MARCH 3, 2017
B3
T he C oast News
Odd Files Oceanside’s downtown Nine Block Master Plan is taking shape By Chuck Shepherd Suspicions Confirmed Despite California’s 2015 law aimed at improving the fairness of its redlight cameras, the city of Fremont (pop. 214,000, just north of San Jose) reported earning an additional $190,000 more each month last year by shortening the yellow light by two-thirds of a second at just two intersections. Tickets went up 445 percent at one and 883 percent at the other. (In November 2016, for “undisclosed reasons,” the city raised the speed limit on the street slightly, “allowing” it to reinstate the old 0.7-second-longer yellow light.) • Marissa Alexander of Jacksonville, Fla., convicted and given a 20-year sentence in 2012 for firing a warning shot into a wall to fend off her abusive estranged husband, finally had the charges dropped in February. The persnickety trial judge had earlier determined that Florida’s notorious “Stand Your Ground” law did not apply, even though the husband admitted that he was threatening to rough up Alexander and that she never aimed the gun at him. (With that defense not allowed, Alexander was doomed under Florida’s similarly notorious 20-year mandatory sentence for aggravated assault using a gun.) • In 2008, Vince Li, a passenger on a Greyhound bus in Canada, stabbed another passenger, then beheaded him and started to eat him, and in 2009 was “convicted” — but “not criminally responsible” because of schizophrenia. He has been institutionalized and under treatment since then, and in February, doctors signed off on an “absolute” release back into society for Li (now known as Will Baker) — declining a “conditional” release, which would have required continued monitoring. Manitoba province law requires absolute discharge if doctors conclude, on the “weight of the evidence,” that the patient is no longer a “significant” safety threat. • Doris Payne, 86, was arrested once again for shoplifting — this time at an upscale mall in an Atlanta suburb in December — but according to a 2013 documentary, “careerwise,” she has stolen more than $2 million in jewelry from high-end shops around the world. No regrets, she said on the film, except “I regret getting caught.” Said her California-based lawyer, “Aside from her ‘activities,’ she is a wonderful person with a lot of fun stories.” Least Competent Criminals: (1) Alvin Neal, 56, is merely the most recent bank robber to begin the robbery sequence (at a Wells Fargo branch in San Diego) after identifying himself to a teller (by swiping his ATM card through a machine at the counter). He was sentenced in January.
By Promise Yee
OCEANSIDE — Oceanside’s Nine Block Master Plan for its beachfront downtown is well on its way to completion. Three of the nine blocks between Cleveland Street and Pacific Street, and flanked by Seagave Drive and Civic Center Drive, are completed, three are under construction and three have entitlements. The Nine Block Master Plan was approved by the city in April 2000. Fast forward to today and project start and finish dates are overlapping each other. Built are the Wyndham Resorts timeshare and hotel; Springhill Suites hotel, conference center and Hello Betty’s Restaurant; and GF Properties Pierview North 66-unit mixed-use development. “The first project to be completed was the Wynd-
ham which opened in January 2008, followed by the Springhill Suites in February 2014, and Pierside North in November 2016,” Leslee Gaul, Visit Oceanside Conference & Visitors Bureau CEO and president, said. Under construction are the North Beach Promenade mixed-use development and 493-space public parking structure; Cleveland Street Lofts; and GF Properties Pierside South 110-unit mixed-use development. Projects are moving steadily forward, despite Mother Nature causing 30 rain days for the North Beach Promenade development. “North Beach Promenade broke ground in September 2016 and should be completed by June,2018,” Gaul said. “Pierside South broke ground in February
2017 and expects to open in October 2018.” Pending projects are the SD Malkin Beach Resort 226-room hotel and 158-room hotel; and GF Properties 30-unit and 25unit mixed-use projects. The Beach Resort is anticipated to break ground in 2018, following litigation delays. It is unknown when the privately owned blocks by GF Properties will move forward with construction. No delays are foreseen. “We expect they (GF Properties) will move forward with the Lot 20 project after completing Pierside North,” Gaul said. In addition to nine blocks of development the city is working on Quiet Zone railroad crossings, and downtown water and sewer line replacement. Quiet Zone work at five coastal crossings will take a
London-based DNAe comes to Carlsbad By Steve Puterski
CARLSBAD — Science technology is expanding to the city. DNA Electronics (DNAe), which provides high sensitivity sample processing and rapid DNA analysis, announced has relocated from Albuquerque to a facility with specialized cleanrooms and 9,000-sqaure feet of office space, the company announced in a press release. The London-based company chose Carlsbad due to its reputation as a global hub for life sciences and technology. The Carlsbad site provides DNAe with the capacity to complete final development and begin commercial manufacture of its first test for bloodstream infections. Last month, Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall and Councilman Michael Schumacher joined DNAe executives for a ribbon cutting. “Carlsbad is home to an active scientific community and we welcome DNAe, and the opportunities and skills it brings to the area,” Hall said. DNAe’s diagnostic platform name announced as LiDiaTM DNA analysis technology. LiDiaTM uses a combination of novel approaches including ultra-sensitive sample preparation and semiconductor-based DNA analysis all within a single cartridge. The first LiDiaTM test will be for bloodstream infection offering a broad test panel, capable of identifying the most critical suspected pathogens associated with bloodstream infections, as well as key antibiotic resistance markers. “As we prepare to begin manufacturing our lead product, our new facility in Carlsbad enables us to tap into a wide pool of local talent and world class industry partners to support the next phase in our development,” said DNAe President Victor Esch. “With these new facilities and our strong and growing team, we are in an excellent position to make
DNA Electronics (DNAe) relocates to Carlsbad to complete final development and begin commercial manufacture of its first test for bloodstream infections. Courtesy photo
a game-changing impact in for sepsis.” Referred to as a “nathe infectious disease diagnostics space. Our first tional epidemic” in the products will specifically U.S., the human cost of sepaddress the huge global TURN TO SCIENCE ON B15 need for rapid diagnostics
year to complete. Pipe replacement is expected to be finished by summer, with work closing down one street at a time. The city is embracing its downtown growth, but knows construction brings challenges. Loss of parking and street narrowing remain the biggest impacts through multi-year construction. The city has built additional parking lots to alleviate temporary parking loss, and works to direct businesses and visitors to available parking, including pro-
viding an online link to the city of Oceanside Parking Guide ci.oceanside.ca.us/ civicax/filebank/blobdload. aspx?BlobID=44085. To help downtown businesses weather the changes Visit Oceanside, Oceanside Chamber of Commerce and MainStreet Oceanside are working in partnership with the city to help businesses develop a proactive plan. Updates on downtown development were shared at the Oceanside Tourism TURN TO NINE BLOCK ON B15
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