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THE COAST NEWS
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MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 27, NO. 14
MAY 10 , 2013
Group alleges misconduct in housing decision By Rachel Stine
CARLSBAD — Local environmentalist group Preserve Calavera has demanded the withdrawal of Carlsbad City Council's decision approving the Quarry Creek housing development. The group is alleging that council members held an illegal closed session meeting about the project, therefore making their decision invalid. City Attorney Celia Brewer has denied that any closed session meetings on Quarry Creek took place. She said that the statement by
CLEARING THE BAR
Mayor Matt Hall that Preserve Calavera based its claims on was a fumbling of words during a late night meeting that lasted more than five hours. On Monday, May 6, Preserve Calavera's attorney Everett DeLano submitted a letter to the city claiming that City Council violated the Brown Act, which requires city governments to provide public notice in advance of closed session meetings and later publicly report any TURN TO ALLEGATIONS ON A9
Olivia Chowdry of Denver, CO. and Calei compete in Class 229, the $1000 Modified Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic at the Del Mar National Horse Show. For more photos from the event, turn to Page B9. Photo by Bill Reilly
More controversy arises over elephant rides By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR -- The controversy over elephant rides at the San Diego County Fair continues after a member of the Del Mar Fairgrounds governing board of directors received what he deemed a credible threat during an April 19 lunch with fellow attorneys. Board Vice President Fred Schenk said during what he thought was going to be a casual discussion with Howard Finkelstein and Jeffrey Krinsk, both of whom he’s known for decades, Finkelstein made “some dark and disturbing comments.” After the May 7 meeting of the 22nd District Agriculture Association (DAA), which oversees the fairgrounds, Schenk said he told Finkelstein the rides have been at the fair for 30 years without incident. “Howard said, ‘God forbid
STRUGGLING CHARITY The Bread of Life Rescue Mission strives to stay afloat as its founder finds more people than ever in need, but dwindling donations. B1
something should happen. Maybe this is the year,’”Schenk said. “He said you and the board and the governor will be held accountable.” Schenk said he asked Finkelstein more than once if that was a threat. “He wouldn’t deny it,” Schenk said. “That was very disturbing to me and it still is.” The fact that the comments were made four days after the Boston Marathon bombings “was very troubling,” Schenk said. “That juxtaposition didn’t sit well with me.” Schenk said he told other fairgrounds officials about the conversation, but never mentioned Finkelstein by name. He said he and Director Lisa Barkett then called Sacramento to inform Gov. Jerry Brown’s office about the comments, again opting to let Finkelstein remain unnamed.
Schenk identified Finkelstein at the May 7 meeting, after an email Finkelstein originated was sent “far and wide.” “I had a deep concern,” Schenk said. “I couldn’t take a chance.That’s why I went to the governor. I certainly wasn’t going to keep him in the dark.” Controversy about the elephant rides began in June 2011 when representatives from animal rights groups asked the 22nd DAA board of directors to cancel the fair attraction,claiming the company that provides the rides abuses its pachyderms. Matt Rossell from Animal Defenders International presented a DVD released by his organization that he alleges was videotaped at Have Trunk Will Travel in Riverside. He said it allegedly shows Have Trunk Will Travel owners and
Two Sections, 52 pages Arts & Entertainment . . A15 Food & Wine . . . . . . . . A12 Legals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A19 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A16
trainers using bull hooks -- tools with a bronze or steel hook attached to a handle -- and electric prods to train the animals. Kari Johnson, who owns Have Trunk Will Travel with her husband, Gary, said people who are not with “legitimate animal welfare organizations” are not qualified to comment on the footage because they “would not know what they are looking at.”She said the recording was not in context. Five months later, at the November meeting with several new governor-appointed directors,including Schenk,the board voted 4-3, after more than two hours of testimony by people on both sides of the issue, to allow the rides to continue until 2014. That’s when the Association of Zoos and
There’s more sand at Cardiff State Beach this year thanks to a recent sand replenishment project. The Encinitas City Council is working on a joint sand nourishment plan with Solana Beach that would regularly replenish beaches. During Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, the project moved forward. Photo by Jared Whitlock
Long-term beach nourishment project takes step forward By Jared Whitlock
ENCINITAS — The city has been working on a 50-year sand replenishment plan for 10 years. After two hours of TURN TO ELEPHANT ON A17 public speakers, the project cleared a key hurdle Wednesday night. HOW TO Councilmembers voted unanimously to fund the final REACH US stage of a feasibility study for (760) 436-9737 the plan. As a result, federal officials can now decide Calendar: whether to allocate money to calendar@coastnewsgroup.com the project in the next few Community News: months. community@coastnewsgroup.com The federal Army Corps Letters to the Editor: of Engineers signed on to letters@coastnewsgroup.com fund part of the project. Prior to council’s vote, officials from the Army Corps said
that a “yes” vote backs the project and finishes the feasibility study, but still gives Encinitas wiggle room if the city wants to amend the plan once it’s up for final approval. But they added that federal funding would likely be withdrawn with a “no” vote, or with council dragging its feet. “If we walk away from this tonight, when we’re coming down the home stretch, that would be very sad,” resident Charles Marvin said. “For 50 years, it would be on us.” Encinitas and Solana Beach developed a joint plan TURN TO BEACH ON A7