PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
.com MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 35, N0.4
JAN. 28, 2022
SAN Blackstone MARCOS -NEWS connected to . suit housing
com
Encinitas council poised to ban ghost guns. A3 Carlsbad residents ready to dump Republic? A3 Officials see hope for SR 78 trouble spot. A5
Private equity THE firm owns VISTA company named as defendant NEWS
Encinitas council bans helium-filled balloons. A6 Tsunami talk sparks San Onofre concerns. A7 North County represented in Rams-49ers game. A9
.com
By Jordan P. Ingram
SDA boys basketball off to hot start in league. A9 Bill targeting municipal golf courses shelved. A10 State Assembly races taking shape. A12 Local teacher dies in rock climbing accident. B1
.com
SAFE BET?
DEL MAR RACETRACK has seen plenty of ups and downs over the years — a microcosm of the statewide horse racing industry. Today, advocates and opponents in California are fighting over the very existence of an embattled and beloved sport. Story on A8.
NCTD extends deadline for modified fencing plan Del Mar has a month to accept 4-foot bluff fence By Tigist Layne
DEL MAR — The North County Transit District board voted Thursday to give the City of Del Mar until Feb. 28 to agree to a modified 4-foot-tall fence design on the Del Mar bluffs. If the city does not accept this agreement, the NCTD will proceed with a proposed 6-foot-tall fence
ENCINITAS — A federal housing discrimination lawsuit alleging an illegal housing scheme in Encinitas has recently widened its scope to include 14 defendants, one of which is controlled by private equity megalith Blackstone RANCHO Group, according to new SFNEWS court filings. The lawsuit stems from the city-approved sales of two affordable homes — 1317 Portola Road and 1412 Mackinnon Avenue — to wealthy investors instead of dozens of qualified, very-low-income applicants, as first reported by The Coast News. “Developers in Encinitas are putting on ‘dog and pony shows’ to honest applicants in order to meet basic requirements while pre-determining the sale of designated affordable homes in violation of the fair housing rules,” the lawsuit reads. “And the City of Encinitas is complicit in these housing violations and recklessly failing its duties to administer the programs properly to further the fair housing laws.” A city spokesperson previously told The Coast News the legal action “cannot point to any allegation where the City has not complied with state law or
design. The city has just over a month to enter into a written agreement with the transit district and accept liability and maintenance responsibility for the modified fence design. This is likely the last time this deadline will be extended in hopes of reaching an agreement with Del Mar. Del Mar originally had until Dec. 31 to reach an agreement with NCTD, which included the modified 4-foot-tall fence design. After no agreement was reached, NCTD filed a new
petition on Dec. 30 with the federal Surface Transportation Board seeking sole authority to proceed with the project. The more than twohour long discussion on Thursday was tense at times, with Del Mar Councilmember Terry Gaasterland and Board Chair Tony Kranz engaging in a few heated exchanges. Ultimately, the NCTD board voted 7-1-1 in support of the motion, with Del Mar Councilmember TerTURN TO FENCING ON A5
NCTD VOTED last week to allow the City of Del Mar more time to agree to an alternative fencing proposal. File photo
TURN TO BLACKSTONE ON A7
5K
WARRIOR SPIRIT
RUN/ WALK
Benefiting Children Suffering a Life-Threatening Medical Condition
HAPPY
ALL NIGHT WEDNESDAYS
HOUR
EVERY DAY TILL 6PM
ticket to
peabodysrocks.com
760-753-7575
13TH ANNUAL! Warrior Spirit 5K Run/Walk REGISTER TODAY! FEB. 5TH 2022 WWW.MITCHELLTHORP.ORG