PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
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VOL. 40, N0. 18
Official stays put in role
May 1, 2026
SAN MARCOS -NEWS
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Houbeck survives local removal effort
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By Cameron Adams
ENCINITAS — The Encinitas City Council decided to leave a member of the Urban Forestry Advisory Committee in his current appointment, despite calls for his removal from many members of the public and a council member. Steven Houbeck was nominated to the committee during a Feb. 11 City Council meeting. He was selected to serve a partial term, set to end March 1, 2027, while all other appointees from that meeting will serve until 2029. Shortly after his appointment, Houbeck shared a post on Facebook at approximately 10 p.m. on Feb. 13 that led to both a public apology and calls for his removal from the committee. In the post, he referenced an email from San Dieguito Union High School District Superintendent Anne Staffieri that included video of a Black History Month event hosted by the Black Student Union at Canyon Crest Academy. Houbeck wrote that the “video shows numerous scenes of blacks dressed in tribal gear banging on drums.” He later clarified online that he was concerned the superintendent was being “derogatory towards the black community” and “exhibiting soft racism” by not mentioning more modern accomplishments such as those by musician Prince, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas or “Mr. Padre” Tony Gwynn. “It’s racist for the Left to denigrate accomplished Blacks beTURN TO OFFICIAL ON 29
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Carlsbad skateboarder Joanna Ruth Shields was found deceased on April 9 while camping near Big Sur. Courtesy photo
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Death still unclear Carlsbad skater Joanna Shields, 37, is being remembered by family and friends for her adventurous spirit as authorities continue to investigate her suspicious death in the Ventana Wilderness near Big Sur. Story on 3.
Dead whale floats off Encinitas coast By City News Service
ENCINITAS — A whale initially believed to have been beached was confirmed dead Monday, floating about 400 yards off the coast of San Elijo State Beach. Lifeguards were dispatched early in the morning to tow the carcass out to sea with assistance from California State Parks. Officials advised beachgoers to exerA DEAD whale off the Encinitas coast on cise caution before entering Monday. Lifeguards towed the carcass the water for several days, as at least one shark was spotout to sea. Photo by Brett Sandison
ted engaging the whale’s carcass during the tow. The whale’s cause of death was unclear. A whale carcass washed ashore at Grandview Beach in Encinitas in July 2016 after drifting along the Southern California coast for weeks. The humpback whale, nicknamed “Wally,” had previously been towed out to sea multiple times by lifeguards in Los Angeles and Orange counties before floating south.
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Grizzlies hit stride at Petco Mission Hills extended its winning streak to 10 games with a dominant run-rule victory over Escondido High at Petco Park. 5
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