FREEWHEELIN’
Hundreds of riders descended on Bradley Park in San Marcos on June 24 for the grand opening of an 8-acre bike park and pump track. Construction of the $1.1 million park involved 14,000 cubic yards of donated dirt and assistance from professional mountain bikers Austin “Bubba” Warren and “Shreddie” Eddie Reynolds. Story on 8.
City’s public speaker policies, mayor’s comments criticized
By Laura Place
SAN MARCOS — Indi-
viduals who have repeatedly called for the San Marcos City Council to consider a cease-fire resolution say city leaders have adopted more restrictive policies in retaliation to their presence, and are also demanding an apology from Mayor Rebecca Jones for stating she felt “threatened” by attendees.
Since late May, members of Students for Justice in Palestine at Cal State San Marcos have peacefully protested outside the Civic Center on the days of City Council meetings, making public comments criticizing Israel’s ongoing assault in Gaza.
During these comments, several individuals have requested that the City Council place a cease-fire resolution on their agenda to show support for the people of Palestine and make it
public speakers’ time limits from five minutes to three, bringing the city in line with other jurisdictions throughout San Diego County. The policy also states that the mayor maintains the power to reduce the amount of time for speakers as they see fit.
“San Marcos was the only city currently providing five-minute speaker periods for public speakers,” said City Attorney Helen Peak.
Esco refines limitations on camping
By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO — The City
Council replaced its current law that bans homeless encampments on public property with more specific regulations on where encampments are forbidden just days before the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of cities to ban camps.
Council approved the new ordinance by a 4-1 vote on June 26, replacing the city code banning homeless encampments on public property with language that specifies the need for more enforcement against encampments to protect city waterways, parks and other public spaces.
Additionally, the new ordinance establishes a set of protocols that provide proper notice to unhoused individuals when an encampment is to be dismantled.
The city was already storing belongings from encampment cleanups prior to the new ordinance, but unhoused individuals only knew where to go to retrieve their items through word of mouth, according to city staff.
Under the new ordinance, notices of encampment cleanup will be provided 24 hours in advance and impound notices with directions on where to go to retrieve belongings will be left at former encampments where belongings were taken in by the city during the cleanup process.
According to staff, the new ordinance will make it easier for city police and public works to enforce and quicken the removal of encampments and reiterates the city’s obligation and need to help protect the life of its citizens as well as environmentally sensitive lands from trash and other pollutants.
clear that the city does not support the United States’ aid to Israel.
On June 25, the City Council unanimously adopted a policy shortening
The new policy also states that speakers requiring interpretation and translation will be allowed double the amount of time of other speakers and limits the size of any signs or banners brought into chambers to 22 by 24 inches.
City officials said they have been working to update the policy for months
Vista Fire updates fleet
VFD welcomes six new fire engines and a new ambulance to enhance response capabilities. 9
San Marcos rejects appeal
Hughes Circuits can expand its campus after the city rejected an environmental group’s appeal. 3
Cannabis equity effort
Vista plans to help those adversely affected by past marijuana laws get a foothold in the local industry. 5
“The protection of waterways is a critical component of what we’re trying to do here, and I think all would agree that the city has an obligation and a duty to do so,” said City Attorney Michael McGuinness.
The new ordinance specifically states it is unlawful to:
• Build or erect structures within or along city waterways (Escondido Creek, Kit Carson
Photo by Laura Place
FIRE PARAMEDIC Michael Saldana at the June 20 ceremony at Vista Civic Center. Photo by Laura Place
SAN MARCOS Mayor Rebecca Jones, shown in December, faces criticism for saying she felt “threatened” by students asking to speak with her about a cease-fire resolution. Photo by Laura Place
Sprinter corridor gets $10.2M in federal grants
By City News Service REGION — U.S.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on June 26 announced more than $15 million for two projects in San Diego County, part of $1.8 billion in awards from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant program.
The Sprinter corridor service improvement project between San Marcos and Escondido received $10.2 million, and the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal redevelopment plan phase II planning project was awarded $5 million.
The local projects are part of four in California granted more than $65 million through the RAISE
“Through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we're funding projects across the country to make roads safer, make it easier for people to move around their community, make transportation infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather and improve supply chains to keep costs down for consumers.”
that 7-mile stretch include planning for 3.6 miles of double track, three new bridges, a new station platform and grade crossing improvements. Safety enhancements at grade crossings are also part of the planned improvements.
program, which has granted more than $7.2 billion for 550 projects since it was started.
“After decades of un-
derinvestment, the condition of America's infrastructure is now finally getting better instead of worse — and today we
proudly announce our support for 148 more projects in communities of every size across the country,” Buttigieg said.
The Sprinter grant funding will go toward preliminary engineering and environmental clearance for rail improvements to the easternmost portion of the rail corridor between Palomar College Station and the Escondido Transit Center, the department of transportation statement said.
Improvements along
Appeal rejected; San Marcos project a go
By Laura Place
SAN
MARCOS
— An expansion of the Hughes Circuits campus in San Marcos will be able to move forward after the City Council unanimously rejected an appeal of the project by an environmental group last week.
The proposed project will construct an approximately 67,000-square-foot light industrial building on a vacant 10.46-acre site at South Pacific Street and Linda Vista Drive. The two-story building will serve as another site for the operations of Hughes Circuits, whose current building is located across the street.
Just days after the city Planning Commission unanimously approved a site development permit and environmental impact report for the project in mid-April, Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility, or SAFER, filed an appeal alleging that the project did not comply with the California Environmental Quality Act.
Specifically, SAFER said the city should not have adopted the project as proposed because a smaller, alternative version — a 21,800-square-foot warehouse — was also studied and would have had fewer environmental impacts.
“Where a project is found to have significant and unavoidable impacts, CEQA requires the adoption of a feasible alternative that meets most of the project
objectives but results in fewer significant impacts,” SAFER said in an April 15 letter.
SAFER also argued that the environmental impact report (EIR) did not adequately outline the impacts to the land, the project objectives were excessively narrow, and that comments from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were not adequately addressed.
At the City Council’s June 25 meeting, Hughes representatives reiterated that the reduced alternative would require many of the same mitigation measures as the larger project, and would not meet the project objective for a fiscally sound
and employment-generating project that maximizes the light-industrial zoned area.
The electronics manufacturing company currently has around 250 employees.
“We would love you to deny the appeal and support Hughes’ efforts to expand business in town,” said Matt Simmons of Collaborative Consultants Inc., the firm representing the applicant.
Noah Garrison, an attorney representing SAFER, said that just because the smaller alternative would mean a smaller business expansion didn’t mean it was infeasible.
“The city can’t make the
finding that the reduced alternative is infeasible,” Garrison said.
City staff and Hughes representatives addressed several of SAFER’s arguments. They confirmed that the EIR accurately characterized biological resources onsite and the needed mitigation measures and was not deficient.
Simmons also claimed that SAFER’s statements about the development’s alleged environmental impacts did not rely on data related to the actual project site.
Hughes representatives also noted that the new building will be contained
to around 2.6 acres of the vacant site, and 75% of the parcel that contains vernal pools and sensitive species will be maintained as open space.
“[Hughes] purchased the land knowing they were going to dedicate 75% to open space,” Simmons said.
City staff also said all comments from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were addressed, and there were no outstanding requests from the agency.
City Council members questioned why no members of SAFER or any of their subject matter experts attended the meeting to speak about the appeal, instead relying only on their attorney.
“This group’s very passionate, apparently, but they didn’t show up, and that’s very bizarre to me,” said Councilmember Mike Sannella.
The council rejected SAFER’s appeal in a 5-0 vote and expressed excitement for the project, noting that the parcel is currently unsightly and needs restoration. Officials also thanked Hughes for keeping their business in San Marcos and continuing to grow.
“I’m looking forward to what it’s going to look like, because it is a bit of an eyesore over there right now,” Mayor Rebecca Jones said.
The project site is across the street from the newly opened Bradley Bike Park to the west and is surrounded by industrial uses to the north and south.
Funding for the RAISE grants is split equally between urban and rural areas, and a large percentage of grants support regions defined as “historically disadvantaged or areas of persistent poverty,” the DOT said.
As in years past, the demand for RAISE funding outpaced available funds, with the DOT receiving almost $13 billion in requests for the $1.8 billion available this year.
Dyslexia program patented
By Samantha Nelson CARLSBAD
— A Carlsbad optometrist received a patent earlier this spring for his method of correcting dyslexia and other reading disabilities.
Dr. David Bloch, a local optometrist and dyslexia expert, said he discovered a key element that prevents those with dyslexia from reading properly and has created new super tools that quickly correct their reading abilities.
Dyslexia is a learning disability that includes difficulty with reading speed and comprehension, spelling and writing. Formerly known as “word blindness,” dyslexia is the most common neuro-cognitive disorder and the leading learning disability in the United States, according to Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity.
Reading requires auditory, visual and cognitive skills, and any issues with these skill sets can cause confusion and frustration.
While traditional reading methods use a phonetic or auditory-based approach to teaching reading, research has shown that students with dyslexia have poor phonological awareness, leaving them unable to use sound patterns to learn how to read.
According to Bloch, students with dyslexia are unable to match what they hear with what they see when interpreting text.
“It’s not about needing glasses – it’s about auditory and visual processing,” Bloch said.
Bloch’s Reading Without Limits program teaches the new pat-
THE FUNDS will go toward improvements to the portion of the Sprinter rail corridor between Palomar College Station and the Escondido Transit Center. File photo
A PORTION of the 10.46-acre vacant parcel at South Pacific Street and Linda Vista Drive in San Marcos will be developed into a light industrial building, with the remainder of the property to be preserved as open space. Courtesy photo
A MAP shows the project site for a 67,000-square-foot light industrial building at South Pacific Street and Linda Vista Drive in San Marcos. Courtesy photo/City of San Marcos
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INTERNS
Striking a balance with housing, nature
By Esther Sanchez
From the majestic Sierra Nevada to the San Francisco Bay, to the sun-drenched beaches of Southern California to the craggy shores of the north, our state is known for its spectacular natural beauty.
It’s also known for its forward-thinking environmental laws that protect these indispensable public resources for all to enjoy for generations to come.
At the heart of California’s environmental protection framework is the landmark California Coastal Act, enacted in 1976 to ensure and enhance public access to the shoreline, preserve open space, protect sensitive coastal marine habitat and biodiversity and balance development and conservation.
Under the jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission, the Coastal Act has successfully done so since its inception.
But in recent years, the Coastal Act has been unjustly portrayed by some as an obstacle to California’s effort to correct its decades-long failure to build enough affordable housing.
For years, residents have grappled with exorbitant rents, skyrocketing home prices and an ever-growing homeless population.
In response, state lawmakers are scrambling to find solutions. Some are proposing bills that would streamline development along the coast by weakening the Coastal Act.
the Coastal Zone, declared the Coastal Act has played “a pivotal role” in preventing needed housing on the coast.
The Coastal Act requires the Coastal Commission to “encourage housing opportunities for persons of low and moderate income.” Furthermore, Coastal Commission members and staff assert that the commission
sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the integrity of our environmental protection framework. The Coastal Act was born out of a recognition that unchecked development threatens not only our natural landscapes but also our quality of life. By prioritizing short-term housing goals over longterm environmental sus-
It’s crucial to recognize that California’s coastline is more than just a stretch of land ripe for development.
has never denied a fully affordable housing project since its inception.
We can be thankful that, at long last, California is trying to fill the need for more affordable housing to more than just the wealthy. But that has created a political rub where there needn’t be one. Housing advocates and their champions in the Legislature have the wrong target. Their approach is short-sighted and risks irreparable harm to our coastal ecosystems.
It’s crucial to recognize that California’s coastline is more than just a stretch of land ripe for development. It’s a vital ecosystem that supports diverse marine life, provides critical habitat for endangered species, and serves as a natural buffer against coastal erosion and sea-level rise.
tainability, we risk sacrificing the very essence of what makes California so unique and desirable.
Californians rightly consider the coast a treasure and want it protected. A 2006 PPIC poll found that 9 of 10 residents said the quality of the beach and ocean was just as important as the overall quality of life and economy of the state and warned that “political leaders may want to heed the possible fallout from these critical attitudes.”
The times have changed, of course, but not the love Californians hold for the coast. A 2023 PPIC poll found that 2 of 3 residents view oceans and beaches as important to the state’s future economy and quality of life.
While the need for affordable housing is undeniable, it’s essential that we not sacrifice our precious environmental heritage at the altar of expediency. Yet, bills that would do just that keep coming.
One legislator, who has a well-intentioned but misguided measure to remove the Coastal Commission’s ability to review density housing developments in
Furthermore, it’s an economic driver for coastal communities that thrive on tourism and the recreational opportunities the marine environment provides.
Any attempts to circumvent environmental laws in the name of housing must be approached with extreme caution, as the consequences could be far-reaching and irreversible.
Moreover, weakening environmental regulations
The Coastal Act and the Coastal Commission stand as bulwarks against unchecked development, reminding us of our responsibility to protect and preserve our natural resources for future generations.
As we work to address the housing crisis, let us do so in a way that honors our environmental legacy and ensures a sustainable future for all Californians.
Esther C. Sanchez is the mayor of Oceanside.
For more than 25 years, as they climbed the political ladder of politics in California and the nation, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris have acted like friendly colleagues, assiduously avoiding conflict.
They shared a mentor in former San Francisco mayor and state Assembly Speaker Willie Brown. They shared campaign consultants. They’ve never butted heads, each always running for offices the other was either willing to bypass or ineligible to hold (Harris was San Francisco district attorney; as a non-lawyer, Newsom could never do that).
Now the cognitive problems of President Biden are pushing them toward a possible rivalry.
As pressure mounts for Biden to step away from the Democratic Party nomination for president, Harris and Newsom are on most short lists to replace him.
Harris has survived several close calls, including a razor-thin victory in her first run for California attorney general, and she’s never been an overwhelming vote-getter. Witness her early withdrawal from the 2020 Democratic primaries.
Newsom has had no trouble getting elected, winning all his runs by wide margins: twice for San Francisco mayor, lieutenant governor twice, governor twice and easily beating back the 2021 Republican-sponsored recall attempt.
Both are among the most vocal advocates for Biden even after his June 27 debate debacle, in which he appeared sometimes to lose focus and failed to call out any of ex-President Donald Trump’s outright lies with specific information.
One example came when Trump repeatedly claimed Democrat-dominated states allow not just late-term abortions, but also killing of babies after they’re born.
No state allows this. It is murder everywhere. But Biden did not say that. It was his best chance to show 50 million viewers just how blatant Trump’s lies can be. It was a blown opportunity.
This is one cause of the pressure now mounting on the incumbent to bow out and let delegates to the August Democratic National Convention choose someone else. Such pressure cannot get much stronger than the firm call from the New York Times to step down.
It will be much harder for Biden to survive that call than for Trump to survive a similar demand from the Philadelphia Inquirer that he step down because
of his incessant stream of falsehoods.
If they were not from the same state, even the same city, Newsom and Harris might team up as a possible replacement ticket for today’s Biden-Harris. But they can’t be on the ticket together. In American history, there has never been a same-state ticket; many scholars believe it would be unconstitutional. This is one thing making Trump hesitate to pick Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his running mate, with Trump’s official residence also in Florida.
Who else could Democrats tap aside from Newsom or Harris, both now performing credibly in speaking for Biden after his debate problems? Harris sticks up for him, while also conceding that was “not his finest moment.”
Newsom, already Biden’s leading surrogate, was strategically present in the “spin room” after that debate, repeatedly denying interest in replacing Biden.
But there was no General Sherman-like statement of “if nominated, I will not run” or “if elected, I will not serve.”
Yes, Democrats could tap someone like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker or Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, both popular in their states. But no Democrat besides Newsom and Harris actually has national debate experience, Newsom having taken on Florida’s conservative Gov. Ron DeSantis last fall while neither was actively seeking office.
Newsom is also the only Democrat to use his own campaign money for TV commercials backing Democrats and excoriating Republicans in red states like Alabama and Florida. Plus, Newsom has campaigned not only for Biden, but many other Democrats. Harshly criticized by the California GOP for recording and distributing his state of the state speech, rather than doing it live, Newsom may have had an instinct, since that speech could serve as a Democratic manifesto by maintaining progressive values are the best antidote for excesses of the far right represented by Trump. All of which means that more than perhaps anyone else, both Harris and Newsom are prepped and ready to step in if Biden drops out. Email Thomas Elias at
Samantha Mason
Fiona Bork
Sophie Love
tom elias
6 jailed in fatal stabbing; gang fight suspected
By City News Service ESCONDIDO
— A half-dozen suspects — all but two of them teenage boys — have been jailed in connection with a suspected gang-related fight in Escondido during which two men were stabbed, one fatally.
The suspects allegedly were involved in the April 27 fracas in the 1000 block of North Ivy Street, which left 37-year-old Manuel Ramirez of Escondido fatally wounded, according to police. A second man also suffered stab injuries during the late-night brawl but survived.
Arrested recently on suspicion of murder in the case were four boys — two of them 16 years old, one 15 and the other 17, Escondido police Lt. Ryan Hicks said.
The teens, whose names were withheld because they are minors, were booked into juvenile hall in San Diego. Jailed in adult county lockup were Ricardo Fernandez, 19, and 22-year-old Jose Francisco Martinez.
The six suspects, all residents of Escondido, were booked on suspicion of first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon and participating in a criminal street gang.
ESCO MAN SUSPECTED OF USING CAR TO KILL
CARLSBAD — A man suspected of killing another man last week by running him down with a car in a neighborhood near Buena Vista Lagoon was arrested during a traffic stop a short time later and jailed on suspicion of murder.
Patrol officers responding to a report of a disturbance found the victim lying mortally wounded near the roadway in the 2300 block of Rue Des Chateaux in Carlsbad about 3:30 a.m. June 28, according to police. The victim, whose name was withheld pending family notification, died at the scene.
A short time later, officers spotted the suspect in a car leaving the area and pulled it over in the 700 block of Raintree Drive, just west of Interstate 5, Carlsbad Police Department Detective Jordan Walker said.
Officers arrested one of the occupants of the car, 41-year-old Robert Cameron Owens of Escondido, on suspicion of killing the victim.
Police disclosed no suspected motive.
FIRE DAMAGES
VISTA ALBERTSONS
VISTA — Fire damaged an Albertsons supermarket in Vista early June 29, prompting a temporary closure.
The fire was reported around 2:30 a.m. Saturday at 1601 S. Melrose Drive in the Melrose Village Plaza, according to a social media post from News Flash San Diego. It was reported that sparks in a dumpster outside the store caused the fire, the post said. No injuries were reported.
Escondido closes $11.3M budget gap, OKs fee hike
By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO — Ear-
lier this month, the City Council adopted the upcoming fiscal year’s operating budget, again using one-time funding and other cuts to city services to help close another $11.3 million shortfall.
The city has been facing an ongoing structural budget deficit in its general fund for the last few years, having also closed a $11.3 million budget shortfall last year.
According to staff, the city’s operating revenue has not kept pace with the growing costs of providing city services, sending the general fund spiraling into a structural deficit.
While staff continues to make cuts, Financial Services Director Christina Holmes warned the City Council during its budget adoption hearing on June 19 that if the city continues to go without a significant increase to its revenues, the city’s reserve funds and one-time funding resources would be gone by 2030 – and more dire cuts will be necessary.
Although the city avoided using reserve funds this year, one-time funds from the American Rescue Plan Act helped close some funding gaps.
Approximately $3.033 million in ARPA funds will cover the next two years of the library management
DYSLEXIA CONTINUED FROM 3
ent-approved method. The program does not emphasize phonics, sight reading, picture books or verbal cues. Instead, Bloch uses a series of drills to reprogram how the brain stores and retrieves reading information.
These drills “break bad brain habits,” Bloch said, which allows an otherwise poor reader to properly process visual and auditory patterns.
According to Bloch, people with dyslexia face stigma from others who believe their inability to read
agreement to Library Systems & Services, a private for-profit organization that runs the city’s library system; meanwhile, $1.84 million will cover the California Center for the Arts management agreement and utility costs.
ARPA funds must be dedicated for use by the end of this year.
Additionally, the city anticipates its contract with the San Diego Humane Society to expire on Dec. 31 of this year, which will also help to cover the budget shortfall by $857,570. The City Council is expected to return in August to review options for the next steps after the contract expires.
The council also agreed to eliminate 10 full-time vacant positions from various departments, reducing employee service expenses by $915,000.
Right before approving the budget, a 4-1 majority of the council approved raising user fees related to development permits, public recreation and other community services.
According to Holmes, the annual cost for the city to provide services under building, planning, engineering, fire prevention, city facility rentals and recreation programs is about $12.8 million. On the other side of the ledger, these programs earn only $7.8 million, meaning the
is because they aren’t smart — but that isn’t the case.
“Students with dyslexia already have the necessary components to read in their head, they are just in the habit of filing the information incorrectly,” Bloch said.
According to Bloch, his students can advance to the same level as their spoken vocabulary in about three months.
After several years of waiting, Bloch finally received his patent for his method from the United States Patent and Trademark Office in May 2024. He is the first person to have a registered trade-
Cannabis equity program approved
By Laura Place VISTA
— A cannabis equity program is moving forward in Vista to help low-income residents and those who have been the target of past marijuana laws to get their foot in the door of the local industry.
The Vista City Council approved the program in a 3-1 vote on Tuesday, with Mayor John Franklin opposed and Councilmember Joe Green absent.
Now that the criteria and qualifications for the program have been decided, the city will create a program application, pursue ordinance changes and licensing procedures, and apply for funding to get the program in motion.
forcement.
This study, completed by SCI Consultants and presented in February, found that Black residents made up a disproportionate amount of cannabis-related arrests in Vista compared to other racial or ethnic groups.
The program marks the latest step in Vista’s embrace of the cannabis market. Under the Measure Z initiative passed in 2018, 11 cannabis dispensaries were permitted to operate in the city, followed by recreational use in 2021.
The city brought in nearly $7 million in cannabis tax revenue last year.
PROGRAM DETAILS
general fund covers the $5 million gap.
The council also voted in favor of full cost recovery rather than staff’s and a third-party consultant’s previously recommended three-year phased-in approach to raising user fees, with the exception of some of the recreation program costs, which would be phased in over two years.
The council also supported increasing the Learn to Swim participant fee from $40 to $62 during the 2024-2025 fiscal year, which is higher than the staff’s previously recommended increase to $45.
Since the program costs the city $449 per swimmer, the price would jump from $62 to $449 by fiscal year 2025-2026 if the city implemented full cost recovery terms.
Council members acknowledged that a steep fee increase would effectively dismantle the Learn to Swim program.
Councilmember Mike Morasco said full cost recovery isn’t possible for the swim program.
“There’s no way we could charge $449,” said Councilmember Mike Morasco. “It can’t happen.”
Instead, the council directed staff to return next year with options for sustaining the program.
Mayor Dane White
mark in the category of consultation and treatment services for dyslexia under the name “Dyslexia Buster.”
Bloch earned his patent over 160 other patent citations already on file.
Bloch has several testimonials from the parents of his students who successfully went through the Reading Without Limits program.
Equity applicants must have a residency connection to Vista by having lived, worked or attended school in the city for at least five years. They must also either make 80% or less of the area median income (AMI) or have been impacted by a past cannabis-related conviction or arrest between 1971 and 2016 (intended to cover the period from the start of the War on Drugs to the passage of Prop 64).
Program benefits for participants include fee waivers, application assistance and priority processing, provisional approval when needed, connection to record expungement services, and staff support, including quarterly check-ins for the first three years.
Other benefits could include direct grants, technical assistance, legal assistance, workforce or business development training, and regulatory compliance training, depending on need and available funding.
“The approval of this resolution tonight will allow us to implement a statewide program and set aside opportunities for people who have lived experience, or have been impacted by historic cannabis laws, to engage in our local cannabis market,” said Councilmember Katie Melendez
The city has been working toward a cannabis equity program since last year, approving the use of $75,000 in state funding to complete a cannabis equity study to measure the impacts of past cannabis en-
“I was honestly at a standstill with my son,” writes Marianne in a testimonial for Bloch’s Reading Without Limits program. “We were at kindergarten reading levels even though he was in 2nd grade. His dyslexia was frustrating for him.”
According to Marianne, Bloch changed her son’s life.
“Within one month he was bringing me chapter books to read,” she writes.
Bloch hopes to help people struggling with dyslexia both locally and beyond. With his new patent, he also hopes to persuade people to trust an eye doctor like himself to help their children learn how to read.
“When I first started, I didn’t necessarily want to treat dyslexia – I just wanted to help kids to read,” Bloch said. “Now I have a passion and a cure.”
In addition to living, working or attending school in the city, individuals could also meet the residency qualification if they lost housing in Vista through eviction, foreclosure, or subsidy cancellation anytime after 1994 or if they were placed in the foster care system in San Diego County between 1971 and 2016.
The Vista Attorney’s Office did note that other cannabis equity programs have faced legal challenges for including a residency requirement, arguing that it violates the Dormant Commerce Clause. However, there have not been any rulings that prevent the city of Vista from including it at this time.
“No court has ruled on this issue that is binding for the City of Vista. These cases are still being litigated, so it is difficult to say what the outcome will be,” said Assistant City Attorney Amanda Guy.
The conviction criteria would apply to individuals or immediate family members of individuals who have had a cannabis arrest or conviction related to the sale, possession, use, manufacture, cultivation or use of cannabis between 1971 and 2016.
Franklin said he did not support accepting applicants convicted of cannabis-related felonies, claiming that this could include violent drug trafficking.
“I can’t see the wisdom in rewarding somebody for
TURN TO CANNABIS ON 10
Just hatching a new business?
THE CITY plans to increase the Learn to Swim participant fee from $40 to $62. The program costs the city $449 per swimmer. Courtesy photo/City of Escondido
Donald Briggs Jr., Vista nursery owner, dies at 94
By Fiona Bork VISTA — Donald Briggs Jr., owner of one of
the largest plant nurseries in San Diego County, died from complications of old age after contracting a cold in March. He was 94.
In May 1929, Briggs Jr. was born in Leucadia to Charles and Elizabeth Briggs, who were considered among the founders of the San Diego County flower industry and the largest producers of gladiolus on the West Coast for decades.
After taking over the family's cut-flower and bulb-growing business, Briggs Jr. eventually opened his own wholesale garden center, Briggs Nursery and Tree Company in Vista.
His family described him as a hardworking, adventurous father and husband whose first priorities were helping others and making North County a greener place.
“He was always the guy to show up to the job site bringing lunch for everybody,” said Don Briggs III, Briggs Jr.’s son. “Just always thinking of other people first.”
Briggs Jr. was the youngest student to attend the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad and later graduated from San Dieguito High School.
According to his son,
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COLLEGE GRADUATES
The following students graduated from their respective colleges and universities: Catherine Terrell-Rodriguez of Oceanside from Graceland University in Iowa; Ethan Pereira of Carlsbad from Kettering University in Michigan; Giana Heaviland of Carlsbad, Nicholas Gardner of San Marcos and Lin Welsh of Encinitas from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York; and Lucas Reed of San Diego, Jonathan Lockwood of San Marcos, and Sofia King and Naomi Ryder of Solana Beach from the University of Mississippi.
PRESIDENT’S LIST
Nathan Hartmann of San Diego was named to the president’s list at Mississippi State University.
DEAN’S LIST
The following students made the dean’s list at their respective colleges and universities: Samantha Kissner of San Marcos at Hollins University in Virginia; Mallory Johnson of Del Mar at Bates College in Maine; Joshua Bourgeot of Encinitas and Dennis Li and Angela Lam of San Diego at Rochester Institute of Technology; and Catie Anne
Briggs Jr. attended the University of California, Santa Barbara for a year before deciding to work for his family’s business, which had evolved from producing award-winning gladiolus to birds of paradise.
At one time, the Briggs family's birds of paradise fields, which stretched from Monroe/Sunnyhill/Park Drive nearly to Agua Hedionda Lagoon, helped inspire the city of Carlsbad to name the bird of paradise
Pentlarge of Oceanside and Lucas Rowden of Solana Beach at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
HONOR SOCIETY
Samantha Correll of Oceanside was recently initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, at Mercer University in Georgia.
GRAUER GRADS
The Grauer School had 25 Class of 2024 seniors graduate this year having earned more than $5.8 million in merit scholarships: Aviya Afra, Kai Agsten, Karina Arens, Victoria Arens, Shaun Barsness, Carson Bauer, Cooper Branch, Aiden Brinker, Kendall Bristol, Gabriella Colombo, Kai Dekleermaeker, Eli Dye, Colin Edwards, Tahlia Fisch, Jasper Halterman, Nicholas Hong, Amber Jiang, Lana Lippe, Gavin McLoughlin, Emerson Mese Gilbert, Mac Rambur, Charlotte Rosa, Sarai Scofield, Lily Tanghe and Alex Voigtlander.
NEW CHEF
Escondido native Anna Adams has been named the new pastry chef at Georges at the Cove in La Jolla. The 2014 Orange Glen High School graduate replaces Aly Lyng, who left to take a position at downtown’s Pendry San Diego.
SILVER SURFER
The California Surf Museum has named filmmaker Greg MacGillivray as a 2024 recipient of the Silver Surfer Award, a lifetime achieve-
as its official flower.
During this time, Briggs Jr. discovered a love for surfing. He eventually learned to shape his own redwood boards and formed connections with iconic surfers like Grubby Clark, Don Hansen and Hobart “Hobie” Alter, according to his son.
Briggs III said his father lived four lifetimes in one.
In his first, Briggs Jr. was a businessman, often
working from 4 a.m. until 9 p.m. each day. He later sold his family’s birds of paradise fields to a home developer before leasing and purchasing land in Vista and San Marcos to launch the Briggs Nursery & Tree Co. empire.
In his second life, he served as a pilot learning to fly a Piper Cub, a small two-seater aircraft, at the Del Mar slough airstrip. Briggs Jr. joined the Air Force during the Korean
event last month.
ment award presented annually to surfers who made significant contributions to the culture and lifestyle of the surfing community.
NORTH COUNTY AWARDS
Supervisor Jim Desmond recognized individuals with awards as part of his 2024 State of North County: Eric Weirather, band director at Rancho Buena Vista High School, received the inspirational leader award; Joe Roy, an Oceanside police officer and vice president of the OPD Officers’ Association Board, received the “Getting Stuff Done” award; Jasmine Hernandez as extraordinary youth; Jessica and Davin Waite, local restaurant owners who lost their Brine Box seafood spot in the Oceanside Pier fire, for resiliency; Donnie Dee
War in fear of being drafted.
He later got his own Navion, a four-seat, retractable gear aircraft, which he would often fly from Palomar Airport to Baja California. He also learned to fly sailplanes, for which he had a “profound love,” his son recalled.
Briggs Jr.'s third life was traveling the world with his children, taking them to places like New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Tahiti.
“He didn't sit still,” Briggs III said. Briggs Jr.'s final life was his family.
“Not much of the go-tobaseball-games type of guy, but he was the guy there for
fire; David Ross, editor of the Valley Roadrunner and Escondido Times Advocate, as “Newsmaker of the Year”; and Elmer Royce Williams, a US Navy veteran, for the “Impossible Fight.”
DEPUTY GENERAL
The North County Transit District has promoted Misty Calder to serve as the agency’s deputy general counsel.
STUFF THE BUS
from the San Diego Rescue Mission for “uplifting the community”; the Oceanside High School Soundwaves Show Choir as “national superstar”; REINS Horsemanship Therapeutic for community service; Chris Geldert, leader of the building and construction pathway at San Marcos High School, for impact service; Carly Starr, executive director of KOCT community television service in Oceanside, received the “The Real News” award; Lori Boody, executive director of the Veterans Association of North County (VANC), received the “Semper Fi” award; Eleanor Evans, an Oceanside Unified School Board trustee, as community advocate; Oceanside Fire Chief Dave Parsons for “Call to Action” during the pier
The San Diego County Credit Union is collecting money to purchase back-toschool supplies for students experiencing homelessness as part of the 10th annual Stuff the Bus campaign. Donations will be accepted at all Jersey Mike’s locations in San Diego County, at all SDCCU branch locations or online at sdccu.com/donate until July 31.
PIANO CONCERT
The three winners of the recent Encinitas Youth Piano Concerto Competition received standing ovations during their performance with the North Coast Symphony Orchestra in mid-June. The three winners were Frank Luo, 10, of Long Island, New York; Maxwell Tran, 14, of Orange County; and Luna Lee, 14, of Poway.
BEST MUSIC SCHOOL
Leading Note Studios has been named the Best Music School in San Marcos by the Quality Business Awards.
DOULA PROGRAM
TrueCare, a nonprofit
you and bought all the girls horses and all that kind of stuff,” Briggs III said. “He was just a good family provider.”
Until the last two weeks of his life, Briggs Jr. drove around North County to appreciate where he had grown up and the greenery he helped produce.
“His drives had stories reflecting on the evolving landscape of North County and his cherished memories of friends and experiences which highlighted his deep connection to the area,” Briggs III said. Briggs Jr. is survived by his wife, Judy, his children Debra, Denise, Don and Delinda, and five grandchildren.
community health center, has launched a new doula service program aimed at tackling racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes in North San Diego and South Riverside Counties. Trained by the San Diego County Midwives Doula Program, TrueCare doulas will help patients with their provider from prenatal to post-natal care as well as loss support.
CLINIC NEWS
Vista Community Clinic launched its medication assisted treatment (MAT) program to provide support and treatment for individuals struggling with opioid use disorder. The program combines medication management by a primary care clinician, to control withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings, with counseling and behavioral therapies.
VCC has also launched its new diabetes self-management education and support program to provide the necessary tools and knowledge those with diabetes need to manage their condition and lead healthier lives.
Lastly, VCC was recently awarded a five-year contract from the County of San Diego Probation Department to continue its comprehensive credible messenger mentoring program, otherwise known as the Resilience program, which connects youth who have gone through the justice system and other at-risk young adults mentors who guide them in making better decisions and connecting to their communities.
ERIC WEIRATHER, band director at Rancho Buena Vista High School, received the Inspirational Leader Award from Supervisor Jim Desmond, part of Desmond’s State of North County
Courtesy photo
FLYING WAS a passion for Donald Briggs Jr., founder of Briggs Nursery & Tree Co. in Vista. Briggs died in March at age 94. Courtesy photo
DONALD BRIGGS JR. was born and raised in North County, the son of pioneers in the San Diego County flower industry. Courtesy photos
A BRIGHT FUTURE
Palomar College celebrates new mural at Escondido campus, plans for growth
By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO
— Palomar College leaders recently celebrated a colorful new mural recently installed at the entrance of the Escondido Education Center by renowned professional illustrator Rafael Lopez.
The mural came to fruition with help from the Escondido Public Art Commission and Sudi Memarzadeh, chair of Del Lago Academy’s arts department.
Ana Marie Velasco, the former chair of the art commission, suggested using Palomar College’s wall as a medium for a new mural in the East Valley area of town.
“(Velasco) had a vision that this wall would be perfect to celebrate Palomar College and add life to the community here,” said Art Commissioner Heidi Paul at a mural celebration event hosted by the Escondido Education Center on June 20.
The arts commission recruited Memarzadeh, who found Lopez for the job.
The mural features the faces of two students, several outreaching hands and two figures grasping for a star in the sky above a silhouette of the school.
“It’s absolutely astound-
ing and colorful, and tells a story that welcomes students to come,” said Art Commissioner Terri Ryan. “Where it was once dull, this mural suddenly brings light to this side of town.”
Palomar College Superintendent and President Star Rivera-Lacey noted the star echoes the comet that serves as the college’s mascot.
“I cannot say enough about how beautiful it is with its bright colors,” Rivera-Lacey said about the mural.
Lopez, who lives in San Diego and Mexico for parts of the year, could not make the mural celebration but said he was hopeful about the future of art in Escondido.
“Hopefully this mural is the beginning of more art and color in the neighborhood,” he said via email.
Rivera-Lacey also shared information about Palomar College’s impact on the region and its enrollment growth over the last three consecutive semesters.
One of the largest single college districts in the state, covering 2,555 square miles, Palomar College’s flagship campus is located
in San Marcos. Three other locations, including the Escondido, Rancho Bernardo and Fallbrook Education Centers, plus two off-site programs at Camp Pendleton and the Vista Detention Facility, are also located in the district.
The college educates approximately 27,000 students annually from diverse backgrounds. Palomar College is also a designated Hispanic Serving Institution, with approximately half of its stu-
dent population identifying as Hispanic or Latino. The college also serves one of the largest military-affiliated student populations in the state.
Palomar has more than 250 programs. At the Escondido Education Center, programs include air conditioning, heating and refrigeration, fire technology, emergency medical technician, paramedic training, and English as a second language.
The school is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. According to Rivera-Lacey, the school has met all its necessary standards under the accreditation program and recently earned its best accreditation report in history.
The superintendent also said the school has improved its financial standing over the last few years, with healthier reserves and an improved credit rating.
Right now, the goal is to continue growing enrollment back to 1,000 fulltime equivalent students at the Escondido Education Center. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly reduced the center’s enrollment, which once stood at 1,600 full-time equivalent students.
In recent years, Palomar also joined the wave of other community colleges implementing baccalaureate degrees.
Currently, Palomar College offers a bachelor of science in Sustainability in the Built Environment, which trains individuals with the expertise needed to create environmentally, socially responsible and sustainably built structures. Students with this degree will be trained to ensure a building meets or exceeds state and local guidelines.
Rivera-Lacey said the college has at least two or three more baccalaureate degrees coming down the pipeline.
The college is also looking to bring new facilities and other improvements to enhance its offerings.
The school’s Center of Excellence for Health Sciences and Entrepreneurship is considering adding programs including alcohol and other drug studies, social work, psychology, sociology and health sciences.
The college hopes to add a new multi-story classroom building, a parking structure and an Early Childhood Education Lab School (ECELS) building to the Escondido Education Center, which was last renovated in 2012.
RAIN, WIND, AND FIRE...
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For a limited time, readers of this paper will receive a special discount on our full chimney cleaning and safety inspection package with special attention to chimney water intrusion points in preparation for the rainy season.
PALOMAR COLLEGE Superintendent and President Star Rivera-Lacey, bottom left, and Heidi Paul and Terri Ryan of the Escondido Arts Commission, bottom right, speak at a June 20 event celebrating a new mural, top, by illustrator Rafael Lopez. Photos by Samantha Nelson
Riders hit new highs at Bradley Bike Park
By Laura Place
SAN MARCOS — Hundreds of wheels descended on Bradley Park last week for the grand opening of an 8-acre bike park and pump track, welcoming riders of all levels, from novice to expert.
Construction of the $1.1 million park began earlier this year. The bike park involved importing 14,000 cubic yards of donated dirt, which Schneider Grading then shaped into a pump track, perimeter trail and jump lines in collaboration with professional mountain bikers Austin “Bubba” Warren of Alpine and Shreddie Eddie Reynolds.
At a grand opening event on June 24, Deven Schneider of Schneider Grading called the new park a work of art.
“It’s just such a pleasure to create things like this,” Schneider said. “I hope you guys like it. We put our heart and soul, truly, into this project.”
The land at the southeast corner of Bradley Park was officially designated for a bike park last fall after sitting vacant for decades with limited options for development, largely because of its history as a former landfill. It has typically been used as the gathering spot for the city’s Fourth of July fireworks show.
Conversation and planning for the facility kicked off in 2017, following strong pushback to the city’s removal of an unofficial bike jump line constructed by local youth on a protected open space.
San Diego Mountain Biking Association Executive Director Susie Murphy said the hundreds of people who attended the park’s opening demonstrate the pent-up demand for a facility like this. The organization has been a leading advocate for bike parks throughout San Diego County.
“There’s an obvious need for this kind of riding. It appeals to riders of all ages as young as 3, and probably riders that are 70 … all ages that can enjoy a facility together, from BMX bikes to dirt jumpers and mountain bikes,” Murphy said.
The park’s funding was a massive group effort, with dollars provided by the city’s General Fund, the San Diego Mountain Biking Association, Friends of San Marcos Parks and Recreation, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors’ Neighborhood Reinvestment Grant, and the state Parks and
8th Coast to Crest Trail Challenge opens
By Samantha Nelson REGION
— For the eighth straight year, hikers can sample San Dieguito River Park’s trail network by completing the Coast to Crest Trail Challenge.
Starting July 1, participants are encouraged to begin this year’s series of five hikes and finish them in any order.
Hikers can go solo or explore the backcountry with friends, family and other loved ones, including pets. Organized by the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, the challenge is designed to get people outdoors to appreciate natural beauty close to home.
“With all the bustle of our daily lives, it’s easy to forget that outdoor experiences are right within reach,” said Cheryl Goddard, the conservancy’s executive director. “The Coast to Crest Trail Challenge gives you a reason to get outside and have fun in nature.”
To earn a patch and the bragging rights that come with finishing all five hikes, participants shoot and submit selfies from the trails.
Year after year, Liz Belloso of Cardiff gets her girlfriends together to finish the Coast to Crest Trail Challenge hikes.
“I love being out in na-
ture,” Belloso said. “There’s nothing better for your lungs, your attitude, your brain – everything!”
One reason the challenge works for her is that she likes to cross things off of a list. She also cherishes spending prime time with friends.
“As busy as everyone is today, you don’t often get the luxury of time to really catch up,” Belloso said. “When you’re out walking together for two to four hours, you’re able to connect at a deeper level than if you’re just high-fiving in the hallway.”
The deadline to complete the Year 8 series is June 30, 2025.
For some of the hikes, the Conservancy organizes “Walk N Talk” outings for groups. Hikers can register for Walk N Talk hikes on the Conservancy’s website at www.sdrvc.org.
Hike 1: Bernardo Mountain Lake View Trail (Walk N Talk July 26)
Hike 2: Piedras Pintadas Trail (Walk N Talk Aug. 30)
Hike 3: Del Dios Gorge Trail (Walk N Talk Sept. 27)
Hike 4: Upper Santa Ysabel Truck Trail (Walk N Talk Oct. 25)
Hike 5: North Clevenger Canyon (Walk N Talk TBD)
Recreation Proposition 68 Per Capita Program.
Warren, who resides in Alpine and has helped design various bike parks, as well as being a pro biker himself, said he wanted to help create a park that could be enjoyed by pros as well as new riders.
“The city basically came in and said, ‘build what you want.’ That doesn’t happen very often,” said Warren. “We wanted to make it a place for the common person to ride and just have fun … It’s just been a passion job.”
The next-closest bike skills parks with the same level of amenities are located at San Diego’s Pacific Highlands Ranch Community Park, Greg Cox Park in Chula Vista and Sweetwater Bike Park in Bonita.
However, the San Diego Mountain Biking Association works with other North County jurisdictions to open similar bike parks. Carlsbad’s planned Veterans Memorial Park will include a bike park when it opens in 2025, and Escondido leaders have also approved plans and funding for the John Masson Memorial Bike Park at Jesmond Dene Park.
“We’ve been working on these for like a decade,” Murphy said.
Bradley Bike Park is located at 1587 Linda Vista Drive and is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to sunset.
hits
June 24 at the newly opened Bradley Bike Park in San Marcos. The highly anticipated $1.1 million facility at 1587 Linda Vista Drive is open from 10 a.m. to sunset Tuesday to Sunday. Photo by Laura Place
RIDERS OF all ages and skill levels, from novice to professional, flocked to a new 8-acre bike park and pump track on June 24 at the southeast corner of Bradley Park in San Marcos. The bike park construction involved shaping 14,000 cubic yards of dirt into a pump track, perimeter trail and jump lines in collaboration with professional mountain bikers Austin “Bubba” Warren of Alpine and “Shreddie” Eddie Reynolds. Photos by Laura Place
CARDIFF RESIDENT Liz Belloso, left, completes the Coast to Crest Trail Challenge each year with friends. Courtesy photo
Vista Fire Dept. welcomes additions to fleet
By Laura Place VISTA
— The Vista Fire Department has acquired six new fire engines and a new paramedic ambulance, which are expected to enhance the department’s emergency response capabilities and equip firefighters and paramedics with better tools.
Four of the engines are specifically for structural firefighting and paramedic response, while one is intended for fighting smaller fires and fire mop-ups, and another is tailored for brush fires.
Vista fire personnel, city officials and community members celebrated the arrival of the new equipment on Thursday at the Vista Civic Center. Residents could also see the engines up close, speak with fire personnel, and learn about the trucks’ capabilities.
“We can get to calls more efficiently, and faster. We absolutely need it, and absolutely appreciate everything you guys have done,” said Vista Fire Fighters Association Local 4107 President Frank Wirtz, addressing city officials.
According to Vista Deputy Fire Chief Robbie Ford, two of the engines, the paramedic ambulance and the brush fire engine, were purchased as part of the department’s apparatus replacement schedule. Two other fire engines were purchased “out of sequence” to replace other engines in reserve status from 2003.
One patrol engine was also purchased as an additional piece of equipment. The total cost of the new equipment totaled $4.7 million, paid through the city’s Apparatus Replacement Funds.
“The two purchased out of sequence were non-custom engines on the production line without a buyer. Vista purchased them due to a need to replace aged reserve equipment. This has created a very modern and reliable frontline and reserve fire engine fleet,” Ford said.
The two structural non-reserve engines will enter frontline service at the city’s fire stations 1 and 5. The larger engines hold be-
tween 500 and 750 gallons of water, while the smaller engine for mop-ups holds 250 gallons of water.
Three fire personnel are assigned to each of the main fire engines, and between three and four are assigned to the brush fire engine. Two individuals are assigned to the small fire engine and the paramedic ambulance.
Mayor John Franklin emphasized that the new engines exemplify the city’s commitment to public safety and the council’s financial stewardship.
“Public safety is our very top priority. It’s the thing that we spent twothirds of our city budget on,” Franklin said.
Fire Chief Gerard Washington, who took the helm of the city’s fire department last year, thanked city staff, fire personnel and community members for their support.
“These are the types of things that take care of our personnel — brand-new equipment, support, and training,” Washington said.
A TYPE 3 Pumper Fire Engine, designed for fighting brush fires, is one of six new fire engines obtained by the Vista Fire Department. Photo by Aaron Gilliam
VISTA FIRE Paramedic Michael Saldana, top, leads the retirement of the colors during a ceremony at the Vista Civic Center on June 20. Below, Fire Chief Gerard Washington speaks at the event welcoming six new fire engines and an ambulance. Photos by Laura Place
Family history, slavery intersect in rural Virginia
It’s barely 10 a.m., but our group of seven is sweating under the Virginia sun.
I’ve got to keep my sleeves rolled down to prevent tick attacks and to protect against the poison ivy and poison oak that grows thick and tangled in these woods.
As the thermometer inches toward 90, my Norman cousins, spouses and I step carefully over uneven ground and fight overgrown vegetation to search for evidence of centuries-old family graves.
Our Norman ancestors once owned these bean fields and forest in Stevensburg, about 70 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., and the enslaved people who worked their land.
How do we know what we’re doing?
Enter Jim Bish of the nearby historic town of Culpeper (population 20,000).
A retired, award-winning American history teacher of 30 years, history tour guide and author of “I Can’t Tell A Lie: Parson Weems and The Truth About George Washington’s Cherry Tree, Prayer at Valley Forge, and Other Anecdotes,” Bish co-founded the Culpeper County Cemetery Project. Members identify, document and protect the county’s 70-plus cemeteries.
“I’m just a local historian trying to preserve local history and work with planning offices to assure that local history and historical artifacts are protected,” he says.
this cemetery site.” This is but one day of our four-day visit to the Virginia towns of Culpeper, Orange, Gordonsville and Stevensburg.
Exploring the area has been a journey into early Colonial life, the formation of the United States and the normalization of slavery. Visiting these historic sites brings home slavery’s impact on the social, cultural, economic and political life of our country, and the personal toll it has exacted on enslaved people and their progeny.
There is a lot to see in this history-saturated area of the country, and we only scratch the surface with our visit to the Exchange Hotel & Civil War Medical Museum in Gordonsville, which once served as a Civil War hospital that treated 70.000 Union and Confederate soldiers. Today, museum exhibits demonstrate the gruesome state of medicine and wartime surgery in the 1860s.
Side story: When the Exchange Hotel was a passenger stop for trains on the Virginia Central and Orange & Alexandria railroads, enterprising African-American women sold fried chicken to passengers who reached from the train windows for the platters of chicken carried on the women’s heads.
Bish and co-volunteer Wayne Wildgrube researched pertinent documents and the location of the Norman cemetery before our arrival. Today, Bish explains how finding centuries-old graves is facilitated by a ground probe that measures depth and soil pressure.
ed pretty hard. If it’s been removed to put in a coffin, the soil is much looser, even a couple of hundred years later.”
“If the soil has never been touched, it’s compact-
As we push through the heavy growth, we begin to uncover what looks like fieldstones — flat, squarish
stones collected from nearby fields and used as grave markers. Uneven ground and the presence of boxwood, a thick shrub used in the South to create barriers around homes and graveyards, also indicate that we probably are in the right
area and that this probably is the ancestral cemetery.
And, according to cousin-researcher David Norman of Winston-Salem, N.C., “…many of the slaves from earlier generations (who lived on this piece of land) were also buried in
We make another stop at Stevensburg’s Salubria, a 1757 plantation home built in the Georgian style. It was constructed by both free artisans and enslaved people at the direction of its owner, the local church rector. A list of some of the names of the enslaved who lived and worked here is exhibited at the entry, and the home’s large, empty, paneled rooms echo with history.
A touch of irony: The plantation’s name – Salubria – is Latin for health. For more discussion and photos, visit www.facebook.com/elouise.ondash.
felonious activity,” he said.
City staff noted that it would have to be a conviction that is eligible for expungement. Other council members added that many of those offenses would not be felonies today.
“What we’re saying is
that from 1971 to 2016, the United States was wrong about cannabis. Felony charges have resulted in people being less likely to obtain housing and other jobs,” Melendez said.
Under the program, Vista will also set aside 25% of its cannabis business licenses for equity applicants.
Several residents com-
STORE
mented publicly in favor of the program on Tuesday and applauded the city for pursuing it.
“We are all very proud of Vista for your progressive stance, and I can’t tell you how refreshing it is,” said Terry Best, vice chair of the San Diego chapter of Americans for Safe Access.
Others expressed concerns about the use of cannabis itself and about increasing cannabis businesses in Vista.
“I question that Vista seems to be poised to give away taxpayers’ money to enable more marijuana businesses in our city under the guise of the social equity cannabis program,” said resident Katrina Preece.
City officials assured residents that the program would be well-regulated.
“There is no guise taking place. We are not trying to fool the public. There was a lot of work and time that went into this, and there is a very thoughtful process behind all of this,” said Councilmember Dan O’Donnell.
NEXT STEPS
Starting in November, the city can apply for Type 2 grant funding of up to $3 million through the Equity Cannabis Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions to administer its equity program. Grant awards of over $500,000 would require a 1:1 match from the city.
Under this grant, at least 80% of awarded dollars would need to be put toward supporting equity program participants.
Going forward, the city will also need to determine how to spend the additional cannabis tax revenue that the city will be receiving. The adopted program includes a
community reinvestment component, stating that the city will strive to allocate 10% of its cannabis tax revenue to support its ongoing scholarship program.
According to City Clerk Kathy Valdez, in the past year, the city issued around $697,000 in scholarships to 1,723 youth.
However, council members said they would be open to further discussions about using growing tax revenue dollars.
Outside of the equity program, Franklin also emphasized that he would like to see the Sheriff’s Department conduct youth decoy operations at dispensaries similar to those conducted at tobacco retailers.
The council also supported the idea of increasing fines for dispensaries that are found to sell to minors, although no incidents have been identified at local dispensaries so far. Last fall, the City Council increased these fines for tobacco retailers in an attempt to curb sales to youth.
CANNABIS products at Tradecraft Farms in Vista. The city adopted a cannabis equity program to serve those who face barriers to entry into the cannabis industry. Photo by Laura Place
SALUBRIA is a preserved Georgian-style plantation house in Stevensburg, Virginia, that dates to about 1757. Built by enslaved and free artisans, its name is Latin for healthful. Union and Confederate troops clashed here during the Battle of Brandy Station in 1863. Photo by E’Louise Ondash
e’louise ondash
LOOKING FOR the centuries-old graves in Virginia sometimes requires exploring the heavily forested countryside, where heat, uneven ground, ticks and poison ivy slow the hunt. In this family plot in Stevensburg, Virginia, land owners and enslaved workers probably were buried in the same area. At right, a nest of bald-faced wasps is part of the cemetery monument at Salubria. They also are known as paper wasps because they combine wood fiber and saliva to construct the paper-like nests. Photos by E’Louise Ondash
Cities able to enforce outdoor sleeping bans
In 6-3 ruling, SCOTUS removes policy roadblock
From staff and wire reports
REGION — The United States Supreme Court decided last week to allow cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors.
The Supreme Court decision greatly affects cities on the West Coast where shelter space is short in supply and when the number of homeless people in the country is rising.
The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision along ideological lines with conservatives in the majority, reversed a San Francisco-based appeals court’s finding that outdoor sleeping bans amount to cruel and unusual punishment. The majority’s ruling found that the Eighth Amendment does not apply to outdoor sleeping bans.
The case originated in the rural Oregon town of Grants Pass, which appealed a ruling striking
HOMELESS
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
Creek and other tributaries, headwaters or drainage channels) or affixing object to trees or vegetation
• Move boulders, rocks or reconfiguring the landscape in any form
• Leave shopping carts or wheeled vehicles along waterways
• Dig into waterway banks
• Discharge garbage, refuse or human waste into local waterways
• Camp on public property, including streets, sidewalks, parks open space and waterways – particularly if it poses a threat or unreasonable risk of harm to people, public safety or disrupts government services
• Camp within 500 feet of schools, 500 feet of shelters and within transit hubs, parks and open spaces.
The city intends to work with the local schools and other organizations like the North County Transit District to place signage warning about the encampment ban in the appropriate boundaries.
The city anticipated the Supreme Court’s decision on the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson case before the end of June. However the law changed – whether it would further restrict the rights of cities to ban encampments on public property or make it easier to enforce bans –Escondido staff and council could revisit the new ordinance to change it as needed.
In its 6-3 decision on June 28, the conservative majority upheld Grants Pass, Oregon’s ban on camping, finding that laws criminalizing sleeping in public spaces do not violate the Eighth Amendment’s protections against cruel and unusual punishment in the U.S. Constitution.
down local ordinances that fined people $295 for sleeping outside after tents began crowding public parks.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over the nine Western states, determined in 2018 that such bans violate the Eighth Amendment of those who are in areas where there are not enough shelter beds.
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wrote for the majority opinion.
“As we learn more about the result in the Grants Pass case, we can examine additional steps that may be taken to effectively enforce local laws to protect our public spaces and environment, which is something I think all of our citizens want,” McGuinness said.
McGuinness cautioned that the impacts of homelessness on the city and region wouldn’t be resolved regardless of the Grants Pass decision.
“Even if the Supreme Court reverses Grants Pass, the myriad of issues with the impacts of homelessness will not be resolved on a local level,” McGuinness said before the decision was released.
“As the city policy on homelessness acknowledges the problems and multiple root causes, cleaning up encampments – while certainty necessary – is addressing only one problem. We will look for opportunities to address other causes and effects of homelessness.”
McGuinness drafted the new ordinance following direction from the city’s Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Homelessness, composed of only Mayor Dane White and Councilmember Joe Garcia, who have been researching and discussing solutions to address homelessness in Escondido in meetings that have not been open to the public yet.
The City Council previously approved the subcommittee’s policy statement on homelessness in February.
Councilmember Consuelo Martinez was the sole vote against the ordinance due to what she described as a lack of input from stakeholders and service providers who work closely with homeless populations in the city. She suggested revising the ordinance to include such input before bringing it back for final approval.
“Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it,’’ Gorsuch wrote. “A handful of federal judges cannot begin to ‘match’ the collective wisdom the American people possess in deciding ‘how best to handle’ a pressing social question like homelessness.’’
The three liberal justices, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented.
The other four council members expressed strong support for the new ordinance as it was written.
“We’re making incremental steps in the right direction,” said Deputy Mayor Christian Garcia.
Prior to approving the ordinance, City Council received several emails and public comment from members of the public – including from homeless advocacy and support groups – who opposed the ordinance for appearing to criminalize
“It is possible to acknowledge and balance the issues facing local governments, the humanity and dignity of homeless people, and our constitutional principles,’’ Sotomayor wrote in her dissent. “Instead, the majority focuses almost exclusively on the needs of local governments and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested.’’
Following the court’s
homelessness.
Garcia said many of those emails the City Council received were “hateful” and “masked in compassion.”
“The current state of what we have now is cruel,” Garcia said. “Compassion without order is chaos, and order without compassion is tyranny – what we have here walks that fine line. It’s not compassionate to let people do what they will, it’s irresponsible and chaotic.”
According to Julie Crandall, a litigation as-
Susana Elvira Arellano Carlsbad June 15, 2024
Samuel Ortiz de Jesus Vista June 11, 2024
Nancy Arciga Vista June 15, 2024
Richard Van Thiel Fallbrook June 18, 2024
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decision, local groups and elected leaders voiced their thoughts.
Gov. Gavin Newsom praised the decision, saying, “Today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court provides state and local officials the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets.
“This decision removes the legal ambiguities that have tied the hands of local officials for years and limited their ability to deliver on common-sense measures to protect the safety and well-being of our communities,” Newsom said.
San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond said the ruling “marks a victory for common sense” and is “paramount for the safety and well-being of our community and for restoring the lives of those suffering.”
“It’s time for the city and county to restrict all sleeping on sidewalks,” Desmond said. “Enabling addicts to continue using is not compassionate. We wouldn’t allow our friends or family members to spi-
sistant for the Civil Rights Practice Group at Disability Rights California, the new ordinance would criminalize homeless individuals.
“We believe the proposed ordinance will result in the criminalization of unhoused individuals in Escondido for simply not having homes and nowhere else to go,” Crandall said at the meeting.
Councilmember Joe Garcia, who sits on the subcommittee with the mayor, disagreed.
ral into addiction without intervening, so why should we allow members of our community to do so? We must provide effective and humane solutions that address the root causes of homelessness and addiction rather than perpetuating the cycle of dependency and despair. This ruling empowers cities to enforce policies that maintain the cleanliness, safety, and accessibility of our public spaces.”
Tamera Kohler, CEO of the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, said the ruling wouldn’t do anything to help with the homelessness crisis.
“This ruling, by a divided Supreme Court, won’t help us solve homelessness, but it will harm people experiencing homelessness,’’ she said. “It’s inhumane. It stands up more barriers to housing. And it gives a green light to politicians and police who prefer arrests and time behind bars, rather than real solutions.’’
About a third of the homeless population in the United States is in California.
“I’m not trying to criminalize homelessness, I’m trying to find something we can do in the absence of a real policy to begin to deal with this,” he said.
White and Councilmember Mike Morasco noted that the subcommittee members as well as other council members have been listening to stakeholder input from residents about issues related to homelessness for quite some time, which helped influence the ordinance.
Photo: $25 Art: $15 (Dove, Heart, Flag, Rose)
“Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.”
Although we might have daily conversations with our loved ones, the most meaningful and deep ones don’t always happen. Having “the talk of a lifetime” can truly make a huge difference - it can help us see our loved ones in a different and more positive light, it can teach us valuable lessons, it can give us a clearer picture of the things they love, it can bring us closer together, and it can help us reaffirm to them how much we love them.
It also doesn’t have to be done only when we feel we are or someone we love is at the end of their life. We’ll never really know what the future holds, so let us take the opportunities while we still can.
May we always treasure every moment of our lives and have loving and meaningful conversations with the ones we love.
Print a free copy of the guidebook at www.allenbrothersmortuary.com/have-the-talk-of-a- lifetime
www.allenbrothersmortuary.com
THE US SUPREME COURT found that city bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors did not violate the Eighth Amendment ofthe Constitution. Courtesy photo
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JULY 5
EVENTS CALENDAR
FREE SUMMER MEALS
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Oceanside is offering a summer meal program for free to children 18 years old and younger. Meals must be eaten at the club. Meals served at 7 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. from June 10 to Aug. 9 at Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside, 401 Country Club Ln, Oceanside.
INDEPENDENCE DAY FEST
This year we will be extending the festival to a four-day concert series, for free. Don’t miss this incredible festival marking our nation’s independence in style. Free, 7 to 10 p.m. July 5 at California Center For The Arts , 340 N Escondido Blvd, Escondido.
DISCOVERY DAYS
Kick off Discovery Days with a patriotic celebration, featuring vocal performance by the Star Spangled Sisters and the chance to interact with a pilot while creating a craft airplane to take home. Free, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. July 5 at The Forum Carlsbad, 1923 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad.
JULY 6
DISCOVERY TRAIL
Nature Collective will take visitors on a guided tour of the San Elijo Lagoon along the Nature Center Loop Trail. This event is family-friendly and best suited for ages 9 and up. Free, 10 to 11 a.m. July 6 at San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center, 2710 Manchester Ave, Cardiff by the Sea.
‘BEAUTY QUEEN’
Join us for Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy, The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Witness a mother-daughter clash in rural Ireland. A gripping, unpredictable tale. $18-$40, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. July 6 at Tenth Avenue Arts Center, 930 10th Ave, San Diego.
JULY 7
HAPPY CHURCH
Leeann Atherton brings Hippie Church to Encinitas. Now it’s Happy Church. Free, 2 to 4:15 p.m. July 7 at American Legion Encinitas, 210 W F St, Encinitas.
FAMILY FUN DAY
The Nature Collective is hosting a family fun day at the San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center, featuring Franklin the Tortoise, who is recovering well from his recent surgery. Free, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 7 at San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center, 2710 Manchester Ave, Cardiff by the Sea.
MYSTICAL INSIGHTS
Join our monthly fellowship as we share metaphysical insights from the divine on a variety of topics
and current affairs. $20, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. July 7 at Spiritual Arts Institute, 527 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas.
ADULT BALLET CLASSES
Advanced beginning adult ballet classes will be led by former professional Marti Neal. The class consists of barre, center and across the floor movements with terminology. Free, 3 to 4:15 p.m. July 7 at Stagecoach Community Park, 3420 Camino de los Coches, Carlsbad.
MISSY ANDERSON
Missy Andersen and her accompanist/husband, Heine Andersen, love what they do. Keeping a heavy touring schedule, the tenacious twosome perform as a duo which showcases the couple’s individual and combined talents. In the absence of other instruments, listeners find a greater appreciation for Missy’s gospel-tinged vocals and Heine’s Blues and Americana inspired guitar work Free, 2 to 3 p.m. July 7 at Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Dr, Encinitas.
YOUTH TENNIS CAMPS
Fun, fast paced tennis camps with lots of instruction for beginners to advanced players. See San Marcos recreation summer schedule for available. $170, Woodland Park, 671 Woodland Pkwy, San Marcos.
JULY 9
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
North San Diego County Genealogical Society will continue the Learning from Members series. Five members will discuss their favorite research experiences during a group trip. 10 to 11:30 a.m. July 9 at Faraday Center, Faraday Ave, Carlsbad.
JULY 10
TWILIGHT IN THE PARK
Enjoy these summer concerts with family and friends and don’t forget to bring a picnic. See you there. Free, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. July
Beauty Queen of Leenane.” Witness a mother-daughter clash in rural Ireland. A gripping, unpredictable tale!. $18-$40, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. July 11 at Tenth Avenue Arts Center, 930 10th Ave, San Diego.
GENE PERRY
Longtime San Diego music staple Gene Perry makes his way to UC San Diego Park & Market. $25$35, 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 11 at UC San Diego Park & Market, 1100 Market St, San Diego.
WELLNESS AT THE LAKE
mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, he is prepared for the adjustment period at his new high school. $20, The Brooks Theatre, 217 N Coast Hwy, Oceanside.
DINO DAY
Join the paleontologist and baby dino for interactive performance as part of Discovery Days at The Forum Carlsbad. Guests will be able to create their own dinosaur egg craft (one per guest). Free, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. July 12 at The Forum Carlsbad, 1923 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad.
NATIVE PLANTS
10 at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 2125 Pan American Rd E, San Diego.
JULY 11
SUMMER NIGHTS
Kick off this year’s Summer Nights with a family favorite: Hullabaloo. Beloved by kids and adults of all ages, enjoy one of San Diego’s most popular kid-friendly bands playing their foot-stomping, wing-flapping, free-range, organic kid folk music. Summer Nights are every Thursday, July 11 through Aug. 29. $3 for members, $5 for non-member adults. 6 p.m. at San Diego Botanic Garden, 300 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas.
LITTLE EXPLORERS
Do you have a creative and curious problem solver?. $300-$350, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 11 at San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, 320 N Broadway, Escondido.
WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS
Join Catholic Widows and Widowers of North County for a walk and then enjoy a meal at the Cottage in Encinitas. 10 a.m. at San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center, 2710 Manchester Ave, Cardiff by the Sea.
TWILIGHT IN THE PARK
Enjoy these summer concerts with family and friends and don’t forget to bring a picnic. See you there!. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 11 at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 2125 Pan American Rd E, San Diego.
ADULT BALLET CLASSES
Beginning adult ballet classes will be led by former professional Marti Neal. The class consists of barre, center and across the floor movements with terminology. 6 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. July 11 at Stagecoach Community Park, 3420 Camino de los Coches, Carlsbad.
‘BEAUTY QUEEN’
Join us for Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy, “The
Join Club Pilates for a dynamic full-body workout at Lakehouse Resort’s Pilates and Palomas Wellness at the Lake event. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 11 at Lakehouse Hotel & Resort, 1105 La Bonita Dr, San Marcos.
SUMMER NIGHTS
Join San Diego Botanic Garden at its highly anticipated Summer Nights, every Thursday from July 11 through August 29. $12$18, 6 p.m. at San Diego Botanic Garden, 300 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas.
JULY 12
FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL
When Ren and his
JULY 13
HEART DISEASE GENE
Three doctors will provide advice on how to go beyond genetics and improve your heart health. Free, 10 to 11 a.m. July 13 at Bamboo Garden Wellness Center, 162 Rancho Santa Fe Rd S, Encinitas.
NORTH COAST SYMPHONY
The Batiquitos Lagoon will present “Living with Native Plants” by Greg Rubin, author of The California Native Landscape, on design, installation and maintenance of native ecology. Free, 10 a.m. at Batiquitos Lagoon, 7380 Gabbiano Ln, Carlsbad.
CINEMA UNDER THE STARS
Fairmont Grand Del Mar, the award-winning resort located in the coastal canyons of San Diego, is thrilled to bring Grand Cinema Under the Stars presented by Fatboy. Free-$20, 8 p.m. at Fairmont Grand Del Mar, 5300 Grand del Mar Ct, San Diego.
KPBS KIDS: CLIFFORD
Get ready for an adventure with Clifford the Big Red Dog. Free with museum admission. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. July 13 at San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, 320 N Broadway, Escondido.
The North Coast Symphony Orchestra will perform its “Look! Up in the Sky!” pops concert, including music from “Superman,” “Star Wars,” and “ET” as well as Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” and Handel’s “Music for the Royal Fireworks.” The orchestra was founded in 1947 and is conducted by Jordan Kuspa. $15 general, $12 seniors/ students/military, free for... Free-$15, 2:30 p.m. at La Costa Canyon High School theater, 1 Maverick Way, Carlsbad.
CLIFFORD the Big Red Dog will be on hand for an adventure, 10 a.m. to noon on July 13 at the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum in Escondido. Courtesy image
FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803
CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-708-7311 EXT. 257
TRIVIA TEST #12345_20240701 FOR RELEASE JULY 1, 2024
By Fifi Rodriguez
FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803
CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-708-7311 EXT. 257
TRIVIA TEST #12345_20240701 FOR RELEASE JULY 1, 2024
By Fifi Rodriguez
MUSIC: What is a didgeridoo?
ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby swan called?
3. HISTORY: What is the name of the treaty that ended the Revolutionary War?
4. GEOGRAPHY: In which country is the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia located?
5. SCIENCE: What does a hertz measure?
6. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What color is most of the toilet paper in France?
7. PSYCHOLOGY: What irrational fear is represented by coulrophobia?
8. LANGUAGE: What is the first character to be added to Morse Code since WWII?
9. LITERATURE: What is the term for a section at the end of a book that concludes what has happened?
1. MUSIC: What is a didgeridoo?
1. MUSIC: What is a didgeridoo?
2. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby swan called?
3. HISTORY: What is the name of the treaty that ended the Revolutionary War?
2. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby swan called?
10. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president turned down offers to play professional football after college graduation?
Answers
4. GEOGRAPHY: In which country is the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia located?
3. HISTORY: What is the name of the treaty that ended the Revolutionary War?
5. SCIENCE: What does a hertz measure?
4. GEOGRAPHY: In which country is the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia located?
6. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What color is most of the toilet paper in France?
1. A wind instrument used by Australia’s indigenous people.
2. A cygnet.
3. The Treaty of Paris.
4. Barcelona, Spain.
7. PSYCHOLOGY: What irrational fear is represented by coulrophobia?
5. SCIENCE: What does a hertz measure?
8.
6. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What color is most of the toilet paper in France?
7. PSYCHOLOGY: What irrational fear is represented by coulrophobia?
8. LANGUAGE: What is the first character to be added to Morse Code since WWII?
9. LITERATURE: What is the term for a section at the end of a book that concludes what has happened?
10. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president turned down offers to play professional football after college graduation?
Answers
1. A wind instrument used by Australia’s indigenous people.
2. A cygnet.
3. The Treaty of Paris.
4. Barcelona, Spain.
5. Frequency.
6. Pink.
7. Fear of clowns.
8. The @ symbol (2004).
9. An epilogue.
10. Gerald Ford.
© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
5. Frequency.
6. Pink.
7. Fear of clowns.
8. The @ symbol (2004).
9. An epilogue. 10. Gerald Ford. © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
Summer Fun & Learning
July 22 - August 3rd
9 AM-12 PM Rehearsals
Show Dates:
Friday, Aug 2nd; 2 PM and 6 PM
Saturday, Aug 3rd, 2 PM and 5 PM
760 S Rancho Santa Fe
BUDGET
cautioned that if nothing changes financially, the city may have to consider eliminating Learn to Swim in the next few years.
Ballfield lighting fees also increased from $5 to $24 per hour, and facility rental fees would increase from $80 to $135 for commercial or business-related users that fall under the
to bring the city in alignment with other jurisdictions. However, several speakers said the decreased speaker times appeared to be directly in response to their presence at City Council meetings making comments about Gaza over the past month.
“I think it’s directly a retaliation [for] us trying to spread our voices here at the City Council meeting. The timeline of the events leads pretty clearly to it being a direct retaliation to our presence and us being here,” said Jake Parvin. “You guys are paid from our tax money to listen to us.”
Others also said the five-minute speaker period is a positive aspect that sets San Marcos apart by creating a more democratic process.
Other speakers reminded the council that it is important to listen to young people in the community, especially when they take the time to attend meetings and speak to their elected officials.
“Every positive social movement and social change that has happened in this country has been led by young people. The voice of young folks — especially young college students, young university students — it should be heard and taken seriously,” said Flower Alvarez-Lopez, co-director of local grassroots organization Universidad Popular.
Council members said they were in favor of updating the older policy, as it had not been changed since 2013.
However, Councilmember Maria Nuñez raised some concerns about cutting
FEATURING SCENES AND SONGS FROM FROZEN, MOANA, AND ALADDIN JR
“Class E” category on the city’s facility user guide. The facility rental fee includes tables, chairs, a projector and other amenities, while using a kitchen space would cost extra.
While the new fiscal year begins July 1, the user fee increase will not affect recreation programs like Learn to Swim this summer.
By increasing user fees to achieve full cost recovery among most of its services,
the city expects to make approximately $1.27 million in revenue in the first year.
That funding will go toward expanding the police department’s COPPS unit from six to 10 officers, four patrol cars, new safety equipment and supplies, two maintenance technicians and a public works truck –altogether costing approximately $1.26 million in the first year of implementation.
The COPPS (Commu-
Musical theatre summer production: ‘Disney Dreams: A Magical Melody’
This summer, dive into a world of enchantment with “Disney Dreams: A Magical Melody,” our latest musical theatre production. Featuring beloved scenes and songs from Disney classics like Frozen, Moana, and Aladdin Jr., this program offers a unique opportunity for young performers aged 6 to 15 to create, rehearse, and perform a magical musical play.
Participants will have the chance to immerse themselves in all aspects of theatre. Whether they dream of being in the spotlight or prefer the creative hustle behind the scenes, there's a role for ev-
nity Oriented Policing and Problem Solving) Unit supports patrol operations by focusing primarily on ongoing crime and issues often related to homelessness and encampments in the community.
According to Police Chief Ed Varso, the COPPs unit relies on the city’s public works department for help with encampments and cleanup, which is why the expansion request includ-
eryone. Kids can choose the characters they want to portray or the musical parts they wish to perform. Additionally, those who are more interested in stage production can contribute by helping to create costumes, design sets, and manage backstage activities.
One of the unique aspects of this program is its inclusivity. All kids who want to perform will have speaking roles and singing parts, ensuring that everyone gets their moment to shine. Throughout the week, they'll work together to bring this magical story to life, culmi-
ed components for public works and police.
With additional resources in tow, Varso hopes to increase the COPPS unit’s weekly operation from five to seven days.
The City Council unanimously approved an expansion of the COPPS unit along with its adoption of the operating budget.
Councilmember Consuelo Martinez, who voted no to going full cost recovery
speakers’ time, and stated that public comment policies have not always been applied equally in the past.
“Our policies are not always applied to all of our residents that come here evenly, so one thing I do hope is that our own policies do get applied evenly with all of our residents, regardless of the topic that's being discussed or the comments that may come with the speaker,” Nuñez said.
Requests for a cease-fire resolution from the CSUSM chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine come as university students in San
Diego County and around the country continue to call for an end to the war in Gaza, which is estimated to have killed at least 35,000 people.
Community members in other jurisdictions have brought requests for ceasefire resolutions before their own city councils. In San Marcos, Jones said doing so would be against the city’s legislative platform, which states that the city does not address social or international issues because they are not pertinent to local government.
“I understand that this
reality may be a source of frustration for community members, given what’s happening at an international level. It’s hard not to feel helpless when such atrocities are occurring in our world,” Jones said.
‘I FEEL THREATENED BY YOU HERE’
Several community members are also criticizing Jones and demanding an apology for a comment she made to attendees after a June 11 meeting.
A video shared by SJP CSUSM shows several students approaching the City
nating in a special public performance where they can showcase their hard work and talent.
Our previous productions, including “Aladdin Jr.,” “Willy Wonka,” “James and the Giant Peach” and “Charlie Brown Christmas,” have been met with enthusiasm and applause. This year's “Disney Dreams: A Magical Melody” promises to be just as spectacular, offering an unforgettable experience for all participants.
Take advantage of this chance to be part of a magical musical journey. Sign up now and let your creativity soar!
on the user fees for fear of its impacts on residents, acknowledged that expanding the COPPS units would better meet residents’ requests to improve how the city responds to crime and other homelessness-related issues.
“There’s a lot to unpack here – we need resources at many levels – but I do acknowledge this is definitely a need that the community has been asking for,” Martinez said.
trying to speak to Jones when she made the comment.
“To say you were threatened by two women, especially that are of ethnic backgrounds, particularly Black and Arab, perpetuates racial stereotypes of POC [people of color] being inherently violent and dangerous,” Amara said. “I ask you to consider your own internal racial biases and publicly apologize for your choice of words.”
In response to questions from The Coast News about her comment, Jones said that the students “raised their voices and demanded that a resolution be placed on the agenda” and that the conversation “became very emotional and escalated very quickly.”
In the video, several students can be heard asking Jones questions, but they are not yelling.
Council dais as members prepare to leave the June 11 meeting and asking to speak with them and asking what it would take to put a ceasefire resolution on the agenda.
Jones and other council members can be seen ignoring the students’ repeated questions as they prepare to leave the meeting, until Jones states, “I feel threatened by you here.” Students can then be heard asking why she feels threatened by 20-year-olds.
A public speaker on June 25 named Amara said she was one of two people
“In that moment, I made the statement about feeling threatened, because quite frankly I did, based on the size of the group and the manner in which they approached me, especially since adding the resolution they were demanding doesn’t follow our policy and I had already communicated that information to the group after the previous Council meeting,” Jones said.
Students who have come to speak at meetings said they have felt repeatedly disrespected by the council, saying that approaching the dais to try to speak to officials after a meeting is not a threatening action.
“We do not pose a threat to you when we are trying to approach City Council members or the mayor after a meeting,” said Angelina, a public speaker at the June 25 meeting.
PROTESTERS gather outside San Marcos Civic Center on June 11 during a demonstration organized by Students for Justice in Palestine at Cal State San Marcos. Photo by Laura Place
