January 2025 Articles

East County News Service

Photo:  Cowles Mountain by Gerry Tietje

Source:  Santee School District

December 26, 2024 (Santee) - At the Organizational Meeting on December 17, 2024, Tracie Thill was sworn in to Seat No. 4 on the Santee School District Board of Education, with her term expiring in December 2028.

East County News Service

January 13, 2025 (El Cajon) — Grossmont Union High School District’s governing board has approved a major bond refinancing plan which will save East County taxpayers nearly $19 million by  reducing long-term interest costs on its existing school construction bonds.

Dr. Gary Woods, board president, says,  “These savings are exceptional. East County taxpayers’ investment in our bond program has completely transformed the educational opportunities that we will be able to provide students for years to come.  Our Board is committed to saving taxpayers their hard-earned money whenever possible. We are truly grateful for the community’s trust and proud to offer these savings back to our taxpayers.”

East County voters launched GUHSD's bond construction program with Proposition U, a $417 million bond approved in 2008, followed by Measure BB, a $128 million bond approved in 2016. These bonds have funded remarkable new construction, major upgrades to classrooms and labs, advanced technology, modern athletic and performing arts facilities, and cutting-edge Career Technical Education classrooms and equipment across the district. 

The Governing Board also secured nearly half a billion dollars in additional state school construction funds. “These resources have transformed the Grossmont Union High School District into one of the most state-of-the-art districts in the state, especially in career pathways,”  Dr. Woods says.  I want to extend my gratitude to Governing Board Trustees Robert Shield and Jim Kelly for their thoughtful leadership from the outset of the bond program. I also commend Superintendent Mike Fowler and the District’s fiscal services and bond team for their careful and diligent work, ensuring we honor our commitment to maximizing East County taxpayers' investment,” he added.

The Governing Board approved refinancing $104 million in Proposition U bonds, resulting in a net present value savings of $18,900,017. Mark Young of KNN Public Finance, who advised the district throughout the refinancing, noted that the savings rate – approximately 18% in long-term interest costs – is “very, very rare” for such transactions. Young praised the board for avoiding excessive spending with COVID funds and setting money aside to address anticipated future challenges.

East County taxpayers will see these savings reflected in reduced property tax rates starting in the 2025-26 billing cycle. This successful savings initiative follows three consecutive “A+” scores awarded to the GUHSD Bond Construction Program on the School Bond Transparency Report Card from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.

This bond refinancing involved replacing $65 million in Capital Appreciation Bonds with the Series 2024A Capital Interest Bonds, which carry a lower interest rate. The proceeds from the sale of the new bonds are being held in an interest-bearing escrow account, which will be used to retire the prior bonds at their maturity or redemption dates. The sale was strategically timed to leverage favorable market conditions in October 2024, maximizing taxpayer savings.

About the Grossmont Union High School District:

The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) provides education to over 16,000 students in grades 9-12 and is located in the eastern portion of San Diego County, an area of approximately 465 square miles, including all of the cities of El Cajon, Santee, and Lemon Grove, most of the city of La Mesa, a small portion of the city of San Diego, and the unincorporated areas of Alpine, Dulzura, Jamul, Lakeside, and Spring Valley. GUHSD’s family of schools and programs consists of nine comprehensive high schools, a middle college high school, one project-based learning school-of-choice, one continuation high school, three special education academies, four independent charter high schools, and an adult education program.

East County News Service

January 10, 2025 (San Diego County) – In December, a judge ordered a transient release to a temporary location in San Diego County for Alvin Quarles, a sexually violent predator (SVP). Now Supervisor Joel Anderson has written a letter to Superior Court Judge Marian Gaston urging her to block the release. Anderson has also launched a petition and is seeking signatures from constituents opposed to Quarles’ release.

Quarles has been dubbed the “bolder than most” rapist for a series of sexual assaults in the 1980s committed at knife point, sometimes with the victim’s husband or boyfriend forced to watch

An audit last year found that four percent of SVPs in the state’s conditional release program reoffended,  while 19% of SVPs not in the program reoffended.

“In light of the numerous heinous offenses committed by SVPs, transient releases that would prevent an effective oversight process to track and monitor SVPs should be rejected by the courts,” says Anderson, who has also objected to the high number of SVPs released into East County compared to urban and coastal areas in the county.

Several prior attempts to place Quarles into housing supervised by Liberty Healthcare failed, leading to the transient release plan.  Quarles served time in state prison and later, a state hospital, before being deemed suited for release under the conditional release program.

Source:  San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce

December 24, 2024 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon community of volunteers will once again select its Citizen of the Year from among the many that donate time and talent for the betterment of El Cajon.  Nominations will be made by volunteer organizations based or active in El Cajon and by the public at large. 

Since 1956 volunteers whose service has been in El Cajon have been honored by nomination and then selection during the month of January. Community groups, service clubs and the public at large are invited to submit the name and information about a special volunteer (only one per group) on an application form.  The winner of the 2024 Citizen of the Year will be selected frm the nominations by a selection committee comprised of participating organizations.  Rules and applications will soon be sent to community groups and service clubs in El Cajon, but any El Cajon volunteer organization or a member of the public may make a nomination.  To obtain the nomination form and rules, please call or contact the East County Chamber of Commerce:

San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce

201 S. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon, CA 92020

rickw@eastcountychamber.org 

(619) 440-6161

The deadline for submitting nominations is January 22^nd at 4:00 p.m.  All nomination materials must be received at the Chamber offices by that time and date.

The Citizen of the Year is a time-honored event to recognize exceptional volunteer service benefitting the City of El Cajon.  It has included everyone from community leaders to ordinary citizens who generously have given of their time and talent to improve the lives of people living in the City of El Cajon.

SAVE THE DATE:  The 2024 Citizen of the Year will be awarded February 18, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the State of El Cajon event to be held at 6:00 p.m., at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 E. Douglas Avenue, El Cajon.

January 2, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – 2024 has been a turbulent year, from devastating floods in January to controversies over homelessness and immigration, contentious elections, land use and fire issues, expansion of Jamul tribal lands, officials grappling with hate speech, resignation of the County Supervisors' Chairwoman Nora Vargas, and at year’s end, Syrian-Americans rallying in El Cajon to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime.

Below are the top stories of the year which had an impact in East County communities.

FLOOD INNUNDATES REGION

The year opened with extreme flooding in January, resulting in county, state and federal emergency declarations. As ECM reported, thousands sought help at a flood assistance center in Spring Valley. A woman drowned in a flooded Santee creek. In East County, floodwaters caused severe damage to homes in areas such as Rolando and destroyed relief supplies for Ukraine gathered by a Ukrainian church in Spring Valley, where community members sought donations to help neighbors. ECM published links to multiple relief and donation efforts to help victims, also highlighting acts of heroism.  A civil rights advocate announced plans to sue the city of San Diego over its failure to clear storm drains and attorney Mike Aguirre filed a class action suit. But those legal actions offered no help for residents of unincorporated areas, some still struggling to rebuild their lives.

FBI PROBES SHOOTING OF DENTIST IN EL CAJON

In February, a shooting suspect was arrested following a manhunt after he opened fire at an El Cajon dental clinic, killing Dr. Benjamin Harouni, who was Jewish, and injuring two other employees. The FBI launched an investigation and community members voiced concerns over a possible hate crime, though the shooter, Mohammed Abdulkareem, was a disgruntled patient.  Dr. Harouni’s family held a vigil and fundraised to help the surviving victims, also announcing plans to start a charity, Hearts over Hate.

DEADLY MARINE HELICOPTER CRASH

Crash of a Marine helicopter during a winter storm in February over rugged terrain near Pine Valley triggered a desperate search for survivors. Sadly, all five Marines on board were later confirmed dead.

HATE SPEECH LEADS TO BAN ON REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENTS IN LA MESA

In response to anti-Semitic rants in February during a La Mesa City Council meeting which may have been AI generated as part of a national campaign, councilmembers in March voted to ban remote public comments.  The action triggered objections from La Mesa activists who say remote comments allows greater public access; they hope that a newly elected Council majority may lift the ban in 2025.

WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN FINANCIAL CHALLENGES

In February, the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College abruptly closed amid restructuring, due to financial challenges after the Joint Powers Authority denied pleas to boost funding. Later in the month, the garden reopened with reduced hours and the Garden’s Joint Powers Authority taking over operations from the troubled Friends of the Water Conservation Garden nonprofit, which later declared bankruptcy and defaulted on several large loans.

By June, under leadership of interim director Lauren Magnuson with help from JPA members and volunteers, the garden reported strong growth in revenues, though a budget gap remained. The Garden drew a large crowd for its 25^th anniversary event in November, showing that the community supports the venue and wants it to thrive.  But troubles remain, since some JPA water agency members facing financial troubles of their own have voiced intent to withdraw and the remaining agencies don’t want to pick up the other agencies’ shares of funding.  Options include finding new funding sources, persuading reluctant water agencies not to bolt, or turning the Garden over to Cuyamaca College to use as an educational facility,  an option which some fear could limit or eliminate public access.

GUHSD STAFFING AND SAFETY CUTS

In March, over the objections of a vocal crowd, the Grossmont Union High School District’s board majority voted to lay-off 91 full time employees, including teachers, certified staff members, interpreters, and administrative assistants. The board also terminated the district’s school safety director and eliminated its department of school safety.

The action was shocking and particularly troubling in a district that survived two deadly  mass shootings at Santana and Granite Hills high schools in 2001. School shootings are at record levels nationwide today.

IMMIGRATION ISSUES

With a surge in migrants in Jacumba, ECM reporters used Google Translate to interview people in April who had come here from around the world including some fleeing violence in their homelands, others hoping for economic opportunities, and a young Russian opposed to the war in Ukraine. Their stories were harrowing and heartwarming; our coverage received journalism awards. Some political leaders stoked fear of migrants, much of it unjustified such as claims of rampant crime (in fact the crime rate among immigrants is lower than among citizens).  But one fear had a legitimate basis: border fires sparked by migrants seeking to keep warm or alert authorities when they needed help. By year’s end, local city and county leaders found themselves in the crosshairs between state and federal regulations, with the incoming Trump administration threatening to arrest civic leaders who refuse to cooperate in mass deportation efforts, while state law prohibits such actions. El Cajon’s City Council on January 7 will consider Mayor Bill Wells’ proposal to cooperate fully with federal immigration authorities. County Supervisors took an opposite path, seeking to protect migrants beyond what state law requires, but the Sheriff announced she will follow state law, which allow cooperation for deportations of serious criminals but not other migrants.  Coming next year: a new Border Patrol Station in Dulzura to house migrants, as ECM reported last January.

HOMELESSNESS

The point-in-time count conducted in January and released in May showed that while East County’s overall homeless population dropped 28% over the prior year, La Mesa and Lemon Grove had sharp rises, like due to the city of San Diego banning homeless camps. In June, a Supreme Court ruling found it legal to sweep homeless camps and effectively criminalize homelessness.

Yet efforts to provide housing for the homeless have proven frustrating for officials. Supervisors approved sleeping cabins for homeless people in Spring Valley in March, only to withdraw the plan in June after vocal public opposition. A new proposal to build the sleeping cabins in Lemon Grove raised hopes among homeless people interviewed by ECM in Lemon Grove. But residents accused county officials of ramming through the project before any public hearing and objected to some councilmembers voicing support for the plan with no public hearing.  One bright spot for the homeless came when the county announced plans in May to build an East Region Crisis Stabilization Unit and Recovery Bridge in El Cajon.

RABBIT HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE

An ECM investigative report in April on rabbit deaths in rural East County led the state to analyze carcasses, after residents said their requests to do so had been ignored. In June, the state confirmed deaths of rabbits in Jamul and Dulzura were due to rabbit hemorrhagic disease. The disease, a form of viral hepatitis, is fatal 50 to 100% of the time in wild rabbits and hares

CPUC REJECTS AT&T PLAN TO PULL PLUG ON LAND LINES

Land-line telephones remain the only reliable source of communication during emergencies in some rural East County areas.  So when ECM published a report on the proposal, local residents flooded the California Public Utilities Commission with comments objecting to the plan. At a March hearing, rural residents from across California warned that eliminating AT&T’s responsibility as telephone carrier of last resort could cost lives.  In May, the CPUC announced its intent to deny AT&T’s request, assuring rural residents would not be left without communications during emergencies.

CEMETERY PROPOSAL IN PINE VALLEY RAISES GRAVE OBJECTIONS

A proposed cemetery with capacity for 25,000 burials over Pine Valley’s sole-source aquifer drew strong objections from rural planning group members and residents concerned over potential groundwater contamination. One neighbor claims he was duped by a project representative, allowing access over his property in the belief that a single-family home was slated to be built, instead of a massive cemetery. At year’s end, the project remains pending, with no hearing date set yet by the County Planning Commission.

INCUBATOR BUSINESS CENTER OPENS IN EL CAJON

Fulfilling a decade-long dream, the Chaldean Community Council opened an incubator business center in El Cajon in May with a goal of helping refugees start up businesses to fulfill the American dream.  The county and city provided funding, using monies from the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Small Business Stimulus Grant program, and the County’s Community Enhancement program.

Supervisor Joel Anderson, presenting a half-million dollar check, called the day a “joyous occasion,” adding, “In East County, we’ve got enterpreneurial spirit to be tapped. He predicted that the enterprise will produce new entrepreneurs, “bringing wealth and opportunities to East County.”

CAMPUS PROTESTS OVER ISRAEL-GAZA WAR

Campus protests over the Israel-Gaza war erupted nationwide in May, including here in San Diego. Locally, a student protest at San Diego State University remained peaceful, but arrests were made at the University of California San Diego campus and in Los Angeles, student protests turned violent.  Pro-Palestinian protesters demanded an end to the war and to American funds and weapons being shipped to Israel as the Gaza death toll rose, also calling on universities to divest from investments in Israel. Counter-protesters expressed support for Israel, citing the deadly Hamas attack last year, and voiced concerns over safety of Jewish students and anti-Semitism.

BATTERY STORAGE FIRES IGNITE SAFETY CONCERNS

A fire at a lithium battery storage facility in Otay Mesa in May forced neighboring businesses to evacuate for nearly two weeks.  Another fire in May broke out at an Escondido lithium ion battery storage site, prompting evacuation of residents. In La Mesa, where a smaller lithium battery storage site was proposed, City Manager Greg Humora issued safety assurances, highlighting key differences between the Otay and La Mesa projects in size, technology, and fire protection plans. The incidents are reminders that clean energy technologies, though less polluting and free of greenhouse gases that fuel climate change, can pose safety issues of their own.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP CONVICTED ON 34 FELONY COUNTS

In May, a New York jury found former president Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony criminal counts of falsifying business records to conceal payments to a porn star in order to influence the 2016 election. But after his reelection in November, the judge delayed sentencing until after Trump’s four-year term of office. The action left Trump supporters rejoicing and critics decrying lack of accountability.

LEGENDS LOST

In May, two of East County’s most famous residents passed away: NBA basketball superstar Bill Walton of La Mesa and world renown architect/artist James Hubbell of Santa Ysabel. Their lives have ended, but their legacies live on. Read about other local leaders lost in 2024 here.

LOVELAND RESERVOIR RESTORATION

In a win for local fishing enthusiasts, Sweetwater Water Authority voted in May to restore the floating fishing dock destroyed by a storm, after extreme draining of the reservoir left the dock vulnerable. But activists’ efforts to restore sunrise-to-sunset access remain unresolved.

FIRE INSURANCE AND ZONE ZERO DEFENSIBLE SPACE REQUIREMENTS

Soaring and often inaccessible fire insurance rates, new “zone zero” defensible space mandates for the five feet closest to structures, and how to form fire-wise communities were among the hot topics discussed at the Jamul-Dulzura Fire Safe Council meeting in June. Speakers Sharon Smith, outreach analyst with the Calif. Dept. of Insurance, and Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire Captain Thomas Shoots provided insights, as ECM reported. In September, ECM interviewed Cal Fire Captain Mike Cornette, with tips on how to prepare for wildfires and keep households safe.

CATHOLIC DIOCESE DECLARES BANKRUPTCY

In June, Cardinal Robert McElroy announced that the San Diego Roman Catholic Diocese was declaring bankruptcy. The action shields the church from paying out full settlements over sexual abuse claims and enables the church to continue it religious mission. But an attorney representing survivors of clergy sex abuse is blasting the action as a deceptive legal ploy to protect church assets and hide secrets.

18 LOCAL WATER SYSTEMS FAIL SAFE DRINKING STANDARDS

In San Diego County, 18 water systems failed repeated tests due to contaminants that include arsenic, uranium, nitrate, nitrite, manganese, E-coli, heavy metals, and more, including numerous water providers in East County. Sixteen other local water systems are at risk or potentially at risk, according to state records. ECM interviewed state water officials on our radio show for in-depth details on why so many water systems are failing safety tests—and what’s being done about it.

EGG RANCH FIRE IN RAMONA

A fire at the Demler Brothers Egg Ranch in July killed tens of thousands of chickens, raising animal cruelty concerns.  The ranch supplies eggs to Walmart, Smart & Final and other major retailers, yet had no plans to evacuate birds even in adjacent barns to the one in which chickens burned to death.  The ranch has previously been investigated for animal cruelty complaints after investigators from Direct Action Everywhere, an animal rights group, reportedly found tens of thousands of birds in extreme confinement, with corpses on the floor and injured birds languishing in trash bins.

PARKWAY PLAZA REDEVELOPMENT

With online sales taking a bite out of retail traffic, shopping malls across the U.S. are struggling and some have closed down. Seeking to avoid that scenario, the City of El Cajon commissioned a market analysis envisioning redevelopment options for Parkway Plaza,  East County’s largest regional shopping mall. In July, El Cajon Councilmembers unanimously favored a motion to move beyond proposed aspirational measures and begin the next step toward transforming Parkway Plaza into a mix of residential, retail, offices, entertainment and community space.

TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS

A would-be assassin opened fire at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania in July, killing an audience member, injuring Trump’s ear and wounding two other rally goers before Secret Service killed the gunman. Two months later, Secret Service agents spotted a man pointing a rifle as Trump golfed two holes away at his Florida course.  An agent opened fire and the man fled, dropping the weapon. He was arrested a short time later. The incidents raise questions over the adequacy of Secret Service steps to protect former presidents, and presidential candidates.

SHERIFF ANNOUNCES DRUG SCREENINGS FOR EMPLOYEES AT JAILS

In the latest effort to address the high rate of deaths in local jails, Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced in July that random drug and contraband screenings would be implemented at county-run jails. The action had long been called for by advocates of jail reforms to prevent drug overdoses among incarcerated individuals.

BIDEN DROPS OUT OF PRESIDENTIAL RACE, HARRIS ACCEPTS NOMINATION

Following a shaky debate performance, 84-year-old President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race in July, just months before the November election. In this unprecedented situation, Vice President Kamala Harris accepted her party’s nomination to head the ticket at the July Democratic National Convention.  Despite a strong debate performance against Trump in September, Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, ultimately lost the election to Trump in November, when Republicans also took control of both the House and Senate.

WILDFIRES THREATEN HOMES

ECM sent alerts on dozens of brush fires in 2024 across our region, including several with evacuations in East County communities. The largest was the Nixon Fire, which scorched 4,941 acres in late July and early August. The blaze burned 7 homes in Riverside County and caused evacuations in the Warner Springs area in San Diego County before firefighters finally extinguished the fast-moving fire.

JUDGE BLOCKS FANITA RANCH IN SANTEE

In the latest round of legal wrangling over the proposed 3,000-home Fanita Ranch project in Santee, a in August judge ordered Santee’s City Council to rescind its latest approval of Fanita Ranch. Judge Katherine Bacal ruled on behalf of environmental groups led by Preserve Wild Santee, finding that the city illegally ignored its own rule which required that voters be allowed to weigh in on any new development requiring a change to the city’s general plan.

LOCAL CLIMATE ACTIONS

In September, County Supervisors adopted a new climate action plan, a blueprint for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the unincorporated area and at County facilities to reach net zero emissions by 2045. In November, La Mesa’s City Council adopted an enhanced climate action plan which Councilman Jack Shu called “best climate change plan” in the region. Although the incoming Trump administration has pledged to slash climate action programs and withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, the actions of local governments still have a role to reduce greenhouse gases and work to slow climate change.

PROJECT 2025

Project 2025 is an 887-page blueprint for a second Trump administration, according to its authors. Trump has alternately praised it, claimed never to have read it, and said he disagrees with parts of it; he has denied knowing its authors, even though those authors include 140 top officials and advisors from Trump’s first presidential term, some of whom wrote entire chapters. ECM reviewed the entire document and provided an analysis of its most controversial provisions and how they could impact our readers and our community.

Project 2025’s  stated mission is to restore family as centerpiece of American life, “dismantle the administrative state”, defend our nation’s sovereignty and borders against global threats, and secure ”God given individual rights to live freely.” But if fully implemented, it would dismantle many branches of our federal government, shut down the department of education and the federal emergency management agency (FEMA), politicize federal agencies,  weaponize the justice department, weaken environmental protections and abandon climate change goals, as well as take away many rights and protections for women, minorities, and the LGBTQ community.

SALES TAX MEASURES APPROVED BY VOTERS IN 3 OF 4 EAST COUNTY CITIES

With local governments grappling to fund essential services ranging from police and fire protection to filling potholes, four East County cities put measures on the ballot to increase or extend prior sales tax hikes.  Voters in Lemon Grove, La Mesa and Santee voted enthusiastically to support passage of those measures, but Santee voters defeated a sales tax initiative intended to bolster fire protection.

NEW FACES TO REPRESENT EAST COUNTY

The November election swept in some new faces to represent East County communities.  Lemon Grove voters sought change, ousting an incumbent mayor and councilmember while voting in Alysson Snow as the new mayor, along with new councilmembers Steve Faia and Alysson Snow.  In La Mesa, two open seats were won by Lauren Cazares and Genevieve Suzuki, giving La Mesa a diverse city council with four women, two Latinos, an African-American, and the city’s first LGBTQ+ representative.  ECM held candidate forums for Lemon Grove’s mayoral and council candidates, as well as for La Mesa’s city council contenders.

In the state Assembly, Carl DeMaio defeated fellow Republican Andrew Hayes, while LaShea Sharp-Collins won over fellow Democrat Colin Parent. Akilah Weber, formerly in the Assembly, advanced to the State Senate, defeating Bob Divine.  California also has a new U.S. Senator, Democrat Adam Schiff. 

Incumbents won reelection handily in the El Cajon and Santee City Council races, while East County’s incumbent Congressional members Darrell Issa and Sara Jacobs also won reelection by wide margins.

ISRAEL-LEBANON CEASE FIRE

In November, U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emanuel Macron announced a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The historic accord  included assurances that Israel will be secure from threats by Hezbollah, which had been bombing Israel from southern Lebanon, and other terrorist groups, with stabilization of southern Lebanon to be provided under international supervision. The agreement called for withdrawal of Hamas from southern Lebanon and withdrawal of Israeli forces, with a goal of ultimately allowing residents of both Israel and southern Lebanon to return safely to their homes.

SERIAL ARSONIST ARRESTED

In early December, Cal Fire announced the arrest of a serial arsonist accused of setting nine fires in November including blazes in Rancho San Diego, Jamul, La Mesa, San Diego, and Dehesa. The news came as a bright spot, helping to keep our communities safer.

BIRD FLU EMERGENCY

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state emergency in December over bird flu, after the virus began spreading through dairy cows and raw milk. San Diego County Public Health officials issued a warning to consumers not to consume raw, unpasteurized milk and not to feed it to their pets, since some have died as a result.  Bird flu has also been transmitted to workers handling farm animals or wildlife carrying bird flu, which can be fatal to humans as well as animals.

SYRIANS IN EL CAJON CELEBRATE LIBERATION OF THEIR HOMELAND

After the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in Syria, hundreds of local Syrians gathered in El Cajon’s Kennedy Park to celebrate Syria’s liberation with dancing, sharing stories, and waving. U.S. flags. Emotions ran high among refugees who fled Syria to escape the brutal Assad regime. Now, local Syrians report seeing  friends and family members freed from the infamous Saydnaya prison. Many harbor hopes of someday returning home, but for now, they are waiting to see the results of the new leadership and whether its promise of a stable Syrian future will hold.

SUPERVISORS’ CHAIR NORA VARGAS STEPS DOWN OVER SAFETY CONCERNS

In a surprise announcement, newly reelected Nora Vargas, Chair of the County Board of Supervisors, announced she will step down January 6 when her term ends due to “safety and security” concerns. Vargas has said she has received death threats and harassment. The County’s first Latina Supervisor has also faced hateful comments online and abusive remarks at public meetings, as well as harsh criticism and racist remarks over her advocacy for equity and support for immigrants. She has also drawn concerns from Spring Valley and Lemon Grove residents over her support of sleeping cabins for the homeless. She and her staff have also been targets of legal claims claiming they discriminated against prospective employees.  

Her resignation will leave the board with a partisan 2-2 split until the position is filled either by appointment or special election.  Her decision not to serve her next term is deeply troubling if due to death threats and harassment as she has indicated, something no public official should have to endure.  Whether or not other factors influenced her decision, announcing a resignation due to severe harassment  also has the disturbing potential to embolden disturbed individuals to launch racist personal attacks or threaten harm to other elected officials--actions that have no place in a free society.

JAMUL TRIBAL LAND EXPANSION

 In December, legislation authored by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) to place 172 acres of land in East County into tribal trust for the Jamul Indian Village passed the House and headed to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law, after the measure passed the house and a companion measure authored by Senator Padilla passed in the Senate.

Tribal Chairwoman Erica Pinto told Senators that in approving the measure, “The federal government would be helping the Tribe to honor its ancestors and their sacrifices in order to remain and prosper in the place that we have always called home.”  Legislators approved the measures despite objections raised by the Jamul-Dulzura Planning Group over potential traffic issues and concerns over the procedures followed.

Congressman Issa stated, ““This is the right thing to do, and it empowers not government, but individuals, to take new charge and best care of their lives. This Fee-to-Trust bill provides that opportunity, securing Jamul’s land, preserving its sacred sites, and protecting Kumeyaay traditions for generations to come.”

By Sergio Olmos, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Photo:  Farmworkers work on a field outside of Bakersfield in Kern County on July 25 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

January 22, 2025 (Kern County, Calif.) - Acres of orange fields sat unpicked in Kern County this week as word of Border Patrol raids circulated through Messenger chats and images of federal agents detaining laborers spread on local Facebook groups. 

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

“A society is always eager to cover misdeeds with a cloak of forgetfulness, but no society can fully repress an ugly past when the ravages persist to the public. America owes a debt of justice which it has only begun to pay.” – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a press conference in 1964; public domain image via Wikipedia

January 22, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – While the nation honored slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, President Donald Trump ironically issued sweeping executive orders to revoke not only Biden-era diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) guidelines for all federal agencies, but also roll back actions to protect minorities dating back to the 1960s, such as affirmative action, USA Today reports.

The actions drew swift condemnation from Bernice King, MLK’s daughter.  She posted on social media, “This is what my father described in his book, ‘Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?’, as #WhiteBacklash. That’s when any work and progress in the areas of racial justice and equity are met with assertions that no change is needed; with insistence that programs purposed for preventing pervasive, historically anti-Black policies and practices are harmful and unneeded; and with lies and distortion to convince people to curtail the work and progress.”

She noted that her father’s “dream encompassed eradicating racism, including in healthcare, policing, banking, and education,adding,”We have not done that. So don’t attribute canceling #DEI to wanting to honor #MLK.”

DEI programs aim to assure that people of all backgrounds are welcome and have resources to succeed regardless of race, color, or gender orientation. It differs from affirmative action programs, which have a goal of remedying historical injustices through preferential hiring practices.

Trump’s order claims that DEI has corrupted federal institutions by “replacing hard work, merit, and equality with a divisive and dangerous preferential hierarchy.”  His order to eliminate DEI will impact all levels of the federal government, including aviation, medical programs such as Medicare, and federal law enforcement agencies.  The federal government employees over 2 million civilian workers, of whom the largest number, 147,000, are in California, according to the Congressional Research Office.

During Trump’s first term, he issued executive orders to ban government contractors and federal agencies from offering diversity training, even setting up a tip line for whisteblowers to turn in employers who defied the order.

Private-sector employers may be targeted next, a Trump official told USA Today.

Already, some private employers, notably Amazon and Meta,  have announced that they are dropping or scaling back DEI programs.

But other companies are pushing back, such as Apple and Costco. Both have urged shareholders to reject anti-DEI proposals, and argue that diversity initiatives are good for business.

A USA Today investigation suggests the need for DEI remains.  The study found that the top ranks of America’s largest companies remain predominantly white and male.

Civil rights leaders have voiced outrage over Trump’s latest actions.

“We have DEI because you denied us diversity, you denied us equity, you denied us inclusion, “ the Rev.Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network, said at the Metropolitan AME church, a historic black church in Washington  D.C.  “DEI was a remedy to the racial institutional bigotry practiced in academia and in these corporations.”

By Henri Migala

Photo: cc via Bing

January 22, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- On Monday, January 20, President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time, once again placing the world's top historic emitter of greenhouse gases outside the global pact aimed at pushing nations to tackle climate change.

The withdrawal comes amid increasingly severe wildfires, hurricanes and other severe weather disasters fueled in large part by rapidly accelerating climate change. A National Climate Assessment study found that climate change is affecting every region in the U.S., across economic sectors.

Far from taking any other steps to reduce carbon emissions, however, President Trump has issued executive orders to end actions aimed at cutting carbon and increase use of fossil fuels that accelerate climate change.

His administration has also deleted all climate change information and references from federal websites, eliminating access to key data for researchers, the press, and the public.

What is the Paris Climate  and why is it important?

The Paris Climate Agreement is a landmark international accord that was adopted by nearly every nation in 2015 to address climate change and its negative impacts. The agreement holds countries accountable to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to limit the global temperature increase in this century to 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, while at the same time pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees.

The only countries in the world which have not ratified the 2015 Paris Climate  are Iran, Libya and Yemen. With President Trump’s removal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, the U.S. has now joined those countries.

From the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):

The Paris Climate Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015. It entered into force on 4 November 2016.

Its overarching goal is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”

However, in recent years, world leaders have stressed the need to limit global warming to 1.5°C by the end of this century. That’s because the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that crossing the 1.5°C threshold risks unleashing far more severe climate change impacts, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and rainfall.

To limit global warming to 1.5°C, greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 at the latest and decline 43% by 2030.

The Paris Climate Agreement  is a landmark in the multilateral climate change process because, for the first time, a binding agreement brings all nations together to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.

History of U.S. climate action and commitments under Paris Climate Agreement

The United States' relationship with the Paris Climate Agreement has seen significant shifts, influenced by changes in presidential administrations. Under President Barack Obama, the U.S. was an active participant in the negotiations and played a significant role in shaping the agreement. In 2016, President Obama formally signed the Paris Agreement, committing the U.S. to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025.

In 2017, President Donald Trump, who called climate change “a hoax,” announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Agreement, citing concerns about its economic impact and fairness to American industries. The formal withdrawal process took effect in November 2020.

On his first day in office, President Biden formally notified the United Nations of the United States’ intent to rejoin the Agreement, which the US did thirty days later, on February 19, 2021 (a delay required by policy).

The U.S., under President Biden, took an active role in global climate negotiations, aiming to reduce emissions, invest in renewable energy, and encourage other countries to enhance their climate commitments. The U.S. pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and was working to advance both domestic and international climate action.

In 2022, less than two years since taking office, President Biden’s leadership to tackle the climate crisis had boosted U.S. manufacturing and deployment of cost-cutting clean energy technologies, put the country on a durable path aligned with limiting warming to 1.5 °C, and galvanized global action by partners and the private sector – building unprecedented momentum towards achieving critical climate goals and strengthening global resilience.

Former President Biden’s climate action plan, presented at the COP27 (The 27^th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Egypt in November 2022, positioned the United States to achieve the ambitious goals of reducing emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels in 2030 and to net-zero by 2050 through a series of unprecedented climate actions. 

These Green New Deal actions were not only reducing emissions, but promised to bolster energy security, help families save money on their energy bills, create good-paying jobs for workers and spur a new era of clean American manufacturing, advance environmental justice, and ensure healthier air and cleaner water for communities.

Trump declares national energy emergency,  moves to worsen greenhouse gas emissions

On Monday, January 20, President Trump terminated America’s commitments to address climate change, both domestically and internationally, while promising to actively and aggressively engage in activities that directly contribute to climate change, such as committing the US to use more fossil fuels that increase greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S. has been the world’s largest oil and gas producer for years. The CEOs of Exxon  and Chevron have said oil and gas production levels are based on market conditions and are unlikely to change meaningfully in response to Trump’s desire to “drill, baby, drill.”

As part of President Trump’s energy agenda, the President has declared a national energy emergency, arguing that the U.S. faces a “precariously inadequate and intermittent energy supply, and an increasingly unreliable grid” that threatens national security.

In anticipation of President Trump’s promise to expand U.S. production and use of fossil fuels, President Biden moved to protect U.S. coastal waters from oil and gas drilling. President Trump has issued an order to revoke Biden’s ban, although it is uncertain if the President has the authority to do so. A federal court struck down a similar order by Trump during his first term that sought to reverse President Obama’s move to protect Arctic and Atlantic waters from similar exploitation. President Trump has also ordered the exploitation of natural resources in formerly-protected , environmentally sensitive raeas in Alaska.

Excerpts from the President’s Executive Order:

Sec. 3.  Implementation.  (a)  The United States Ambassador to the United Nations shall immediately submit formal written notification of the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

(b)  The United States Ambassador to the United Nations shall immediately submit written formal notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, or any relevant party, of the United States’ withdrawal from any agreement, pact, , or similar commitment made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

(c)  The United States Ambassador to the United Nations, in collaboration with the Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury, shall immediately cease or revoke any purported financial commitment made by the United States under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

(e)  The U.S. International Climate Finance Plan is revoked and rescinded immediately.  (Note: all references to the US International Climate Finance Plan have been removed from all US government websites and was not available for review for this article).

(f)  Within 30 days of this order, the Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Agriculture, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Chief Executive Officer of the International Development Finance Corporation, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, President of the Export-Import Bank, and head of any other relevant department or agency shall submit a report to the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs that details their actions to revoke or rescind policies that were implemented to advance the International Climate Finance Plan.

Global and domestic reactions to the announcement of the second U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement:

World Meteorological Organization Spokesperson Clare Nullis:

"The United States of America accounts for the lion’s share of global economic losses from weather, climate and water-related hazards. According to the U.S. figures, the U.S. has sustained more than 400 weather and climate disasters since 1980 where overall costs exceeded $1 billion... The need for the Paris Agreement is more urgent than ever."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning:

"China is concerned about the U.S. announcement that it will withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Climate change is a common challenge facing all of humanity. No country can stay out of it, and no country can be immune to it."

Brazil's Environment Minister Marina Silva:

"President Donald Trump in his inaugural speech started to confirm the most pessimistic predictions about the challenging times to come. His first announcements go against backing the energy transition, combating climate change, and valuing renewable energy. They are the opposite of policies guided by evidence brought by science and common sense imposed by the reality of extreme weather events, including in his own country."

Former French Prime Minister and President of COP 21 Laurent Fabius:

"This is a serious decision, contrary to scientific evidence, but one that should not prevent us from continuing the vital international fight against climate change and its serious consequences for humanity."

New York Governor Kathy Hochul And New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Co-Chairs of the U.S. Climate Alliance:

"Our states and territories continue to have broad authority under the U.S. Constitution to protect our progress and advance the climate solutions we need. This does not change with a shift in federal administration ... It's critical for the international community to know that climate action will continue in the U.S. The Alliance will bring this message to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil (COP30) later this year."

Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO of World Resources Institute:

"It simply makes no sense for the United States to voluntarily give up political influence and pass up opportunities to shape the exploding green energy market."

Resources:

“Everything you Need to Know” about the Paris Climate Agreement: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/paris-climate-agreement-everything-you-need-know

To read the full text of President Trump’s Executive Order to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and revoke the US International Climate Finance Plan, see: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/putting-america-first-in-international-environmental-agreements/

For additional information and to read the full details about the strategies and goals of the Paris Agreement, see:  https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement

The Green New Deal: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/109/text

Extreme Weather and Climate Change:

https://www.c2es.org/content/extreme-weather-and-climate-change/

National Climate Assessment: https://refresh-stg-c2es.pantheonsite.io/content/national-climate-assessment/