A19
THE COAST NEWS
JULY 3, 2009
FUNDRAISER
CONTINUED FROM A5
Under the best of conditions, any agency given the mandate and means of enforcing laws has a potential for systemic pathologies. This toxic brew of danger and power changes people, all people, along with their groups. This has been confirmed by psychological research and a long tragic litany of excesses. The dynamics within any such police group are pernicious as well as predictable. In many ways Encinitas is lucky that this particular wakeup call came with no deaths, no riots and no deeper disruption of inter-group comity. What would be tragic is if this were to be ignored and treated as an
TODDLER
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Weismantel said. To prove Castaneda inflicted torture on the young boy, Weismantel highlighted evidence like testimony that Castaneda made Cesar Razo sleep in the family’s bedroom closet, three home videos, one of which shows the defendant documenting the toddler’s injuries, and his “torture tools,” a cable cord and broken plastic hanger, which the prosecutor said he used to inflict injuries on the boy. “This man enjoyed torturing this little boy and was fixated on him,” Weismantel said. Castaneda’s attorney, Allen Bloom, told jurors Cesar Razo’s death was a “function of rage … some sort of monstrous explosion.” Bloom pointed toward Maria Razo citing Castaneda had been at work until around 12:30 p.m. that day. While we may never know exactly what happened, Bloom said he believed Maria Razo’s deep depression and family background, one of corporal punishment, may account for the explosion she unleashed on her son. However, Bloom was quick to point out to the jurors that their job wasn’t to determine who killed Cesar Razo, but rather if Castaneda committed the crimes. Bloom portrayed Castaneda as a kind, caring man who just prior to meeting Maria Razo had been in a relationship with another woman who had children approximately the same age as Maria Razo’s; however, no physical or
isolated incident, and not seen as a sign of something deeper. Waiting for an internal report of this incident is exactly what should not be done. This event was of the public, and the process of investigation should include those who are not a part of the closed system that went astray. Creation of a Civilian Police Review Board may be one appropriate step at this point. It should be staffed by those with an understanding of the challenges, difficulties as well as the temptations of those whom we authorize to use force to maintain our laws. The time to initiate this is before it is needed, before cynicism and anger has displaced the original motivation of those who don police uniforms.
Local government provides a unique opportunity for the individual citizen to participate, to help shape the incremental steps that can become a model for other locales, and just possibly have an effect on the larger culture. Of course this only happens when the existing structures — media, office holders and general public — feel there is a possibility of success. Those of us who live in Encinitas and other nearby environs are truly blessed. With all that we have going for us we should aim for the democratic ideal, rather than accept the cynicism that is so pervasive in our society. Let’s hope that this flareup at Cardiff will supply the incentive, and the light to lead us in this direction.
EYE ON THE COAST CONTINUED FROM A5
folks from San Dieguito Heritage Museum, are engrossed in planning the first Lima Bean Weekend, set for Sept. 25 to Sept. 27. The event will include a variety of activities related to the lima bean, like a cookoff and a lima bean fashion show. According to residents that were around during that time, more than 1,000 acres from Carmel Valley to Olivenhain were planted in lima beans — one reason being they are a dry farm crop.
One-liners There will be a coppla grunion runs in July and
August with dates to be announced. And if you are wondering about grunions they are tiny silvery fish that come ashore to bury their eggs in the sand. It’s OK to scoop them up ... Art Gonzalez, the deposed majordomo at Tri-City Hospital in O’side, is the new head of Hannepin Healthcare Systems Inc. based in Minnesota ... Young potential athletes who try drugs becuz they believe they will enhance their chance of being really great can take a page from Ryan Leif, a promising Chargers quarterback, who is in a bucket of trouble with the law becuz of his drug problems ... Folks are wondering why some sports teams in
the Flower Capital get a free pass on the use of fields while other organizations like senior groups have to pay to use the facilities ... Whooping cough, not the swine virus, has been diagnosed among children in Solbeach ... The highly popular Dog Days of Summer mutt frolic sponsored by Cardiff 101 Chamber of Commerce will be held Aug. 8 ... “Growing Passions,” produced by Nan Sterman of the Flower Capital, is airing on Ch. 4 Fridays at 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. Hasta la Vista Bill Arballo is an opinionated, retired journalist in the Flower Capital of the Universe. E-mail barballo@coastnewsgroup.com.
mental abuse was ever reported. “The evidence in the case points powerfully towards Maria and away from Jose,” Bloom said. Maria Razo pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of felony child abuse with the allegation that she inflicted great bodily injury in 2007. Under her agreement, she will be sentenced Aug. 21 to 16 years and eight months in prison. Additionally, she will have three strikes and will be deported back to Mexico. Both Castaneda and Maria Razo were found to be living illegally in the United States. The couple had been dating less than a year at the time of Cesar Razo’s death. They had lived together with another family in an apartment on Bear Valley Parkway in Escondido. Weismantel called Maria Razo a weak, dependent single mother, who had been abused by Castaneda. She has accepted responsibility for not protecting her children from Castaneda and when she’s released will have “paid her price,” the prosecutor said. The last case a North County jury considered for the death penalty was in 2005, in which the panel ultimately recommended the execution of Adrian Camacho who was convicted of the 2003 slaying of Oceanside police Officer Tony Zeppetella. The death penalty phase, which began July 1, is expected to last a week.
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