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THE RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
.com VOL. 9, NO. 18
THE RANCH’S BEST SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS
SEPT. 20, 2013
Simple idea looks to make big change By Tony Cagala
RANCHO SANTA FE — “It” is a true citizen legislature. “It” is the largest state legislature in the country. And “it” is what John Cox wants to see implemented into California’s legislature system. “It”is the New Hampshire state legislature, and Rancho Santa Fe resident Cox wants to replicate the system in California. To do this, he hopes to establish his group, the Neighborhood Legislature, in Sacramento. The Neighborhood Legislature is Cox and a small committee of about 30 people, which he describes as “not political professionals,” comprised of business professionals, retirees and others. What they’re proposing is an over-
Rancho Santa Fe resident John Cox is looking to bring a simple idea, but a drastic change, to California’s state legislature. His Neighborhood Legislative reform group looks to shrink the size of legislative districts and grow the amount of legislators. Courtesy photo
whelming change to the state’s legislative districts. Started here in San Diego County with Cox a couple of years ago, the Neighborhood Legislature has so far introduced itself into Orange County and Los Angeles. “California’s legislative districts are just humungous,” Cox said. In California there are 80 members in the State Assembly, 40 members in the State Senate.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state’s 2012 estimated population is listed at more than 38 million. That equals approximately 475,000 constituents for every one state legislator. “What that means,” Cox said, “is that all campaigns for
the state legislature are huge. They require millions of dollars; they require candidates who give up their entire lives for politics; it means that … usually the only people that run for the state legislature are wealthy people or are political professionals who have a lot of connections to be able to raise money.” And the group’s intended goal to remedy this — to shrink the size of campaigns and grow the amount of legislators for the state. What the Neighborhood Legislature aims to do is take the 120 districts in California and subdivide them by 100. That means there are only 5,000 to 10,000 people in a TURN TO IDEA ON A28
Turf expansion begins at Del Mar Race Track runs the annual races at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. “But first and foremost, off. this will provide much safer A Sept. 13 groundbreakracing for our jockeys and our ing officially marked the start horses,”he added.“It will make of the Del Mar Race Track’s $5 the turns softer and give them million expansion, a project more room to work. It means that will increase safety “where we’ll have good turf racing all the turf meets the surf” and the time at Del Mar. possibly attract one of the “The Breeders’ Cup would sports’ most coveted events. be great,” McBride said. “Bring “If we get the Breeders’ it on. Let’s do it. But the new Cup, that would be the cherry turf will be better and faster. on top of the sundae,” said C.P. “Mac” McBride, director of Joe Harper, president of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, looks on as That’s the big plus.” The previous turf course, media relations for the Del Mar sod-cutting machines dig up the turf course that was installed more than installed for the 1960 season, Thoroughbred Club, which 50 years ago. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek was about seven furlongs, or seven-eighths of a mile around. The width varied from 52 HOW TO feet to 63 feet on the straightOR THE aways and 54 feet to 56 feet at REACH US Arts & Entertainment . A18 the turns. HRILL OF IT (760) 436-9737 The course will be Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . A29 widened to 80 feet all around. Auditions for the Del Mar Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A20 The main track, made up Calendar: Scaregrounds’ Scream Food & Wine . . . . . . . . A21 of synthetic materials under calendar@coastnewsgroup.com Zone are looking for those the brand name Polytrack, is Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Community News: possessing talent, not eight furlongs, or 1 mile community@coastnewsgroup.com Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A10 those possessed. A18 around. Letters to the Editor: That will remain
By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — And they’re
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A Coaster train pulls away from the Encinitas Coaster Station. Beginning Oct. 7, Amtrak’s Surfliner trains, which currently speed by the station, will stop in Encinitas and at more North County stations. Photo by Jared Whitlock
Surfliner poised to stop at more stations By Jared Whitlock
COAST CITIES — Those in North County who wish to hop on the Pacific Surfliner no longer have to make the trek to Solana Beach or Oceanside. Six of Amtrak’s Surfliner trains will stop daily at all of the eight county Coaster stations beginning Oct. 7. North County Transit District (NCTD), which runs the Coaster stations, recently announced a deal with Amtrak and Caltrans to expand the Surfliner service. “We’re plugging in a need for more local trains,” said Frances Schnall, marketing representative with NCTD. The Surfliner goes from San Diego up to Los Angeles, and then to San Luis Obispo. In North County, the Surfliner previously zoomed past Encinitas and Carlsbad, only coming to a halt in Solana Beach and Oceanside. Now, Encinitas residents, for instance, can board three southbound and three northbound Surfliner trains every day from the coaster station on the corner of East D Street and Vulcan Avenue, according to a tentative schedule. It’s expected the final schedule will be released in early October. Other stations the
Surfliner will serve: Carlsbad Poinsettia, Carlsbad Village and Sorrento Valley. With more Surfliner stops, locals who ride NCTD’s Coaster line will have more options. Schnall said that the transit agency’s board voted in favor of the agreement this spring because it’s a cost effective way to expand rail service. “There’s no need for NCTD to add trains or crews,” Schnall said. “Coaster riders are taking advantage of existing trains.” Coaster riders with any valid fare can board the Surfliner and travel between the coaster stations at no added cost, according to Schnall. But Coaster passengers heading north of Oceanside will have to buy a separate Amtrak ticket — either online, through Amtrak’s mobile app or on the train. While Coaster tickets are accepted on Surfliner trains, NCTD and Amtrak have different policies. Namely, Coaster tickets are not valid for reserving or transporting bicycles on Surfliners. Bicycle reservations require buying an Amtrak ticket on those trains. A study from NCTD, in TURN TO STATIONS ON A31