HS Baseball: Broncos, Eagles stake claim to league titles, B-1
Big Red Fest celebrates reds on the De Portola Wine Trail, C-4
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Serving Temecula , Murrieta , L ake E lsinore , M enifee , Wildomar , H emet, San Jacinto and the surrounding communities May 12 – 18, 2017
Local
Elsinore’s ‘Measure A’ loses big at polls
www.myvalleynews.com
Volume 17, Issue 19
San Jacinto observes Cinco de Mayo with daylong celebration
Kim Harris VALLEYEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM
Voters in Lake Elsinore easily defeated Measure A, otherwise known as the Alberhill Ranch Initiative, during a May 2 special election. The measure could have bankrupted the city if voters had chosen to approve it, according to city officials. see page A-3
Local
Temecula sets change in city election method Tim O’Leary TOLEARY@REEDERMEDIA.COM
The threat of costly litigation has prompted Temecula City Council members to shift from at-large elections to geographic districts.
Rocio Curiel-Rivera, 2, meets folklorico dancers during the San Jacinto Cinco de Mayo Celebration, May 6. More photos on A-4. Shane Gibson photo
see page A-5
Threat of lawsuit forces Murrieta City Council to review election system
Education
TVUSD elementary layoffs loom Stephanie Lai VALLEYSTAFF@REEDERMEDIA.COM
Eleven Temecula Valley Unified School District elementary school specialists have only a few more days before their layoff notices officially go into effect, but district officials are hoping to find other positions for them by the end of month. see page B-6
Business
Sullivan named ‘Woman of the Year’ TEMECULA – Alice Sullivan, president and CEO of the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, has been named Riverside County 3rd District Woman of the Year. see page B-7
INDEX Local ........................................ A-1 Sports .............................. B-1, B-3 Opinion ................................... B-2 Blotter....................................... B-2 Health ...................................... B-5 Education................................. B-6 Business ................................... B-7 Entertainment................. C-1, C-7 Dining ...................................... C-2 Wine Country.......................... C-4 Calendar of Events.................. C-6 Real Estate .............................. D-1 Home & Garden...................... D-1 Business Directory.................. D-6 Pets........................................... D-6 Classifieds................................ D-7
Kim Harris VALLEYEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM
In a split vote, Murrieta City Council has approved a resolution allowing them to explore the option of moving from at-large to a by-district election system during a special meeting Monday, May 8. Like surrounding cities, Murrieta is considering the change in response to a letter received by the legal firm of Shenkman & Hughes claiming the city’s current voting system dilutes the ability of Latinos – considered a protected class – to elect city council candidates of their choosing. The letter claims that the at-large system violates the California Voting Rights Act and demands that the city transition from at-large to district-based city council elections and threatens legal action if that demand is not met. “If the City of Murrieta does not bring its elections into compliance
see ELECTION, page A-6
Murrieta City Council could change the way elections are handled thanks to the threat of a lawsuit issued by the legal firm of Shenkman & Hughes. The first of four public hearings on the matter will be held Kim Harris photo Tuesday, May 16, at City Hall.
Menifee City Council forwards panhandling ordinance in response to resident complaints Tony Ault TAULT@REEDERMEDIA.COM
In response to increasing resident complaints of aggressive solicitations by a growing homeless population in the city the Menifee, the city council passed the first reading of an ordinance May 3, prohibiting certain forms of solicitation. The proposed ordinance was introduced at the last city council meeting in April but sent back to staff for some clarification and approval by law enforcement and social agencies. Staff reported the proposed ordinance had been “vetted” by the agencies and could move forward toward approval. The ordinance does not prohibit solicitations entirely or charitable acts but does so in certain locations of the city where the act has been considered a “nuisance” or where solicitors have been overly aggressive in their actions bringing some fear to the public. Nonprofit agen-
cies, such as the Girl Scouts, and some charitable groups will still be able to solicit in front of business establishments with the businesses’ permission. The proposed ordinance said, “The city council finds ‘aggressive solicitation’ is unsafe and disruptive to persons in the city of Menifee and is a threat to public health, safety and general welfare.” With this statement, the ordinance restricts solicitations within 25 feet of any financial institution during business hours or anytime at any automated teller machine facility, in parking lots and parking structures, where public transportation vehicles stop or within 50 feet of any regular public transportation stop, at gasoline stations and fuel pumps, driveways accessing shopping centers, retail and business establishments or from an occupant or operator of vehicle entering or
see PANHANDLING, page A-7
Alex, a homeless woman, huddles in front of Cal True Value Hardware in Menifee as she tries to keep warm. There are no programs in Menifee or the surrounding areas specifically for female homeless except for battered women’s shelters. Ted Groves photo