Other items in today’s column include
*Political bytes
*Recommended reading
SAN DIEGO — Cindy Bloch and Jean Gaylis will co-chair a Feb. 21 virtual “Hearts of Gold” gala honoring the front line workers “who are ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the residents of Seacrest Village, while providing love and compassion during these challenging times,” according to Anna L. Johnston, events manager of the Seacrest Foundation.
Proceeds from the gala “will benefit the Seacrest Village Resident Assistance Fund, which provides assistance for those whose savings have been depleted due to illness, injury, or for any reason, and for those who simply have no one to turn to for help,” according to Anne Nagorner, the fundraising chair, and Jessica Chodorow and Esther Fischer, sponsorship and underwriting co-chairs.
Cindy Bloch, along with her husband Larry, have been major supporters of Seacrest Village and the Seacrest Foundation. Cindy has chaired several Seacrest Foundation events, sits on the Seacrest Foundation Board of Directors, and is a committee member for the Women’s Auxiliary and Guardians.
Jean Gaylis is a founder of the Shalom Baby program through the Lawrence Family JCC, and has been a supporter for 25 years of the Women’s Auxiliary. Her daughter, Jackie, and son-in-law Todd Kirschen have a special relationship with Seacrest Village as Todd’s grandmother, Evelyn Sherman, is a resident there.
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Political bytes
*A San Diego Union-Tribune/ KGTV 10 News poll shows San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Bry with a slight 37-34 percent lead over Assemblyman Todd Gloria in the race for San Diego mayor. This is a remarkable turnaround from the March 3 primary when Gloria was the overwhelming frontrunner and it took weeks to decide whether City Councilman Scott Sherman or Bry had enough votes to come in second place. Eventually, Bry came out ahead in the count, but Gloria was considered the odds-on favorite. Since that time, according to the poll, Bry has made strong gains among voters over 50, those who consider themselves “conservative,” those who disapprove of the job being done by termed-out mayor Kevin Faulconer, and Latino voters. Gloria leads among voters who plan to vote by mail. The two are even among White voters, voters under 50, and Asian voters. Commenting on the poll, Bry said, “The political establishment and their special interests do not represent the real voices of San Diegans. Those voices come from everyday Democrats, Independents, and Republicans who want real solutions at City Hall, not more empty promises.”
*An article in Jewish Insider reports that 50th Congressional District candidates Ammar Campa-Najjar, the Democrat, and Darrell Issa, the Republican, have similar views about a two-state solution for Israelis and the Palestinians, but differ in their attitude toward the Iran nuclear deal which former President Barack Obama entered into and which current President Donald Trump pulled out of. Campa-Najjar said he favors re-establishment of an agreement with Iran, whereas Issa opposes anything like it. The article notes that both candidates are Arab-Americans and Christians, with Issa being of Lebanese descent and Campa-Najjar of Palestinian background.
*Sara Jacobs has picked up the endorsement of the National Association of Realtors Political Action Committee in her campaign for Congress against San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez. Robert Cromer, president of the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors, commented: “Sara will bring a new generation of leadership to Congress and will build coalitions to support our communities across San Diego County. We know Sara will stand with Realtors® in support of nationwide fair housing protections for the LGBTQ community, and defend funding for FHA programs that make it easier for middle-class families to afford a home in San Diego.”
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Recommended reading
*Sam Litvin, a Soviet union-born, San Diego-raised journalist, has a column in Times of Israel, about the emergence of the Jewish community in Ethiopia.
*Peter C. Herman, a San Diego State literature professor, speculates in a Times of San Diego article whether the Nov. 3 election will seem like a Shakespearean tragedy.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com