San Diego, CA
Veterans weigh in on U.S. involvement in Iran
“It seems pointless. They change the reason for aggression against Iran daily,” Army Veteran, Forest Gray said.
Gray was among dozens of protestors who gathered at Memorial Community Park in Logan Heights Saturday calling for an end to the war in Iran.
Seeing the conflict play out is personal for him. Gray served eight years in the front lines in the Middle East.
“I fought in Iraq and you know, everyone wears the uniform, and gets deployed, we kind of expect and accept that we have to put our lives on the line, but ideally it should be a sense for a greater good. I don’t see what greater good there is here,” Gray said.
Gray is not alone.
Jonathan Chavez who served in the U.S. Marine Corps at Miramar Base in San Diego also disagrees with the U.S. involvement in Iran.
“No one wants these wars, no one has asked for these wars. Public opinion in this country is also very clear, the vast majority of Americans do not support these conflicts,” Chavez said.
Some Iranian Americans took a different stance last week, as hundreds took the streets of Clairemont.
“It was a feeling of euphoria knowing that my people are free, knowing that a dictator that has ruled Iran with iron fists for well over 37 years, has been killed, has been pushed out of the power and we can have a democratic Iran,” Bobby Shah told NBC 7.
Despite the sentiment, Saturday’s protest was hosted by an organization opposed to war in the Middle East.
They used signs and chants to make their stance clear: Stop the War in Iran.
Watching from a distance we found Marine Corps Veteran Chris Mondestin.
Even though he was not part of the protest, he also opposes the war saying the conflict should stay between Iran and Israel and the U.S. should stay out of it.
“It’s real scary. It’s real scary because I know there’s a lot of people that are truly against this war, but they don’t have much of a voice. That’s why I was kind of happy to see this, because we do have a voice. We just got to speak loud,” Mondestin said.
He also worries about the effects the war could have on the country’s safety, economy, and relationship with countries in the Middle East.
According to Iranian Diaspora Dashboard from UCLA’s Center of Near Eastern Studies, about 600,000 Iranians live in the U.S. and about half of them are in California.
San Diego, CA
Mission Boulevard shouldn’t require a four-wheel-drive vehicle
A few years ago, the city’s contractor completed undergrounding work in South Mission Beach — originally planned in the 1970s. The contractor tore up Mission Boulevard and the alleys. More disruption is scheduled soon, so it would be wasteful to install expensive concrete paving now. Yet the contractor left Mission Boulevard in terrible shape. Most sections benefit from a four-wheel-drive vehicle, with the only smooth stretch in front of city-owned Belmont Park. The 1970s Mission Beach Precise Plan called for better aesthetics along this main thoroughfare, but the city has spent nothing on it. As a first step, please smooth out Mission Boulevard.
— Gary Wonacott, San Diego
San Diego, CA
Of course Eric Swalwell should drop out of the gubernatorial race
California’s weird gubernatorial race just got weirder with the ongoing implosion of Rep. Eric Swalwell’s campaign.
“Rep. Eric Swalwell’s campaign for governor was reeling Friday after two news reports detailed accusations of sexual assault and misconduct, with multiple staffers resigning and both prominent allies and rival candidates calling on the California Democrat to exit the race,” reports Politico.
Reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN detailed multiple reports by women alleging sexual misconduct, including rape, by the Democratic congressman.
Campaign spokesperson Micah Beasley told NBC News of one of the reports, “This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race.”
It’s unknown to me whether the allegations are true, but Swalwell’s longtime friend and ally Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona pulled his endorsement of Swalwell. That says something.
The California Teachers Association also pulled its support, as did Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
Sen. Alex Padilla, who didn’t endorse Swalwell, has called on him to drop out of the race. “Given the gravity of these claims, Rep. Eric Swalwell should step aside to ensure a full, transparent investigation free from undue influence,” he posted on X.
Effectively, the entire Democratic political establishment that tried to rally behind him to encourage Democratic voters to rally behind someone to prevent a top-two lockout has turned on him.
Swalwell of course hasn’t been arrested or charged with anything and should be able to respond to allegations. For his part, according to CNN, he has sent cease-and-desist letters and has denied the allegations. The outlet, however, reports it “found corroboration for key elements of each of the women’s claims, including the former staffer who said she was sexually assaulted.”
That will all play out as it will. But no one should be putting themselves out there to be governor of California under this dark a cloud.The state of California has a lot of problems that demand the full attention of whoever succeeds Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The last thing the Golden State needs is a governor under fire for multiple accusations of sexual misconduct.
With ballots going out to voters in a few weeks, Swalwell should put his own ego aside and drop out of the race and give the other candidates room to make their case to voters.
If he is ultimately vindicated, that might bode well for him for future public service. But for now, it’s kind of impossible to make the case he should stay in the race unless you’re a campaign staffer who badly needs the money.
Unless, that is, you’re Steve Hilton or Chad Bianco and are reveling in the chaos of the Democratic field.
Sal Rodriguez can be reached at salrodriguez@scng.com
San Diego, CA
3 face child-abuse suspects arrested after drugs found in Spring Valley home: Sheriff’s Dept.
Three people were arrested in connection with a child abuse investigation after hard drugs were also found inside a Spring Valley home, authorities said Friday.
Child Welfare Services, in coordination with personnel from the Rancho San Diego Station, served a search warrant around 2 p.m. Tuesday at a residence in the 9000 block of Eucalyptus Street, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials said methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and drug-related paraphernalia were discovered during the search. The three residents, later identified as Karina Rice, Diann Whitt and Jarron Wood, were all taken into custody. The suspects’ ages have not yet been released.
Wood, who reportedly had an outstanding warrant, was also found with an alleged 7 grams of meth on his person.
All three suspects were arrested on suspicion of child abuse-related charges and drug possession. They were booked into San Diego Central Jail, the sheriff’s office reported.
Details about the child abuse charges were not immediately available.
Authorities urged anyone with further information to call the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s Station or the police.
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