PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
.com SERVING NORTH COUNTY SINCE 1987
VOL. 34, N0. 48
NOV. 27, 2020
SAN Rezoning MARCOS -NEWS rivals get . referendum
LOSING A
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LANDMARK
By Dan Brendel
DEL MAR — A grassroots group of THE Del Mar VISTA residents gathered more than enough signatures NEWS to call a referendum on a lightning-rod rezoning decision by the Del Mar City Council. To comply with its current state-certified affordable housing plan, the council on Oct. 5 “upzoned” parcels in the North Commercial area, near the San Dieguito Lagoon,RANCHO by a 3 to 2 vote. The up-zone would SFNEWS allow higher-density multifamily residential development — including lower-income units to meet state-mandated affordable housing targets — on land currently vacant or occupied by commercial buildings. The decision has
Story on A6.
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CONSTRUCTION CREWS have begun the demolition of the Encina Power Station in Carlsbad. According to an agreement between NRG Energy and the City of Carlsbad, the entire facility, including its iconic smokestack, is scheduled to be torn down by the end of 2021. STORY ON A6. Photo by Anthony Mata
TURN TO REFERENDUM ON A9
COVID-19: Data lacking on assisted living n Despite fears, local care homes relatively safe By Samantha Nelson
REGION — It’s no secret that adults over 60 are more vulnerable to COVID-19, especially when they have health conditions like lung or heart disease, diabetes and any other conditions that affect their immune system.
While many older people with existing health conditions choose to live in assisted living facilities, others fear that such facilities could put them at increased risk. While assisted living facilities have experienced their fair share of outbreaks, especially here in San Diego County, there isn’t as much data regarding COVID-19 outbreaks at assisted living facilities as there is regarding skilled nursing homes. One of San Diego
County’s worst breakouts happened at Elmcroft of La Mesa, an assisted living facility that had 18 cases among staff and 34 among residents. None of the staff members with COVID-19 died, but 14 of the residents did, making Elmcroft the county’s deadliest assisted living outbreak of COVID-19 so far. Vista Del Lago Memory Care in Escondido is another facility that has a high amount of cases. At least 12 staff members and 44 residents have had
COVID-19. There are 42 cases among residents considered active. So far, none of the residents or staff members have died from the disease, state data shows. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the spread of coronavirus has been “well documented” in connection to skilled nursing homes but comparatively little has been reported on COVID-19 among residents SEACREST VILLAGE resident Leon Freedman wears a mask TURN TO ASSISTED LIVING ON A14
while chatting with fellow residents in a courtyard at the assisted living center in Encinitas. Photo courtesy of Seacrest Village
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