Local News

May 29th, 2008

Undercover Prostitution Detail Yields Two Arrests

On Thursday, May 22, 2008, Escondido Police Department conducted an undercover prostitution detail. Detectives focused their efforts in the area of W. Washington Ave. and N. Escondido Blvd. As a result of that detail, detectives arrested two individuals.

Hooker’s Corner
Myqwin Dialynn Johnson, 21, of Fresno, California, was arrested for Penal Code 647(b) - Soliciting an Act of Prostitution.	Shakeela Kay Jackson, 20, of Frenso, California, was arrested for Penal Code 647(b) - Soliciting an Act of Prostitution.

Escondido Police Department will continue to actively enforce all violations of prostitution including internet solicitation and encourages anyone with information on these cases to call Escondido Police at (760) 839-4722, or contact Sergeant Jim Lanigan directly at (760) 839-4759.

Redacted Kaiser/PPH Agreement Released

In response to a recent public records request made by The Paper, Palomar Pomerado Health has provided a redacted (blacked out) version of a Hospital Services Agreement between Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Palomar Pomerado Health effective February 1, 2004.

The 4-year old Kaiser/PPH Agreement is 73 pages. About 12% of the Kaiser/PPH Agreement was redacted. An attached set of Appendices includes an additional 60 pages. About 58% of the Appendices was redacted. A copy of the Kaiser/PPH agreement is available on the web at: http://civics.robroy.cc/ka.html

The details of the Kaiser/PPH Agreement will be reported after more study of this information and will be published in The Paper, when completed.

Frustrated Councilmembers Demand Monthly Reports from Ad Hoc Committee

Escondido councilmembers Ed Gallo and Marie Waldron insisted that Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler and Councilman Dick Daniels, who make up the ad hoc committee formed to meet and confer periodically with Palomar Pomerado Health District, give monthly reports on progress or lack thereof. The ad hoc committee was formed four and a half months ago and has yet to meet with PPH.

Councilmember Waldron expressed concern that the council needed to be kept informed as to the issues concerning the ERTC site as well as any other potential delays. Councilmember Gallo said he thought the public was probably more concerned about what impact the progress, or lack of progress, was going to have on downtown Escondido.

Critics have long charged PPH with foot dragging, with misrepresentation of facts, and of not making a good faith effort to comply with the MOU between the city and the district. A videotape discussing the issue is available on the Internet at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-vtpvSUpbI

Escondido Councilman Ed Gallo

Escondido councilmember Marie Waldron

Escondido Police to hold Town Hall Meetings

Escondido Police Chief Jim Maher will address the community in a series of Town Hall Meetings. He will speak about the recently introduced concept of geographic policing, as well as the department's immigration policy. At the conclusion of his comments, those in attendance will be given the opportunity to ask questions on any police related topic.

The meetings will have been held on four separate dates in different areas of the city. Residents are encouraged to attend the location that is nearest to their home. Childcare will be provided at no cost.

The dates and locations of the next town hall meetings are:

• North Town Hall meeting June 4, 2008 7 p.m.-9 p.m. YMCA, 1050 North Broadway, Escondido
• West Town Hall meeting June 17, 2008 7 p.m.- 9 p.m. Escondido Church of Nazarene, 1555 S. Redwood, Escondido

Escondido Police Chief Jim Maher

City of San Marcos Prevails in Palomar Station decision

The San Diego Superior Court ruled in favor of the City of San Marcos on May 20 in a civil lawsuit filed by the San Marcos Business & Industrial Association against the City’s approval of the Palomar Station project. The court denied all 15 arguments made in the petition and ruled that the City adequately studied how the project would affect public health. The court also deemed that the environmental impact report (EIR) used by the City Council to review the public health impacts was adequate. The ruling states that the City adequately addressed potential effects from toxins as well as impacts to air quality, water supply, noise, traffic and biological resources.

San Marcos City Council approved the Palomar Station project on July 24, 2007. The project is planned for 14 acres just south of Palomar College and calls for 333 condos, 48,980 square feet of retail space, 9,800 square feet of offices and 8,280 square feet of restaurants. Palomar Station is a smart growth, transit-oriented development project, which places residential and retail development near mass transit stations like the new Sprinter line.

Pothole Repair Hotline

This week, the City of Escondido launched a telephone hotline (760) 839-4FIX (4349) for reporting potholes on Escondido streets. The hotline allows callers to leave information about pothole locations and is monitored by city Maintenance and Operations staff. The intent of the hotline is to more efficiently facilitate repairs of potholes in the city. Pothole repair requests may also be submitted online at www.escondido.org.

City of San Marcos Singing The Financial Blues

Like many other California cities, San Marcos has felt the impact of a decline in revenue so has begun to tighten its belt. A hiring freeze is just one step that has been taken, according to City Manager Paul Malone.

He reports that sales taxes, the No. 1 source of income for the city, and applications for building permits are expected to decrease slightly in 2008. Fortunately, however, San Marcos, as landlord, is helping to offset the other revenue loss.

The city's second-largest source of income is from its leases of buildings and land, and the third is property taxes. For the fiscal year starting July 1, the city is expecting to receive about $15.5 million from sales taxes; $8.3 million from leases, including city-owned land at Creekside Marketplace; and $7.3 million from property taxes. Malone said the city was keeping a close eye on expenses, was not buying expensive equipment and not rushing to hire new employees.

The San Marcos City Council is waiting on a consultant to finish a report about the potential financial effects of the initiative. The council must receive the report by June 12 and will then have up to 10 days to adopt an ordinance as written or place it on the November ballot.

Malone also reported that the question of forming its own police department is not practical due to high costs. The city contracts with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement and has no plans to discontinue the contract.

San Marcos Changing Shape?

The complexion and character of San Marcos could conceivably change a great deal in the near future. A change in culture, identity and energy could well take form as a result of plans being studied and/or drafted by the city of San Marcos.

While city residents were afforded an opportunity of providing input to such plans recently, very few showed up at a recent planning workshop held at the San Marcos Senior Center. Though there were 200 chairs set up only a few dozen people showed up and they were mostly city staff and/or consultants.

The workshops were designed to consider the area known as University Village, partially vacant, that belongs to about 30 separate property owners. The acreage is part of a 20-year-old development plan for what is called the Heart of the City that includes the university and City Hall.

The city-appointed advisory panel has been revisiting concept plans for how the land should be developed in part because of the Sprinter passenger train that began operations in March. A stop on the rail line is close to the university. The panel was told to evaluate an “urban village” project with mixed-use development that could include university housing, retail, offices, hotels and conference centers.

University Village is also near where the city is trying to create a vibrant downtown with a proposed commercial project, including medical or medical-related buildings on 87 acres and City Hall. Planning director Jerry Backoff said University Village would complement downtown while having its own identity. The city would engineer a concept plan, and developers would carry it out.

Some residents near the proposed development area said they are looking forward to more restaurants, shops and public gathering places. Others said they want upscale choices so they don't have to go to Encinitas. City officials have said the city won't use eminent domain to acquire land for private development in University Village but could condemn land for public improvements.

Ricardo Rabines of San Diego-based Safdie Rabines Architects said the project's goals include preserving open space; using environmental-friendly designs; and reducing vehicle traffic with ideas that promote walking, biking and public transportation. A bridge carrying vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians could be built over state Route 78 from Johnston Lane, south of San Marcos Boulevard.

Recommendations could go to the City Council in the spring.