The coast news 2013 06 28

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THE COAST NEWS

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MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

VOL. 27, NO. 15

JUNE 28, 2013

HISTORIC RULINGS Carolyn Bolton, center, board chair and executive director of Project Youth, with her wife Becky Bolton, left, show their support on Wednesday at the North County LGBTQ Resource Center. Crowds gathered at the center following the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings on same-sex marriage issues. See the full story on page A2. Photo by Tony

Attorney Dean Broyles said children made religious hand gestures like this during school yoga classes, arguing that the program is unconstitutional. He wrapped up his closing arguments Tuesday. Photo by Jared Whitlock

Yoga decision expected Monday

Cagala

By Jared Whitlock

Cities find violence down, but other crime up By Bianca Kaplanek

COAST CITIES — When looking at 2012 crime statistics for the county’s two smallest cities,the news is good and bad. Violent crimes were down more than 6 percent in Del Mar and 27 percent in Solana Beach, but the overall crime rate was up about 22 percent. An increase in property crimes, one third of which is attributed to bicycle thefts, caused the spike, sheriff’s Capt. Robert Haley told City Council members in both cities during annual updates in mid-June. Seven bikes were stolen in Del Mar in 2011 compared to 19 in 2012. In Solana Beach, 14 were taken in 2011 compared to 36 last year. Del Mar pays $1.8 million annually for one patrol sergeant, one traffic deputy who works Thursday through

Coffee with the Community, such as this one in Del Mar, allows for better communication between residents and law enforcement officers. Courtesy photo

Sunday, a detective and a 24/7 patrol deputy. The total number of crimes in Del Mar went from 195 in 2011 to 226 in 2012. Of those, 41, or 18 percent,

Transit expansion

occurred at the Del Mar said at the June 17 Del Mar Fairgrounds, which has con- City Council meeting. There were 16 violent tracts with the Sheriff’s Department per event so “your crimes in 2012, down two deputy does not go to the fairTURN TO CRIMES ON A18 grounds to respond,” Haley

Two Sections, 48 pages

A SANDAG and NCTD improvement project will allow up to three trains to board at the same time in Oceanside. B1

Arts & Entertainment . A14 Food & Wine . . . . . . . . A12

Gadgets and goods Hit the Road features some of this year’s best gadgets and goods for traveling. A6

Legals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A21

Frank Iszak’s daring escape from behind the Iron Curtain is detailed in his memoir. B2

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A16

HOW TO REACH US (760) 436-9737 Calendar: calendar@coastnewsgroup.com Community News: community@coastnewsgroup.com Letters to the Editor: letters@coastnewsgroup.com

ENCINITAS — Is yoga instruction religious? Attorneys debated that question for nine hours this week during the closing arguments of a trial on the constitutionality of EUSD’s (Encinitas Union School District) yoga program. Attorney David Peck, representing 150 EUSD families, wrapped up the defense’s case Wednesday morning. He said that equating yoga with religion means other school programs could theoretically be sued. “Think of the slippery slope implication we would be faced with if any type of physical exercise that someone perceives to be religious, or incorporates into their religion, is banned from the public schools on constitutional grounds. “There are sects out there that consider running to be religious…and certainly nobody is suggesting that we ban running from the schools,” Peck said. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of EUSD parents Stephen and Jennifer Sedlock, seeks to disband the district’s school yoga program on the basis that it violates separation of church and state. The parents objected to Sanskrit writings that were initially part of the program, according to testimony Monday. And they were concerned that yoga is too strenuous for young students. Crossexamination revealed that

the parents didn’t observe a yoga class firsthand. Dean Broyles, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, kicked off closing arguments Tuesday by stating many Westerners have a difficult time comprehending Eastern religions. He maintained that followers of Hinduism worship the divine through physical movement like yoga, rather than words. As evidence, he referenced testimony from witness Candy Gunther Brown, who is a scholar and a religious studies professor at Indiana University. “We have two broad categories of religion,” Broyles said. “Those that are belief and word-focused such as…Christianity and those that are practice and experience-focused such as Hinduism,” Broyles said. He then quoted Brown’s testimony: “‘Americans may not recognize practice and experience-oriented religions as religious, because they think religion requires that one believe or say certain things.’” Broyles affirmed that because practicing yoga is inherently religious, the court should end the yoga program right away. Jack Sleeth, an attorney representing EUSD, countered that the defense submitted testimony from a scholar as well as three written declarations from experts who argue yoga can TURN TO YOGA ON A19


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