5
T he C oast News - I nland E dition
FEB. 18, 2022
Bill to outlaw ghost gun kits at Fairgrounds
3 in race to replace Franklin on council
By Tigist Layne
VISTA — Local businessman and longtime resident Vince Hinojosa III has announced his candidacy to replace John Franklin on the City Council. Hinojosa, who has been endorsed by both Franklin and Mayor Judy Ritter for the District 4 seat, says that he made the decision shortly after Franklin told him about his own campaign to run for mayor. Also running for office in District 4 are Armen Kurdian, a retired Navy captain and businessman, and Dan O’Donnell, a member of Vista’s Chamber of Commerce as well as the city’s Rotary club. Hinojosa, who is a medically retired U.S. Marine, has lived with his family in Vista since 1999 and has worked as an independent financial planner and analyst in the city for over 20 years. He also serves on a variety of public and private financial advisory boards, including the Finance Committee for the City of Vista, Frontwave Credit Union and the city’s Chamber of Commerce. “I got into finance because I like the service industry, I like helping people,” he said. “As I saw it, there’s a real need for financial advice because so many people do not know how to save for retirement,” Hinojosa said of his career. His experiences in business, in financial planning, and as an avid community volunteer have all helped shape him as someone capable of leading in a role on the City Council, Hinojosa said, comparing the dynamics of running a city to those of running a business. Like Franklin and another mayoral candidate, Vista Unified Trustee Cipriano Vargas, Hinojosa emphasized that policies surrounding homelessness and public safety will be central to his candidacy. “The safety of Vista is extremely important to me, and in my eyes that goes hand in hand with homelessness,” Hinojosa said. “We have a huge problem with homelessness and we need to start in our own backyard. Here in Vista, homelessness is a double-edged sword, because it’s both an addiction problem and a mental health issues problem.” Hinojosa also spoke of the need he sees for city policies to encourage an environment of growth and sustainability for small businesses. In particular, he said that he’s opposed to taxes that he said have a disproportionate impact on local businesses, such as the city’s gas tax. “The gas tax affects a lot of small business owners, it affects places that rely on Postmates, Uber Eats, delivery,” he said. “When it comes to things
DEL MAR — The state Assembly last week passed a bill by San Diego lawmaker Assembly member Chris Ward that would ban the sale of “ghost gun kits” at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Assembly Bill 311 prohibits firearm precursor parts used to manufacture untraceable ghost guns. Ghost guns are firearms that are assembled from kits and do not carry serial numbers, making them untraceable. Since ghost guns are manufactured in parts, they can be assembled at home and are, therefore, not registered and buying them does not require a background check. Existing legislation prohibits the sale of firearms and ammunition at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This bill would go one step further and prohibit the sale of weapons parts or partially assembled ghost guns. Ward, who represents the 78th District said this legislation would close a very dangerous loophole that still exists. “Californians should have the ability to legally own firearms,” Ward said. “However, the proliferation and use of ghost guns bypass common sense policies created to protect our communities from senseless gun violence.” The City and County of San Diego have passed their own ghost gun laws, however, the Del Mar Fairgrounds are state lands operated by the 22nd District Agricultural Association (DAA). “The 22nd District Agricultural Association operates the Del Mar Fairgrounds, and complies with all applicable local, state and federal laws, which would include this new legislation if adopted,” the DAA said in a statement via email. Ward’s bill comes at the same time as a new proposed legislation that would prohibit the sale of firearms and ammunition on all state property, which would prohibit gun shows at state fairgrounds. Legislation already exists that prohibits gun shows at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and the Orange County Fair. This new legislation, Senate Bill 915, introduced by Senator Dave Min, would apply to all 73 California state fairgrounds. Both bills are already drawing criticism from gun rights groups like the San Diego County Gun Owners (SDCGO) PAC, the same group that filed a lawsuit against the City of San Diego for passing a similar ordinance last year that prohibits the sale of ghost gun parts. Assembly Bill 311 will now move to the state Senate.
By Stephen Wyer
COMEDY DUO Cheech Marin, left, and Tommy Chong formed the comedy group, “Cheech & Chong.” Chong, 83, is lobbying to legalize cannabis nationwide. Courtesy photo
CHEECH & CHONG CONTINUED FROM 1
a sense of humor… weed opens the mind.” Now, Chong and partner-in-comedy Cheech Marin have launched their own cannabis delivery service that will be available throughout the State of California on Feb. 1, including right here in San Diego County. The service offers more than 300 products to choose from, including Cheech & Chong’s own line, and free delivery with no minimum purchase requirement and a 60-minute express delivery option as well. “There are several distribution centers throughout the state with upwards of 100 drivers on the road at any given time, ensuring delivery to customers throughout California no matter where they are,” said Aaron Silverman, chief marketing officer of Cheech & Chong’s Takeout. The delivery service pledges to bring “the absolute highest quality lab-tested, pesticide-free medicinal and recreational products that California has to offer,” with a range in vapes, edibles, concentrates, and of course, flower, according to the company’s website. Chong said the delivery service was started partly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has ultimately forced more delivery services forward for other industries like food and grocery over the last two years of social distancing practices. Customers of Cheech & Chong’s Takeout will be able to schedule their delivery time range and follow their order status.
“We’re following all protocols to ensure safe and efficient delivery to customers,” Silverman said. Besides his takeout gig, Chong has other plans to grow the future of cannabis. “We’re looking at a cannabis-based monetary system,” Chong said. “That’s on the horizon as a new thing you can do with cannabis.” Chong also wants to see the nation’s prisons and jails reformed too, adding he would like to team up with a cannabis company to create “rehab centers” for mental health needs. At the top of the list for Chong is lobbying President Joe Biden to legalize cannabis nationwide. While recreational cannabis is legal in 18 states, plus Washington D.C. and Guam, and is allowed for medical use in 36 states, the federal government still considers the drug illegal. The United State Drug Enforcement Agency, or DEA, classifies drugs into five different “schedules,” with the most restricted ones at the top and the least at the bottom. Cannabis, or marijuana, is currently listed as Schedule I, which means federal law deems it unacceptable for medical use and has a high potential for abuse— right alongside heroin, LSD and ecstasy. In response, Chong wants to see cannabis moved to Schedule II, or a lower drug scheduling class. For example, although Schedule II drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and oxycodone are also considered dangerous with a high potential for abuse, they can be used for medicinal purposes with DEA approv-
al, unlike Schedule I drugs. Chong is confident that the nation will see cannabis legalized nationwide soon. “It’s just a matter of time,” Chong said. According to the Pew Research Center, a 2021 survey found that an overwhelming majority (91%) of Americans believe cannabis should be legal both recreationally and medicinally. But local groups, such as North Coastal Prevention Coalition, are still pushing back against the legalization of recreational cannabis use in the cities of Oceanside and Vista, which have already moved forward with cannabis regulations and established businesses. Currently, the cities of Carlsbad, San Marcos and Escondido do not allow dispensaries or other cannabis-related businesses to set up shop there, but delivery services outside of those cities can still access customers there. For North Coastal Prevention Coalition members, cannabis is still a dangerous drug that they want to keep out of the hands of the community and particularly away from children. Many cannabis legalization advocates like Chong argue that cannabis is hardly dangerous, yet is considered more dangerous than cocaine, methamphetamine or fentanyl under federal law. “We’ve got to get away from the myth that it is somehow dangerous,” Chong said. “It’s been proven to be so harmless and so effective as a medicine, yet when you tell these things to some people it’s just so hard for them to believe.”
that the City Council will vote on I’m going to make sure that small business owners have a voice.” Kurdian expressed that his experience as a naval officer has uniquely prepared him for public office, as he has the experience needed in management as well as in a leadership role required for a role on the city council. “I’m running because I love serving and working for the betterment of my community, much as I did when I was in the Navy. Public office is about the citizens you will serve, not simply a title,” he said in a statement. Kurdian says that he’s running for office on a platform of lower taxes, less regulation for businesses and an increased focus on public safety. With crime increasing statewide, Kurdian vowed to tackle the problem head-on in Vista by bolstering local law enforcement agencies. “My number one priority is public safety. We have an internationally accredited fire department and have world-class service from our Sheriff’s Deputies. However, as our population has grown, the level of service has not kept up, and we need to increase it,” Kurdian said. “We cannot let the epidemic of crime occurring in so many parts of California take hold in our beautiful city.” O’Donnell said that he’s going to run a community-oriented campaign, focusing on listening to the specific needs and wants of Vista residents. “One of my campaign goals is to meet and speak with as many constituents as humanly possible; I look forward to hearing everyone’s perspective so we can work to meet everyone's needs and achieve our goals together,” he said. O’Donnell also emphasized his extensive background of volunteering in the community, which he said will inform his approach to city government. O’Donnell has co-founded or volunteered at a plethora of Vista nonprofits, including the James Ryan O’Donnell Memorial Fund, Make Shadowridge Sparkle, Angel’s Food Pantry, and the city’s Boys & Girls Club. O’Donnell also expressed that as an officeholder he’d work to tackle the long-term structural problems behind issues like homelessness, which he called “a community crisis.” “It’s important to step back and understand the root causes of addiction and mental illness — a lack of real connection with people who truly care about and love them, and a history of trauma and pain. “We’ve been operating in a system which has valued some over others, let some fall to the wayside.”
