By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – As this column has evolved, a name change from “B’Shalom” to “The Jewish Eye” is in order. My intent is to chronicle the participation of Jewish community members in such public activities as politics, science, the arts, sports, and business. Formatting will consistently place stories under geographic rubrics such as “International,” “National,” “California,” and “San Diego County.” Within those categories, the individuals will be listed alphabetically by surname.
If you know of any Jewish community member whose deeds in the public sphere should be noted in this column, please advise me via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
INTERNATIONAL
U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman has announced in San Diego the indictment of 12 people, citizens of both Mexico and the United States, on charges of extortion and laundering millions of dollars for the Sinaloa Cartel. “Mexican drug cartels cannot succeed without money launderers,” Grossman said. “Our office will prosecute not only those who traffic in drugs but also those who enable drug traffickers through sophisticated shell corporations and multiple bank accounts.”
NATIONAL
Michael Cohen, the former attorney for former President Donald Trump, is the subject of a $500 million lawsuit brought by Trump on Wednesday, April 12, in a federal court in Florida. The suit contends that Cohen violated his duties as Trump’s attorney by “spreading falsehoods” that were “likely to be embarrassing or detrimental.” Cohen told the Manhattan Grand Jury which indicted Trump on charges of falsifying business records about hush money payments to X-rated film star Stormy Daniels. Cohen lost his law license after being convicted in a related case. Cohen’s attorney, Lanny Davis, in response to Trump’s lawsuit, commented that the former President “appears once again to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation. It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him. Mr. Cohen will not be deterred and is confident that the suit will fail based on the facts and the law.”
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U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California), has been critically absent since mid-February on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where her vote is necessary to approve judicial candidates nominated by President Joe Biden. Due to this and Feinstein’s advancing age at 89, and, according to many, failing cognitive abilities, Rep. Ro. Khanna (D-Silicon Valley) on Wednesday called for Feinstein to resign her seat, clearing the way for California Gov. Gavin Newsom to appoint a successor. Khanna is supporting Rep Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) for the seat in what most observers believe will be a three-way contest with Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and Katie Porter (D-Orange County). Khanna commented, “We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Not speaking out undermines our credibility as elected representatives of the people.” Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minnesota) agreed with Khanna, tweeting: “Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. But I believe it’s now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain quiet.” From her home in California, Feinstein, who has been recovering from shingles, responded: “I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it’s safe for me to travel … I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee, so I’ve asked Leader [Chuck] Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until I’m able to resume my committee work.”
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Adam Frisch, who lost to Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) by just 546 votes last November, says a poll looking ahead to their 2024 rematch has them tied at 45 percentage points each, with the balance either preferring other candidates or undecided.
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A fifth employee of the Old National Bank in Louisville, Deanna Eckert, has died from wounds sustained during Monday’s attack by Connor Sturgeon, a disgruntled employee, whose death in a shoot-out put the total number of fatalities at six. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said of Eckert, 57 and a mother of two, “Deana was a very kind and thoughtful person. She was a wonderful woman who will be missed. Her death means another family in mourning and adds another layer of tragedy to this moment.” Greenberg has appealed to the Kentucky Legislature to enact gun safety laws.
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CNN Anchor/Reporter John King reports that House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has understated his support of his firebrand uncle Leonard Jeffries when the then-CCNY professor made antisemitic comments blaming “rich Jews” for the slave trade and Jewish executives in Hollywood for negative portrayals of African-Americans in the movies. Responding in 1992 to criticism of his uncle’s views from the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Commitee, Jeffries wrote in his student newspaper at Binghamton University, “Dr. Leonard Jeffries and Minister Louis Farrakhan [of the Nation of Islam] have come under intense fire, Where do you think their interests lie? Dr. Jeffries has challenged the existing white supremist educational system and longstanding distortion of history. His reward has been a media lynching complete with character assassinations and inflammatory erroneous accusations.” On Wednesday, the Democratic Leader’s spokesperson Christiana Stephenson told CNN: “Leader Jeffries has consistently been clear that he does not share the controversial views espoused by his uncle over thirty years ago.” Jeffries’ New York district has heavy concentrations of both Jewish and African-American voters.
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Abby Meyers, a University of Maryland guard, was selected in the first round of the Women’s National Basketball Association draft, and eleventh overall, by the Dallas Wings. Meyers, actively involved in the Jewish community, helped the U.S. Maccabi women’s basketball team win a gold medal last summer at the Maccabi Games in Israel.
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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker welcomed the announcement that the August 2024 Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago. According to a New York Times report, he reportedly told U.S. President Joe Biden: “Chicago is your kind of town and we’re going to throw a huge party for you.” Biden has not yet formally announced his candidacy for reelection. Republicans earlier announced their convention would be held in July in Milwaukee.
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U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) is among the “Gang of Eight” who will examine classified documents that have been found at residences and offices of President Joe Biden (from his Vice Presidential days), former President Donald Trump, and former Vice President Mike Pence. The eight members are the Majority and Minority Leaders of the House and Senate; and the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees.
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CALIFORNIA
David Bocarsly, executive director of the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) says that the organization’s Capitol Summit in Sacramento on May 9-10 will hear from State Sen. President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. Among issues to be discussed at the conference are fighting hate crimes and enhancing community security, advancing social services and civil rights to uplift vulnerable Californians, and bolstering California’s Jewish community organizations.
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Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills) has steered through the Assembly Health Committee a measure (AB 418) that would prohibit the manufacture sale, or distribution of any food product containing any of these chemicals: Red Dye No. 3, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Bromate, Brominated Vegetable Oil, and Propyl Paraben. Gabriel told the committee that these chemicals have been banned in the European Union because of scientific studies indicating they can increase the risk of cancer, juvenile behavioral issues, and immunological and reproductive difficulties. The bipartisan approval came on a vote of 12-1 with 2 abstentions. The measure goes next to the Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and toxic Materials.
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Eric Early, a Republican who lost a congressional race against Adam Schiff as well as a recent contest for attorney general, has announced that he will run in 2024 for the seat from which U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein plans to retire. Given that Schiff also has announced for that seat, there’s a possibility of a rematch on a grander scale. Currently Schiff and Democratic Congresswomen Barbara Lee and Katie Porter are considered the likely frontrunners for that seat, given California’s heavy Democratic party registration advantage.
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SAN DIEGO COUNTY
San Diego City Councilwoman Dr. Jennifer Campbell selected Ana Gloria “Martha” Rodriguez as a Woman of Distinction in her 2nd Councilmanic District. Campbell lauded Rodriguez for “preserving the First People of the Kumeyaay Nation’s culture and history.” She noted that Rodriguez has “opened the Kosay Kumeyaay Market , the first of its kind, in Old Town [San Diego] State Historic Park. Martha helps support indigenous women artists who create traditional pottery, baskets, jewelry, clothing and other items sold at the market.”
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Gina Jacobs, San Diego State University’s associate vice president for Mission Valley Development, has announced that Chelsea Investment Corporation of Carlsbad has been selected to build 182 affordable apartment units near Snapdragon Stadium. “SDSU has always been committed to the inclusion of affordable housing on-site at Mission Valley,” she told The San Diego Union-Tribune. “In partnership with Chelsea, which has strong experience and success in developing similar projects, we are taking a big step toward fulfilling our long-standing commitment.” In addition to apartments, the project will include a childcare facility to be operated by Episcopal Community Services, a community room, a computer lab, and bike storage. The project sits along the San Diego Trolley line.
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Alan Kholos has been appointed to fill the vacancy on the Del Mar Union School District Board occasioned by the arrest of Scott Wooden on charges of soliciting prostitution and Wooden’s subsequent resignation from the five-member board. Other Jewish community members on the board are Erica Halpern and Doug Rafner.
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By a 4-0 vote the County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday demanded that the missing fifth board member Nathan Fletcher resign prior to his intended May 15 resignation in the wake of sexual abuse allegations, Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer declared during that discussion, “Supervisor Fletcher will not be voting on any other items before this board. I personally would not participate if he did.” Fletcher currently is undergoing out-of-state treatment for PTSD and alcoholism.
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Rich Leib, chairman of the University of California Board of Regents, told The San Diego Union-Tribune that private donors have contributed approximately $13 million to endow a fund intended to increase UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla’s annual salary by $500,000 and thereby to prevent him from accepting the presidency of a prestigious private university. Leib did not identify either the private donors nor the competing private university. “This was a very, very strong commitment from the community to get this done because of what Pradeep has meant to San Diego, including helping to bring the Blue Line trolley to campus and building lots of housing.” Khosla, 66, also is credited for his role overseeing a $3.05 billion fundraising campaign that ended last year.
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The Maritime Museum has called for the construction of a new pier on which a formal museum would be added to its collection of ships at the Embarcadero of San Diego Bay. The proposal, according to a story by Lori Weisberg in The San Diego Union-Tribune, would have the Ticker Sadler architectural firm design the museum and David Cohn of the Cohn Group of Restaurants possibly creating a unique museum café. Tucker Sadler designed the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, named respectively for the families of local philanthropists Ernest Rady and Irwin Jacobs.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor emeritus of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
Enjoyed your latest format.