A3
THE COAST NEWS
JUNE 17, 2011
ODD Citizens work to overturn rent rules FILES
by CHUCK SHEPHERD
By Promise Yee
Lead story
A 53-year-old man with failing eyesight and who had recently undergone intestinal surgery told Sonoma, Calif., police that on Sunday afternoon, May 1, a woman had come to his home and instructed him to drop his pants and get facedown on the bed so that she could administer an enema. He said he assumed his doctor had sent her and thus complied, and it was over in two minutes, and she was gone. The doctor later said he had no idea who the woman was. (In the 1970s, in the Champaign, Ill., area, Michael Kenyon operated similarly as the “Illinois Enema Bandit” — and inspired the late Frank Zappa’s “Illinois Enema Bandit Blues.”) Entrepreneurial Spirit — Several funeral homes in the United States have drive-thru windows to serve rushed mourners or those stressed by the parlor experience. “Not quite as emotional,” said one visitor to the Robert L. Adams Mortuary in Compton, Calif., referring to the need not to linger in the queue of bereaved, idling motorists. The Adams facility was even more popular during the peak of gang murders in the area, according to an April Los Angeles Times report, because the drive-thru window’s bulletproof glass rendered unnecessary the precarious indoor service in which gangbangers tried to further desecrate late rivals’ corpses. — Noses Know: (1) In April, two Italian entrepreneurs introduced a perfume meant to evoke the scents of a person’s blood, varying by type (A, B, AB, O) — but with no actual blood. A prominent member of the U.S. “vampire community” fondly described the “intriguing” olfactory sensations of Type B (the “black cherry, pomegranate and patchouli infusions”) and Type O (“raspberry, rose hips and birch”). Another “vampirist” called the whole idea “cheesy.” (2) Artist Charity Blansit (aka Cherry Tree) told AOL News in May that she has been working on a fragrance based on her own urine (although not prepared to bring it to market yet), enhanced mainly with sugar.
Fine Points of the Law
Because of a loophole in Michigan law (which, at press time, legislators were working to fix), a winner of the “Make Me Rich” lottery game in July 2010 (publicized value: $2 million) has been openly receiving the same food-stamp allotment he had been receiving before he won. In May 2011, confronted by WNEM-TV in Saginaw, winner Leroy Fick was defiant about his food TURN TO ODD FILES ON A16
OCEANSIDE — For more than two weeks volunteers have stood in front of supermarkets armed with petitions to collect voter signatures that would allow residents to have the final word on whether or not to OK vacancy decontrol. Bob Markley, a member of the Alliance of Citizens to Improve Oceanside Neighborhoods, opposes vacancy decontrol that nixes a 30-year rent control ordinance and allowing mobile home park owners to raise space rents. “The problem with the new amendment is that park owners can raise rent without limit,” Markley said. Markley said that he was alarmed by the quick steps the city council took to approve the measure. “It was drafted May 4, voted on May 18, and on May 25 it was adopted,” Markley said. Markley is one of more than 100 volunteers drawing attention to the item and helping to collect over 7,700 signatures needed, which represents 10 percent of Oceanside voters. He said his hope is that council will call
a referendum and overturn their decision to OK vacancy decontrol once signatures are collected and verified. If not, Markley said the next best result would be that the item is placed on the next election ballot for citizens to decide. “Mobile home parks are monopolies,” Markley said. “They have captive customers. The homes are really not mobile after they are installed. It’s a monopoly and everyone knows it, residents know it, city council knows it. It’s not a free market.” Markley said higher rents would cause future buyers to pay less for their mobile homes and not allow long time mobile home owners to get a fair return. Markley said the decision by council to OK vacancy decontrol jeopardizes the expected income of seniors who live in mobile homes. “Mobile homes are the lowest cost free standing homes possibile,” Markley said. “Affordable land rents makes it possible for them (seniors) to live in their own home.” Councilman Jerry Kern, who along with Councilmen Gary Felien and Jack Feller
By Shelli DeRobertis
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passed vacancy decontrol in a 3-2 vote, stands by his decision. “It’s the most fair way to handle this situation,” Kern said. “For people renting now, their rent will not be raised as long as they live there.”
“They (mobile home owners) feel entitled to profit from rent control,” Kern added. “They want equity in land they do not own.” Kern supports the item going to a vote if sufficient TURN TO RENT ON A14
Local company picks up tab for pet waste bags By Wehtahnah Tucker
ENCINITAS — City Council voted unanimously June 15 to approve a plan allowing a private company to attach advertising to signs at the city’s 19 locations where Mutt Mitts are dispensed. C.A.Advertising, a Cardiff by-the-Sea-based company, proposed an exchange with the city where the company plans to pay for the $16,000 that the city currently spends to supply the dog waste baggies at several parks and trail heads. In exchange for the funds, C.A. Advertising would place a 1-square-foot sign above each of the Mutt Mitt dispensers in Encinitas. The agency would then sell advertising spots on those signs. Each sign could fit up to 10 different ads, according to the company’s President Meghan Kudera. Many residents had no idea that their tax dollars were used to subsidize the pet waste bags. “I really never thought about where these came from,” Beth Merimann said, pointing to a dispenser.“It seems a little ridiculous that dog owners
have to be given bags as an incentive to clean up after their pets.” The parks and recreation commission voted 4-1 to accept Kudera’s proposal before the item went to the council. The proposal signals the first time that permanent advertising will be allowed in an Encinitas city park according to Jim O’Grady, the city’s interim parks and recreation director. Kudera said she got the idea while she was walking her own dog and noticed that people were placing business cards on the distribution posts. The city currently purchases 368,000 bags per year to supply the distribution posts. “I’m here to be the bridge between small businesses and the city,” she told the council. Kudera claimed there are 40,000 dogs in Encinitas, which generate 75 percent of the waste found in parks. A biologist by education, Kudera said the opportunity to advertise at one of the doggie waste posts could generate revenue for local businesses, ensure cleaner parks and save the city
money. “The environment will be cleaner,” she told the council. Kudera promised to keep the signs unobtrusive.“Natural beauty is why we love it (here),” she said. The bags are also made in America, Kudera added. She said the approved list of potential advertisers was narrowed by any business that did not abide by a set code of ethics. “Good on ya,” said Deputy Mayor Jerome Stocks after Kudera made her presentation. He questioned the provision that gave the city additional revenue based on profits. The company would also provide the city with 10 percent of its net profits. That could mean an additional $200 to $800 in revenues each year, according to Kudera. “How are you going to make any money?” Stocks asked. While that projection amounts to less total profits than the $16,000 in Mutt Mitt expenses, Kudera said she hopes to expand the program. Councilwoman Maggie
Houlihan voiced some concerns over setting a precedent by accepting the proposal. “I don’t want the city to be for sale to the highest bidder,” she said. “The city would have absolute sole discretion in choosing the vendor,” City Attorney Glenn Sabine said. “You can decide this on a case by case basis. You could address this as a policy.” Community groups and nonprofits might be added to the mix of advertisers if Councilwoman Kristen Gaspar had her way.She said she could imagine the Lion’s Club on a sign. “A public/private partnership is a little out of the box, but I think that’s what we are going to have to be looking for doing over the next 10 years,” Councilwoman Teresa Barth said. Houlihan and Stocks will serve on a sub-committee to work out the specifics of the agreement. For more information about C.A. Advertising, visit crappyadvertising.com.
Exhibit features Beatles photos, memorabilia By Promise Yee
OCEANSIDE — The Oceanside Museum of Art exhibit, “Beatles: I Saw the Photograph,” opened June 11 for a brief one-week show.The collection of over a dozen Beatles photos and one-of-akind Beatles memorabilia is an ancillary exhibition to the “Come Together at OMA: Art After Dark Beatles Tribute,” taking place June 17. The collection is on loan from Vincent Vigil who has amassed over 100 Beatles photos. On display are photos depicting the band and members spanning from 1958 to 1980. Included are photo-
Suspects in murder case plead not guilty
graphs by Annie Leibowitz and Linda McCartney. “We’re really excited to have an exhibit that educates people about the Beatles from the first band to the day John Lennon was shot,” Danielle Susalla, Oceanside Museum of Art assistant director, said. “It’s a really powerful display,” Susalla added. The culmination Art After Dark event features the Beatles tribute band, “Help!” including dancers from the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, live body painting, and an interactive mural COME TOGETHER C&"*2&/ 4&4,5"P$2$"'"#0 31,*,/'"5&',#'0$/32"; "*'*1&'.%&"#/$0&'(9/&94',-'?5*< Photo by Promise Yee project.
VISTA — Three men with ties to gangs were arrested in connection with the double teen homicide at an Oceanside park in May. All three suspects pleaded not guilty at the June 13 court hearing. AL’C Robert Bejaran, 19, a documented gang member, was arrested for the murders June 9 while already in prison serving time for a parole violation, according to police. Bejaran was sent to R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego May 9 for that parole violation, which was just days after the May 3 shooting that killed teenagers Sandra Salgado, 14, and Fernando Felix Solano, 16, at Libby Lake Park. Justin Gibson, 18, also a documented gang member, and Kenneth Hamilton, 33, both of Oceanside, were arrested and booked into jail June 9, according to Lt. Leonard Mata, of the Oceanside police Department. At the court arraignment, Bejaran was issued a $5 million bail and Gibson and Hamilton were each ordered held in jail on a $2 million bail, according to court documents. Police responded to reports of gunfire May 3 at about 10:30 p.m., where they found the bodies of the two teenagers. According to police reports, Salgado and Solano were dating, and reports showed that there was no evidence that either victim was associated with a gang. Any motive for the killings is still unknown. The murder suspects are scheduled to be back in court June 22.
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