San Diego, CA
Two yoga teachers sue over San Diego's stricter beach enforcement
Two San Diego yoga instructors are suing the city over its stricter new enforcement on classes at parks and beaches, saying it violates First Amendment free-speech rights.
The lawsuit by Steve Hubbard and Amy Baack, filed June 3 in federal court, also contends the city didn’t give the public adequate opportunity to weigh in before enforcement began last month.
The crackdown, which applies to classes of four people or more, came as part of amendments the City Council approved in February to a much wider city law governing street vendors.
That ordinance, approved in March 2022, requires permits and includes health and safety regulations and partially bans street vendors in parks, at beaches and in certain pedestrian-heavy areas, though they are allowed to keep operating on some cross streets and side streets.
In La Jolla, the law aimed to block vending year-round at Scripps Park, the Children’s Pool, the Coast Boulevard boardwalk between Jenner and Cuvier streets, and on main thoroughfares in some business districts, such as the La Jolla Shores boardwalk.
Faced with claims by many operators that their activities were protected by the First Amendment, city officials over the past winter analyzed which vendors were eligible for free-speech protections.
Among the activities deemed protected are political efforts, selling self-made art, fortune telling, face painting, singing and street performing.
Yoga and other fitness-related classes didn’t make the cut, nor did dog training or selling food, clothing, jewelry, soaps, oils and creams.
But the lawsuit argues that city officials didn’t adequately explain the potential impact on yoga classes.
“It is unclear how and when these provisions specifically targeting the free teaching of yoga in city parks were added to this ordinance amendment,” the 16-page lawsuit states. “Yoga was not mentioned in the staff report, agenda or minutes of this meeting.”
The lawsuit says the city did not seek to gather public input in its traditional ways.
“There appear to have been no town council or planning group recommendations on this surreptitiously inserted provision either, nor any community input or public comment whatsoever, because the general public and stakeholders were never given notice that this was even being considered,” the suit says.
The suit also contends that yoga classes are protected free speech.
“Plaintiffs are engaged in pure speech, teaching yoga to anyone who wishes to listen and participate,” the suit states. “They are not charging fees and they are not blocking or restricting access to any public space.”
The issue of blocking or restricting access is important because city officials say the crackdown on yoga and other activities has been motivated by concerns about public access and safety.
Kohta Zaiser, Mayor Todd Gloria’s City Council affairs adviser, said last month that some classes are so popular that they take over parks or beach areas. “We’re talking about dominating parking lots and rows and rows of people,” he said.
City officials say that while analyzing the street vendor amendments, they became aware that many residents were quietly upset about the increasing commercial use of their favorite parks and beaches — including yoga classes — and subsequent impacts on beach access, crowding and parking.
That prompted city officials to target activities that in some cases they contend have had restrictions already on the books but that hadn’t been enforced in years.
Hubbard says he has been cited twice for his classes in Pacific Beach. Baack says she has been threatened with citations if she continues her free yoga classes in Ocean Beach.
Hubbard and Baack say they’ve been holding classes for years without any problems.
Their lawsuit also disputes city claims that permits can be obtained for yoga classes in parks and beaches.
“In practice, the city refuses to issue any permits for this activity in any city park except Mission Bay Park, Balboa Park and Liberty Station,” the suit states.
Another lawsuit over the city’s vendor-related enforcement was filed in early May by artist William Dorsett and street performer Rogelio Flores, who say the amended law violates their free-speech rights.
They argue they should be able to operate without restriction instead of being limited to 4-by-8-foot “expressive activity” pads that are open to operators with free-speech protections in coastal parks, including La Jolla’s Scripps Park, Kellogg Park and Children’s Pool.
— La Jolla Light staff contributed to this report. ◆
San Diego, CA
UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance
UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)
San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.
The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.
The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.
San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.
Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
San Diego, CA
Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.
The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.
Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.
Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.
The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.
As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.
The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.
Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”
Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
San Diego, CA
SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Less than 3 weeks after the San Diego Unified School District finalized a new contract with teachers, the school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with layoff notices for other district employees.
The layoffs affect classified employees — workers who are employed by the district but are not teachers and are not certified. That includes bus drivers, custodians, special education and teacher aides, and cafeteria workers.
The district says it is eliminating 221 positions — 133 that are currently filled and 88 that are vacant — to save $19 million and help address a projected $47 million deficit for the next fiscal year.
Preliminary layoff notices will go out on March 15, with final notices by May 15.
The district estimates about 200 classified employees will receive preliminary notices, but of them, about 70 are expected to lose their jobs based on union-negotiated bumping rules.
Bumping allows employees with more seniority to move into another position in the same classification, thereby “bumping” a less senior employee out of that role.
Lupe Murray, an early childhood special education parafacilitator with the district, said the news came as a shock after the teacher strike was called off.
“When the strike was called off, I’m like, ‘Yes!’ So then when I got the email from the Superintendent, I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ So, I think everyone was shocked,” Murray said.
The district says it sends out annual layoff notices, as all districts in the state do.
Before Tuesday’s board meeting, classified employees rallied outside, made up of CSEA (California School Employees Association) Chapters OTBS 788, Paraeducators 759, and OSS 724. They were joined by parents, students, and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Miguel Arellano, a paraeducator independence facilitator with San Diego Unified and a representative of San Diego Paraeducators Cahpter 759.
“What do we want? No layoffs! When do we want it? Now!” the crowd chanted.
Arellano said he felt compelled to act when he learned about the potential layoffs.
“The first thing that went through my mind was that I need to speak up. I need to protect these people,” Arellano said.
Inside the meeting, the board heard emotional, at times tearful testimony from classified employees before voting unanimously to move forward with the layoff schedule.
Superintendent Fabi Bagula said the district has tried to protect classrooms from the cuts.
“We have tried our best to only, I mean, to not touch the school. Or the classroom. But now it’s at the point where it’s getting a little bit harder,” Bagula said. “What I’m still hoping, or what I’m still working toward, because we’re still in negotiations, is that we’re able to actually come to a win-win, where there’s positions and availability and maybe even promotions for folks that are impacted.”
Arellano warned the layoffs could have a direct impact on students.
“We are already spread thin, so, with more of a case load, it’s going to be impossible to be able to service all the students that we need to have,” Arellano said.
Follow ABC 10News Anchor Max Goldwasser on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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