Local News

April 12th, 2007

Pastor's Wife Gets Probation

Superior Court Judge Daniel Goldstein weighed all the evidence and heard from supports of Kristen Kaye Lawson this week and after completing his analysis, sentenced Lawson to five years’ probation and ordered her to continue treatment for depression and bipolar disorcer. Lawson had faced up to seven years in prison for attempted murder after she had made attempts to drown her two daughters.

In spite of Judge’s leniency he gave a strict warning - "You committed a crime against your own children and you should be ashamed of that. You should take your medication. End os story."

Lawson, the wife of an Escondido pastor, Robert Lawson, wept as supporters spoke on her behalf. Her family and friends have stood beside her since the events of last October 5th. She had plead guilty on January 5th of this year. While on probation she will be able to see her children but only on supervised visits.

Bill to Guard Tenant Status

Ed Gallo remembers when Escondido was an idyllic town, separated by more than avocado and citrus groves from the urban tumult of San Diego, 30 miles away.

"We never had slums," said the city councilman, who has lived in Escondido for more than three decades. "Now, we're really, really close in a couple of our neighborhoods."

Gallo blames illegal immigrants, whom he accuses of cramming into housing designed for single families -- and creating trash, graffiti, parking and other eyesore issues.

Fed up, Gallo joined Council members Marie Waldron and Sam Abed last October when Escondido became the first city in California to ban renting property to illegal immigrants.

After a federal judge issued a temporary injunction barring enforcement of the ordinance, the council majority -- facing a costly court fight -- reversed itself.
In an effort to thwart other local governments from following suit, Assemblyman Charles Calderon, D-Whittier, has introduced legislation that would ban such laws.

Assembly Bill 976 would prohibit cities and counties from requiring landlords to "compile, disclose, report, provide or otherwise take any action regarding the characteristics of a tenant or a prospective tenant that is not expressly required by state or federal law."

"I just don't think cities and counties should be permitted to have their own foreign policies," Calderon said, arguing landlords shouldn't "be turned into immigration officers."

Gallo, a commercial real estate salesman, calls Calderon's legislation "a waste of everybody's time."

"This is just another shot to pre-empt jurisdictions in California from confronting illegal immigration in the absence of leadership from federal and state officials," Gallo said.

The legislation was sponsored by Apartment Association, California Southern Cities, which maintains its members should not be responsible for enforcing immigration law.

One argument against Calderon's legislation, which was amended from an earlier version, is that it could prevent landlords from screening tenants, checking references and conducting criminal background checks.

The bill is scheduled to be heard by the house's Judiciary Committee on April 17.

U.S. District Judge James Munley's review of the Hazleton deliberations are being closely monitored by about 70 other communities that have or are considering similar measures.

Even before Hazleton adopted its ordinance, the founder of the Save Our State organization in California was working to push through a similar law in the city of San Bernardino.

After the City Council rejected his idea, Joseph Turner failed in his effort to put the issue to a vote of the people. Turner, who now works for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, argues these ordinances are needed because "the federal government is derelict in its responsibility to handle the illegal alien invasion."

"If the federal government refuses to do its job, then it becomes incumbent upon local governments to take up the cause," Turner said.

California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Partners with Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort Receives $30,000

Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort presented a check for $30,000 to the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, as sponsorship support of an eight show package.

Clearly delighted, Vicky Basehore, President of the Center said, “Harrah’s Rincon’s support underscores the importance of and need for live concerts and theater for both artists and audiences. It is an endorsement of the commitment of both of our organizations to bring diverse cultural events to widely diverse population.”

Janet Beronio, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Harrah’s Rincon added, “Harrah’s Rincon is committed to supporting our communties to help make them vibrant places to live and work. We are honored to enter into this partnershp with the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, and look forward to supporting their efforts to bring a variety of cultural events to the citizens of Southern California.”

Mike Stratton, Vice President of Marketing for Harrah’s Rincon agreed, saying, “Both the Caliornia Center for the Arts and Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort share the same goal--to provide the best possible selection of entertainment to the culturally diverse residents of Southern California and to ensure the growth of Escondido and San Diego North as a recognized entertainment destination, attracting audiences to this area from all over the region.”

While the Center’s 2007-2008 Season doesn’t open till Sunday, September 9th, 2007, Center members can purchase seats starting on April 17th, enabling them to reserve the best seats in the house.

For information on concert and theater performances, museum exhibits and other events, call 800.988.4253 or visit www.artcenter.org.

From all appearances the current and upcoming season should be most interesting.