Articles by Special to The Grapevine

California, Real Estate, Riverside County, San Diego, Vista October 26, 2021

ACLU Report: California’s War on Unhoused People

Communities target unhoused people with discriminatory tactics exploiting legal loopholes, according to an ACLU report released Tuesday. The plight of people who are unhoused has reached horrific proportions in California, but instead of embarking on a resurgence of affordable housing, communities have instead instituted policies and regulations that target unhoused people by harassing, citing, segregating, banishing, and even imprisoning them, ACLU researchers found. “Until California…

Agriculture, California October 15, 2021

SD County farming values rebound to around $1.8 billion

Agriculture values topped $1.8 billion for the first time since 2014 and just the third time in 30 years in San Diego County’s annual crop report released earlier this year. The report covers the 2020 growing season, and reflects the mixed effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The total value of all agriculture crops and commodities rose just 0.8%, but that was enough to push total…

Courts/Law, Police, Police/Fire October 13, 2021

Tell mamaw, papaw; 8 indicted for grandparent fraud

Eight people were charged in a federal grand jury indictment unsealed recently, accused of participating in a criminal enterprise that has stolen millions of dollars from elderly victims in San Diego County and around the nation. The defendants swindled more than $2 million from 70-plus elderly victims across the nation, with at least 10 in San Diego County, by feeding them phony stories that their…

California, Politics July 29, 2021

Vote ‘NO’ on Governor Recall, ACLU says

The executive directors of the ACLU of Northern California, ACLU of Southern California and ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties, and the board chair of ACLU California Action issued a joint statement Thursday, July 29 in strong opposition to the gubernatorial recall. This marks the first time in the history of the ACLU in California — which stretches back to 1923 — that the…

Del Mar/Solana Beach/Encinitas/Carlsbad, Lifestyle/Society July 26, 2021

Encinitas residents v. hemp farmers a draw

For months, residents of a suburban Encinitas neighborhood have clashed with the hemp farm next door, blaming the farm for the nausea, dizziness and respiratory problems that they say have bothered them since October. Bob Echter, owner of Fox Point Farms which is home to the hemp operation, and Josh Schneider, CEO of Cultivaris Hemp which has been operating the hemp farm on Echter’s property,…

Courts/Law, Rancho Santa Fe July 10, 2021

RSF man dealt $337 million fraud, DOJ says

The United States District Court for the Northern District of California this week unsealed an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in San Francisco charging Rancho Santa Fe resident Racho Jordanov with conspiracy to commit trade secret theft and wire fraud, international money laundering, and related charges including obstruction of justice. Jordanov was the co-founder and former Chief Executive Office of JHL Biotech. He was charged…

Escondido, Health June 27, 2021

Palomar Health under fire for secret meeting

A citizens group is accusing Escondido, Calif.-based Palomar Health of violating an open meetings law when approving a controversial physician contract change, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.  An attorney hired by the group, which calls itself “Citizens to Save Palomar Health,” sent a letter to the public healthcare district’s seven elected directors. The group alleges that Palomar and its leaders lacked transparency when changing…

Del Mar/Solana Beach/Encinitas/Carlsbad, Escondido, Rancho Santa Fe, Valley Center June 8, 2021

79 acres and what do you get? LeoMar Preserve for the missing Lynx at Olivenhain

“The LeoMar preserve is important as is every part of our beautiful planet. We must always do our best to protect and preserve our precious earth.” — Martha Blane, namesake of the newly created LeoMar Preserve at Olivenhain In a day that will live in conservation, Escondido Creek Conservancy officials said the group closed escrow Monday, June 7, 2021 on 79 Olivenhain acres representing the…

Animals and pets, California, Rancho Santa Fe May 25, 2021

Bear Abuse: Animal rights group sues Cox

A local animal rights nonprofit is suing gubernatorial candidate and Rancho Santa Fe businessman John Cox for his use of a 1,000-pound Kodiak bear on the campaign trail. The Animal Rights and Protection League alleges in a lawsuit filed Monday in San Diego Superior Court that the bear, Tag, has been “drugged and abused” for use promoting Cox’s run for California governor. Tag has been…

Consumer News, North County, Riverside County May 11, 2021

San Diego tribes fight to close digital divide

A recent House Subcommittee on Natural Resources on infrastructure on tribal lands found an enormous physical and digital divide. The White House and tribes nationwide are counting on the America’s Jobs Plan to close that divide. And while the plan moves through Congress, one man continues his work to make sure tribes within the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association (SCTCA) have access to broadband. “We’re…