The Coast News INLAND EDITION
VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
VOL. 7, N0. 14
Sapporo buys Stone for $165M By City News Service
ESCONDIDO — Stone Brewing, San Diego County’s largest brewing company, has been acquired by Japanese beer giant Sapporo’s United States branch, it was announced last week. The deal is valued at around $165 million with potential for additional payments based on business performance and is expected to close in August. “This is the right next chapter for Stone Brewing,” said Greg Koch, co-founder and executive chairman of Stone Brewing. “To have the interest of a company like Sapporo in continuing the Stone story is a testament to the great beers we’ve created and will continue to create for our fans across the globe,” he said. Sapporo intends to produce its Sapporo-branded beers for distribution in Stone’s breweries in Escondido and Richmond, Virginia. A statement from Sapporo read that the company intends to brew 360,000 barrels in the U.S. by the end of 2024, essentially doubling Stone’s current production. The acquisition will bring “together the complementary strengths of Japanese artistry and innovation with the American craft brewing tradition in a fusion of cultures,” a statement from the Japanese company read. “We approached Stone Brewing seeking a partner for our growth plans in the U.S, and we quickly recognized they were an ideal partner with bi-coastal brewing capacity, loyal fans, superb management, shared cultural values and commitment to the highest quality standards,” said Kenny Sadai, chairman of Sapporo U.S.A. “This acquisition puts the resources and legTURN TO STONE ON 12
.com JULY 8, 2022
Family justice center opens in San Marcos
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Mission is aiding crime victims in North County By Laura Place
A YOUNGSTER takes advantage of the maker space at the new Walter J. and Betty C. Zable Foundation Branch clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos during an opening ceremony June 28. The new facility is on Autumn Drive in the city’s Richmar neighborhood. Story on Page 9. Photo by Laura Place
SAN MARCOS — A new family justice center finally opened its doors in San Marcos this week, helping to fill a gap in crucial services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and child abuse in North San Diego County. The 44,000-square-foot facility on Los Vallecitos Boulevard known as One Safe Place has been years in the making, spearheaded by San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. The building was constructed and is managed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. For many years, the county’s only family justice center was in downtown San Diego. When a 2019 report from the District Attorney’s Office found disproportionate levels of domestic abuse homicide in North County, the need for increased services in the area became more apparent than ever. Partnering with over 70 county organizations, One Safe Place provides acute crisis care, forensic medical exams, advocacy, counseling and therapy, legal services such as restraining orders, clothing and resources related to housing, jobs and educational opportunities. “What we are looking for in this place is to save a life,” Stephan said. “The data really showed that there is a disproportionate level of family violence that has led to TURN TO CENTER ON 10
Vista cannabis cultivation advances in tense meeting By Jacqueline Covey
VISTA — Cannabis cultivation advanced after an hours-long and, at times, contentious public hearing late last month. At the June 28 Vista City Council meeting, an ordinance to adopt commercial cannabis cultivation within the Vista Business Park moved forward on a 3-2 motion, with Mayor Judy Ritter and Deputy Mayor John Franklin opposed. The item will be
brought before the council again this summer with added language that ensures protected classes — per state law — share in the business opportunity. The council also discussed the creation of a social equity account that cannabis monies would fund to offset the imbalance of impacts on marginalized communities. People in Black and brown communities “have been locked up, they’ve been jailed over cannabis,”
NAACP North County representative Yusef Miller told the council, “they’ve even been blocked out of … cannabis [business] equity. “But, at the same time, we have to be wise about cannabis and its spread in the community,” Miller said, adding concerns regarding environmental and social factors. A motion by Councilmember Corinna Contreras and second by Katie Melendez were made fairly
quickly during the public hearing. Several members of the public spoke out against the expansion of cannabis business in Vista. However, some agreed that if cultivation moves forward, it needs to do so with proper social equity measures in mind — a point of disagreement that turned a possible 4-1 vote into the final 3-2 vote. While Ritter is against the expansion of cannabis business overall — she was
opposed in February when the council asked for a staff proposal on cannabis cultivation — Franklin had issues with finer points in the permitting process. As written, the city manager is directed to establish the schedules, rules and procedures for submission of applications. While admitting it would be “cleaner” if council created a definition for “equity” TURN TO CANNABIS ON 7