SAN DIEGO (SDJW)– San Diego City Councilman Raul Campillo said Friday that after research with the office of City Attorney Mara Elliott, he decided that a hate littering law would be more appropriate at the state level than at the municipal level. Assemblyman Chris Ward (D-San Diego) agreed to carry the legislation (AB 3024), which carries a penalty of $25,000 per infraction.
The legislation was prompted by several instances in San Diego County of antisemitic flyers being left in neighborhoods with sizeable Jewish populations, including the Del Cerro neighborhood of San Diego. That was why a news conference recently held to announce the legislation was held in front of Temple Emanu-El. Among those standing up against hate was that Reform congregation’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Devorah Marcus.
In other government and politics news:
CNN carried a story about Rep. Sara Jacobs of San Diego and three other Jewish Democrats in Congress who are trying to find a middle ground between the “progressive caucus” to which they belong and the mainline, pro-Israel Jewish communities in which they grew up. The others are Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, and Becca Balint of Vermont. In the report by CNN’s Annie Grayer, Jacobs comments, “In San Diego, I’ve been protested by people who think that I’m not sufficiently calling for a ceasefire and those who think I’m not doing enough for Israel – some of whom I’ve known my entire life. It’s really turned into two separate camps. The more you try and carve out a middle, the more neither camp really feels like home.” After news of the Oct. 7 massacre became known in the United States, the first call Jacobs received to find out if her family in Israel was okay came from Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, the only ethnic Palestinian member of Congress, a CNN source disclosed.
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Rep. Adam Schiff, the Burbank Democrat who placed first in California’s “jungle primary” for U.S. Senate, defeated fellow Democrats Katie Porter and Barbara Lee while elevating through his TV commercials Republican Steve Garvey. Now with the help of Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) who has been raising money for Senate Democratic incumbents and challengers, Schiff has announced a $1 million fundraising goal to get him ready for the November runoff against Garvey, a former infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. The money will be evenly split between Schiff and Booker’s campaign fund for other Senate Democrats.
Schiff, who led the successful efforts in the House of Representatives to bring impeachment charges against former President Donald Trump, in the fundraising appeal, commented that Republicans are “folding like lawn chairs.” He added: “Mitch McConnell and virtually every Republican senator are back in Trump’s corner after they refused to hold him accountable for inciting the violent January 6 insurrection that put our lives in danger. It’s cowardice — and it’s proof that you and I are all that’s standing between Donald Trump and a second term in the Oval Office.”
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Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who is opposing incumbent County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, has announced his endorsement by the Greater San Diego Association of Realtors. Its president, Spencer Lugash, commented: “Our Association prioritizes the importance of the protection of private property rights and the assurance that our members can continue to help their clients achieve the American dream of home ownership and the creation of generational wealth. As Mayor, Kevin Faulconer epitomized these values, and we believe that he will be able to bring much needed change once again to the San Diego County government that will allow for an ease on restrictive regulations that will bring increased home production.”
OBITUARY NOTICE
Am Israel Mortuary reported that funeral services for Sandra (Cohen) Samit, 89, were scheduled at 12:30 p.m., Friday, March 29, at El Camino Memorial Park with Rabbi Avi Libman of Congregation Beth El officiating.
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SDJW staff report