2019 Five Star Professional Award for the Fifth Year
Point Loma Branch 4980 North Harbor Drive, Suite 203 San Diego, CA 92106
FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
INSIDE
Surfer gets 5 years for assault at Sunset Cliffs
BODACIOUS BURGERS BITE INTO THE BEACH’S BEST FOR NATIONAL BURGER MONTH
BY NEAL PUTNAM | THE BEACON
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judge on May 16 rejected probation for a surfer convicted of assaulting another surfer with a paddleboard and imposed five years in state prison. Paul Taylor Konen, 34, had been free on $30,000 bond, but was remanded immediately into custody after San Diego Superior Court Judge Robert Trentacosta pronounced the sentence. The victim, Kevin Eslinger, 56, of Point Loma, told the judge how the injury resulted in brain damage after Konen struck him in the head with a 7-foot paddleboard while both were surfing off Sunset Cliffs on June 26, 2018. Eslinger said the brain damage causes him to slur his words and he was hard to understand at times. He consulted with a speech therapist, who told him
Ocean Beach Pier scheduled to open on May 24 SEE PAGE 4
First Fridays to be amplified at Liberty Station SEE PAGE 11
The Guido Burger at Hodad's, which happens to be inspired by Food Network’s Guy Fieri. Check out more burgers on page 14.
COURTESY PHOTO
SEE SURFER, Page 5
City Council moves ahead to make vehicle habitation illegal BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON
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Chimpos reunites after 30 years, records debut album SEE PAGE 12
he City Council voted 6-3 on May 14 to draft a new ordinance making vehicle habitation illegal once again in residential areas and near schools. The new ordinance recriminalizes residents living out of their vehicles from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in neighborhoods, or at any time within 500 feet of a residence or school excluding colleges and uni-
‘We are creating a balance that provides ... to those in need while protecting our neighborhoods from behavior that ... hurts quality of life.’ – MAYOR KEVIN FAULCONER versities. A vehicle is considered inhabited if there is evidence of sleeping, bathing or meal preparation there. The new law, which goes into effect upon the City Clerk’s certification of the action, replaces a pre-
vious ordinance that the City Council repealed in response to a court ruling that deemed it too vague to enforce. Those favoring the new revised ban said the goal is to encourage people inhabiting their vehicles to
use monitored parking lots where they can safely sleep overnight while accessing job training and housing assistance services. “We are creating a balance that provides opportunities to those in need while protecting our neighborhoods from behavior that creates unsanitary conditions and hurts quality of life,” said Mayor Kevin Faulconer. READ MORE ONLINE AT sdnews.com