PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
SERVING NORTH COUNTY SINCE 1987
VOL. 35, N0. 23
JUNE 4, 2021
Assembly bill targets state solar industry
Clean Energy Alliance outlines draft budget. A5 Tri-City program helps youth pursue goals. A7 Carlsbad artist launches new mural project. B1
Legislation purports to fix equity concerns
Council plans changes along La Costa Ave.
By Bill Slane
By Bill Slane
ENCINITAS — The Encinitas City Council voted this week on the addition of an all-way stop sign at the intersection of La Costa Avenue and Vulcan Avenue and will return within six months with further evaluations in the latest development regarding the La Costa corridor in the city. Council was provided with three different scenarios that also included the possibility of adding a traffic light or a roundTURN TO LA COSTA ON A15
FINE ART
U.S. Rep. Mike Levin announced San Dieguito Academy student Chloe Grace Roche’s art piece, “Digitally Divided,” is the winner of the 2021 Congressional Art Competition for California’s 49th Congressional District. Areli Santiago’s “My Life, My Story” (Rancho Buena Vista High School) took second place, and Braeden Pato’s “Tranquility” (Vista High School) finished third. Courtesy photo
Oceanside’s new beachfront resort opens By Samantha Nelson
OCEANSIDE — After years of planning and construction, two new hotels that make up the new downtown beachfront resort have opened for business. Mission Pacific Hotel was the first to open on May 19 followed by the Seabird Resort on May 27, which was celebrated by a grand opening ceremony that brought developers, hotel management, city officials and other local leaders together. The two hotels make up the newest and largest oceanfront resort in San Diego County in more than 50 years. “It has been a long journey,” said Mayor Esther Sanchez at the grand opening ceremony. “This is our dream.” Hyatt Hotels Corporation is the management company in charge of running the two hotels. Mission Pacific Hotel part of Hyatt’s Joie de Vivre boutique hotel brand and The Seabird
MISSION PACIFIC Hotel, one of two luxury lodgings that make up a new Oceanside beachfront resort, opened May 19, followed by Seabird Resort on May 27. Photo by Samantha Nelson
Resort part of Hyatt’s Destination Hotels brand. Mission Pacific has 161 rooms while the larger Seabird Resort has 226 rooms.
Most of the hotels’ rooms offer a view of the ocean, and both hotels have six floors. While the Seabird Resort offers a classic, coastal
YOU’RE INVITED to our NEW YEAR’S EVE
hotel design reminiscent of Oceanside’s past hotels, Mission Pacific features trendier, contemporary designs.
The Seabird’s pool is located on the third floor with a full view of the ocean and pier and is accompanied by The Shelter Club. Mission Pacific’s pool is located on the rooftop also next to The Rooftop Bar, which is already gaining in popularity since its opening. The Seabird also features Piper, a restaurant with an open-kitchen design and a made-to-order pasta station, as well as The Shore Room Bar and Lounge facing the ocean. Mission Pacific includes a café called High/Low and Valle Restaurant, featuring meals by award-winning Chef Roberto Alcocer. Located in the Mission Pacific courtyard facing the ocean and pier is the Graves House, also known as the Top Gun House. Renovation of the inside is still underway. “We’re trying to get it right — trying to make it really special,” said Jeremy TURN TO RESORT ON A3
Jay
Starring
REGION — Assembly Bill 1139, introduced to the California State Assembly by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), will have significant impacts on the solar industry statewide and has left some feeling like they are being made out to be the enemy. The bill, which was read for the third time Wednesday on the Assembly floor, received just 28 votes in support — not enough for passage, but more amendments are expected. The bill focuses on net energy metering (NEM) rates paid to solar customers as credit for any extra energy their system produces and eliminates other benefits, such as recouping the customer’s original investment, that potential customers look for when choosing to install solar panels on their homes. Michael Powers, co-founder of San Diego-based Stellar Solar, was there at the very beginning of consumer solar energy. “At that time it was taking about 12 years to get a return on your investment because solar was still pretty expensive,” Powers said. “So if you bought a solar system, you could save enough on your electric bill through net metering within 12 years to recoup your investment. Now it only takes 5-6 years to recoup your investment.” Essentially, the bill is purported to fix equity concerns. According to Gonzalez, non-solar customers, many of whom cannot afford solar panTURN TO SOLAR ON A11
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