Miriam Raftery

Miriam Raftery

Miriam Raftery is the editor and founder of East County Magazine. With over 30 years experience as a reporter and editor, she has won more than 250 major journalism awards including the American Society of Journalists & Authors’ national Arlene Award for community journalism, ,San Diego Press Club’s Best of Show award, the Gloria Penner Award for political reporting from  the Society of Professional Journalists San Diego, first place investigative reporting awards from multiple organizations, and more.

She has covered major news stories including the California wildfires, Congressional and presidential elections, environmental issues, multicultural communities, and major land use controversies.  Her beat has also included feature reporting and travel writing. Her works have been published in dozens of regional and national publications including East County Magazine, San Diego Union-Tribune, Woman’s Day, Arizona Highways, Writer’s Digest, Décor and Style, the East County Californian and many others.

In addition, she established the East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts, helping to keep people safe and informed during fires, floods, earthquakes, and other emergencies.

An East County native, she takes pride in exploring East County’s back roads and byways, leaving no stone unturned in the quest for news and feature stories.

U.S. Senate Republicans Block ‘Right to Contraception Act’

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, a Democrat whose district includes part of San Diego’s East County, voiced outrage at her colleagues’ action. “I went on birth control in high school for debilitating cramps. I’ve used Plan B. I have an IUD. Birth control is health care for me and millions of others—and we deserve the right to access it,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday. [Miriam Raftery]

U.S. Senate Republicans Block ‘Right to Contraception Act’ Read More »

East County Magazine, Miriam Raftery, San Diego County, USA

Some La Mesa Residents Oppose City Council’s Ban on Remote Testimony; Ban was Implemented to Curb Hate Speech

East County Magazine recently interviewed La Mesa activists Janet Castaños, PhD, and Gene Carpenter, who raise concerns over La Mesa City Council’s Feb. 27 decision to end remote public comments.  The action came after antisemitic comments were made by several callers at the previous meeting, though the city’s stated reason for ending the public’s ability to call in with comments was that the COVID-19 pandemic is over. [East County Magazine]

Some La Mesa Residents Oppose City Council’s Ban on Remote Testimony; Ban was Implemented to Curb Hate Speech Read More »

Antisemitism, California, East County Magazine, Miriam Raftery, News Media, USA

Fundraisers Sponsored by Two Families Whose Lives Were Shattered in Shooting at Dental Office

Yareli Carrillo, mother of a 9-month-old baby, was one of two people injured when a gunman opened fire on Feb. 29 at the Smile Plus Dentistry & Orthodontics clinic in El Cajon where she works as an administrative assistant. The shooter, a former patient, killed Dr. Benjamin Harouni. [Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine]

Fundraisers Sponsored by Two Families Whose Lives Were Shattered in Shooting at Dental Office Read More »

East County Magazine, Miriam Raftery, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, USA

Anti-Israel Demonstrators Protest at Rep. Mike Levin’s Oceanside Office

Seated in the office, they read a letter to their representative, read, poetry, chanted and recited names of children killed in Gaza. They also held up a clothesline of baby clothes with the names of dead Palestinian infants. After three hours they marched out of the office to join nearly 50 demonstrators outside.  [Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine]

Anti-Israel Demonstrators Protest at Rep. Mike Levin’s Oceanside Office Read More »

East County Magazine, Israel, Middle East, Miriam Raftery, San Diego County, USA

Legislator from Santee under fire for comments about Capitol assault

Days after insurrectionists violently took over the nation’s capitol, threatening lives of legislators and resulting in five deaths including a police officer, statements made by East County Assemblyman Randy Voepel are drawing sharp criticisms, including calls for his resignation or expulsion from the Legislature. [Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine]

Legislator from Santee under fire for comments about Capitol assault Read More »

Miriam Raftery, San Diego County, USA

Some of the websites I like to read

In today’s column, I would like to share with you current editions of websites that I routinely visit as I familiarize myself with Jewish news from around the world.  If you have the time and inclination, I’m certain that the hard-working staffs who publish these websites would very much welcome your readership and support, as, of course, do I. [Donald H. Harrison]

Some of the websites I like to read Read More »

Chris Jennewein, Donald H. Harrison, Joe Gandelman, Ken Stone, Michael Ordman, Miriam Raftery

Cory Briggs, often City Hall’s foe, now seeks to be its lawyer

Asked why he’s running for the City Attorney office,  Briggs replies, “I’ve been fighting city hall for almost two decades. Running for office was never on my bucket list. But I’ve seen the consequences of not having good professional legal advice given to the client, in this case the city, and I’ve been watching it for administration after administration.”

He adds, “The city is facing big issues, but if you read the news, you see that the city frequently ends up in the court and it usually ends up on the wrong side of the cases. This costs the city a lot of money, it costs the city progress, and it’s time for the Mayor and the City Council to have a lawyer who is giving them sound advice without the lawyer’s political agenda driving that advice.”

Cory Briggs, often City Hall’s foe, now seeks to be its lawyer Read More »

Miriam Raftery, San Diego County

Fund established for family of slain SD Police Officer

By Miriam Raftery East County Magazine SAN DIEGO— A fund to help the widow and children of San Diego Police Officer Jonathan.”JD” DeGuzman has been set up by the San Diego Police Officers Association (SDPOA). DeGuzman was fatally shot during a late-night traffic stop July 28.  DeGuzman previously survived a stabbing 13 year ago during

Fund established for family of slain SD Police Officer Read More »

Miriam Raftery, San Diego County

The rising global tide of anti – Semitism

By Miriam Raftery East County Magazine SAN DIEGO’S EAST COUNTY (SDONA)—Last week,  a young Jewish man was shot and killed outside a Copenhagen synagogue. In Paris, as many as 250 Jewish graves were desecrated.  At the University of California in Davis, California earlier this month, swastikas were sprayed on a Jewish fraternity houseafter a demonstration by

The rising global tide of anti – Semitism Read More »

International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Miriam Raftery, USA