JAN. 20, 2017
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T he R ancho S anta F e News
Free presidential inauguration tickets can be costly By Tony Cagala
REGION — When Donald Trump gets sworn in as the country’s 45th president Friday in Washington, D.C., a number of North County constituents that helped to put him there, or those wanting to witness another moment in history, will be in attendance. For Rep. Darrell Issa’s office, which oversees the county’s 49th District, requests to receive free tickets to attend the 58th Presidential Inauguration began coming in immediately following the election, according to Calvin Moore, a spokesman for the longtime Republican congressman that represents the 49th congressional district in the county. Issa announced the availability of tickets through social media and online back on Nov. 15. “We had significant interest in tickets, many times more than the number of tickets we had available,” Moore said. “We encouraged people on social media and online to contact our office to have their names entered into the lottery. We have currently assigned all of our tickets from the lottery, but we do have a waiting list in case we have any
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies showcases the presidential inauguration tickets earlier this week. While tickets are meant to be free, scalpers are seeking to sell the tickets online for thousands of dollars. Image courtesy Joint Congressional Committee on
Inaugural Ceremonies
cancellations.” The congressman pulled names of constituents to receive free tickets out of a hat in early December. Of the 150 tickets that Issa’s office received to give away, the vast majority of
tickets went to constituents in North County. “We also had a sizable number that were made available to constituents in the Orange County portion of our district as well,” Moore added. While their office
doesn’t have any more tickets left, Moore suggested that if people were still interested in attending the event, they could contact Issa’s Washington office to get on the waiting list, where they would be updated if any new tickets became available. Last week, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) unveiled the look of the almost 250,000 tickets printed, which are color-coded for the various sections for viewing the ceremony. Moore said the tickets and the seating sections were given away randomly. Earlier this week, members of the house and the senate received the tickets to distribute to those constituents selected, according to a press release from the committee. U.S. Senators receive almost 400 tickets to offer to constituents, according to a source familiar with the ticketing process. Ticket requests made to California’s house and senate members came in at a high volume, with a large amount of requests coming in well before Election Day. TURN TO INAUGURATION ON 18
Junior executive member cap removed By Christina Macone-Greene
RANCHO SANTA FE — On Jan. 5, during its monthly board meeting, the Rancho Santa Fe Association approved to expand the pool of its RSF Golf Club’s junior executive membership by removing its previous 30-member restriction. Under this decision, new members under the age of 48 can pay their $50,000 enrollment fee in installments. RSF Golf Club board president Bill Danola presented the idea of this expansion at the RSF Association Board of Directors meeting. “The current plan of operations limits the number of junior executives to 30,” he said. “We’re at 30 junior executive members now and so we have halted any entertainment of new membership.” Danola asked the board to approve, even at least on an interim basis, to eliminate this member limit. According to Danola, the board of governance discussed the issue and they didn’t see the reason to have a limit. “It’s a category of membership we’d like to see increase. Actually, to have younger members in the
club just makes the club more accessible,” Danola said. “We’d like to encourage that, so we really do not see the need for the limit.” Danola went on to explain how the junior executive membership is a program aimed at those under 48. Like a regular membership, a member must have property in the Covenant. “If you’re under 48 years of age, you can pay your enrollment fee over time with the time span being from your current age to when you turn 48 with a
maximum of 10 years,” he said. Danola used the example that if a member was 40, they could choose to pay their enrollment fee over the course of 8 years; and, their annual dues still applied. As far as RSF Association Director Allen Finkelson was concerned, he thought the junior executive membership was a fantastic category. “If we had 100 of these people it would be great,” Finkelson said. He added,
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Inside: 2016 Spring Home & Garden Section VOL. 3, N0. 7
VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
MARCH 25, 2016
Citracado Parkway extension project draws on
By Steve Puterski
It’s a jungle In there
Emi Gannod, 11, observes a Banded Purple Wing butterfly at the San Diego exhibit is open now through April 10. Zoo Safari Park’s Butterfly Jungle Full story on page A2. Photo by Tony exhibit. The Cagala
Community rallies behind Vista teacher placed on leave
By Hoa Quach
VISTA — Current and former students and parents are demanding a Vista social studies teacher be allowed to keep his job. Vincent Romero, who has worked for the Vista Unified School District since 1990, was placed on paid administrative leave from his job at Rancho Buena Vista High School on March 7. Now, an online petition with more than 1,900 signatures is asking the admin- A social studies teacher at Rancho Buena Vista High School istration to bring Romero placed on administrative leave in early March. The move prompted was students and parents to launch an online petition in support of Vincent back to the classroom. Romero. Photo by Hoa Quach On his last day, Romero told students he was sorry I can’t be with you for do — we’re going to fight leaving because “the orgathe rest of the year. It’s not until there’s nothing left to nization decided to make a my choice, but it’s the way fight with. I plan to be back change.” it goes.” for your senior year.” “(They) no longer have In the roughly 4-minconfidence in me that I Romero also urged his ute speech to students, an students to be kind to their know what I’m doing,” said emotional Romero vowed new social studies teacher Romero, whose remarks to fight the administration. but to were recorded and posted “I’m not disappear- pal give “hell” to Princion Facebook. “They don’t Charles Schindler. ing,” said Romero, 55. “I’m like what I do. They don’t Following the annot going away. This is nouncement of his deparlike the way I do it. So, this something I can fight, and ture, a petition was created is what happens. I’m really that’s what we’re going to on PetitionSite.com, urging
environmental impact reESCONDIDO — An port from amendment to the reso- ternatives April 2012. Alwere discussed lution of necessity for the with residents in four comCitracado Parkway exten- munity sion project was approved of publicmeetings and a trio gatherings. Wednesday by the City “The project as curCouncil. rently designed was loDebra Lundy, real cated property manager for the mannerand planned in a that will be most city, said it was needed compatible with the greatdue to a clerical error, the est public good and least omissions of deeds to be private attached to the land. The said.She injury,” Lundy adjustment is the only fee also reported the parcel being acquired by city and property owners the city, which is a necessi- have had more than 35 ty, she added. meetings The eminent domain years to in the past four develop the plan. project, which has been However, the propin the works for several erty owners did not subyears, will complete the mit a missing section of the city’s counteroffer to the roadway between Harmo- April statutory offer on 14, 2015. According ny Grove, Village Parkway to Lundy, the owners did and Andreason Drive. not feel the offer matched The city conducted what the land is worth, ala review of the project, which was outlined in the TURN TO EXTENSION ON A3
Republicans endorse Abed over Gaspar
By Aaron Burgin
Krvaric said. “Clearly the administration to keep Romero at Rancho Buena ty REGION — The Coun- Sam Abed’s long-time and Republican Party has steadfast Vista High School. thrown its support behind Republicancommitment to A protest was also held Escondido principles and Mayor Sam values earned him at the school. the supAbed in “This makes me so an- ty Dist. the race for Coun- port of committee mem3 Supervisor. bers and we are proud to gry,” wrote Jeffrey Bright of Fallbrook, who said he of The Republican Party endorse him.” San Diego announced Gaspar’s graduated from the school last campaign week that it voted to reached more than 20 years ago. “I endorse this week exAbed over fellow pressed disappointment already fear that our ed- Republican in and Encini- not receiving the ucation system is falling tas party’s apart. I worry my kids are whoMayor Kristin Gaspar, nomination, but touted is also running for the several key not going to get a valuable supervisor endorsements seat currently she has received education at public schools held by Dave Roberts, who out the campaign. throughanymore.” is seeking re-election. “While I’m disapDavid Whiddon of San Marcos called the move a Abed, who has been pointed not to get the parpolarizing figure during ty endorsement, “shameful.” I’m very his two terms as mayor in proud to have the support “This is a teacher that Escondido, secured the of Mayor Faulconer genuinely cares,” Whiddon coveted party endorse- the four Republican and wrote. “Both of my sons had ment City Mr. Romero and greatly en- than by receiving more Councilmembers, Senatwo thirds of the tors Bates joyed his class.” and Anderson, committee’s votes, the and Assemblyman Rocky A former student, Jas- threshold mine Velare of Vista, said candidate required for a Chavez,” Gaspar said. to receive the “I’ve been a Romero was “an amazing endorsement very effecover a fellow tive Republican teacher.” mayor in party member. a Democratic city by focus“I was lucky enough to “Endorsing one Re- ing on balanced get him myself,” she wrote. publican budgets, “He truly cares for what he quires over another re- economic a 2/3 vote threshold and quality development, — and rarely happens,” continue of life and will to do so on the TURN TO TEACHER ON A15 GOP Chairman Tony Board of Supervisors.”
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“That would cement our future.” Finkelson then moved to remove any limit as to the number of people in the junior category and the board unanimously approved it. Members of the RSF Golf Club will receive their 60day notice about this change in operations before it goes into effect.
Del Mar Fairgrounds officials offer reassurance that the Don Diego clock tower, scheduled for demolition before the start of the 2017 San Diego County Fair, will be relocated somewhere at the state-owned facility. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek
Don Diego clock tower will be relocated onsite By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — Addressing mostly negative comments about the fate of the Don Diego clock tower, Del Mar Fairgrounds officials at the Jan. 3 meeting reiterated plans to remove the structure from the center of the state-owned facility, but assured the tiles and clock face will be relocated onsite. “It’s always been a part of the master plan to remove it,” General Manager Tim Fennell said. “We’ve been looking for a suitable location, and we’re still in the process of doing that.” Russ Penniman, president of the 22nd District Agricultural Association, said one of the challenges is that the approximately 64-year old tower is three-sided. “So we’ve got to be selective on where we put it so you can view all three
faces, which is going to limit where we can put it on the property,” he said. Options include the infield or the perimeter of the property, where it can be seen better, Penniman added. “There are a number of different possibilities,” he said. “The question is, which is going to make the most sense.” Installed in 1953, the clock tower was built using Googie architecture, a futuristic design that originated in Southern California in the 1940s and remained popular for about two decades. In 1954, decorative tiles in the likeness of Don Diego, longtime official greeter and host of the fair, were added to the façade of the tower, located along the main fair avenue west of O’Brien Hall, north of TURN TO TOWER ON 18