rights, yet their leadership has not been succeeded by others who can unify the Latin community. Today, we face challenges from those who seek to marginalize us, yet our politicians often fail to support our fight. Perhaps it is up to us to become the heroes who will change our reality.

César Chávez passed away on April 23, 1993, in San Luis, Arizona. His legacy is a symbol of the fight for civil and labor rights.

The opinions in this reader’s editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

An open letter sent to California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff

By Chuck Brown, Spring Valley

March 13, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) - The House passed legislation to fund the government through Sept. 30 and thereby avert a shutdown at the end of this week.

The measure now goes to the Senate, where Democrats must decide whether to support it and thereby hand Trump and Musk a blank check to continue their assault on the federal government.

In normal times, Democrats vote for continuing budget resolutions because Democrats support the vital services that the government provides to the American people — Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans services, education, the Food and Drug Administration, environmental protection, and much more.

These are not, nor have they been, normal times. There is more on the line this time than just the continuing of government services. Trump says `I won’t touch Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.’ Johnson’s bill hammers away at all three – and more.

This time, the real choice Congressional Democrats face today is not between a continuing resolution that allows the government to function normally or a government shutdown. Under Trump and Musk, the government is not functioning normally – and NEVER WILL. It is not continuing. It is already shutting down.

I urge you to vote against the abhorrent legislation passed by the House of Non-Representatives. Then, perhaps there can be a bipartisan discussion.

Let’s not make E. Y. Harburg’s Poem a reality – penned in the 1960s. (He wrote the lyrics for “Somewhere, Over the Rainbow” and “Brother, Can You Spare Me a Dime”, among others.)

Should I write a letter to my congressman? So, your congressman has two ends, a thinking end and a sitting end, and since his whole success depends upon his seat – why bother friend?  – E.Y. Harburg

The opinions in this reader’s editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

By Abagail Wojnowski

Photo by Miriam Raftery:  protesters at Grossmont High School this morning oppose the district sending lay-off notices to librarians, teachers, and other employees.

March 10, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- I am writing to express my deep frustration and disappointment over the Grossmont Union High School District’s recent decision to eliminate all credentialed teacher librarian positions. This reckless decision disregards the vital role that librarians play in student success and contradicts the district’s own values of caring, collaboration, and innovation.

As a proud graduate of Mount Miguel High School (Class of 2023) and a current UC Berkeley student, I have experienced firsthand the impact a librarian can have. School libraries are not just about books; they are safe havens where students find guidance, academic support, and community. When I was at Mount Miguel, the library was my refuge—a place to study, decompress, and seek mentorship. The person at the heart of that support system was our librarian, Mr. Jason Balistreri.

Mr. Balistreri is more than just a librarian. He is a mentor, a listener, and an advocate for students. When he took over the library in my junior year, he didn’t just manage books—he created a space where every student felt valued. He learned our names, helped us through personal and academic struggles, and made sure we had the resources we needed to succeed. When I felt overwhelmed, he would take the time to talk with me, play some music, and remind me that everything would be okay. He went above and beyond, not just by managing textbooks and Chromebooks, but by making the library a welcoming, inclusive space.

The board’s decision to eliminate librarian positions is more than just short-sighted—it’s indefensible. Cutting these roles does not save money. In fact, now the district has to hire even more new staff members just to cover the basic tasks that librarians were already doing. The nine teacher librarians we had were doing far more than checking out books—they were teaching research skills, media literacy, and responsible information use. They were mentors and educators, making sure students could critically analyze information in an era when misinformation spreads rapidly. The idea that schools can function without credentialed librarians is absurd.

If the district truly cared about students, they would be hiring more credentialed teacher librarians, not eliminating the ones they have. This decision undermines the quality of education, denies students equitable access to information, and strips them of a crucial support system. The library was the only place where many students felt safe, where they could think freely, explore new ideas, and receive guidance. Removing librarians is not just about budget cuts—it’s about fear. Fear of students having the tools to think critically, challenge ideas, and advocate for themselves.

This decision is an insult to students, educators, and the librarians who have dedicated themselves to helping us succeed. I urge the community to speak out against this harmful decision. Our students deserve better, and our district leaders must be held accountable for dismantling—not protecting—one of the most essential parts of our education.

Frustrated, disappointed, and demanding better,

Abagail Wojnowski, Mount Miguel High School, Class of 2023 UC Berkeley Student

The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org

Former national park worker speaks out on Trump renaming tallest U.S. peak

By Walt Meyer

March 2, 2025 (San Diego) -- Because I worked in Denali National Park during the summer of 2024, lately people have asked me about the naming of Mount McKinley. I talked about this in one of the lectures I gave at the Denali Education Center.

I spent that entire summer in Alaska, visiting five of its eight national parks, including Gates of the Arctic, far north of the Arctic Circle, and I learned a great deal about the 49^th state and its indigenous people.

Prior to my extended stay up north, for some reason, I had thought that Mount McKinley was renamed for the 25^th president after he was shot, just as after John F. Kennedy was assassinated many post offices, schools, and even an airport were renamed for him. If that had been the case, taking away the name of Denali might have been a little more forgivable.

But that was not the case with Mount McKinley. Denali was renamed for William McKinley before that governor of Ohio was even president. In 1896, some gold miners from Ohio who were trying to strike it rich in Alaska (along with thousands of others from all over the world), had the brilliant idea to rename the biggest mountain they had seen for McKinley who was then running for the Republican nomination for president.

In addition to wanting to support a fellow Ohioan, they had another motive: money. McKinley was running on the gold standard and these miners reasoned that if he was successful in taking the White House, and the US dollar was to be backed by gold, the government would have to buy up tons of the precious metal and that would drive up the price of gold and make them all rich.

The locals, even the white men who climbed it in the coming decades, still referred to it as Denali, which in the Athabascan language of the local indigenous peoples, meant “the big one” or “the tall one” or “the great one.” The name Mount McKinley was only used by “outsiders” as people from the lower 48 were called by the “Sourdoughs,” the people who came to Alaska to stay.

When the boundaries of Mount McKinley were vastly enlarged under the terms of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) in 1980, the indigenous people were given a seat at the table, which had been a rare thing in the US government’s treatment of native peoples. Among the things the tribes asked for was the restoration of some of their hunting rights in the expanded park and the restoration of their name for the highest mountain in North America. The National Park Service agreed and changed the name of the park to Denali National Park.

But the tall peak itself was under the purview of the US Geological Survey which is in charge of place names. Anytime the government hinted at changing the name, they were met with a mountain of resistance, primarily from the Ohio congressional delegation who did not want their home state’s martyred president stripped of his namesake mount.

Any president who tried to rename the mountain risked losing the key state of Ohio in the next election, so the park was Denali, but the mountain stayed McKinley for over two and a half decades, when President Barack Obama, as he was nearing the end of his second term, signed an executive order restoring the name. He waited until his term was almost over so he would not have to deal with the fallout for long. Alaska rejoiced. Ohio pouted.

When people would ask me why they “renamed” the mountain to Denali, I would politely correct them and say that the name of Denali was restored, not renamed. It had been Denali for millennia until some Ohio gold miners renamed it as a political stunt.

William McKinley never set foot in Alaska and never saw the mountain, so it makes more sense for it to have its ancient name, a name that means something. 

Walt Meyer is a San Diego-based author who has worked at multiple national parks. 

The views in this editorial reflect the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

I will continue leading this fight, and I challenge my colleagues in Sacramento to do the same. The question is: Will they act before it’s too late?

The opinions voiced in this reader's editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East CountyMagazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.(link sends e-mail)

By Supervisor Joel Anderson

February 7, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- Recently, I joined thousands of volunteers across San Diego County in participating in the 2025 #WeAllCount Point-in-Time Count - San Diego County's annual homelessness census.

This was my fourth time participating in the count, which is crucial to collecting data on the number and needs of people experiencing homelessness in San Diego County. This data is used all year long to help our region make decisions on where and how to target and advocate for funding in our efforts to address homelessness countywide.

About 40 of us met at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in El Cajon at 3:30 a.m. and set out to locate and survey people living in encampments and along the riverbeds.

For me, this annual event is more than just a morning of data collection.

This count puts real faces and names behind San Diego County's homelessness crisis and creates a new sense of urgency for anyone who participates. Their stories have played a big role in informing my policies and ideas to address homelessness, and helping determine where we can improve.

Since taking office in 2021, we have successfully implemented several innovative programs to address homelessness throughout San Diego County, with a particular focus in East County.

These policies and programs include:

• Opening a Safe Parking lot in East County
• Successfully advocated for $850k from Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-51) for a Safe Parking lot in Grantville (opening soon)
• Creating a Memorandum of Understanding on addressing homeless between the County of San Diego and East County cities
• Launching the Shallow Rent Subsidy Program to keep seniors off the streets and their homes
• Successfully obtained $17M in funding from the CA Governor's Office to address homelessness along the San Diego Riverbed through a collective partnership between the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, Caltrans, and the City of Santee
• Initiating a housing match program for seniors looking to live with other seniors
• Empowering local churches and nonprofits to host temporary emergency shelter sleeping cabins on their properties through a county grant

Check out this video below to follow along with me throughout the morning and see what the count is all about!

The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

By Laura Preble, El Cajon

October 28, 2024 (El Cajon) -- As a 20-year veteran of Grossmont Union High School district (West Hills and Monte Vista High School), I want to strongly urge East County voters to elect Jay Steiger and Chris Fite to the school board.  

The incumbents running have done numerous things this year to make the district unsafe and unworkable. They do not deserve to be re-elected. First, they eliminated all of the TOSA (teacher on special assignment) positions at the district level. As a person who worked with students and teachers directly, I can tell you that these TOSA staff were instrumental in making sure students and teachers kept up with the latest technology, both hardware and software.  Eliminating these positions ensures that teachers won’t be able to use new technology nor troubleshoot problems, and therefore students will miss out. These incumbents chose NOT to listen to employees who directly work with students, opting instead for ‘cost savings’ that no one can seem to explain. 

They also TOTALLY ELIMINATED the district School Safety department. In an era when school shootings are all too common, why would these board members think getting rid of comprehensive safety planning is a good idea? The School Safety department is integral to the safety and well-being of employees and students, and for anyone in a position to make that decision to choose to just get rid of it is puzzling and troubling. I have huddled with students in lockdown because of the threat of gun violence.  We’ve had two deadly gun violence incidents at our schools. I absolutely cannot understand the reasoning behind this decision, other than perhaps the trustees are hoping to decrease enrollment and lessen the number of employees? 

Please vote for Jay Steiger and Chris Fite for Grossmont Union school board. We need board members who care about our teachers and our kids.

The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.