Outrage sparks inquiry into tortilla incident

Outrage sparks inquiry into ‘racist’ tortilla incident

By Tigist Layne

ESCONDIDO – Sweetwater Union High School District has threatened to cancel future athletic events with Coronado High School unless an investigation is conducted into a CIF championship basketball game that ended with individuals throwing tortillas at Orange Glen High School players.

The incident occurred on Saturday, June 19, after an intense game that ended with the Islanders defeating the Patriots, 60-57.

Immediately after the game, an argument broke out between the coaches of both schools.

In the midst of the chaos, several unidentified people started throwing tortillas at the Orange Glen players.

Orange Glen is a predominantly Hispanic school in Escondido — approximately 87% of its student body is Latino, according to US News and World Report.

It was unclear who initiated the tortilla throwing. Coronado Police Department hasn’t publicly identified a suspect but said that an adult male brought the tortillas to the game, according to wire reports.

Videos of the incident have since gone viral, prompting several members of the state Legislature’s Latino Caucus to condemn the incident.

“This goes beyond a teaching moment — it’s a glaring example of racism from students who are old enough to know better,’’ said Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, Assemblyman Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego.

In a statement released Tuesday, Sweetwater Union High School District said they were “disturbed” by the incident as Sweetwater “has similar demographics as the Escondido Union High School District (EUHSD).”

“Should the Coronado Unified School District (CUSD) choose not to adequately address these concerns, the Sweetwater Union High School District will consider actions, such as canceling any future athletic contests against Coronado High School,” the statement reads.

EUHSD Superintendent Dr. Anne Staffieri released a statement, calling the behavior ugly, unacceptable and racist.

“We do not tolerate behavior that seeks to marginalize, diminish or devalue a person for any reason, including race, religion or gender identity,” the statement read. “We must all work together, staff, students, parents and families, to look head-on at divisive behavior, call it out, and work to eliminate it.

“As an educational organization, we have the obligation and the opportunity to use this situation to teach our students, the next generation of community leaders, that racist behavior must not be tolerated.”

Karl Mueller, superintendent of Coronado Unified School District, called the behavior “reprehensible.”

“We cannot allow anyone in our community to be made to feel unwelcome and we send our deep and sincere apology to the Orange Glen community,” Mueller said.

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) also issued a statement:

“The CIF prohibits discrimination or any acts that are disrespectful or demeaning toward a member school, student-athlete, or school community... Upon receipt and review of incident reports from both schools, the CIF will determine the appropriate next steps.”

Both school districts said they would work closely together to facilitate conversations between both districts’ students, faculty and staff.

Multiple civil right rights organizations have also been outspoken about the incident and have offered to help both districts as they navigate the situation.

Francine Maxwell, president of the San Diego Branch of the NAACP, said those who threw tortillas committed “racist actions that do not represent San Diego nor the America we want all people to love, value and appreciate, according to wire reports.

“Let’s be honest: The distasteful act of tortilla-throwing at a basketball game uncovers deep

social inequities that are fueled by racism,’’ Maxwell said in a news release. “From marginalizing and dehumanizing groups of ‘others’ based on income and inequality. We are extremely concerned that the coaches on both teams modeled inappropriate behavior and specifically that Coronado High School parents and two team players threw tortillas at Orange Glen players.”

The NAACP wants the CIF to either rule that Coronado shares the CIF title with Orange Glen, or strip the Coronado team of its regional title altogether, according to wire reports.

The group is also recommending that two players who allegedly threw tortillas be kicked off the team, and that Laaperi be banned from coaching high school sports for at least one year.

Both EUHSD and CUSD held emergency board meetings Tuesday

night to discuss the incident and their respective investigations.

Coronado school district officials said they have identified the students responsible and promised disciplinary action.

The Coronado Unified School District board voted 5-0 to fire Coronado High School boys’ basketball coach JD Laaperi.

The vote was taken behind closed doors and the board did not comment further.

ANTHONY GARIBAY, a player for Orange Glen High School in Escondido, dribbles the ball up court during a game against Santa Fe Christian earlier this year. Several unidentified individuals, including two Coronado High School players, threw tortillas at the Patriots basketball team after a championship game this past weekend against the Islanders.

Photo by Rudy Schmoke

Let’s be honest: The distasteful act of tortilla-throwing at a basketball game uncovers deep social inequities that are fueled by racism.”

Francine Maxwell President, San Diego Branch of the NAACP

Man sentenced after fatally striking bicyclist

By City News Servie

ESCONDIDO — A felon who struck a bicyclist in Escondido, then fled the scene of the fatal collision, was sentenced today to nearly 30 years in state prison.

Jamison Connor, 42, pleaded guilty last month to gross vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run counts stemming from the Nov. 23, 2019, death of 36-year-old Vista resident Kevin Lentz.

Connor's guilty pleas were entered on the day his trial was set to begin, though a Vista jury still heard evidence and convicted him of unrelated charges stemming from drug possession and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Lentz was riding on La Honda Drive just before noon when he was struck head-on by a dark-colored Toyota sedan that was ditched by the driver a short distance away, police said.

Lentz, who died at the scene, is survived by his wife Lauren and a young son.

Though Connor received a 29-year, 10-month sentence, much of which stemmed from his prior strike conviction for assault with a deadly weapon, Lentz’s family and friends say they were shocked to hear that the defendant could be eligible for parole in just a few years.

Proposition 57 allows for parole consideration upon the completion of the sentence for a prisoner’s primary offense if it is a nonviolent crime. In this case, Connor’s primary offense, the vehicular manslaughter count, is not considered a violent offense under state law and he received a sixyear sentence on that count.

Lauren Lentz said she felt both “joy and disappointment” over the case’s resolution, as she and her husband’s family will now have to exercise “due diligence” in perhaps only a few years by attending parole hearings and writing letters to ensure Connor remains behind bars.

“It’s a chapter in my life that I wanted to be able to close,” she said.

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Per-mile tax is a nonstarter

By Sup. Jim Desmond

In 2004, SANDAG proposed a new sales tax to voters that would generate $14 billion dollars, which promised to relieve traffic congestion, improve safety, and match state/federal funds to improve the following freeways: I-5, I-8, I-15, SR 52, SR 54, SR 56, SR 67, SR 76, SR 78, SR 94, SR 125, I-805. And the measure promised improvements to public transit routes.

Voters passed this under the impression their commute home would be made faster and easier.

This has not happened. Instead, SANDAG staff front-loaded public transit projects while leaving 14 of the highway projects unfunded.

Now, they’ve announced that they want to implement a new transportation vision.

One that doesn’t include roads and freeways, but focuses on transit, even though the current half-cent sales tax San Diegans are paying promised improvements to roads and freeways. The latest proposal that will directly hit San Diegans’ wallets is a ‘road charge.’

If approved, San Diegans would be charged a set price for every mile traveled within the State of California. The money collected from vehicle drivers would then be used to pay for public transportation.

This insane proposal should never see the light of day. San Diegans already pay some of the highest prices to drive in the Country.

From the current gas taxes to a vehicle registration tax, San Diegans feel the effects, in their wallets, every day.

Adding another tax, to fund public transportation, is a slap in the face.

The message is clear from SANDAG and the State, they want to force you out of your car and on buses and trolleys.

This new tax will be spent on downtown San Diego’s Grand Central Station, not for the promised road/freeway improvements promised years ago.

It’s time for North County to say enough is enough - we should not be charged for every mile we drive. Instead, the projects that have been promised should be completed.

Supervisor Jim Desmond represents the 5th District, including Oceanside, Vista, and San Marcos.

A closer look at budget complexities

By Asm. Marie Waldron

The Legislature just passed a budget for Fiscal Year 202122, and the Governor has until June 30th to sign it into law.

Revisions are likely, and a series of “trailer bills” to fund specific programs will be considered over the coming months. More than $267 billion will be spent, including $195.5 billion from the General Fund.

Positively, the budget increases funding for Special Education, including individuals with disabilities.

More money for childcare will expand access and increasing rates for providers will help attract and retain workers.

Funding for Universal Transitional Kindergarten will ultimately establish TK for all 4-year-olds.

The Department of Developmental Services providers will receive fairer compensation so families continue to have access to care.

Training for healthcare workers will increase, including for In-Home Supportive Service workers.

Bond funds for flood management and groundwater sustainability will be allocated, the state’s special districts will receive additional funding, programs for homeless veterans will receive increased funding.

On the downside, despite our current huge budget surplus, tax increases that addressed last year’s (temporary) deficit will remain. $7.8 billion taken from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to pay down the deficit, will not be restored. Employers, facing an estimated $24 billion in unemployment debt resulting from government-mandated shutdowns, will receive no help.

Medi-Cal is being expanded to undocumented adults over 50, despite struggles to serve over 14 million current low-income beneficiaries.

The budget fails to include funding for fire prevention and forest health projects. Billions are provided for homelessness programs without reforms to improve outcomes.

The budget provides no additional rent relief, despite billions provided by the federal government for landlords and tenants.

Prioritizing spending of taxpayer dollars is a sacred responsibility. This budget, passed by a partisan majority, is a mixed bag.

We should do better.

Assemblymember Marie Waldron represents the 75th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Escondido, Fallbrook, San Marcos and Vista.

Are longtime allies destined to clash?

Vice President Kamala Harris took a lot of heat for her performance in her first foreign trip as the nation’s No. 2 official, some bloggers calling her excursion into Latin America “a continuation of her failure theater.”

That phrase came from a conservative website, but the far left also blasted Harris for telling the poorest of the Central American poor “Do not come” to the United States.

The remark had future electoral implications because Harris’ fellow Democrats of most stripes are sympathetic to poor but enterprising immigrants from countries like Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

They blanched upon hearing her simple statement of the immigration preferences of the current administration and all other recent ones.

Donald Trump, for example, took heat for his treatment of immigrants, especially children. But Barack Obama’s administration, with current President Joe Biden as vice president, actually deported more prospective newcomers to America.

Whether Biden seeks a second term or becomes a caretaker president who leaves after just one, it’s all but certain Harris will one day run again for America’s highest office.

If she does, she could collide with Gavin Newsom, provided the governor survives this fall’s recall election, as every nonpartisan poll indicates he will – and by a handy margin.

As a rule, politicians who triumph over recall attempts are strengthened, the best California example being Dianne Feinstein, an unbeatable U.S. Senate candidate after she trampled a recall attempt while mayor of San Francisco.

If Newsom beats the recall and then wins reelection next year, he could choose to run for Feinstein’s Senate seat in 2024, when she will be 90, or he could opt to run for president and thus crash into Harris.

That would be a huge change. Newsom and Harris have shared campaign managers for many years and have long had an informal understanding never to oppose each other’s ambitions.

That’s why Newsom, then lieutenant governor, stood by quietly awaiting a 2018 run for governor while Harris won an open Senate seat with little competition in 2016. But their understanding might not survive the reality that time is passing and neither is getting younger.

Until Harris’ Latin American trip, Newsom had never uttered a critical word about the vice president, who – like Newsom -- got her start in San Francisco politics, winning two terms as district attorney before becoming California’s attorney general and then a senator.

But Harris no sooner returned to Washington, D.C.. from her trip than Newsom checked in on the side of left-wing Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who earlier blasted Harris for her anti-immigration remarks.

In a press conference just after Harris’ return, Newsom observed that “California has long had a different approach to immigration, a more inclusive approach.” He added that he has consulted with other federal officials about “how California can be more supportive in terms of the needs of asylum seekers.”

That’s not exactly the Harris approach these days. In fact, her blunt advice for the Central American poor to stay put was reminiscent of her generally pro-police responses to law enforcement excesses while she was attorney general.

So could Newsom and Harris ever face off in a presidential primary? Their mutual campaign manager, Dan Newman, did not respond to emails seeking to ask him about that possibility.

For sure, it would be entirely unprecedented for two top politicos from the same state to vie for the same party’s nomination for president. It could set up a situation where they split what amounts to a pro-California vote, letting someone else slip past and get the nomination.

Right now, Harris is best positioned to win the next Democratic nomination race, whenever and however Biden leaves the Oval Office. But she could be weakened in a primary by alienating the party’s left, which demonstrated its clout by keeping Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders a prominent candidate for most of the last decade.

Newsom, of course, could also opt to play the waiting-his-turn game again and spend years in the Senate if he took the Feinstein seat.

There’s a lot uncertain here for both Harris and Newsom, but the possibilities are entertaining, at the very least.

california focus

tom elias

NEWS?

Business news and special achievements for North San Diego County. Send information via email to community@ coastnewsgroup.com.

BE A SUMMER INSTRUCTOR

The city of Encinitas Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department is now seeking instructors for Recreation, Education and Arts Programs. To be considered, visit encintasca.gov/bids, register as a new vendor, select RFPPR-21-02 Recreation and Arts Instruction, and follow the directions in the RFP. Instructors are sought in Adult Fitness, Youth Education and Recreation Programs, Senior Programs, Adult Education, Arts and Enrichment. For additional information, please contact the Recreation Services Manager at (760) 633-2740 or e-mail encinitasparksandrec@encinitasca.gov.

STELLAR SCHOLARS

Camryn Cox, a theatre arts major from Del Mar, earned a spot on the Dean’s List at Coastal Carolina University -Grace Laliotis was named to the President’s List Honors at Shenandoah University for the spring 2021 semester. -The Dean’s List for Spring 2021 at Lehigh University included Angela Ding of Rancho Santa Fe and Heidi Shen of San Diego.

-Camryn Cox was named to the Dean’s List at Coastal Carolina University.

-Trevor Dalton of Carlsbad and Caitlin Sullivan of Solana Beach were named to the Spring 2021 Dean’s List at University of Rhode Island. -Libby Norlander of Carlsbad, has been named to the 2021 spring semester Dean’s List at Ohio Wesleyan University. -Victoria Dondanville, Faith Oldham, Sophia Imparato, Alia Manuel, Kennedy Rawding, Kyle Wada and Ella Stichler of Carlsbad; Lauren Hervey and Grace Hollingsworth of Del Mar;

Hanna Melville of Oceanside; Daphne Tenuto, Lauren Newray and Camryn Wick of San Marcos and Isabella Carroll of Encinitas were named to the University of Alabama Dean’s List. -Sarah Tomlinson of Oceanside and Elijah Armendariz of Rancho Santa Fe were named to the University of Alabama President’s List. -Isabella Pettus of Del Mar, was named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2021 semester at the State University of New York at New Paltz. -Lucas Luwa of Rancho Santa Fe and William Nute of San Diego earned the distinction of Faculty Honors for Spring 2021 at the Georgia Institute of Technology. -Adrien Cao and Courtney Wolpov, of San Marcos, were named to the Dean’s List at the Georgia Institute of Technology. -Cynthia Castaneda, of Vista, was named to Bradley University’s Spring 2021 Dean’s List. Castaneda is majoring in nursing.

INNOVATIVE TEACHERS

Diegueño Middle School teacher Maura Leonard and San Dieguito High School Academy teacher John Oly Norris are recipients of the North Island Credit Union Spring 2021 Teacher Grants that are awarded to assist educators in funding innovative learning opportunities for their students.

CONGRATULATIONS, GRADS

Oregon State University’s class of 2021 included John C. Dickman, of Camp Pendleton; Tomasz J. Barabasz, Brent S. Nygard, Gabriella K. Sanchez and Taylor B. Thomason of Carlsbad; Edward J. Breding, of Encinitas;

Coral B. Avery, David J. Conkle, Stephanie D. Conkle, Ryan Richardson and Mark E. Trias of Escondido; Ethan M. Logan, Carlee A. Quade and Macey B. Winter of San Marcos; and Rachael J. Britton, Keenan D. Lindsey Isaiah J. McGuire and Hope Sims of Vista. -Bradley Dodds of Carlsbad graduated from Carthage College.

SPECIAL HONORS

Wheaton College student Lucy Bruno of Nashville, Tennessee was recently inducted into Sigma Delta Pi National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society. This honor was announced by the Modern and Classical Languages Department.

EVERY KIND OF DOUGHNUT

Broad Street Dough Co. held its grand opening June 1, at 967 S. Coast Highway 101, in the Lumberyard in Encinitas, June 1. Broad Street Dough Co. offers 40 flavors of made to order doughnuts every day.

HUMANE SOCIETY REOPENS

After more than a year of appointment-only, outdoor services, San Diego Humane Society, with locations in Oceanside and Escondido, is opening its doors to the public and offering walk-in adoptions

MOUNTAIN MIKE’S

Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a family-style pizza chain known for its Mountain-sized pizzas, opened its second Oceanside location June 12, in the Camino Town and Country Shopping Center, 2251 S. El Camino Real, Oceanside. Call (442) 266-8162.

NEW CANCER RESEARCH AT SALK

For cancer to grow and spread, it has to evade detection by immune cells, called “killer” T cells. Salk researchers led by Del Mar resident, Professor Susan Kaech, at the Salk Institute of Biological Studies in La Jolla, are finding the environment inside tumors contains an abundance of oxidized fat molecules, which, when ingested by the killer T cells, suppresses their ability to kill cancer cells. The discovery, published online in Immunity on June 7, 2021, suggests new pathways for safeguarding the immune system’s ability to fight cancer by reducing the oxidative lipid damage in killer T cells.

Visit salk.edu/news-release/bad-fat-suppresseskiller-t-cells-from-attacking-cancer/.

HIV SERVICES

Vista Community Clinic provides HIV counseling and rapid-testing during community outreach and special events. The clinic also offers PrEP, a medication for preventing HIV. An added benefit to becoming a patient with VCC while receiving HIV care is the easy coordination, including primary care and mental health counseling at a free or affordable cost. Anyone interested in learning more or to schedule an HIV testing appointment can call (760) 631-5000, ext. 7000.

OMWD EARNS FINANCIAL HONORS

Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors approved budget cuts following confirmation of OMWD’s strong financial profile. The board was notified that Fitch Ratings has reaffirmed OMWD’s “AAA” bond rating with a stable outlook. The board also approved a revised budget for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022 that saves more than $1 million versus the originally approved budget.

NEW REALTOR

Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. continues to grow in California with the addition of Weichert, Realtors - North County in Del Mar.

SCRIPPS OPEN NEW CLINIC

Scripps Health has opened Scripps Coastal Medical Center San Marcos, at 111 Campus Way, Suite 301, offering primary care as well as radiology and laboratory services, and same-day care through Scripps HealthExpress. Center hours for primary care run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Scripps HealthExpress same-day clinic is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays for patients age 2 and older with minor, acute injuries and illnesses. Virtual care options also are available seven days a week at MyScripps.org. Appointments can be made by calling 760-806-5700.

REHAB CENTER OPENS

Scripps Health has opened a new comprehensive rehabilitation services center in Encinitas Ranch Town Center at 1092 N. El Camino Real, offering physical, occupational and speech therapy on an outpatient basis for those recovering from orthopedic, brain and spinal cord injuries, stroke, amputation, and other physical disorders and surgeries.

THE ESCONDIDO Library board of trustees reviewed the ‘weeding’ policy and decided to keep the deselection responsibility with library staff. File photo

Library will leave ‘weeding’ to staff

By Tigist Layne

ESCONDIDO – The Escondido Library Board of Trustees met on Thursday, June 10 to review and discuss the library’s policy of considering whether to remove books from its collection if they haven’t been checked out for three years.

The library board is a five-member panel that advises the City Council on issues related to the operations of the city library.

The “weeding” policy, as it’s known among librarians, came into question last month when Virginia Abushanab, a longtime volunteer with the Escondido Friends of the Library Group, sent a letter to city officials expressing her concerns over the policy.

At the board’s May 10 meeting, the board decided they would reconvene to discuss public input in the library’s weeding policy.

At Thursday’s meeting, it was revealed that Assistant Library Director Katy Duperry reached out to professional library colleagues to find out if other libraries had any kind of patron oversight committee or Board review on weeding.

“Eight colleagues from across the state, including a board member for the American Library Association, shared the view that deselection, or “weeding”, is something that should rest solely in the hands of professional library staff, because they have the knowledge of current industry standards and understand the collection, their community, and its needs,” said the staff report.

The board reviewed the Collection Development Policy, or weeding policy, and decided to keep the deselection responsibility in the hands of library staff.

“The primary responsibility of Escondido Public Library is to serve the citizens of Escondido by providing a broad choice of materials to meet their informational, educational, cultural and recreational needs,” the staff report said. “Materials are selected to aid individuals, groups and organizations in attaining practical solutions to daily problems and enriching the quality of life for all community members.”

According to staff, library materials are deselected, or weeded, for one or more of the following reasons: availability of information locally or digitally; duplication; subject matter is no longer timely, accurate or relevant; damage or poor condition; insufficient use; research value; preservation and storage costs.

The staff added that the policy will be periodically evaluated and updated to maintain a timely and relevant policy.

The board agreed that, ultimately, the responsibility of weeding and deselecting library materials would be left to the knowledgeable library staff.

San Diego County unemployment rate drops to 6.4% as recovery continues

By City News Service

REGION — The unemployment rate in San Diego County decreased to 6.4% in May, down from a revised 6.7% in April — but well below the year-ago rate of 15.6% as the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic were becoming clear — according to figures released this week by the state Employment Development Department.

Statewide, the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate was 7.5% in May, down from 8.1% in April.

The country posted a 5.5% unemployment rate in the same time period, down from 5.7% in April.

Between April and May, non-farm employment increased by 2,000, from 1,398,600 to 1,400,600 and agricultural employment increased by 300 to 9,400.

Leisure and hospitality added the most jobs over the month with an increase of 3,900 jobs — gaining for the fourth consecutive month.

Accommodation and food services boosted the overall sector by 3,100 jobs — 79% of the total.

Arts, entertainment, and recreation — up 800 jobs — completed the overall sectoral gain.

Government grew by 1,200 jobs, with local government — up 700 — and state government — up 600 — producing the overall increase.

Federal government offset job additions with a loss of 100 jobs. Three other sectors recorded job additions: educational and health services — up 1,000 — trade, transportation, and utilities — up 900 — and information —up 200.

Over the month, professional and business services lost the most jobs, with a decline of 2,500 jobs.

The bulk of the loss was in administrative and support and waste management with a loss of 2,100 jobs, followed by professional, scientific, and technical services losing 600, but offset by an increase of 200 jobs in management of companies and enterprises.

Construction fell by 1,200 jobs.

Specialty trade contractors lost 600 jobs and accounted for half of the overall decline. Heavy and civil engineering construction — down 400 jobs — and construction of buildings — down 200 — completed the sectoral loss.

Manufacturing lost 900 jobs and financial activities lost 600 over the month.

Mining and logging and other services remained unchanged.

Between May 2020 and May 2021, non-farm employment increased by 119,500, or 9.3%. Agricultural employment remained unchanged.

Leisure and hospitality rose by 46,100 jobs, the largest increase over the year.

Accommodation and food services — up 40,300 jobs — accounted for 87% of the increase. Arts, entertainment, and recreation — up 5,800 jobs — completed the sectoral gain.

Trade, transportation, and utilities increased by 22,900 jobs and educational and health services increased by 13,900 jobs.