Articles by The Grapevine

Skimming, scamming, recycling, aging

Skimming much worse than swimming in the ATM and gas tank pool With summer in full swing and travel on the rise, visits to the ATM and gas pump are increasing, and if you’re like most of us, debit and credit cards are the way to pay. But you want to make sure you don’t fall victim to credit card skimming. That’s one of the…


Issa participates in D.C. eugenics event

eugenic noun, ( used with a singular verb)  Study of or belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population, especially by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having   genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits (negative eugenics) or encouraging reproduction by persons presumed to have inheritable desirable traits.   So much for being a so-called Republican “moderate.” Embattled Congressman Darryl Issa (R-49th District) on June 28 participated in the eugenics founded and funded Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) annual “Hold Their Feet to the Fire” event at Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.. Also prominently featured were some of the the most anti-immigrant members in Congress such as Representatives Lou…


North County avocados in the news

North County San Diego and Temecula account for one-third of all avocados grown in California. The state produces 95 percent of all avocados grown in the U.S. Over the last 10 years, avocado acreage in the county has dwindled from around 30,000 acres to 18,000 acres. and expected to drop to 15,000 acres in the next two years. Total avocado crop value was nearly $198…


Trump won’t recover from Russia with love

‘RussiaGate’ Has Become a Catastrophic Failure of Leadership — and a Debacle From Which the Trump Presidency Will Not Recover May 23, 2017 by Douglas Blackmon This post first appeared on BillMoyers.com. A version of this post first appeared on Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Douglas A. Blackmon’s Facebook page. A little more than a week ago, I said on CNN and wrote on Facebook that —…


RSF: Dukakis, mansion nightmare, B. Black

Dukakis speaks at Fairbanks Ranch Michael Dukakis, 83, former governor of Massachusetts and 1988 Democratic candidate for president, spoke recently to the Rancho Santa Fe Democratic Club where I am VP for programs. Congressman Scott Peters was there. Also Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez and new husband Nathan Fletcher, a likely candidate for supervisor in 2018. Inspired by the recent election of Donald Trump, a capacity crowd…


Blue Shield CEO says GOP’s ‘flawed’ health bill would harm sicker consumers

The chief executive of Blue Shield of California, the largest insurer on the state’s insurance marketplace, issued a blunt critique of the Republican health care bill, saying it would once more lock Americans with preexisting conditions out of affordable coverage. In an interview with California Healthline on Wednesday, Paul Markovich said the GOP’s American Health Care Act is “flawed” and “could return us to a…


Judge rejects effort to reinstall painting taken down by Hunter at U.S. Capitol

A federal judge has rejected efforts to reinstall a painting in the Capitol that some lawmakers and police groups found offensive because it depicts police officers with animal heads. David Pulphus, a student artist from Missouri, and Rep. William Clay, his Democratic congressman, had sued Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers for removing the painting in January. They sought a preliminary injunction to have the…


California Congress members face quandary over Republican health plan (Issa flip-flops)

With the House expected to vote this week on the American Health Care Act, the GOP leadership’s first swipe at repealing the nation’s landmark health care law, California’s 14 congressional Republicans find themselves in a delicate position. Seven of them represent districts that voted for Hillary Clinton, and many of their constituents could lose coverage under the GOP health plan. Since the Republican bill was introduced…


Financial interests behind San Diego deals worth billions still undisclosed

Despite overwhelming voter approval in 1992, three separate city attorney recommendations and an inewsource investigation, the city of San Diego is still not following a law mandating government transparency. After recent follow-up questions from inewsource, however, three city council members have agreed to address the issue. Section 225 of the city charter requires every person or entity doing business with the city to make a “full and complete disclosure of the…


7 ways to experience the year-round city

Sometimes finding the perfect town to visit is very close to a familiar one. We’ve partered with travel writer Ava Roxanne Stritt of Spa Travel Gal to point out the features of the small town of Escondido, which has big activities to share. You would think a town this small would be a secret, but it is hard to keep from shouting in celebration when a place…