Local Democrats to vote on endorsements July 11

The next meeting of the Escondido Democratic Club on July 11 will include the club’s holding endorsement votes for local races. The group meets Saturday, July 11, 10:30-noon.  Candidates in the races are being invited to attend and speak to the members before the vote.  The club will vote on the following races (incumbents have asterisks after their name): San […]

University forced to do online classes


‘What was true isn’t true anymore’ John Paul the Great Catholic University, the Escondido-based university that was prepared to offer in-person classes as the new semester commences, this week quickly had to retool and retreat in the face of a changing County policy.  Derry Connolly PhD, president & professor of business at JPCatholic, told The Times-Advocate, “The County had OK’d […]

Kirsten Lauge Gunn, 94

Kirsten Lauge Gunn, longtime Escondido and San Marcos resident, passed away in her sleep, at home, June 2, 2020.  She lived a wonderful 94 years. Mrs. Gunn was born in Copenhagen, Denmark to Lauge and Gertrude Christensen. After college she travelled to America with her father on a business trip, and fell in love with California. She later emigrated and […]

City manager to retire but stay on to help find his replacement


The rumors have been flying for weeks that a change was in the air at City Hall. Now, the news is out.  Jeff Epp, who was working for the city when the City Hall building opened 30 years ago, spent many years as the city attorney and capped his career as city manager—a position he has held since May 10, […]

City seeks input on Grand Avenue Vision Plan

The City has secured a grant to implement the first phase of the Grand Avenue Vision Plan which includes diagonal parking on one side of the street between Juniper and Escondido, and widening the north sidewalk between Broadway and Maple.  Amber Tarrac, the city’s  deputy director of economic development, told The Times-Advocate: “The City is seeking community input on the […]

Escondido’s MFRO project awarded $3M

The U.S Bureau of Reclamation June 8 announced Title XVI grants and the City of Escondido has received $3,069,303; bringing the total Title XVI grant for the Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Project. (MFRO) to over $8 million.  Total grant funding for this project is now over $10 million. The City of Escondido’s Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis (MFRO) Project will provide […]

We will survive this one—together


Historically speaking, our current state of compliance with the County’s COVID-19 directives are nothing new. A quick Google search on the history of pandemics in Escondido didn’t show much specific to Escondido but plenty of interesting parallels with the 1918 pandemic in San Diego. Business was shut down, masks were required outdoors, and indeed a second wave forced a second, […]

EAA Gallery re-opening/call for artists

The Escondido Art Association announces the Grand Re-Opening of the Artists Gallery at 121 Grand Avenue, Escondido on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.   The gallery will adhere to strict enforcement of COVID 19 protocols put in place by Governor Newsom to ensure a safe environment for exhibition and viewing.   A monthly themed art show entitled “Our Country,” open to […]

Letter to the Editor: MORASCO’S OP ED WAS TONE DEAF

Editor, Times-Advocate: Recently, Escondido council member Mike Morasco wrote an op-ed, and it was pretty tone-deaf, to say the least. Despite the pleasant experience that he and his white, old, conservative-leaning constituents have had with the Escondido Police Department, other people in this city, particularly people-of-color have not had the same cozy relationship with the cops. And the supposed “inappropriate” […]

Letter to the Editor: ESCONDIDO HAS A HISTORY OF RACISM

Editor, Times-Advocate: In response to Mike Morasco’s Op-Ed “Reform ideas based on sentiments, not facts” (June 11), I found it incredibly bad form for the Councilmember to seek to discredit his colleague, Olga Diaz for her remarks at the June 3rd organized event in remembrance of George Floyd.   I don’t recall seeing Morasco at the event, but I was proud […]