The Coast News INLAND EDITION
.com
VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
VOL. 5, N0. 12
MAY 31, 2019
Bill tackles marketing of sober homes
AB 5 roils state’s ‘gig economy’
By Steve Puterski
REGION — For years, residential treatment facilities and sober living homes have taken over neighborhoods up and down the state. The “bad actors” are exploiting loopholes and those in recovery, which has led state Sen. Pat Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) and Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) to act. The pair introduced Senate Bill 589, which would prevent an operator of a licensed treatment facility, other certified drug or alcohol program or third party, from making false or misleading statements about their products, services and location. It’s one step, Bates said, but a necessary one since there are no provisions in the California Health and Safety Code to curb unethical marketing, according to a senate analysis of the bill. “They kind of work in unison, where you have this deceptive marketing in part of this whole system,” Bates said. “There are promises made that aren’t delivered. It is certainly harming those who are in there purposefully who are there to be rehabilitated.” The bill unanimously passed the Senate (38-0) and is now in front of the assembly. Bates represents parts of Orange and northern San Diego County, and for years has been attempting to figure out ways to stop those bad actors from preying on people in recovTURN TO SOBER HOMES ON 5
Exemptions alleviate some concerns over bill By Steve Horn
ects, along with transit, must be included in the new Regional Transportation Plan. She, along with council members Amanda Rigby, John Franklin and Joe Green, railed against the proposal, saying it offers no clear path forward or proposed budget, is a broken promise to voters and will not adequately address traffic concerns in the city and along the SR 78 corridor.
REGION — After three years driving for Uber, “Samantha” can’t afford health care or rent payments. Today, the 36-year-old Oceanside resident and college graduate lives with her parents. And a $400 monthly student-loan payment isn’t helping her dire financial straits. Mostly transporting riders to and from Ocean’s Eleven Casino, Samantha makes $12-$13 per hour, after gas and vehicle maintenance expenses are taken into account. But a bill moving through the California legislature aims to protect people like Samantha (a pseudonym used to protect anonymity due to her tenuous employment status), who represent a large segment of contract-based workers. Currently awaiting an Assembly floor vote, Assembly Bill 5 aims to “codify” the Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court of Los Angeles California Supreme Court ruling issued on April 30, 2018, according to its author and lead sponsor, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego). Dynamex established the “ABC test” to determine whether a worker should receive contractor classification: (A) the worker is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work, both under the contract for the
TURN TO VISTA ON 7
TURN TO AB 5 ON 16
JACOB GIVES CSUSM ITS FIRST 1ST Cal State San Marcos women’s golfer Jaime Jacob, a junior from Encinitas, became the school’s first national champion in NCAA Division II competition when she won the individual title at this month’s Division II women’s golf championships in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. With Jacob leading the way, the Cougars finished as runners-up in the team competiton. See Sports on Page 9. Courtesy photo
Vista council not on board with SANDAG plan By Steve Puterski
VISTA — The proposal to shift TransNet funds from highways to transit has created a divide among elected officials and those at the San Diego Association of Governments. Executive Director Hasan Ikhrata’s “5 Big Moves” proposal calls for stripping all funding for highway projects and shifting the tax revenue to transit. On the morning of May 28, about two dozen
Vista residents gathered at the steps of the civic center to protest the City Council’s rejection of the plan and declining a presentation by SANDAG regarding the proposal. The council voted, 4-1, to send a letter penned by Mayor Julie Ritter, who sits on the SANDAG board, in opposition to the Regional Transportation Plan stating the shifting of the TransNet tax would hurt motorists along State Route 78, along with con-
nections at Interstate 5 and 15, respectively. “I’m in favor of transit,” Ritter said. “It works in areas where you have the population density and housing. I’m not arguing they shouldn’t do this, but I’m arguing I’m not willing that my city constituents and the city of Vista voted for to give up to this new transit plan.” In addition, Ritter said shifting the funds will “degrade” the confidence of voters, but noted highway and road proj-
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