PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
.com MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 35, N0. 21
MAY 27, 2022
SAN MARCOS -NEWS
Blakespear under new .com legal threat
Encinitas goes virtual due to COVID-19 outbreak. A3 Calif. energy experts warn of summer blackouts. A5 Escondido moves to fund Lake Wohlford Dam. A6 County homelessness spikes at least 10%. A7 Man allegedly stole from Carlsbad art dealer. A13 The Mayor: Interview with Catherine Blakespear. A15
THE
ResidentsVISTA to file claim afterNEWS mayor’s ‘insincere’ apology
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Jano’s Garden: Free local seed libraries. A17 Fiesta Del Sol returns to Solana Beach. B1 San Dieguito Water District turns 100. B4
By Stephen Wyer
into our homes, into the community. And that requires money.” The circulation of a video clip from the training where James-Ward made her comment elicited calls for her resignation from a crowd of offended parents, who called her comments stereotypical, othering and racist. Despite her multiple apologies, the firestorm grew after she stated in an interview with NBC7
ENCINITAS — Mayor Catherine Blakespear and the City of Encinitas are now under threat of legal action after the 38th State Senate District candidateRANCHO issued what some residents called a “disingenuSFNEWS ous” public apology over the weekend as part of a settlement agreement for blocking her critics on social media, attorneys familiar with the matter informed The Coast News. Michael Curran, attorney at Carlsbad-based law firm Curran & Curran Law who represents more than a dozen of residents who were reportedly barred from Blakespear’s social media pages, told The Coast News his clients will pursue a government tort claim against the city and Blakespear in both her official capacity as mayor and as a private citizen for violating her sworn oath to protect and uphold the constitution and infringing residents’ free speech rights. If the city does not agree to settlement terms under this action, Curran said the plaintiffs will pursue a lawsuit in state court. The announcement came just hours after Blakespear — in accordance with the terms of an out-of-court settlement she had previously reached with Curran’s clients — issued a public apology on her public
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Food & Wine
Cheers: Celebrating Eppig’s Fruhlingsfest. B11
ROAD RULES
AFTER THREE YEARS, Kenyan distance runner Ed Cheserek defended his North County road racing title after winning his second consecutive Carlsbad 5000 last weekend, defeating San Diego’s Reid Buchanan (pictured behind). Story on A9. Photo by Andrew McClanahan
SDUHSD community split over James-Ward situation Retaliation lawsuit may still be in the works By Laura Place
ENCINITAS — Parents, students and community members in the San Dieguito Union High School District remain split about the next best steps toward healing in the aftermath of SuperAYANA JOHNSON, a junior at Torrey Pines High and founder intendent Cheryl Jamesof the school’s Black Student Union, speaks in support of Ward’s racist comments Superintendent Dr. Cheryl James-Ward. Photo by Laura Place resulting in her place-
ment on administrative leave. The community has been at odds since JamesWard claimed in an April 11 Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity training that part of the reason for Asian students’ higher academic success is the fact that wealthy Chinese families can afford to immigrate to the United States. James-Ward also said that “up until a couple of years ago, we had a large influx of Chinese families moving in, sight unseen,
“I would be honored to earn your vote for Assembly on or before Tuesday.” Paid for by Tasha Boerner Horvath for Assembly 2022 • # 1434881 TBH22_CoastNewsAds_10.25x2_r1.indd 4
—TASHA BOERNER HORVATH
Learn more @ Tasha4Assembly.com
3/18/22 11:48 AM
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