FHS students win awards B-5
Remodeling on a budget C-1
Learning pool safety at B&G Club D-1
Village News Fallbrook & Bonsall
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August 3, 2017
New commander of Fallbrook Sheriff ’s substation has history with town
Lt. Mark Moreno.
D e L u z , R a i n b ow, C a m p P e ndl e t o n , Pa l a ,
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Volume 21, Issue 30
FRHD board ratifies controversial sale of hospital to mental health provider
Julie Reeder photo
Tom Ferrall Staff Writer Lt. Mark Moreno, a 26-year veteran of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the new commander of Fallbrook Sheriff’s substation, describes himself as “easy going and fair.” He’s also competitive. Moreno, 50, played on the San Diego Enforcers football team for 22 years and was part of two teams – the 2012 and 2016 squads – that won the National Public Safety Football League championship. “I retired (from football) after we won the championship last year,” said Moreno, who helped the Enforcers whip arch rival LAPD Centurions 42-0 in the 2016
see MORENO, page A-9
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Julie Reeder photo Director Stephen Abbott, center, takes a moment to reflect before casting his vote on a resolution to ratify the sale of the Fallbrook Hospital building to mental health provider Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc. Abbott joined board members, left to right, Barbara Mroz, president Gordon Tinker, Howard Salmon and Bill Leach in voting yes. Tom Ferrall Staff Writer Much to the chagrin of many people in attendance at its special board meeting July 28, the Fallbrook Regional Health District (FRHD) board unanimously (a 5-0 vote) passed a resolution ratifying the sale of the Fallbrook Hospital building to mental health provider Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc. for $4.5 million. The special session held in the board room at the Fallbrook Public Utility District attracted
a standing-room only crowd and lasted nearly 3 1/2 hours. The meeting began with public comments and 31 members of the community went to the podium to express their views. By the Village News’ count, 21 of the speakers voiced opposition to the sale, while the other 10 speakers expressed their trust in the board, their gratitude for the work of the board members, and the need for mental health services. As was the case during the board’s regular meeting July 12, opponents voiced concerns
about the types of individuals that Crestwood’s proposed Fallbrook Healing Center would serve and safety for the community. Fallbrook resident Peter Klein questioned Crestwood’s credibility, citing an informational ad for the Fallbrook Healing Center that was published in the Village News July 20. “It stated no one with a violent felony conviction will be treated at this facility,” said Klein of the ad. “It does not say except or sometimes.” Klein then went on to hold
Resident detained by ICE released after applying for DACA status
USPS Residential Customer
see FRHD, page A-8
Seventeen local groups given Transient Occupancy Tax funding Joe Naiman Village News Correspondent
Seventeen Fallbrook-area organizations were allocated 20172018 Community Enhancement funds from San Diego County’s Transient Occupancy Tax revenue. The Community Enhancement appropriations are part of the county’s 2017-2018 budget, which was approved on a 5-0 San Diego County Board of Supervisors vote June 27. Each county supervisor has discretionary control of a Community Enhancement budget of $1,079,000, not including Julie Reeder photo Mario Figueroa Martinez talks with Melissa Marovich, who was principal of Ivy High when Martinez graduated from that school. Marovich attended the July 22 celebration at Jackie Heyneman Park for Martinez’s release from detention.
Village News
up photos of convicted felons who were treated at Crestwood facilities in Eureka, San Jose, Chula Vista and Sacramento. “So, who can you believe?,” asked Klein. “Crestwood, who states, ‘no violent felons will be housed in Fallbrook,’ or the board, who obviously has their heads in the sand regarding the safety of Fallbrook.” Fallbrook resident Scott Atkins stated that he and his family had a home next to a mental health
Andrea Verdin Staff Writer A 2 2 - y e a r- o l d F a l l b r o o k resident who was picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was released Friday, July 21 after his attorney filed paperwork for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status. What would have been a protest in Fallbrook to demand for his release was turned into a celebration July 26 after Mario Otoniel Figueroa Martinez was released. Mario Otoniel Figueroa Martinez was brought to the United States at the age of 4 from Guatemala. According to a statement released by Martinez’s attorney, Leah Chavarria, Martinez knows nothing of Guatemala as his family fled out of fear for their lives. His family applied for asylum
in approximately 2001. However, they were ordered removed after losing their asylum case because of an alleged attorney’s mistake in 2011. Martinez was 16 at the time and was required to live with his older brother. While still in high school, Martinez hired a now-disbarred attorney to file his first DACA petition. The attorney absconded with his money and paperwork. Martinez graduated from Ivy High School in 2014, and married a U.S. citizen. He is a father to their 10-month-old daughter. This year, Martinez hired Hurwitz Holt, APLC/Leah Chavarria to file I-130 petition (petition by his wife, who is a U.S. citizen), DACA and a later motion to reopen removal proceedings in May. The goal was to have proceedings terminated based on approved I-130 petition, and he was still working on finalizing paperwork and paying government
filing fees (over $1,030) until July 11. On July 11, Martinez was a passenger in a car driving to a job site in Temecula when a border patrol vehicle drove up next to the car. According to Martinez’s legal statement, the border patrol signaled for the car to stop and Martinez was detained. Martinez was not eligible to see an immigration judge because of his prior removal order from when he was a minor. According to his legal statement, Martinez is a taxpayer and has no criminal record. “They were accusing me of being a fugitive from ICE because I skipped an appointment with a judge,” said Martinez. “[That appointment] was in 2010, when my dad was deported and I was 16. My mom was in Guatemala. I never got a phone call.”
see ICE, page A-7
see TAX, page A-7
Fire prevention fees still due for prior billings
SACRAMENTO – Property owners who owe fire prevention fees are still required to make payment for fiscal years 201112 through 2016-17. Passage of the bipartisan cap and trade bill, Assembly Bill 398 (AB 398), suspended the fire prevention fee going forward, but does not impact existing fire prevention fee obligations. Effective July 1, 2017, AB 398 suspends fire prevention fee billings starting with fiscal year 2017-18. Bills issued to property owners for prior fiscal years 201112 through 2016-17, that have not been paid, are still owed. Some property owners may still receive bills for past fiscal years
see FIRE, page A-9