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Fees approved for outdoor dining spaces in Encinitas

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Fees approved for outdoor dining spaces in Encinitas


ENCINITAS, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The City of Encinitas is working on how pandemic-era outdoor dining will look for years to come.

Local and state law allows temporary outdoor dining until July 2026 or until a permanent ordinance is adopted.

On Wednesday night, Encinitas City Council decided how much outdoor dining space will cost businesses and what it will look like.

“We’re still stuck with these ugly looking orange cones in the front,” said Raul Villamar, owner of Encinitas Barbers.

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It was decided the current orange k-rails would be replaced by a neutral concrete style, with the option for murals or other designs in the future.

“We actually fought for the rights of the businesses, the restaurants when they were closing them down and putting either no customers or out on the street, but it’s come to the time where they are allowed back inside so they have doubled their floor space virtually for free,” said Vicki Bass, owner of Encinitas Coin and Jewelry.  

The city would incur the cost of about $500 per concrete barrier and maintain them, however businesses will begin paying for the parklets.

The council decided on a fee of $2.50 per square foot, per month which will begin Aug. 1. The fees will increase annually based on inflation. The $2.50 fee is the same as the City of San Diego for outdoor dining space.

Some locals have continued to criticize the dozens of parking spaces no longer available.

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“We don’t have very many parking as you see the parking is terrible,” Villamar said.

Others see no issue and believe people will adapt.

“I really think people have mostly figured out the parking issue. Evidence of that is there’s more foot traffic, there’s more customer base,” said John Niedernhofer, co-founder of Culture Brewing.

The city is estimating about $240,000 in revenue from the outdoor spaces if they stayed as is, however some businesses may scale down in size or choose to no longer have the space. 

The ordinance will continue to be worked on and it’s expected parking spaces may be discussed by the end of summer.

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San Diego County Gun Owners PAC gives reaction to latest shooting death by ICE

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San Diego County Gun Owners PAC gives reaction to latest shooting death by ICE


The San Diego County Gun Owners PAC (Political Action Committee) calls the fatal shooting of Minnesota man Alex Pretti by ICE agents “tragic and deeply troubling.”

The executive director of that organization, Michael Schwartz, told NBC 7 he’s calling for full transparency and due process moving forward.

“Both sides, Mr. Pretti and whoever the border agent was involved in the shooting, deserve a thorough investigation,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz says gun owners are loyal to principles, not parties, and believes it’s important to not turn Alex Pretti’s death into a political narrative.

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“The Second Amendment has never been a Republican, Democratic or Libertarian or Green or any party issues, it’s nonpartisan. When people no matter their party do something to support the Second Amendment, we sing their praises and when they do something against it, we harshly condemn them. You saw that in this case, you saw Gun Owners of America and the National Rifle Association quickly come out with statements that were bashing certain Trump Administration officials and saying, hey we need to investigate this shooting,” Schwartz said.

On Tuesday, when talking about the most recent deadly ICE shooting in Minnesota, President Donald Trump said, “You can’t have guns. You can’t walk in with guns.”

Schwartz disagrees with what the Trump Administration has recently said about those legally carrying a firearm.

“I am completely opposed to some of the statements by Trump employees, like Kash Patel and others, who implied that somehow being a concealed carry permit holder somehow makes you more dangerous to law enforcement or implies that you’re a criminal,” Schwartz said.

According to Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, strict regulating of public carry laws are associated with lower rates of firearm crimes. Schwartz believes the rise of physical interactions between citizens and ICE might provide an opportunity.

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“I think law enforcement needs to be better educated on who a concealed carry permit holder is. The fact that they go through a background check and training and the fact that as a group they tend to commit fewer crimes than the general public. Educating on who they are and what their motivation is is important to all levels of law enforcement,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz says gun rights advocates have been concerned with government overreach for decades surrounding the Second Amendment and will be closely following how current events play out.

While California has some of the most restrictive gun carry laws in the nation, it’s interesting to note that San Diego County has gone from 11,000 carry permits to over 26,000 in last seven years.



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Investigation underway after person shot, injured by Escondido police

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Investigation underway after person shot, injured by Escondido police


An investigation is underway after one person was shot and injured by an Escondido Police officer early Tuesday.

Police were called to a transitional house on the 100 block of S Elm Street, on reports of a man who cut himself and was armed with a knife, San Diego Police Homicide Lt. Lou Maggi said.

Police tried to negotiate with the man, who then barricaded himself inside a bathroom. Officers then left to try to de-escalate the situation, Maggi said.

Police were called again after the man had left the bathroom and was roaming the outside of the property. A K-9 officer arrived to find the man in an alleyway with a “24-inch stick.” After multiple calls from the officer to drop the weapon, the man then charged at the officer, prompting the officer to shoot the man, Maggi said.

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The man was shot multiple times and taken to a local hospital in critical condition. The Escondido officer involved in the shooting was not injured.

Neither the man nor the officer has been identified at this time.

The other residents at the transitional housing were safely evacuated.

The San Diego Police Department is investigating the incident per a memorandum of understanding that prevents law enforcement agencies from investigating use-of-force cases involving their own officers.

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Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.



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55-year-old Lakeside school employee arrested on child sex abuse charges

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55-year-old Lakeside school employee arrested on child sex abuse charges


Authorities arrested a 55-year-old Lakeside Union School District employee for child sexual abuse charges on Sunday, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.

The department announced on Monday that back on Sept. 8, 2025, they received information regarding allegations of sexual abuse on a minor by 55-year-old Kent Cable. Detectives working with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Child Abuse Unit (CAU) stepped up to take over the investigation and did a follow-up.

Following the investigation’s completion, detectives said they had probable cause to believe Cable was in violation of three counts of sexual penetration with a child 10 years of age or younger, and four counts of lewd and lascivious act on a child under 14 years of age.

Cable was arrested on those charges and booked into the San Diego Central Jail on Sunday, according to the sheriff’s office.

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Cable was employed by the Lakeside Union School District in a non-teaching role, the sheriff’s office added.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Child Abuse Unit at 858-285-6222 or after hours at 858-868-3200. You can remain anonymous by calling San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.



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