The Coast News INLAND EDITION
.com ESCONDIDO, SAN MARCOS, VISTA
VOL. 6, N0. 27
JAN. 7, 2022
Redistricting won’t affect recall effort
Vista’s continued camp sweeps split officials, advocates
By Stephen Wyer
VISTA — The City of Vista is continuing to expand its cleanup of homeless encampments into 2022, even as city leaders and homeless advocates say that a more systemic approach is needed to combat the issue. For the past several months, city officials — in partnership with Caltrans — have been removing encampments from locations all across the city, including on Emerald Drive, Sycamore Avenue, Vista Village Drive, the Buena Vista Trail, and from on- and off-ramps as well as underpasses along State Route 78, according to city public information officer Andrea McCullough. The sweeps conducted by the city involve the removal of vast amounts of trash, debris and unlawful shelters such as tents from municipal property. Unhoused persons at these encampments are notified at least 72 hours in advance that the location is set to be cleared, and all of the homeless are offered either temporary or long-term housing along with a variety of other services provided by city social workers, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, which assists the city in enforcing cleanup efforts. In September, the city’s Housing Program Manager reported
ESCONDIDO — The newly released county electoral maps will not impact a local group’s recently launched effort to recall Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, according to political and redistricting analysts. The county’s Independent Redistricting Commission approved new voting maps on Dec. 11, reshaping all five districts in San Diego County in accordance with regional demographic and population changes. And the changes to Lawson-Remer’s District 3 were fairly significant. Once encompassing Leucadia to Tierrasanta north-south and Escondido to Encinitas east-west, the district now runs from approximately Carlsbad to Coronado, retaining Encinitas but losing all of Escondido to the newly-formed District 5. But would Escondido residents, who have been drawn out of District 3 via the redistricting process, still be eligible to sign a petition to recall Lawson-Remer? According to Evan McLaughlin, a political data consultant for Redistricting Partners, the answer is yes. Per state guidelines, the new boundaries will not take effect until the 2024 election cycle, meaning that redistricting will likely have no impact on the current recall campaign that seeks to replace Lawson-Remer, McLaughlin said. “The recall election is related to the District that elected the supervisor in 2020 — the current district, that includes Escondido,” McLaughlin said. “Every time that there is a special election that is held before the end of a term, regardless of redistricting, it is still held within that previous district iteration.” But with the loss of TURN TO RECALL ON 5
By Stephen Wyer
MURDER SUSPECT KILLED IN SHOOTOUT WITH POLICE After a pursuit that lasted over three hours, Escondido police last month surrounded the truck of a man wanted in connection with a homicide in Vista. According to police, the suspect exited his disabled truck and exchanged gunfire with two Escondido police officers. The suspect, 39-year-old Ramona resident Roberto Cazares Salgado, died later at a hospital. Story on Page 13. Photo courtesy of Escondido Police Department
TURN TO SWEEPS ON 13
Tri-City Medical Center debuts workforce initiative By Tigist Layne
REGION — Tri-City Medical Center, in collaboration with several regional business groups and colleges, recently launched an online platform helping students and job seekers find professional opportunities that fit their specific interests and qualifications. The Student Opportunities for Career Awareness and Learning, or SOCAL initiative — a joint effort by Tri-City and the San Diego North Economic Development Council, chambers of commerce in Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista, and MiraCosta and Palomar colleges — is part of TriCity’s broader COASTAL Commitment community
A NEW online workforce development platform helps link students and job seekers with a variety of job opportunities based on a candidate’s interests and skills. Courtesy photo
outreach effort. Many of the jobs, internships and other opportunities highlighted on
SOCAL are middle-wage jobs that require less than a four-year college degree, in hopes of providing access to
people with a range of qualifications and backgrounds. According to Aaron Byzak, chief external affairs officer for Tri-City, COASTAL Commitment aims to target social and healthcare issues that disproportionately impact people's outcomes in life. “For us, it's about empowering young people to take hold of their lives and really pursue careers that are going to help them live a better life and have better health and social outcomes,” said Byzak, who is also the incoming chairman of the San Diego North Economic Development Council. The website allows visitors to browse through
dozens of different industries and occupations in North County including healthcare, manufacturing, communication technology, construction, software and more. Visitors can also watch videos and interviews of real people who are actually working in those positions. In the videos, professionals discuss their industry, job responsibilities, workplace environments and career advancement outlooks. Each video also includes a webpage with expected average wages and links to educational resources. More phases of the SOTURN TO WORKFORCE ON 8