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Governor Newsom’s executive order addresses homelessness post-Supreme Court ruling Paso Robles and Atascadero officials respond to how the order will affect us locally By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
NORTH COUNTY — A month after the Supreme Court’s ruling in court in the case known as City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order directing state agencies to “urgently address homeless encampments while respecting the dignity and safety of Californians experiencing homelessness.” But how exactly does this executive order affect us here in San Luis Obispo County, where addressing homelessness is a frequent topic of discussion? We spoke with officials in Paso Robles and Atascadero to see how the executive order directly affects the cities and take a look at the essence of what the Grants Pass v. Johnson ruling is. Grants Pass v. Johnson history In June, the Supreme Court made a 6-3 decision siding with the City of Grants Pass, Oregon, in a case involving its anti-camping ordinances. In 2018, three homeless people from Grants Pass filed a lawsuit against the city on behalf of its homeless population. They alleged that the
city’s ordinances against camping violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. A CBS News article reports that in Grants Pass, “violators face fines starting at $295, and repeat offenders may be banned from a city park for 30 days. If a person violates that order by camping in a park, they are subject to criminal trespass charges, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,250 fine. According to the city, more than 500 citations were issued from 2013 to 2018 for violations of the anti-camping ordinances.” At the time, the federal district court blocked Grants Pass from (From left) Liam Roth, Lane Karney, Joe Roth, and Pat Boyle placed first in the ranch rope and brand event at the Country Rodeo Finals on Saturday, July 27. Photo by CMSF enforcing its public camping ban during nighttime hours and during the daytime unless it gave 24 hours’ notice. A divided 9th Circuit panel upheld a district court ruling that Grants Pass couldn’t enforce This year featured two soldincluded the Miss California Mid-State Fair Shaggy, Sublime with Rome, Cheap Trick, anti-camping ordinances against out concerts and full stands Scholarship Pageant, where 11 local girls and Canadian rock band Nickelback. Atascadero News attended the Nickelback homeless individuals with no competed for the honor of CMSF queen at the rodeo other shelter. The full 9th Circuit and her two princesses. Megan Pagnini (18 show, and even though it wasn’t quite sold declined to rehear the case. The from Paso Robles) was crowned Queen out, the lines for merch were longer than we’d By CHRISTIANNA MARKS Supreme Court heard arguments and Miss Congeniality, while Ashlee Holt seen them in a long time. The grandstand and CAMILLE DEVAUL in April, with justices suggesting (18 from Paso Robles) was crowned first was packed with fans singing along to every that policy decisions on homeNORTH COUNTY — Now that the runner-up, and Logan Rutherford (21 from song that the band “Everyone Loves to Hate” lessness should be left to poli- 78th California Mid-State Fair (CMSF) Paso Robles) was crowned second runner-up. played. The energy in the venue was eleccymakers, not judges. Supreme has come to a close, we’re here to celebrate This year’s concert lineup included country tric, and every audience member fed off the Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, in the highlights from the 12 days of family stars Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Zac band’s camaraderie and talent. his opinion, emphasized that fun, concerts, animal auctions, pageants, and Brown Band, and the sold-out Jelly Roll The band sounded great, from vocals Americans have the right to everything in between. show. Mexican singer-songwriter Carin to instrumentation, and the actual show experiment with various policies The CMSF opened at 4 p.m. on Wednes- Leon also packed the Chumash Arena with included pyrotechnics, fireworks, and to address homelessness without day, July 17, with a new tradition of a rope a sold-out show, and Comedian Nate Barga- fun visuals on the screen behind them. federal judicial interference. drop, giving fair-goers their very own Disne- tze got the grandstand laughing. The main They even pulled up a singer from the CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 yland-type experience. The opening day also stage also featured shows from TLC and
Wide Open Spaces were enjoyed by all at the California Mid-State Fair
Paso Robles Pancake Breakfast Grows, Uniting Community During Mid-State Fair
(Left) Cameron Hernandez is shown with market goat Brown Sugar; (Right) Aiden Herzig is shown with his steer Bodacious. The two are recovering from injuries suffered in a July 23 auto accident. Contributed Photos
Local community rallies around Atascadero FFA students after car accident Both teens had limited participation in the fair auction as they recover By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — On the night of Tuesday, July 23, at approximately 11:20 p.m., two local Atascadero teens were in a car accident, leaving them unable to fully participate in the California Mid-State Fair auctions with their animals. Fifteen-year-old Cameron (Cami) Hernandez and her 17-year-old boyfriend Aiden Herzig were driving home after a long day of being with their animals that started at 6 a.m. and visiting Herzig’s newborn niece when the single-vehicle accident took place. Herzig fell asleep behind the wheel, and his truck ran directly into a tree. Both teens received non-life-threatening injuries, and the truck was totaled. Herzig was admitted to the hospital overnight to observe his bruised ribs from hitting the steering wheel and also received stitches in his mouth. Hernandez received stitches on her face and legs and broke her foot.
“Aiden and Cami are very sore but are doing well,” said family friend Sara Hardisty. “Cami will be in a walking cast for a bit while her fractured foot heals, and both will need sutures Richard Castro tends to the pancakes on the grill during the annual Downtown Paso Robles pancake breakfast on Thursday, removed, but despite that, are in good spirits.” July 25. Photo by Rick Evans and who is also the California town park and to celebrate Hernandez, though unable to show her animals Annual event brings Mid-State Fair pageant coor- the partnership that the at the California Mid-State Fair (CMSF) herself together families, dinator. “Compared to last Mid-State Fair has with the this year, was able to stand on the side of the volunteers, and local year, this year the numbers downtown Paso Robles Main auction pen and wave to bidders on Friday, Street Association. It’s to give July 26, when her Atascadero FFA teammate businesses to support have already tripled.” Edward Iliff walked her Angus replacement small shops during fair The purpose of this event locals and folks coming into is essentially to thank the town a reason to come check heifer named Shalah through its auction, and By MAYLIA BAIRD again when Hernandez’s sister Chloe walked community for enduring the out downtown while we have Contributing Writer her market goat named Brown Sugar during traffic and chaos that — aside the fair going on,” says Jeffry the sale on Saturday, July 27. NORTH COUNTY — from all the fun — comes with Wiesinger, president of the Herzig, whose FFA project, an Angus steer Bright and early, the Paso the Mid-State Fair. It’s also to Paso Robles Main Street named Bodacious, also went to sale during the Robles Downtown City Park raise awareness to both resi- Association and owner of local Junior Livestock Auction on July 27, was able was filled with tables and dents and visitors that down- favorite downtown restaurant to walk his steer into the sale ring with the help chairs, and volunteers working town is still here and how Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ. hard to make enough pancakes important it is to continue “In years past, some folks kind of his FFA teammate Noah. “Aiden [Herzig] was determined to be there for the crowd of many fami- supporting Paso’s small busi- of forget about downtown and through the sale, so although he was still in pain lies and local citizens who nesses while the fair is going we want to make sure that everybody in our commuand struggling with his post-concussive symp- attended on Thursday, July 25. on. toms, he was glad he could be there to help sell “It’s a bigger group than “The purpose of this event nity knows that we have his steer,” stated Hardisty. usual,” said Patti Lucas, who is to bring the community great restaurants, shops, retail CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 helped run the event this year together to [the] downCONTINUED ON PAGE A2
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