Inland Edition, March 15, 2024

Limited rail service to OC resumes

By

City News Service REGION — Limited Amtrak service resumed March 6 in Orange County through San Clemente, where cliffside erosion has forced multiple shutdowns of rail operations since last year.

Metrolink service, however, is not yet ready to resume through the area.

Construction crews have been building a catchment wall at Mariposa Point to keep debris from rolling onto the tracks.

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains will pass through the area without stopping or relying on bus connections. Morning trains will pass through San Clemente between 7 and 8 a.m. with evening trains passing through between 6 and 7 p.m.

Midday rail service, however, will not be offered so construction crews can continue shoring up the wall.

Bus connections between Irvine and Oceanside will be available for trains 769, 770, 774, 777, 785, and 790 to detour commuters through the construction area.

Construction crews expect to complete the wall later this month.

A landslide on private property above the cityowned Mariposa Trail Pedestrian Bridge led to debris on the tracks on Jan. 24, halting all rail service.

Some slow-speed freight trains have been moving through the affected section at night in recent weeks while shoring operations continued.

‘IT’S AN ATROCITY WHAT I’VE DONE’

Esco tries new model for shelter

Council: Sobriety, not Housing First

By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO

— The Escondido City Council has recently approved a homelessness policy embracing sobriety over the statewide Housing First model to serve as a framework for developing a new city-owned homeless shelter.

Escondido cat killer sentenced to 8 years

By Samantha Nelson

ESCONDIDO — An Escondido man who tortured and killed at least 10 cats was sentenced to eight years in state prison on Friday morning at the Vista Courthouse.

Joshua Tyler Boyer, 31, pleaded guilty to 10 felony counts of animal cruelty after law enforcement dis-

covered at least 10 deceased felines in and around a toolshed at his family’s property on Reed Road in Escondido.

Judge Robert J. Kearney denied the defendant’s request for probation and sentenced Boyer to eight years, the prosecution’s requested full term. Boyer was granted credits for

Cannabis equity

Vista

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time served and will likely serve between three and six years for what prosecutors called one of the worst cases of animal cruelty in San Diego County. The sentence follows a thorough, multi-agency investigation led by the San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement in collaboration with the

Escondido Police Department, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI.

Law enforcement officials started looking into Boyer on May 24, 2019, after a GPS tracker on a missing cat named Leonard led to the “gruesome” discovery

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Robotics show

The Tri-City Christian High School robotics team demonstrated their creations for Carlsbad retirees.

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Interfaith denies police chief’s allegations of CUP violations.

The policy, drafted by Mayor Dane White and Councilmember Joe Garcia, employs a “Public Safety First approach,” prioritizing sobriety and mental health care as prerequisites for the city’s homeless population to obtain longterm housing.

The decision follows extensive research by White and Garcia, who previously formed an ad hoc subcommittee on homelessness and spent the last year visiting various shelters across the region. In Huntington Beach, shelter residents are required to discard drugs and paraphernalia in “amnesty boxes,” a concept the duo aims to emulate in Escondido.

White described the policy as a crucial first step toward addressing homelessness in the community, emphasizing sobriety and mental health as essential steps toward attaining fi-

JOSHUA TYLER BOYER, 31, of Escondido is handcuffed by sheriff’s deputies on March 1 at the Vista courthouse after being sentenced to eight years in state prison for torturing and killing at least 10 cats.

Photo by Samantha Nelson

Interfaith denies police chief’s allegations

By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO

— Interfaith Community Services is denying allegations from the police chief that it’s violating its conditional use permit, the legal document that allows the homeless service organization to operate its shelter beds and services in the city.

Escondido Police Chief Ed Varso sent a letter dated Feb. 26 addressed to Interfaith CEO Greg Anglea that listed several alleged violations of the conditional use permit (CUP), a document that grants exceptions to the local zoning ordinance allowing the property owner to use the property in non-conforming ways.

According to Varso, the police department’s Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) Unit began monitoring Interfaith’s 550 W. Washington Ave. headquarters after noticing the property ranked among the top 10 locations for calls for service in the city.

“My officers noted daily, recurring signs of crime and disorder associated with your business, along with repeated violations of your conditional use permit,” Varso wrote.

A statement from Logan Goverman, marketing and advocacy strategist for Interfaith, said the claims were unsubstantiated.

Varso’s alleged violations include the presence of trash, litter or other solid waste, shopping carts, food containers, suitcases, bags, bicycles and other similar items outside of the building in public view or on adjacent public rights-of-ways as prohibited by the CUP.

Anglea disputed each of Varso’s claims, noting that Interfaith site security staff complete hourly patrols of the exterior of its property 24/7 and maintain a “clean and professional environment inside and outside” of the headquarters.

Varso also cited loitering outside of the building and increased calls for service in the area as violations of the CUP. The police

SHELTER

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

nancial independence and stable housing.

“We believe any policy that enables personally destructive behavior is neither compassionate nor effective,” the policy states.

According to the policy, the city will no longer distribute free resources such as tents, tarps, syringes, or drug paraphernalia, as it believes such actions enable substance abuse and perpetuate homelessness.

Furthermore, the policy identifies drug addiction and untreated mental health issues as primary factors contributing to homelessness and associated criminal activity within the city. While the city acknowledges that not all unhoused individuals are “criminal transients” and “stands ready and willing

chief noted calls have been steadily increasing over the last several months.

Anglea noted that Varso only used data between 2017 and 2019, which he said contradicts more recent data from the police department showing no significant increases in calls between 2021 and 2023.

Varso also alleged that Interfaith did not respond adequately to requests for information regarding its provided services.

According to the CUP, individuals who are referred by the police department are supposed to be given the highest priority. Varso pointed out that Interfaith had not housed a family with four small children whom the department had referred due to a waitlist period of three months, suggesting this was another violation.

Anglea said that was false.

“Interfaith is currently providing services to the family referenced, and in the interaction described, Interfaith offered EPD additional resources to consider,” Anglea said via email. “It is a sad example of the frustrating reality that there are usually no available shelter

to lend immediate support to those willing to accept help,” the policy also states that “choosing sobriety is the only acceptable option.”

“Data shows that the vast majority of unhoused people are either addicted to drugs, experiencing a mental health crisis, or both,” the policy reads. “We recognize that drug addiction and untreated mental health concerns are the root causes of the state of affairs on the streets of Escondido.”

White said that he wouldn’t expect future residents of the city’s homeless shelter to pass a drug test, but they can’t bring illicit substances into the facility with them.

The policy also rejects the Housing First approach, which prioritizes permanent housing before addressing behavioral health and substance abuse issues, deeming it “ineffective and

beds for individuals or families in North County, not a recrimination of Interfaith’s partnership with EPD.”

Lastly, Varso alleged that Interfaith’s decision to move its Haven House general homeless shelter beds at 550 W. Washington Ave. into the Turk Recuperative Care Center at 555 N. Centre City Pkwy. was unpermitted, thus another violation of the CUP.

“Unsurprisingly, this

unsustainable,” with the only exception being low-income seniors priced out of their homes.

White said he hopes to obtain shelter funding from sources that don’t prioritize the Housing First model and seeks to avoid county funds altogether out of concerns that a local shelter will become a regional hub for the homeless.

However, some members of the public expressed skepticism, questioning the policy’s focus on drug addiction and its departure from collaborative efforts with local organizations like Interfaith Community Services, which supports the Housing First approach.

Rev. Meg Decker of Escondido’s Trinity Episcopal Church called the policy “shortsighted, limited and divisive.”

“You can’t get sober on the streets,” Decker said,

has resulted in an increase of calls for service to the Turk Center, as well as significant increases in crime, disorder and calls for service to the former Rancho Las Palmas restaurant immediately north of the Turk Center,” Varso wrote. Interfaith moved Haven House, which previously had 49 beds, into the 106-bed Turk Center last year after experiencing a shortfall in funds to operate the shelter.

who felt the city was leaning away from working with local Housing First organizations, like Interfaith Community Services, to combat homelessness.

Escondido resident Kymberly Walker, a mental health clinician who conducts homeless outreach, supported implementing a homeless policy but felt the policy’s language failed to acknowledge other factors leading to growing numbers of homeless and unhoused residents, such as high living costs and low wages.

“You’re making all of the homeless sound like addicts, and that is not the case,” Walker said. “A lot of the homeless that are here in Escondido today are families of two working adults that make the minimum wage and have children that cannot support their rent in the city.”

Greg Anglea, CEO of

city but feel as though they are being ignored.

Included in council’s approval was a direction to staff to explore enacting a moratorium on homelessness services in the downtown specific plan area and a surrounding six-block buffer zone. According to Mayor Dane White, the moratorium request was in response to the county’s recent consideration of adding a temporary homeless shelter on East Valley Parkway near downtown.

For now, Interfaith, which is the city’s only homeless shelter provider, can only offer 15 general shelter beds.

Interfaith also runs a family shelter that is completely full.

Varso announced that he would be suspending the COPPS Unit’s project for Interfaith, suggesting that the organization “has little interest in working with the Escondido Police Department.”

“For this reason, I must allocate my limited resources to other areas of the city in need of assistance,” Varso wrote.

The police department did not respond to The Coast News’ requests for comment.

Interfaith staff are both disappointed by the letter and concerned about its implications. The letter was sent two days before the City Council adopted a controversial homeless policy that is highly critical of the Housing First approach to homelessness, which Interfaith follows.

Anglea said Interfaith has expressed its interest in working more closely with city leaders to increase shelter beds and other services for unhoused people in the

Interfaith Community Services, said a lack of housing and shelter beds fuels homelessness. According to Interfaith, there are only 15 general shelter beds available in Escondido for over 300 people experiencing homelessness.

“Somebody who wants to get into the treatment programs that we operate? They’re full. Somebody wants to get into our Recuperative Care Center? That’s full. Our Family Shelter that just opened last year? Full,” Anglea said during a Feb. 27 community forum. “We’re all frustrated. These are our neighbors. We need places for people to go.”

Both Garcia and White defended the policy as compassionate toward unhoused people, along with an expectation for them to want to help themselves by achieving sobriety.

“We want to get our

Both Interfaith’s Turk Center and headquarters are located within the proposed buffer zone, although the organization is safe from the moratorium as long as its CUP remains in place. Interfaith leaders fear the CUP challenge paired with the moratorium proposal could be an attempt to reduce or end the organization’s services.

In response, Interfaith is seeking to form a citizens task force on homelessness.

“This task force will do what city leadership has failed to do,” Goverman said. “It will bring together a diversity of perspectives and voices, including business leaders, concerned citizens, faith communities, persons with lived homeless experience, service providers, and if they are willing to participate, city staff and leaders.”

According to the mayor, neither the City Council nor city staff have discussed reducing, limiting or eliminating services at Interfaith, noting that the moratorium proposal was in response to the county’s shelter proposal.

“With respect to the CUP violations, compliance is expected of any service provider or business within the city,” White said via email. “Interfaith was made aware of these violations in October and although initially worked with the city towards compliance, cooperation was ultimately lost. Although my request to explore a moratorium coincides with the letter of violations, in reality the two are unrelated.”

homeless to a place where they can begin to heal from the pain and trauma that they live in,” Garcia said.

Despite concerns, the City Council voted 4-1 in favor of the policy, with the mayor proposing two additional amendments: directing staff to explore imposing a moratorium on homeless shelters in the downtown specific plan area with a surrounding six-block buffer zone, and initiatives to reunite homeless individuals with family members where possible.

Both Interfaith’s Turk Center and its 550 W. Washington Ave. headquarters are located within the mayor’s proposed buffer zone.

The prohibition of shelters in the downtown district is in response to the county’s recent proposal to place a temporary homeless shelter on East Valley Parkway.

A HOMELESS PERSON sleeps in front of a vacant convenience store two buildings away from Interfaith Community Services’ Turk Recuperative Care Center. Photo by Samantha Nelson

INTERFAITH CEO Greg Anglea speaks at a community forum on homelessness on Feb. 27. Photo by Samantha Nelson

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Samantha Mason

Change and results

By Terra Lawson-Remer

Deliver results to San Diego County’s most pressing problems.

Change the county’s culture to serve more people and communities, better.

Over the last three years as the Supervisor representing District 3, those are the things my office has been doing to create a more healthy, sustainable, equitable, inclusive, and livable San Diego County. We’ve compiled a comprehensive report on our progress.

One example in the report is our work to preserve San Diego County’s beautiful coastlines. These iconic locations are part of what makes our district such a special place. Keeping our beaches clean starts with keeping pollution out of the water.

Since my first year on the Board of Supervisors, I have moved more than $200 million to be invested in stormwater infrastructure improvements, and nearly 19,000 beach water samples have been tested for ocean pollution.

I’ve also advocated for the state and federal government to increase funding to support and resolve the Tijuana Sewage Emergency Environmental Crisis. This has been an ongoing battle since I was a kid, but we’re making headway, and I won’t stop fighting.

Another challenge I’ve been working on is the homelessness crisis and the growing need for mental health and addiction treatment. Three years ago the county had no shelter beds or safe parking areas for those experiencing homelessness, and now we have nearly 900. With the passage of the Senior Shallow Rent Subsidy Program I championed, nearly 400 seniors at risk of becoming homeless have kept their homes.

Since 2021, we have approved significant funding increases that ... address urgent behavioral health cases in the community.

The demand for this program was very high, so we are working to grow it and are partnering with MIT to ensure the funds are being spent wisely.

As a result of our efforts, the county has helped move 165% more people off of our streets and into shelters and housing.

Since 2021, we have approved significant funding increases that have increased the number of fulltime County Behavioral Health employees by 77% and activated 37 Mobile Crisis Response Teams that address urgent behavioral health cases in the community. This means more of our neighbors in District 3 and countywide are getting the treatment they need by calling our new hotline at 9-8-8.

In my district, from Carlsbad to Coronado, we have one of the highest, if not the highest unmet demands for in-home support services (IHSS) for our seniors who are aging in place and need help.

A friend of mine’s father-in-law has cancer and lives alone, and she needed help caring for him. I told

TCan Prop 1 really fix homelessness? california focus tom elias

he possible passage of Proposition 1 raises one very basic question: Could it help solve homelessness or merely be another financial boondoggle helping a few but leaving the crisis in the streets essentially unsolved?

First, there is no doubt this measure can help some of California’s approximately 180,000 unhoused. Its $6.4 billion cost will provide more than 11,000 new treatment beds for people with serious mental and emotional problems, reinforce the treatment they can already get in some counties through the relatively new and unproven Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) court system and possibly reduce some of the homelessness now so visible on streets and parks all around California.

But some informed estimates held during this winter’s campaign that it could not solve more than 2% of the problem.

Which raises an obvious question: If this estimate is correct, is that enough of an improvement to justify the $310 million the state’s general fund will likely pay in each of the next 30 years to repay the bonds?

The money would be added onto the $10 billion to $13 billion now distributed each year to counties for mental health care and drug and alcohol treatment. Roughly one-third of that money comes from a tax on those with $1 million-plus incomes that’s been levied for this purpose since 2005.

For one measure, there’s $217 million just spent by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District on adding steel netting to prevent suicides by jumping from that landmark span.

Californians who voted for this measure were probably correct to do it, even if it couldn’t by itself solve homelessness or mental health crises. Every dent in the problem represents improvement in the quality of life for many who have been unhoused.

Part of the background of Prop. 1 was the realization that one in every 20 California adults now lives with serious mental illness and the more treatment beds available, the more likely some progress can be made treating those who need help.

At the same time, one in 13 California children of school age suffers serious emotional disturbance and one in 10 Californians has some sort of substance abuse disorder.

One little publicized part of Prop. 1 speaks to this last issue, allowing a small percentage of current mental health spending to be used against substance abuse.

her about the United Domestic Workers who provide in-home care and now he’s getting the support he needs.

In just three years, 19% more seniors are now receiving IHSS than the three years before I entered office, and we’ve decreased wait times for people contacting our Aging Independence Service Call Center by 51%.

One of the things I love most about San Diego is our shared values. Together — in the face of Roe v. Wade being overturned — we have fought to ensure reproductive rights and access to reproductive healthcare and abortion care, are protected here in California. We have uplifted our LGBTQ+ community.

We have pushed back against antisemitic rhetoric, xenophobia, and hate crimes. We have created new employment opportunities for veterans and neurodivergent individuals. And we have fought for better wages, benefits, and labor standards for workers.

Terra Lawson-Remer represents District 3 on the Board of Supervisors.

That tax would continue under Prop. 1, so there will be no substitution of bond money for tax funds, and the new money should strictly be an add-on.

With about 70% of Californians listing homelessness as California’s biggest unsolved problem, there was plenty of reason to vote for this proposition, but its fate was still uncertain after Election Day.

But the new bond’s proceeds might seem like a drop in the bucket considering that about 47% of today’s homeless are afflicted with mental or emotional illness, with another 150,000 others in similar difficulty now housed in prisons at a cost of about $130,000 per year.

Some experts said during the Prop. 1 campaign that the urgency of the problem makes every dollar coming in constructive. But maybe not, if that gives voters the sense they’ve just done something important, causing them to become frustrated with government when they see the bonds solving only a bit of the crisis.

For sure, the mental illness problem is severe.

Since substance abuse from alcoholism to opioid dependence can lead straight into to mental illness, this might help with both mental illness and drug dependency.

It all amounts to a measure of how Californians are still paying for the single biggest error made by Ronald Reagan, who as governor in the 1960s and ’70s engineered the closing of most of this state’s mental hospitals, which were never replaced.

Reagan planned to set up smaller halfway houses to replace those institutions, letting recovering mental illness patients ease back into society while still getting treatment. Those homes never materialized, and homelessness has proliferated steadily ever since.

If Prop. 1, combined with CARE courts, can solve even a small percentage of today’s problems, it would be a positive.

But if it’s too little and doesn’t accomplish much, then — if it narrowly passes — it will go down as a waste of public money.

The proof, as usual, would be in the performance.

Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com

Palomar Health partners with private company

By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO

— In a move to enhance its competitiveness with neighboring private medical providers, Palomar Health’s board of directors has greenlit a controversial management services agreement with a private company.

The hospital’s agreement with Mesa Rock Healthcare Management, approved by a 5-2 board majority on Feb. 29, will see Palomar Health CEO Diane Hansen and her executive team transition to working for the private, nonprofit company instead of directly answering to the board.

Palomar Health says the partnership with Mesa Rock will enable the health care district to affiliate with regional healthcare partners and hospital systems, fostering growth in primary medical care, expanding medical and surgical oncology care, improving pediatric care, stabilizing relationships with hospital-based physician groups, enhancing access to lab medicine, and strengthening the district’s ability to negotiate rates with health plans.

“In light of the financial challenges faced by healthcare districts statewide, the Palomar Health board of directors has taken proactive measures to ensure the district’s sustainability,” a statement from the hospital reads. “The agreement with Mesa Rock will position Palomar Health to maintain healthcare as a community asset by addressing financial challenges and facilitating strategic investments.”

Palomar Health is California’s largest public healthcare district, operating independently from city and county governments to provide health services to residents.

In recent years, many public healthcare districts, including Palomar Health, have grappled with financial crises. Amidst ongoing financial strains exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals nationwide have faced staffing shortages, escalating labor costs, inflation, supply chain disruptions, and other fiscal obstacles.

Larger, private nonprofit entities like Kaiser Permanente and Sharp HealthCare have demonstrated greater resilience to these challenges.

Several hospitals in the region have sought partnerships with private medical providers. Last year, the neighboring Tri-City Healthcare District partnered with UC San Diego Health to enhance services. UC San Diego took over TriCity’s property, debt, and staff and formed a new governing board.

Unlike Tri-City, Palomar Health will retain ownership of all its facilities and assets and maintain oversight responsibility for Mesa Rock.

However, critics, in-

Vista homeless shelter opens

By Laura Place

VISTA — San Diego County’s newest homeless shelter opened its doors in Vista on March 4 to its first group of clients, giving them a safe, non-congregate place to stay for at least 30 days while they find permanent housing and other resources.

Offering 48 beds in two apartment buildings formerly used as a sober living center, the Buena Creek Navigation Center along South Santa Fe Avenue is operated under a shared multi-city agreement, with 75% of beds set aside for Vista residents and 25% for those from Encinitas.

On-site operations and case management are run by Retread Inc., a service provider running the nearby men’s recovery program at Green Oak Ranch.

Both cities have worked collaboratively over the past year to make the shelter a reality, facilitated by a $5 million allocation from Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) that covers three years of operation.

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 1, two days before opening, city and state officials expressed excitement about the intercity collaboration.

“No city is going to be able to fight the issue of homelessness trying to do the work by themselves,” said Encinitas Mayor Tony Kranz. “This notion that you can put up a wall and try to address the issue of homelessness by yourself is one that I think we need to resist. We need to work regionally and collaboratively.”

Upon their arrival on Monday, clients could shower, obtain fresh clothes, and move their belongings into their rooms, which are limited to two people. The center has 24 bedrooms split between the two buildings, each with two stories and six rooms per floor, which sets

it apart from other congregate shelters in the region.

As clients got settled, staff cooked burgers on the communal patio and brought in items clients might need, such as supplies for their pets, which are also welcome at the shelter.

Sonia and Matthew (not their real names), a couple living out of their car in Vista since August, were among the first to move in. The two became homeless after Matthew lost his job last year, and Sonia was unable to work full-time due to her rheumatoid arthritis.

They were living in their car at a local parkand-ride when a Vista outreach worker connected them to Exodus Recovery, leading them to Retread and Buena Creek last month.

“It’s nice. It feels like a home. I didn’t know what to expect,” said Sonia, who opted with her partner not to share their names due to privacy concerns. “I’ve been on the waiting list for low-income housing with HUD (Housing and Urban Development) for years, and it’s pretty much a 10year wait.”

Now that they have a roof over their heads, the two are focused on getting connected to permanent housing, social services,

and new work.

“I’m here to try to help us and get out of this situation, and get back to normal life,” Matthew said.

Staff anticipated moving eight people on Monday, with more gradually moving in over the coming two to three weeks. After the initial 30 days at the center, when clients will work with case managers to identify housing and other services, Retread can grant two-week extensions for as long as someone needs.

While the center is intended to maintain a 75/25 split for Vista and Encinitas residents, staff said there is some wiggle room depending on the need and availability of beds.

“We want to have flexibility. Retread is gonna be really good about tracking the bed allocation as closely as possible. We don’t want to turn anyone away,” said Vista Homeless Services Program Manager Jonathan Lung.

Along with its non-congregate model, Buena Creek is also a low-barrier shelter, meaning that individuals are not required to be sober but are prohibited from having or using drugs on-site.

Apart from the two buildings where clients live, the Buena Creek property encompasses a

Rent hike hits another mobile park

By Samantha Nelson ESCONDIDO

— For the second time in a month, the City Council has approved a rent increase for a seniors-only mobile home park. Elderly Town and Country Club Mobile Home Park residents will soon see a 10.49% increase in their rents, ranging from $26.92 to $79.86 monthly.

On March 6, the council unanimously approved the long-form rent increase application for the 155-space mobile home park at 2280 E. Valley Pkwy. Only 154 of the 155 spaces will see a rent increase, as the park’s managers live in the remaining unit and do not pay rent.

In February, the City Council approved a shortform rent increase for Casa Grande Mobile Estates, another senior mobile home park. Last November, the city adopted a long-form rent increase for Eastwood Meadows.

Mobile home park owners must submit an application to the city requesting a rent increase under Proposition K, a mobile home rent control measure that voters approved in 1988.

Owners can either submit a short-form application, a more straightforward process that increases rent based solely on the change in the San Diego Metropolitan Area’s Consumer Price Index, or a long-form application, a more tedious and less frequently used process for park owners that do not qualify to apply for shortform.

single-family home used for staff housing and a converted garage used as another communal space. The center has 16 staff members, including case managers, navigation coaches, and security personnel, eight living on-site.

Several staff members are graduates of Green Oak Ranch’s recovery program, some previously homeless.

Andre Weese, a security coordinator at Buena Creek who graduated from the Green Oak ranch program in November, remembers the struggle of finding shelter when he was homeless and struggling with addiction.

“When I was out there, there was nowhere I could go. I couldn’t go to the shelter; it was too hard to get into. It was high barrier, and you had all these waiting lists…We recognize that it’s life or death out there,” Weese said. “People are gonna come to our navigation center and there’s gonna be somewhere who cares about them.”

Vista Councilmember Katie Melendez said Buena Creek is prepared to provide clients with dignity and support.

“Together, we’re gonna wrap around them and make sure they have the resources that they need,” Melendez said.

Kleege Enterprises, the park’s owner, had requested a 19.22% rent increase.

Several residents spoke out against the rent increase, some suggesting that a 6% increase would be more reasonable and fair.

“This will cause a severe hardship to a large number of residents,” said Susan Romero, park representative for residents. “Many will have to cut their budgets, leaving out much-needed items such as food or medications, just to make ends meet.”

The park is restricted to seniors, many of whom have low or fixed incomes.

Several newer residents also felt that a rent increase would be more unfair to them because they already pay higher rent than older residents.

Councilmember Consuelo Martinez said she would not support a rent increase as high as 19.22%, which would have cost residents between $49.33 and $146.33 a month.

Bruce Kleege, president of Kleege Enterprises, suggested he was doing residents a favor by requesting 19.22% now because he could return later and ask for more.

“You’re playing with fire,” Kleege said, frustrated by the council’s decision.

With the newly approved rent increase, Town and Country Club Mobile Home Park is Escondido’s fifth-most expensive mobile home park.

STATE SEN. Catherine Blakespear speaks at the opening of the Buena Creek Navigation Center in Vista alongside Encinitas Mayor Tony Kranz, left, Vista Mayor John Franklin, right, and homelessness program staff from both cities. Three-quarters of the beds are set aside for Vista residents, with 25% for those from Encinitas. Photo by Laura Place

EACH OF the four floors of the Buena Creek Navigation Center in Vista includes six two-person rooms. Photo by Laura Place

Ascend Coffee exits San Marcos (for now)

By Laura Place

REGION — Over its more than 30 years of operation, the little coffee shop at San Marcos Restaurant Row has weathered countless changes, from new owners to new names, while always maintaining its strong following of loyal customers.

Today, the coffee shop previously known as Mocha Marketplace, Old Cal Coffee Company, and now Ascend Coffee Roasters is undergoing its biggest transition.

Ascend Coffee has moved to a new location in La Costa, which opened in January. The shop also saw the closure of its longtime home along San Marcos Boulevard in late February due to the planned redevelopment of Restaurant Row. This season of change is bittersweet for owner Erin Harper but also one of hope.

“We had so many people come by and give us well wishes and let us know they were gonna continue to support us,” Harper said of the San Marcos closure. “It was a nice close to this chapter.”

The business originally opened at Restaurant Row in 1990 as Mocha Marketplace and then became Old Cal Coffee Company in the early 2000s. Harper came to work as a barista during this time and would remain

formed the basis for the Ascend brand. Harper, who describes herself as a foodie, said it started with her desire to develop a high-quality craft dark roast.

Now, Ascend sells two dark roasts, one medium, one light, and a decaf option, each using single-origin beans from different locations around the world including Costa Rica, New Guinea, and Ethiopia that are roasted in San Marcos.

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BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Helene “Elena” Bell, a retired Caltrans landscape architect and longtime Oceanside resident, celebrated her 70th birthday with friends in early March.

2024 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar and a 2024 All-USA Academic Team member. He received the highest score in California in the competition and is one of 20 students nationwide to be chosen for the team.

TOP COUGARS

Cal State San Marcos senior forward Jordan Vasquez has been named the CCAA Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, meanwhile head coach Renee Jimenez was named the CCAA Coach of the Year.

there for over a decade, eventually becoming a partner in the business.

Harper bought Old Cal Coffee from shop owners Giovanna and Chris Garcia in 2022. By then, she had been running her own roasting business called Ascend Coffee Roasters for two years and decided to operate the coffee shop under the Ascend name.

For a while, Harper frequently ran between the San Marcos and new Carlsbad locations while finding time to roast. With the closure of the old site, Harper is now focused on getting the new La Costa shop off the ground at the Los Coches Village shopping center.

Visitors to the new shop will find a more modern look than the Old California style of the previous location, but the same delicious menu of coffee drinks, pastries, and a variety of breakfast and lunch food options, including burritos, toasts and smoothie bowls.

“I’m kind of in a position right now where the La Costa store is so new that we’re just trying to get a cash flow going,” Harper said. “I’m trying to do this grassroots effort — I don’t have a ton of investors or anything, it’s just me. I’m just figuring it out one day at a time.”

Roasting was a hobby that quickly turned into a passion and eventually

“We really take them from start to finish, from the green coffee that is uncooked to the espresso that’s in your cup. We really take care of it every step of the way,” Harper said.

Looking ahead, Harper said she has her sights set on further expansion in North County and an eventual return to San Marcos, where her love for coffee began. There are plans in the works for a drive-thru location near Palomar College and another potential site in Vista.

“We hope to spread our wings in North County,” Harper said.

Ascend Coffee is open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3231 Camino de los Coches. Customers can also visit ascendroasters.com to order food and drinks for pickup or order bags of whole-bean coffee for home delivery.

SKATEBOARD SCHOLARS

The College Skateboarding Education Association plans to give out at least $50,000 in scholarships to students who maintain good grades, have a financial need, are passionate about skateboarding and contribute to their communities. Applications must be submitted by June 5 at www. collegeskateboarding.com/ scholarships.

THE VOICE

Anya True, an Encinitas resident and a contestant on “The Voice,” secured a spot on Team Dan + Shay by singing “Until I Found You” by Stephen Sanchez.

LOCAL AUTHORS

Two North County-based authors, Michelle Gable of Cardiff and Elizabeth St. John of Rancho Santa Fe, will be featured on the “Weaving Fact & Fiction: A Historical Fiction Panel” with their respective novels, “The Beautiful People” and “The Godmother’s Secret” at the San Diego Writers Festival on April 6.

BATTING CAGES

Dingers Batting Cages opened its doors inside the North County Mall in Escondido last weekend. The facility provides state-ofthe-art indoor performance training with its ProBatter PX3 baseball and softball pitching simulators.

CLASSICAL SCHOLAR

Classical Academy High School student Jillian Guidry of Escondido earned the Alexander de Guia Memorial Scholarship on Feb. 29. The scholarship is funded by the family of Alexander De Guia, whose mission is to honor their father and his legacy by recognizing outstanding scholars from the Philippines or with Filipino heritage who are leaders in their communities.

DEAN’S LIST

The following students made the fall dean’s list at Biola University: Jordan Chan, Eliana Cote, Danielle Gmyr, Abigail Larson and Hannah Larson of San Marcos; Christopher Hall and Caeli Willard of Oceanside; George Horton and Isabelle Smith of Encinitas; Eliana Mihlik of Vista; and Becca Petty, Hannah Richards and Kate Taylor of Carlsbad. Madison Sawyer of Vista made the fall dean’s list at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

ACADEMIC LEADER

Gabriel Bartoli, an international student at MiraCosta College, was named a

STOCK MARKET CHALLENGE

Hundreds of students from schools across San Diego County, including El Camino High School in Oceanside, will experience the rush of the New York Stock Exchange with a fastpaced stock market simulation to gain hands-on investing experience in a risk-free, fun environment on March 21 at the Capdevilla Gillespie Center for Junior Achievement Campus in San Diego.

HALL OF FAME

The Oceanside High School Foundation is seeking nominations for its Hall of Fame Class of 2024. The deadline to be considered for inclusion is March 30. Nomination forms can be found at www.ohsfoundation.org. Additionally, the deadline to order commemorative tiles that will be installed over the summer on campus walls around the senior fountain and multipurpose room is March 31.

WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS

California Bank & Trust is opening applications for the CB&T Growth Academy in collaboration with the National Association of Women Business Owners San Diego. The business growth accelerator program is designed to educate women on how to make a positive impact and build skills to benefit their communities and scale their businesses. Applicants must have owned their business for over two years, have at least one employee, generate $200,000 in annual revenue and commit to two virtual hours per week to the academy. Applications are open now through April 5 at launchandgrow.org/calbank.

ANIMAL CARE

Encinitas resident Dr. Laura Halsey has opened Tell Tail Moonlight Veterinary Urgent Care at 414 Encinitas Blvd. The animal hospital is addressing the gap between a general veterinary practice and a 24-hour emergency specialty veterinary care.

ITALIAN CLASS

The Italian Cultural Center will begin hosting Italian classes beginning in April both online and in-person at the San Dieguito Heritage Museum. For more information and to register, visit icc-sd.org.

RUBIO’S GRILL

Rubio’s Coastal Grill will open its new flagship restaurant in Oceanside at 4201 Oceanside Blvd. The site was previously closed temporarily due to a 2021 fire.

ASCEND COFFEE owner Erin Harper is pictured during the shop’s last week of operation at San Marcos Restaurant Row before it closed on Feb. 29. The La Costa location opened in January. Photo by Laura Place

Vista takes next step toward cannabis equity

Study details local impact of cannabis enforcement in city

By Laura Place VISTA

— City leaders received the results of a long-awaited cannabis equity study last month, shedding light on the disproportionate impacts of cannabis enforcement in the city and providing recommendations for a program to increase equitable access to the industry.

The study was completed over the last eight months by SCI Consulting Group, which was awarded a contract by the Vista City Council last June via a $75,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).

At its Feb. 27 meeting, the council discussed the results of the study, including cannabis-related arrest data and feedback from local stakeholders regarding barriers to entry into the cannabis industry.

Council members also discussed several programming options recommended by SCI to mitigate these barriers.

Going forward, city staff will use feedback from the council to bring back plans for a proposed cannabis equity program for approval in the coming months.

“I want to say ‘thank you’ to my council for moving forward with the cannabis equity study,” said Councilmember Corrina Contreras. “I know it was maybe not favored at the beginning, but I’m glad we got to a point where we moved forward with it, and that allowed us to use the state’s money — which is just our tax money coming back to Vista — to prepare this type of assessment.”

Vista has been identified as a leader in North County’s cannabis industry,

allowing the operation of 11 cannabis dispensaries in the city (10 are currently active) under Measure Z in 2018, followed by recreational use in 2021.

The city brought in nearly $7 million in cannabis tax revenue last year.

One main recommendation in the study was to set aside a specific number of cannabis business permits for candidates meeting specific equity criteria, including individuals with a cannabis conviction or arrest history or their im-

mediate family members, low-income individuals, and those residing in Vista.

SCI also recommended programs to limit financial, technical and criminal obstacles to the industry.

This could include a loan or grant program for business expenses, application fee waivers, application assistance, training curriculum in partnership with local cannabis businesses, and record expungement related to cannabis convictions.

Most of the council sup-

ported setting aside a certain percentage of cannabis business licenses for equity applicants, with Councilmember Joe Green recommending between 25% and 40%.

The majority also supported the idea of grants, which could be funded by the state once the city adopts a cannabis equity program, and waiving application fees for equity applicants. However, the council was not inclined to pursue lending options.

“I do not think the city of Vista should be the owner, potentially, of a cannabis shop, so I would not want to give out loans. I’d be open to giving out grants for that very reason,” said Councilmember Dan O’Donnell.

Council members also discussed the idea of allowing a certain number of licenses for commercial cultivation, which is not currently authorized in Vista. Back in 2022, the council pursued an ordinance to allow cannabis cultivation at the city’s business park, but ultimately decided to postpone it until social equity factors could be considered more in-depth.

Green said he would be comfortable with up to five cultivation licenses and would also be in favor of allowing up to 10 cannabis lounges in close proximity to existing dispensaries where people can consume cannabis.

In addition, he suggested allowing three lounges that are all shared workspaces, allowing folks to enjoy cannabis while they work.

“I know it might sound odd to some, but to have a work-share space where people can enjoy cannabis and do what they want to do is definitely something that is appealing to the cannabis community,” said Green.

SCI also recommended that the city require equity applicants to maintain at least 51% of ownership of the business, to prevent them from being taken advantage of by partners or investors while still allowing flexibility.

Councilmember Katie Melendez said she supported this idea in order to prevent predatory behavior. .

Local impact

In order to understand the impact of the war on drugs on residents, SCI examined data for 685 cannabis-related arrests recorded in Vista from 2014 to 2023, with no earlier data available from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

The firm’s analysis found that Black people made up nearly 6% of cannabis-related arrests in Vista in this time frame despite comprising just 3% of the city’s population.

Other racial and

TRADECRAFT FARMS manager Edgar Gaytan works the counter of the recreatonal marijuana dispensary in Vista on March 4. Tradecraft Farms is one of 10 active dispensaries in the city. Photo by Laura Place

Big Bear: A change of seasons in a couple of hours

Ahit the road

bandanna is a versatile tool when you’re on the trail. It can wipe sweat, cool the neck, blow the nose, tie up hair, become a hot pad, look cool and do some other things I can’t mention here.

It also can serve as a tourniquet, which is what I needed when I pulled my purple-accented bandanna from the bottom of my backpack during a snowshoeing adventure on Pine Knot Trail in the San Bernardino National Forest, minutes from the town of Big Bear Lake. I had been carrying the unused bandanna for years; this was my chance.

The day was perfect: 48 degrees, clear skies, empty trails and enough snow for snowshoeing, sledding and great photos. Our guide, Dan McKernan, publisher of the twice-yearly Big Bear Guide, was in the lead. Good thing — we could see nothing of a trail, so were free to immerse ourselves in this alpine wonderland.

Then, returning to the trailhead, my husband slid down a small embankment. No injuries except a

nasty abrasion just above the elbow — not serious but bloody. I pulled out the dormant bandanna and applied pressure.

It held well enough until we made a quick visit to Walgreens for real bandages, then it was off to some superb eats at Stella Luna in Big Bear Lake Village. Opened in 2021, the airy, contemporary space, complete with a big screen for watching Big Bear Valley’s bald eagle cam, caters to those who need or prefer gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.

“Both my husband and I have a severe gluten allergy,” said owner Alicia Betzler, “and Ryan and I saw a need in this community for a different kind of restaurant.”

There is plenty for omnivores too, and all offerings from the scratch kitchen are made with sustainability in mind.

“We’re very conscious in picking vendors,” she added. “We use compostable paper products and plates made of recycled clay. We partner with smaller farms in our local area and avoid big-brand labels for alcohol and wine.”

Big Bear Lake Village and environs, which sit at 6,800 feet and near a portion of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, is our go-to getaway when we crave a change of seasons.

The less-than-threehour drive from North

County brings visitors to the pristine, 824,000-acre national forest, 7-mile-long lake and spectacular peaks. The winter snow, spring

wildflowers, cool summers and fall colors draw enthusiasts who love skiing, hiking, biking, boating and kayaking.

You can find equipment and advice on many of these pursuits at Goldsmiths Sports, one of the few shops that offer snow-

shoes and electric mountain bikes, which negate the need for acclimating to the altitude.

“We can send customers out to best places to find the fluffiest snow (and best trails),” said Danielle Goldsmith, the area’s first snowboard safety patroller and whose family has been on the mountain for four generations.

There also are plenty of no-skill-required activities: snow tubing, ziplining, ropes course, miniature golf, and alpine slides and coasters.

For an accessible outdoors: Stanfield Preserve Boardwalk, an elevated boardwalk that traverses a wildlife preserve at the lake’s southeast end. (Waterfowl feed in the morning and late afternoon.) And the 3.2-mile Alpine Pedal Path on the lake’s north side.

For animal lovers: the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, which rehabilitates grizzly and black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, eagles, snakes, owls, wolves and more.

The immensely popular annual Oktoberfest runs from September to early November and celebrates the community’s German heritage. And on Memorial Day weekend: Maifest, “Oktoberfest’s little sister.”

For more photos and discussion, visit www.facebook.com/elouise.ondash.

RAIN,

WIND, AND FIRE...

“ The three menaces to any chimney, fireplace, or stove.”

Every year there are over twenty thousand chimney/ fireplace related house fires in the US alone. Losses to homes as a result of chimney fires, leaks and wind damage exceeds one hundred million dollars annually in the US.

CHIMNEY SWEEPS, INC., one of San Diego’s leading chimney repair and maintenance companies, is here to protect you and your home from losses due to structural damage and chimney fires.

Family owned and operated and having been in business for over 30 years, Chimney Sweeps Inc. is a fully licensed and insured chimney contracting company (License #976438) and they are certified with the National Fireplace Institute and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

For a limited time, readers of this paper will receive a special discount on our full chimney cleaning and safety inspection package with special attention to chimney water intrusion points in preparation for the rainy season.

SNOWSHOEING on trails through the San Bernardino National Forest, just a few minutes from the heart of Big Bear Lake Village, is a sport that almost anyone can do. Participants are rewarded with clean air, the smell of pine, unspoiled scenery and quiet. Photo by E’Louise Ondash

Vista students put on robotics show for seniors

By Laura Place CARLSBAD

— The young, the old, and the robotic gathered at the La Costa Glen retirement community in Carlsbad on Tuesday for an intergenerational educational event focused on the wonders of technology.

In a partnership between Tri-City Christian High School in Vista and La Costa Glen’s tech committee, students from the school’s robotics team spoke

to a room of around 40 retirees about how they design robots and how they participate in competitions.

Then, they gave a live demonstration using three of their actual robots, using controllers to make them do various tasks such as retrieve objects, shoot a paper airplane and navigate a maze. La Costa Glen residents had the chance to try it out for themselves and see students’ creations first-

hand.

“It’s just so nice to see young kids working together as a team and, you know, doing things that are going to make a difference in the world and the future,” resident Larry Greenfield said. “They’re teaching me a lot of stuff and it’s great. These robots are just incredible.”

The event came into being at the urging of La Costa Glen resident Bette Starke, whose grand-

son Liam is a freshman on the TCCHS robotics team. She said many of La Costa Glen’s residents are interested in tech or come from tech backgrounds, and that past events, such as a panel on artificial intelligence last year, have been a great success.

“There was so much interest, that I thought they’d like to see some young high school kids,” Bette Stark said. “It was exciting to have

him [Liam] come with his team and demonstrate this to the senior community, because the seniors here love to be around young people.”

Liam Starke, a 15-yearold freshman, said the team has held other demonstrations in the community, such as at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, but that this was the team’s first time doing something like this.

“It’s pretty cool to let other people see what we’re

doing, and how we build the robots and stuff,” he said.

La Costa Glen resident and Tech Team leader Fred Johansen said that as someone with a background in mechanical engineering, getting to learn from the students was fascinating.

“They’re the next generation of techies. They’re gonna be the scientists and engineers coming up. We can see ourselves in what they’re doing,” Johansen said.

TRI-CITY CHRISTIAN High School freshman Austin Fogarty, 14, left, a member of the school’s robotics team, plays a robot game with La Costa Glen resident Larry Greenfield on Tuesday at the retirement community in Carlsbad. Center, the robots designed by the Tri-City Christian robotics team can complete various tasks, including retrieving items, extending upward and launching paper airplanes. Right, Liam Starke, 15, a Tri-City freshman, demonstrates how to run the “baby bot” through a maze. Photos by Laura Place

Tree doctor wins award 2 years in a row

Since 1985, Russell Bowman has been delighting residents of San Diego County with his plant and tree expertise.

So, it’s no wonder Bowman Plant & Tree Care Specialists have been named the San Diego Union-Tribune Community Press’ “Best of North County” voters’ poll for tree and plant care for a 2nd year in a row!

He is lovingly referred to as the San Diego “tree doctor extraordinaire” by his clients, Bowman is known for transforming sickly trees and gardens into Disneyesque wonderlands.

Using his own proprietary blend of organic biological nutrition, Bowman feeds plants at night — a technique he picked up during his time as a horticulturist at Disneyland.

“When you feed plants at night, they have enough time to absorb the nutrition, before it is degraded by the sun’s rays,” he said. “That’s why, when most people are winding down their days, eating dinner, and going to bed, we are out feeding plants and trees.”

He’s done more than just care for sick plants and trees, he’s revolutionized both residential and commercial properties by the use of his organic fertilizer tanks that inject his magical formula through your irrigation systems.

In a very short time, this

program pays back through reduced water bills.

“When you give your body proper nutrition, it affects your overall health and boosts your immunity, so you don’t get sick. The same is true for plants and trees.”

Bowman feeds complete “nutrition delivery biology” derived from earthworm

castings to replenish the missing healthy soil biology.

This works with a client’s current irrigation system so that each time the landscaping is watered, the needed soil biology is replenished.

“This is the secret to keeping your property looking like a five-star resort.”

Russell is quick to point out that healthy plants and trees are also environmentally friendly. A healthy plant will be more efficient at photosynthesizing sunlight into oxygen and the healthy soil/ compost helps bring down uses far less water.

He donates his time and expertise for the trees for the Point Loma Association and gardens at the Rock Church in Point Loma, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, the YMCA, Barnes Tennis Center, Chili’s Restaurants, Stone Brewery in Escondido, and San Diego Botanic Garden.

He also served with the San Diego Rose Society in Balboa Park for 12 years.

“My calling is to beautify the earth, making trees and plants healthy,” The Master Gardener taught me everything I know. I’ve learned that when you love something, it’s not something you have to do; it’s something you want to do.”

To learn more about Bowman and his services, please contact Russell at 858-499-9417.

He provides tree and plant nutritional care as well as ongoing routine garden maintenance.

Russell Bowman abides by all applicable state laws and requirements and does not perform any

that require a

contractor.

By Samantha Nelson

Business license B2017006153.

treecare.com

The Escondido City Council unanimously approved hiring GEI Consultants, Inc. for $12.9 million to continue construction management services for replacing the 129-year-old dam.

Lake Wohlford Dam was first constructed with earth and rock in 1895 to a height of 76 feet. About 30 years later, the dam was raised to 100 feet using a slurry hydraulic fill process.

In 2007, during a routine seismic evaluation of the dam, the California Division of Safety of Dams determined that the hydraulic fill section could liquefy and fail in the event of a greater than 7.5-magnitude earthquake along the Elsinore Fault. In response, the city lowered the water level of Lake Wohlford to prevent surpassing the original dam height of 76 feet.

The proposed new dam, which would be constructed downstream of the existing dam, would restore the lake to pre-2007 levels.

The dam replacement project will be paid for by a California Proposition 1E Grant, a pending U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (“WIFIA”) loan, and the Water Enterprise Fund.

Angela Morrow, the city’s director of utilities, said the current construction estimate for the dam replacement project is approximately $88.5 million.

The dam construction presents a complex undertaking due to various factors, including limited ac-

cessibility and workspace owing to the rugged, hilly terrain; the presence of environmentally and culturally sensitive habitats; and operating a concrete batch plant and heavy earthwork equipment on-site.

The project will also have extended working hours during the placement of the roller-compacted concrete dam, which requires crews to install it continuously, 24/7.

In 2012, the city entered into a $2.5 million consulting agreement with RBF Consulting, Inc. to provide construction management services for the project. Early on, it was determined that Oakvale Road needed to be realigned to make room for the new dam.

Michael Baker International (MBI) acquired RBF during this time and began providing constructability reviews throughout the design phase, as well as construction management and inspection services for the road realignment.

In recent years, MBI has experienced a significant loss of staff members skilled in inspecting and managing dam construction projects. Coupled with the city’s anticipation of maxing out the original consulting agreement once Oakvale Road realignment is complete, staff requested proposals in search of a new consulting firm to take over construction management for the dam replacement.

Morrow said that although GEI Consultants, Inc. was chosen as the only firm that responded to the proposal request, the firm has extensive experience working with other roller-compacted concrete dams, including the Olivenhain and San Vicente dams.

The dam is expected to be completed in 2027.

RUSSELL BOWMAN of Bowman Plant & Tree Care Specialists is lovingly referred to as the San Diego “tree doctor extraordinaire.” Courtesy photo

THE LAKE WOHLFORD Dam replacement project is expected to wrap up in 2027. Courtesy photo

Primary results still rolling in for local races, Prop 1

By Laura Place REGION

— Results from the March 5 primary election continue to roll in, with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters sharing its most recent update late Monday.

As of late Monday, around 30,000 votes remained to be processed in San Diego County. The next round of updated, unofficial results will be released online by 5 p.m. on March 15.

The California Secretary of State will officially certify the results by April 12, and counties must certify their results by April 4 or within 30 days of the election.

Here are the updated unofficial results as of Monday evening for races affecting North County, as well as the statewide ballot measure Proposition 1, according to the California Secretary of State and San Diego County Registrar of Voters:

48th Congressional District: Incumbent Rep. Darrel Issa (R-Vista) continues to hold a wide lead in

CANNABIS

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ethnic groups including Whites (65.4% of the population), Hispanics/Latinos (50.25%), Asians (4.9%), and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders (0.9%) did not see the same disproportionate impacts.

“When you look across the other demographic groups, their arrest rates align more closely with their population proportions or well below them. “ said SCI Senior Consultant Kyle Tankard.

Black people made up

the 48th Congressional race with 62.6% of the vote, followed by Democrat Stephen Houlahan, who is likely to be the challenger in November, with 14.8%.

Democrats Whitney Shanahan (12%), Mike Simon (7.3%), Matthew Rascon (2.2%), and independent candidate Lucinda KHW Jahn (1.1%) trailed behind.

49th Congressional District: The two candidates set to head to the November general election are incumbent Rep. Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano) with 50.7% and Republican challenger Matt Gunderson with 25.9%.

Republican candidate Margarita Wilkinson came in with 11%, followed by Kate Monroe with 9.9% and Sheryl Adams at 2.4%.

This will be Gunderson’s second time advancing to the general election after his 2022 run for the 38th Senate seat against state Sen. Catherine Blakespear.

“I’m honored and humbled by the support we have

nearly 6% of cannabis-related arrests in Vista from 2014 to 2023, despite comprising just 3% of the city’s population, law enforcement data shows. Graph courtesy SCI Consulting Data also revealed that arrests were concentrated in Vista’s north-central region, which also holds one of the highest concentrations of non-White and low-income residents.

“We’ve identified this region to be most disproportionately impacted given the convergence of those factors,” Tankard said.

Contreras noted that

Bicyclist struck by 2 cars, killed

By City News Service

VISTA — A bicyclist was killed after being struck by two vehicles, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said last week.

At 10:28 p.m. March 7, deputies responded to a collision between two vehicles and a bicyclist on South Melrose Drive at Buena Vista Drive, sheriff’s Sgt. Eric Cottrell said.

The first motorist bumped into the bicyclist, remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, Cottrell said.

PALOMAR

CONTINUED FROM 5

cluding Palomar Health board members John Clark and Laurie Edwards-Tate, have raised concerns about the management agreement, fearing it diminishes its authority.

“An elected official cannot relinquish vested power,” Edwards-Tate told The Coast News. “It is not ours to surrender, as it is embedded in the law.”

With the appointment of Palomar’s executive team to Mesa Rock, the company will assume responsibility for hiring or firing the healthcare district’s CEO,

received tonight, and I’m pleased to announce that we will be the Republican candidate to challenge Rep. Mike Levin in the General Election,” Gunderson said in an Election Day statement. “Mike Levin is out of touch with the district and our country desperately needs new leadership.”

74th Assembly District: Incumbent Assemblymember Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel) continues to lead the two-person 74th Assembly District race with 55.8% of the vote, compared to Democratic challenger and San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan’s 44.2%. Both Davies and Duncan will advance to the November election.

75th Assembly District: Republican candidate Carl DeMaio holds a large lead in the 75th Assembly race with 43.1% and is set to advance to the November ballot. Republican Andrew Hayes is currently in second place with 18.7%, followed closely by Democrat Kevin

this area is located largely within District 1, which she represents.

“It’s not a surprise to me, but it still is a little bit of a surprise, every time I see how District 1 has been affected by so many of these indicators, and looking at the historic generational inequities in my district. I want to ensure that we’re doing the best that we can here in the city to right a lot of wrongs that have happened,” Contreras said.

Precedent

SCI looked at existing cannabis equity programs

Juza with 18.2%. Candidates who will not advance past the primary are Democrats Christie Dougherty (9.9%), Joy Frew (7.3%), and Republican Jack Fernandes (2.8%).

76th Assembly District: Leading the competitive 76th Assembly Race is Republican Kristie BruceLane with 49.7%, followed by Democrat Darshana Patel with 34%. Democrat Joseph Rocha is in third place with 16.3% and does not appear to be advancing past the primary.

Patel thanked residents for their support and said she is looking “onward to November,” when she will be the Democratic challenger.

“I decided to run because I believe California has to do more for working families, invest in public education, provide high-quality health care, and support our most vulnerable neighbors. I believe the voters heard and shared those hopes,” Patel said on social media last week.

in other cities, such as Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Long Beach, to identify best practices for a Vista program.

These cities have identified various criteria for applicants to qualify as equity applicants. Oakland’s program specifically prioritizes residents living within specific police beat areas in their city, while Sacramento’s has prioritized residents in specific impacted zip codes.

The city of San Diego also adopted its own Social Equity and Economic Development (SEED) program

In a March 6 statement, Rocha, who also ran for the 40th Senate District seat in 2022, thanked his supporters and said he would continue to advocate for residents in need.

“I congratulate Dr. Patel on her victory, and I urge everyone who supported our campaign to join me in standing with her in the fight to defend Assembly District 76 from extremists,” Rocha said.

This is the first time in 12 years that the seat will be up for grabs by a challenger, with incumbent Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego) termed out but set to appear on the November ballot for San Diego’s City Attorney seat.

77th Assembly District: Incumbent Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) continues to lead the 77th Assembly District race with 56.9% of the vote, followed by Republican challenger James Browne with 38.5%, who will join Boerner on the November ballot, and Dem-

in January, which would allow 18 new retail cannabis outlets in the city for individuals meeting specific criteria, including those who have been impacted by a cannabis-related conviction or arrest.

San Diego County is also in the process of establishing a Socially Equitable Cannabis Program that would allow new commercial cannabis operations in unincorporated areas of the county and also seek to remove barriers to entry into the industry.

Armand King, an advocate for cannabis equity

ocratic challenger Henny Kupferstein with 4.6%.

39th Senate District: Incumbent Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa) remains in the lead over Republican challenger Bob Divine with 60.5% of the vote compared to Divine’s 39.5%. Both will advance to the November election.

Proposition 1: Voters remain split over state ballot measure Proposition 1, with returns showing 50.4% in favor and 49.6% opposed. If passed, the measure would authorize issuing $6.3 billion in bonds to add 6,800 mental health and addiction treatment beds and build around 4,300 housing units, with half reserved for veterans.

Prop 1 would also give the state more control over how counties spend their current mental health tax funds from Prop 63, requiring a greater focus on individuals with serious mental health and substance use issues.

in San Diego County, said there will be “nay-sayers” who will point out issues with how other jurisdictions have run these programs, but encouraged Vista to continue pursuing a local program.

“What we’re in position to do in Vista is to analyze all of these other failures, figure out what they did wrong, and put ourselves in a position to do this right, and not just right, but set an example for the rest of the nation on how an equity program should work, should happen, and put Vista on the map,” King said.

A second motorist struck the bicyclist and left the scene, the sergeant said. The second motorist was believed to have been driving a white crossover or SUV.

The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, Cottrell said. The Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s help in locating the vehicle that left the scene.

Anyone with information was asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Up to a $1,000 reward was being offered for information that leads to an arrest.

superseding the board’s authority.

As Mesa Rock is a private company, it is not subject to the state’s public records law. While most of Palomar’s records will remain public, records generated by the executive team will remain private.

Under the contract terms, the company will receive 1% of net revenue for its operations.

Limited information is available about Mesa Rock and its operational approach. Eric Friedlander, CEO of Starpoint Health, established the nonprofit organization in February 2024.

JoAnn Marlene Hoekstra Carlsbad February 20, 2024

Gween Truax Carlsbad February 15, 2024

Joanne M. Corley Escondido February 29, 2024

Gary Francis Morris Escondido March 5, 2024

Submission Process

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EVENTS CALENDAR

MARCH 15

KARL DENSON

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe out of San Diego, blending rock, soul and classic funk, is highly regarded as one of the best live acts on the planet. $32.50-$57, 9 p.m. on March 15 & 16 at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

SPRING GARDEN TOUR

Embark on a self-guided tour of seven exciting local gardens in North Inland San Diego County. $30, 12 a.m. at El Plantio Nursery, 1322 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido.

GILBERT CASTELLANOS

Take in the sultry sounds of Gilbert Castellanos’ jazz music mixed with hits from the American songbook, Latin jazz and original compositions. 6 to 9 p.m. March 15 at Fairmont Grand Del Mar, 5300 Grand del Mar Ct, San Diego.

DUSTIN YBARRA

Join us right here in Escondido to see Texas comedian Dustin Ybarra, featured on The Tonight Show. $20, doors open at 6 p.m. at Grand Comedy Club, 340 E Grand Ave, Escondido.

‘CRAZY FOR YOU’

A zany rich-boy-meetshometown-girl in “Crazy for You.” $14-$22. March 8-17 (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m, and Sunday 2 p.m. at Howard Brubeck Theatre at Palomar College, 1140 W Mission Rd, San Marcos.

MIRACOSTA SYMPHONY

Our symphony orchestra invites you to an exciting evening of music making, featuring the incredibly talented young artist winners of the Music Teachers Association of California’s San Diego’s concerto competition. $8-$10, 7:30 p.m. at the Concert Hall (Bldg. 2400), MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Dr, Oceanside.

‘ANYTHING GOES’

Cole Porter’s classic musical, “Anything Goes,” is set to take the stage at MiraCosta College. $20, runs from March 2-17 at MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Dr, Oceanside.

(S)LIGHT OF HAND

Photographic artists Debra Achen and Diana Bloomfield exhibit award-winning prints. Free, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 15 at The Photographer’s Eye Gallery, 326 E Grand Ave, Escondido.

CIRCUS VARGAS

The all new production showcases different cultures and nationalities coming together to entertain, laugh, live, love and celebrate as one. $25, 7:30 p.m. at Westfield Mission Valley West , 1640 Camino del Rio N, San Diego.

MARCH 16

BOOK SIGNING

Book signing for Eric Beetner’s “The Last Few Miles of Road” and Duane Swierczynski’s “California Bear.” 3 to 5 p.m. March 16 at Artifact Books, 603 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas

SKATE RISING

Learn how to skateboard from the pros and Olympians at the California Training Facility. Free, 1 to 3 p.m. March 16 at California Training Facility, 1410 Vantage Ct, Vista.

NIGHT OF MAGIC

The Encinitas Rotary Club is hosting an evening of magic and comedy with five magicians from the Magic Castle in Hollywood. The event supports community charities and youth programs through the club. $60, 7 p.m. at Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center, 3557 Monroe St, Carlsbad.

ART ON THE GREEN

Art on the Green is open every weekend (weather permitting), for the public to enjoy all forms of artwork for sale. 5 p.m. at Carlsbad Inn Outdoor Art Venue, 3075 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad.

TINY FEST

TinyFest is an annual exposition that showcases a large spectrum of alternative living structures from tiny homes, buses and vans to backyard cottages, ADUs, shipping container homes and more. $20, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 16 & 17 at Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar.

BOB LONG IS BACK!

Bob Long, best known entertainer in North County in the 80’s is returning after 35 years! He will rejoin his band, Bob Long Band for a one night special concert. All baby boomers will recall Bob. 7 p.m. at Coomber Craft Wines, 611 Mission Ave, Oceanside.

WALK HISTORIC ENCINITAS

The Encinitas Historical Society is now able to offer this fun educational tour more often and with more varied walking paths. Free, but donations always welcome, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 16 at Encinitas Historical Society, 390 W F St, Encinitas.

HONOR CHOIR

Witness the future of choral music when 100 gifted students join forces with the San Diego Master Chorale at its annual ‘Honor Choir’ event. Free4:30 to 6 p.m. March 16 at First United Methodist Church of San Diego, 2111 Camino del Rio S, San Diego.

DNA INTEREST GROUP

North San Diego County Genealogical Society’s DNA Interest Group meets with expert Rachel Unkefer to discuss “Unlocking the Power of DNA Projects for Your Research.”. 1 to 2:30 p.m. March 16 at Georgina Cole Library, 1250 Carlsbad Village Dr, Carlsbad.

SOROPTIMIST AWARDS

Soroptimist International of Vista and North County Inland will hold its annual Live Your Dreams Awards Luncheon to award scholarships to six local women. $30, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 16 at Gloria McClellan Senior Center, 1400 Vale Terrace Dr, Vista.

MUSICAL TEA

The American Association of University Women-Carlsbad-Oceanside-Vista is hosting a Musical Tea to raise funds for Tech Trek, a weeklong summer camp for eighth grade girls to learn about STEM jobs. $40, 1 to 3 p.m. March 16 at Harding Community Center, 3096 Harding St, Carlsbad.

C YOU SATURDAY

Join the Institute of Contemporary Art for C You Saturday. Check out galleries and exhibits includ-

$46, 7:30 p.m. at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

PURIM CELEBRATION

Join us at Nature Play for a morning of Purim fun. Purim is a joyous holiday celebrated with food, gift giving, and dressing up in costume. $8, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 17 at Coastal Roots Farm, 441 Saxony Rd, Encinitas.

ST. PATTY’S CELTIC SERVICE

Grace Episcopal Church is holding a special Celtic Sunday service in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. The service will include Celtic blessings and Celtic music. Services are at 8:30 and 10 a.m. 8:30 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 1020 Rose Ranch Rd, San Marcos.

HALF MARATHON, 5K/10K

ing “Beyond the End of the World” and “SUPERFLEX.”

Free, 4 to 8 p.m. March 16 at ICA San Diego North, 1550 S El Camino Real, Encinitas.

WALK FOR ANIMALS

When you join the Walk for Animals, you’re part of a community dedicated to creating a more humane San Diego for pets, wildlife and people. This is the best walk you’ll take all year. $30 adult, $15 youth, 7 to 11 a.m. March 16 at Kit Carson Park, 3333 Bear Valley Pkwy S, Escondido.

TIJUANA STREET FOOD

Join Wild Foodie Tours for an all-inclusive, fun, gritty, and insightful street food tour in Tijuana. $69, 12 to 4 p.m. March 16 at Meeting spot: McDonald’s San Ysidro Trolley Station, 727 E San Ysidro Blvd, San Diego.

‘SANCTUARY IN THE WILD’

Join photographer Christina McFaul for the unveiling and large-scale exhibition of her latest photography book, “Sanctuary in the Wild.” Free, 5 to 8:30 p.m. March 16 at San Diego Botanic Gardens, 300 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas.

SOURDOUGH WORKSHOP

Learn how to make the perfect loaf of sourdough bread. $84-$89, 12 to 2:30 p.m. March 16 at Sunshine Market & Refillery, 3529 Cannon Rd, Oceanside.

GRACE POTTER

Catch American singer-songwriter Grace Potter live at The Sound. $39.50, 8 p.m. at The Sound, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar.

MARCH 17

THE YOUNG DUBLINERS

After thirty years as one of the world’s leading Celtic Rock bands, The Young Dubliners have begun work on their tenth studio album while still maintaining their busy tour schedule. $26-

lar eclipses, how they occur, different types and what they are like. Free, 6 p.m. at Solana Beach Library, 157 Stevens Ave, Solana Beach.

MIXED NUTS: IMPROV JAM

Mixed Nuts is an improv jam where anybody who shows up gets to play! Each session starting at 7pm. $10, 7 to 9 p.m. March 19 at The Brooks Theatre, 217 N Coast Hwy, Oceanside.

MARCH 20

DAKHABRAKHA

DakhaBrakha is music quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine. Reflecting fundamental elements of sound and soul, Ukrainian “ethno chaos” band DakhaBrakha creates a world of unexpected new music. $35, 7:30 p.m. at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

The second annual Moonlight Beach Half Marathon and 5K/10K starts and finishes at Moonlight Beach on St. Patrick’s Day. Costume contest included. $62, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 17 at Moonlight Beach, 398 B St, Encinitas.

SMHS MOTORS 4 MUSIC

San Marcos High School’s 9th annual Music

4 Motors Community Car Show fundraiser. Live music, food, custom trophies, 25 unique award categories, and more. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 17 at San Marcos High School, 1615 W San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos.

JAZZ EVENSONG

Jazz Evensong will feature a blend of Anglican prayer and American jazz. Music begins at 4 p.m. followed by church service at 4:30 p.m. 4 p.m. at St. Michael’s-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 2775 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad.

MARCH 18

CREATIVE JOURNALING

Don’t miss our first Creative Journaling session of the year. Free, 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 18 at Carlsbad City Library, 1775 Dove Ln, Carlsbad.

SAN MARCOS GOP WOMEN Supervisor Jim Desmond is the guest speaker at the San Marcos Republican Women’s March luncheon. RSVP by March 11. $40, 11 a.m. at Holiday Inn, 2725 Palomar Airport Rd, Carlsbad.

MARCH 19

MADELEINE PEYROUX

Blues and jazz vocalist Madeleine Peyroux will debut new music from her upcoming albumå. $66, 7 p.m. at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

SOLAR ECLIPSE TALK

NASA Solar System Ambassador Neil Farber will present a history of so-

RANK YOUR BEER

Celebrate Spring with a fun event to help local voters learn about Ranked Choice Voting (RCV); including a “mock election” to demonstrate use of RCV to pick a favorite beer. $50, 6 to 8 p.m. March 20 at Draft Republic Carlsbad, 5958 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad.

TEEN ART STUDIO

Teens will craft a small garden fit for a gnome with a tin box. All materials provided but supplies are limited. 4 to 6 p.m. March 20 at Escondido Public Library, 239 S Kalmia St, Escondido.

ROLLER DERBY

Come learn to play flat track roller derby with North County Derby Alliance in Oceanside! The team is seeking new players of all experience levels. Practices currently on Wednesdays 7:30-9:30 pm at MLK Park, 4300 Mesa Dr. in Oceanside. Email northcountyderbyalliance@gmail.com.

MARCH 21

NICK SHOULDERS

Nick Shoulders’ latest album encapsulates everything that makes his inimitable form of country music so a balance of musicianship and defiance, coupled with gritty eccentricity. $20, 8 p.m. at Belly Up, 160 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach.

‘WIZARD OF OZ’ Classical Academy Middle School presents The Wizard of Oz!. $18, 12 a.m. at California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Black Box Theatre - Studio 1, 340 N Escondido Blvd, Escondido.

ERIC DICKERSON Concert Hour is a FREE music enrichment series presented for our students and the community by the Palomar College Performing Arts Department. Free1 to 2 p.m. March 21 at Howard Brubeck Theatre at Palomar College, 1140 W Mission Rd, San Marcos.

TINYFEST RETURNS to the Del Mar Fairgrounds this weekend, offering visitors a chance to tour the large spectrum of alternative living structures from tiny homes, buses and vans to backyard cottages, ADUs, shipping container homes and more. Courtesy photo/TinyFest

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-708-7311 EXT. 257

TRIVIA TEST #12345_20240311

FOR RELEASE MARCH 11, 2024

By Fifi Rodriguez

FROM

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

CUSTOMER

CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-708-7311 EXT. 257

TRIVIA TEST #12345_20240311

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FOR RELEASE MARCH 11, 2024

By Fifi Rodriguez

FOR RELEASE MARCH 11, 2024

By Fifi Rodriguez

1. TELEVISION: Which TV sitcom featured a father figure named Philip Banks?

2. LANGUAGE: How many letters are in the Greek alphabet?

3. MOVIES: Which movie features the line, “To be honest, when I found out the patriarchy wasn’t just about horses, I lost interest”?

4. SCIENCE: How long is an eon?

5. GEOGRAPHY: In which country is most of the Kalahari Desert located?

6. MUSIC: Which singer once was called the Material Girl?

7. FOOD & DRINK: What is injera?

8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of cockroaches called?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which large U.S. city is nicknamed Emerald City?

10. GAMES: How many blocks are in a Jenga tower?

Answers

1. “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

2. 24.

3. “Barbie.”

4. 1 billion years.

5. Botswana, Africa.

6. Madonna.

7. Fermented flatbread.

8. An intrusion.

9. Seattle, Washington.

10. 54.

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

1. TELEVISION: Which TV sitcom featured a father figure named Philip Banks?

2. LANGUAGE: How many letters are in the Greek alphabet?

3. MOVIES: Which movie features the line, “To be honest, when I found out the patriarchy wasn’t just about horses, I lost interest”?

4. SCIENCE: How long is an eon?

5. GEOGRAPHY: In which country is most of the Kalahari Desert located?

6. MUSIC: Which singer once was called the Material Girl?

7. FOOD & DRINK: What is injera?

8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of cockroaches called?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which large U.S. city is nicknamed Emerald City?

10. GAMES: How many blocks are in a Jenga tower?

Answers

1. “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” 2. 24.

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

10. 54.

3. “Barbie.”

4. 1 billion years.

9. Seattle, Washington.

8. An intrusion.

5. Botswana, Africa.

7. Fermented flatbread.

6. Madonna.

7. Fermented flatbread.

6. Madonna.

5. Botswana, Africa.

8. An intrusion.

9. Seattle, Washington.

10. 54.

4. 1 billion years.

2. 24. 3. “Barbie.”

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

1. “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

Answers

10. GAMES: How many blocks are in a Jenga tower?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which large U.S. city is nicknamed Emerald City?

8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of cockroaches called?

7. FOOD & DRINK: What is injera?

6. MUSIC: Which singer once was called the Material Girl?

5. GEOGRAPHY: In which country is most of the Kalahari Desert located?

4. SCIENCE: How long is an eon?

3. MOVIES: Which movie features the line, “To be honest, when I found out the patriarchy wasn’t just about horses, I lost interest”?

2. LANGUAGE: How many letters are in the Greek alphabet?

1. TELEVISION: Which TV sitcom featured a father figure named Philip Banks?

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

of several

remains on his property.

Investigators found fresh blood and orange hair in Boyer’s toolshed, and Leonard’s GPS tracker collar was located in the backyard of a neighboring property, but his remains were never found. Boyer was not charged with Leonard’s death.

Leonard’s owners, Jeffrey and Liz Johnson, said they were pleased that Boyer would receive the maximum sentence, but they would “never have true closure” until Leonard was found.

“We’re happy that (Boyer’s) going to prison and will be there for as long as possible,” said Liz Johnson. “I hope that when he gets out, he will stop his evil ways, not want to hurt any other living creature for the rest of his life and that he’s learned his lesson. We still don’t know where (Leonard is) buried or where he is. But at least he finally has the justice that he deserves. He’s a hero because, without him, this never would have come to light.’’

According to prosecutors, Boyer claimed to be a military veteran on social media to gain the trust of pet owners looking to find new homes for their cats. Boyer even adopted two cats from the San Diego Humane Society.

“He preyed on multiple people; he preyed on older people who were going to nursing homes and couldn’t take care of their animals,” Deputy District Attorney Eva Kilamyan said. “He used manipulation and lies to convince these vulnerable people to give him their cats.”

Loretta Bunten said Boyer had convinced her to rehome her two cats with him for his grandmother, which she later learned was a lie.

“I can’t believe I trusted this man,” Bunten said. “I have to live with the guilt of trusting him and handing my two cats over to him for the rest of my life… He does

not get my forgiveness because it was disgusting what he did.”

Another victim, Laurie Pellechio, said she spent time with Boyer before giving him her beloved emotional support cat, Mai Tai.

“I’m concerned about Josh’s future and his role in society moving forward,” Pellechio said.

Boyer’s defense attorney, Gretchen Von Helms, argued for long-term probation instead of prison time, claiming his actions were likely the result of drug-induced psychosis following the birth of his daughter.

Von Helms said that Boyer’s wife, who was suffering from postpartum depression, had wanted to give their child up for adoption against his wishes, which “basically caused him to have a psychotic breakdown.”

At some point, Von Helms said Child Protective Services removed Boyer from the home, causing him to lose his job and move into a toolshed on his family’s Escondido property, where he started to self-medicate.

However, Kilamyan said the investigation found Boyer’s behavior was “full of hate” toward people and animals.

Kilamyan also disputed Boyer’s attorney’s claims that he was in a drug-induced psychosis, citing instances where Boyer deliberately manipulated individuals to acquire their cats through false pretenses, preying on vulnerable pet owners.

“This wasn’t just a onetime meth-induced moment where he did something crazy that was completely out of character for him,” Kilamyan told the judge. “His own family members said he didn’t like cats; the whole family didn’t really like cats. He had hate in his heart and that’s what he acted with.”

Boyer apologized to the families of his victims, saying he acted out in “stupid ways” after losing his wife and daughter.

“I understand this is going to follow me for the rest of my life,” Boyer said. “It’s an atrocity what I’ve done, and currently I can only ask for forgiveness from those whose pets I harmed.”

Kilamyan called Boyer a sociopath and suggested his crimes were similar to those of serial killer Ted Bundy and Parkland High School shooter Nikolas Cruz, both of whom tortured and killed animals.

Prosecutors said Boyer’s list of heinous acts against animals included burning, shooting with BB guns and arrows, electrocution, mutilation and leaving them caged outdoors in the heat without food or water. The judge said he was concerned about Boyer’s “risk to society now and in the future.”

“Mr. Boyer, these acts are extremely disturbing,” Kearney said. “I hope you continue to get help and live a productive life.”

The San Diego Humane Society encourages anyone who suspects animal cruelty or neglect in their neighborhood to call 619-299-7012.

LEONARD

GRIEVING CAT owners Loretta Bunten and Liz Johnson speak to reporters at Joshua Tyler Boyer’s sentencing hearing on March 1 in Vista. Photo by Samantha Nelson