PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
.com MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 35, N0. 48
DEC. 3, 2021
SDUHSD tries vape .com sensors SAN MARCOS -NEWS
Federal housing lawsuit in Encinitas widens scope. A3 Pure Water O’side sets water recycling plans. A5 City to install two rail crossings in Leucadia. A5 County launches homeless teams in North County. A6 EDD: Self-employed must prove benefits eligibility. A6 US appeals court halts San Diego Unified’s vaccine mandate. A7
Devices detect THE VISTA vape, smoke and NEWS THC emissions
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By Bill Slane
As for the regional transit agencies, NCTD, MTS and SANDAG will have to work together to find a solution to the operating shortfalls, said Ariana zur Neiden, an analyst for SANDAG. Ikhrata said the 8.1% fund is only generating half of the earnings previously projected by SANDAG. According to Ikhrata, life has changed and so priorities change with it, which means more investment into transit. Under the current form
ENCINITAS — A pilot program will soon bring new sensors and cameras onto campuses in the San Dieguito Union High School District to help stop vaping on campus. RANCHO The school board reSFNEWS cently voted in a 3-2 decision to launch the pilot program from the company Verkada on a 30-day trial which will bring 10 vapor sensors into bathrooms on two campuses in the district as well as cameras installed outside of the bathroom doors. Verkada already has contracts with both the Coronado and Poway school districts for use of their vape sensors on their campuses. “This is what all of our principals have asked us to do for two years and we haven’t honored that,” School Board President Mo Muir said. “If we let one kid get through this district with an addiction then we failed our kids.” According to the company website, Verkada’s SV11 Environmental Sensor “factors multiple data points from a range of onboard sensors into a 1 to 100 Vape Index that can accurately detect the presence of cigarette smoke, THC, and vape emissions.” Student members of the school board all agree that vaping is an issue on campus and are in support of taking
TURN TO SANDAG ON A8
TURN TO VAPING ON A7
Cardiff teen wins statewide playwright contest. A8 Knob Hill Christmas light display returns. A10 Sports Talk: Refugee kids learn pickleball. A14 Encinitas Library mural unveiled this month. B1 Lick the Plate: Creativity, cuisine shine at Communal in Oceanside. B11
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GAME FACE
CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC High School senior Rex Haynes is the team’s leading receiver with 22 catches for 515 yards and six touchdowns this season. The Dons will play Orange Lutheran tonight in the CIF State Regional Final at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. Story on A15. Photo by Steve Silva
SANDAG grapples with budget deficits for transit agencies By Steve Puterski
REGION — The region’s two transit agencies are facing budget shortfalls that are impacting operations, according to the San Diego Association of Governments’ board of directors. During its Nov. 19 meeting, the metropolitan planning board battled over funding proposals and voting procedures, while admitting the agency has known for years both the North County Transit District, or NCTD, and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, or MTS, are dealing with a
NORTH COUNTY Transit District and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System are looking for solutions after a 40% drop in operating funds from TransNet taxes. Photo via Facebook/NCTD
projected 40% drop in operating funds from TransNet taxes through 2048. The board also dis-
cussed amending the TransNet ordinance, which was a half-cent tax passed by voters in 2004, to eliminate
some road and highway projects, scale down others and invest more in transit and less on roads, according to the staff presentation. A fund allocating 8.1% of revenues to the transit agencies is forcing the SANDAG board to reconcile budget deficits, said SANDAG Executive Director Hasan Ikhrata. “There is not enough money to do all the things we initially said we wanted to do,” Ikhrata said. “There is not enough money for the 8.1% to get us through 2048. This was presented back in 2016.”
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