In 2018, Encinitas got a lot of press for a “Footloose” situation of its own making. The city was enforcing rules that forced restaurants to get special permits in order for patrons to be allowed to dance. And guess what? The dancing restrictions are still in place, our Tigist Layne reports.
A city representative did not say exactly how recently officials have enforced the rules, but did say enforcement efforts have continued since the 2018 freakout.
Aside from restricting dancing, Encinitas also regulates how many musicians can play on stage at a time.
Layne revisited some of the more public fights Encinitas has had with establishments like Mr. Peabody’s and the Roxy. Mr. Peabody’s was known as a live-music venue, but back in 2018 it didn’t have the necessary permit that allowed its patrons to dance.
“What is this, ‘Footloose,’” one resident asked at a hearing before the city’s Planning Commission.
Former Dem Chair Claims Exoneration
Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, former chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party, is working to put his troubles behind him.
Rodriguez-Kennedy was accused of sexual assault by a former boyfriend, which forced him to take a leave of absence as party chair in 2022. The District Attorney’s office declined to press charges at the time. Oscar Rendon, the former boyfriend, then filed a lawsuit against Rodriguez-Kennedy.
Court documents show the lawsuit is on track to be dismissed.
Rodriguez-Kennedy sent out a press release Wednesday which contained a joint statement from him and Rendon.
“Recently we have had the opportunity to meet and discuss a misunderstanding that caused us both a lot of pain. It is unfortunate that certain political actors took advantage of this misunderstanding in an effort to damage William’s reputation and career,” the statement read.
It’s unclear what political actors the statement might be referring to, given that Rendon is the one who filed a lawsuit against Rodriguez-Kennedy.
Father Joe’s Villages Details Detox Plans
Wednesday’s Morning Report led with Lisa Halverstadt’s story on the county’s shortage of detox beds for low-income and homeless San Diegans.
And early Wednesday, Father Joe’s Villages and Councilmember Raul Campillo hosted a press conference to detail the homeless-serving nonprofit’s plan to open a 45-bed detox facility at its East Village campus. The new beds would increase the region’s stock of detox beds for patients with Medi-Cal by 58 percent – and even more drastically increase capacity in the city of San Diego, which now only has two such beds for Medi-Cal patients. The facility, which is attached to Father Joe’s health center, will also be equipped to serve detox patients with medical issues that now often disqualify people from existing programs.
At the press conference, Father Joe’s CEO Deacon Jim Vargas said he expects city permitting reforms championed by Campillo to help the nonprofit quickly renovate the facility that now houses 350 city shelter beds. Vargas hopes the facility can reopen as a detox and 250-bed sober living shelter by early next year, though there will be other hurdles to cross first including a state licensing process.
The Union-Tribune has more details.
In Other News
- The San Diego agency tasked with air quality regulation has put the International Boundary and Water Commission, a binational federal agency, on notice about “foul smells” coming from a pump station it manages. (City News Service) Our MacKenzie Elmer has written about the IBWC’s long-struggle to fix its wastewater treatment facilities. Catch up here.
- SANDAG’s deputy CEO and chief economist was fired Tuesday morning. Ray Major was with the regional planning agency for nine years. (Union-Tribune)
- FOX 5 anchor Kathleen Bade is leaving the station after 31 years on air. Bade helped launch FOX 5 16 years ago. (FOX 5)
- Earlier this week the San Diego City Council added new members to its oversight board tasked with evaluating how the city and police use surveillance technologies. The Privacy Advisory Board was unable to meet for months because it didn’t have enough members. (Union-Tribune)
- Nationally-recognized economist Lynn Reaser, 76, died on Tuesday. Reaser was the chief economist at Point Loma Nazarene’s Fermanian Business and Economic Institute. She was a known resource to many in San Diego because she was someone who could help translate complex economics. (Union-Tribune)
The Morning Report was written by Will Huntsberry, Lisa Halverstadt and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña. It was edited by Andrea Lopez-Villafaña.