PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
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VOL. 35, N0. 3
JAN. 15, 2021
SAN MARCOS -NEWS
Encinitas halts outdoor dining permits
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By Dustin Jones
ENCINITAS — The City of Encinitas has suspended all temporary encroachment permits for outdoor dining areas in compliance with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s regional stay-at-home order. As coronavirus cases continue to climb across Southern California, the governor's order will remain in place until the availability of intensive care unit beds improves in area hospitals. The city has issued 20 temporary encroachment permits to local businesses since last June, allowing businesses to utilize public rights-of-way for outdoor dining purposes. But Newsom’s order prohibits indoor and outdoor dining at restaurants, limiting businesses to takeout or pick-up orders only. The order went into effect over a month ago, but some businesses have elected to stay open. As a result, the city has temporarily suspended the permits to be in compliance with the state, Mayor Catherine Blakespear told The Coast News. “This is the thing that is under the city’s control,” Blakespear said. “We’re not revoking or suspending the permit entirely, but they need to make a good faith effort to not operate in that space.” Pat Piatt, a spokesperson for the city, said every business that was issued an encroachment permit has complied with the city's decision. Since then, outdoor dining areas along Coast Highway 101 have been packed up and roped off. David Arato, owner of Gelato 101, said Encinitas is much quieter than it was just a few weeks ago. Around Christmas, many restaurants continued to allow customers to dine in. “Restaurants (in Encinitas) were packed between Christmas and New Year’s,” Arato said. “Carlsbad was the same, TURN TO PERMITS ON A10
THE VISTA NEWS
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.com MEMBERS OF a gorilla troop at San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido have tested positive for COVID-19. This is the first known case of non-human primates with the virus. Story on B1. Photo courtesy San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Charter school delays return despite CEO’s ultimatum By Samantha Nelson
REGION — While many parents of students attending The Classical Academies are eager to see their children return physically to school, some teachers worry they are being pressured by school officials to return to an environment that could endanger their families, students and themselves. The Classical Academies is a charter school organization based in Escondido with campuses throughout North County. Originally, the school had plans to return most students to campus by Jan. 19, but due to rising COVID-19 cases, the school recently decided against returning large groups of students back to campus until February at the earliest. “We feel the public health risk is just too great at this time and will be closely monitoring public health mandates,” Chief Communications Officer Michelle Stanley said via
The video message is one moment in time and is completely out of context after months of ... providing our team support and encouragement.” CAMERON CURRY
email. Students may continue to attend school in smaller groups, a system the organization has had in place for several months now. Each campus, grade and class do this a little differently, according to Stanley. “For example, there may be a Great Books class for a handful of 5th-grade students and they would gather on campus with masks and social distancing for class time,” Stanley said via email.
Earlier this month, the school circulated a virtual survey asking parents if they would prefer their students stay home and continue distance learning or return to school in person. On Jan. 4, CEO Cameron Curry addressed parents and staff regarding this survey. He announced that early results showed about 70% of families wanted their students to return to campus. The plan was to return everyone by Jan. 19. Later that evening, in a video to staff, Curry addressed what he called “the elephant in the room” —
the choice TCA employees must make to either return to school and teach or leave the organization. “What you need to know is each of our employees has a decision to make: Either come and be with us or talk with HR and make the appropriate decisions on what you want to do next,” Curry said in the video. Curry went on to explain that TCA is an “educational organization” that is “here for the benefit of students.” “We want to support those students who want to
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come back,” Curry said. “If you’re one of those employees who do not feel safe, who has a health condition, who really has a fear or anxiety, you need to talk to HR because you are ultimately responsible for the destiny of your life. “We want to support our families and we want to bring them back, and if that in any way, shape or form impacts where you want to be and the influence and impact that you want to have, you have a decision to make: You can either be with us or you can choose to work with HR and leave the organization.” The video, which was originally posted to YouTube and provided via a link to employees of TCA, was taken down shortly after it was distributed when parents began sharing it on social media. Curry told The Coast News via email that the video was taken down because TURN TO ACADEMY ON A12
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