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THE RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS

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SERVING NORTH COUNTY SINCE 1987

VOL. 16, N0. 1

JAN. 3, 2020

Anti-Semitic vandalism at San Dieguito

Council delays red-light camera contract decision

School bathrooms defaced last month

physically and mentally? There’s no question,” he stressed. “Yes, I do want to play football.” While Rivers is on board, the Chargers have yet to tip their hand. It’s a complicated procedure in managing a star as the curtain closes on a decorated career. It’s also a tricky patch of landscape in which the Chargers struggle. Remember Hall of Famer Dan Fouts? His retirement after the 1987 season came at his home without the Chargers participating. Junior Seau was shown the door and finished with the Miami Dolphins. La-

ENCINITAS — Encinitas is one of only three places left in the county that still use red light cameras as a means of cutting down on red light runners and traffic collisions and the city council’s support for the program seems to be waning. At a council meeting last month, the council, instead of voting on whether to extend the city’s current 18-month contract with camera company Redflex, unanimously agreed to direct the city’s traffic engineer, Abraham Bandegan to look into whether the company, which it’s employed for the service for the past 15 years, remains the best choice to use. Council also directed staff to look into other camera providers the city could potentially use and whether there were alternatives other than the cameras that could reduce the incidence of motorists running red lights. “I’m a bit suspicious of the program,” Councilman Joe Mosca said. “Are there structural things that we can do to adjust these intersections that will make it less likely that people are going to be running red lights?” Red light cameras were installed in Encinitas in 2004 at El Camino Real and Encinitas Boulevard. More than a year later, another system was put in at the intersection where El Camino Real, Leucadia Boulevard and Olivenhain Road meet. According to a city report, during the past five years, 81% of the violations were issued to non-residents and 19% were issued to Encinitas residents. Additionally, 99% of the notices were issued to first-time violators and only 1% had multiple violations on their records. The report states that the lack of repeat violators may be considered a measure of the program’s effectiveness, meaning after being detected by the system and receiv-

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By Tawny McCray

ENCINITAS — Serious acts of anti-Semitic and homophobic vandalism — including spray-painted slurs and swastikas — were reported at San Dieguito Academy last month. The graffiti was discovered in the student bathrooms and included foul language and anti-Semitic imagery, including photoshopped images of faculty members who are Jewish, or have Jewish surnames, superimposed on images of Nazi troops pasted on walls. Last week, the school sent out two emails informing parents of the situation. The second email, from school Principal Adam Camacho, included a copy of the statement teachers read to students that day during second period classes. “It is with great sadness and concern that we as a staff share with you that as of early this morning SDA’s community has suffered a recent rash of vandalism and destructive activities,” read the teacher’s statement to students. “Foul and homophobic language, disturbing anti-Semitic imagery, including swastikas, have been drawn on and photoshopped images taped to restroom walls. These images are being shared through text and social media. These symbols and language reflect intolerance and hate, and they have provoked TURN TO VANDALISM ON 5

CHARGERS QB Philip Rivers talks to the media after Sunday’s season-ending loss in Kansas City. Rivers, who has commuted to Los Angeles from his RSF-area home since the team left San Diego, has played 16 seasons for the franchise but may have to continue his career elsewhere. Photo courtesy Los Angeles Chargers

Rivers has drive to play on

t’s no snap judgement to speculate that center Scott Quessenberry would cheer Philip Rivers’ return to the Chargers in 2020. If so Quessenberry, a La Costa Canyon High product, would likely get more return trips home. Rivers and Quessenberry, both North County residents, occasionally carpool together south after Chargers games. Make that vanpool as Rivers’ custom ride is outfitted with video equipment so the quarterback can study rivals during his commute. While Quessenberry is expected back next season, the same can’t

sports talk jay paris be said for Rivers. After 13 seasons with the San Diego Chargers and three more with the Los Angeles Chargers, this longtime bolt just might jolt. After the Chargers chalked up their third losing season in five years, Rivers’ statistics drawing attention for all the wrong reasons and his contract at its end, might his days with the Chargers’ be numbered?

“I think it’s probably human nature, when you’re 38 and you throw some interceptions and games don’t go the way you want them to, (to think) that it can just become the norm,’’ Rivers said. “That’s just what people say — you can’t make the throws you used to make, you can’t do this, arm strength, all of that. None of that’s true.” What Rivers can confirm is that he wants another chance at sneaking a pass past Father Time. Rivers still has the desire to continue and he’s made that clear in this disappointing season’s final weeks. “Am I capable of it,

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