Escondido Community Child Development Center Comes Under Scrutiny

For those of you that read the blog and have been sending in tips, keep them coming. Here is a story in the UT that verifies a lot of the information out there. If anyone has more about the financial issues that have allegedly been mentioned send them in to the blog or via direct message.

Child care center faces closure

State says children were bit, left alone, fell from shelf 

Visit -- http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/nov/07/child-care-center-faces-closure/

Well this article confirms the news that has been coming into our blog. Keep the tips coming so that we can get to the bottom of this. We want to know if there have been any labor practices that are odd. Are the alleged items that are reported in the story just the tip of the iceberg as employees and parents may believe?

Leave your comments and tips below.

Saturday Nights ... Alright for fighting!

Who said Escondido goes to bed early? Not when there is a campaign season that is just around the corner. And we have a Saturday Night Fight going on as March comes rolling in.

Currently both Nicole Downey and Rick Paul who are running for the District 2 seat are having a Saturday night slap fest. Not sure how this will end up, but not a good start to a classy campaign.

The action started about 8 p.m. with Rick Paul wanting to set up a meeting with Nicole. And Nicole, not always wanting to focus on politics perhaps, turned Rick down. See the screen capture to see a recap of their Facebook slap-fest.

A good start with a message from Rick, and then a quick reply from Nicole with the accusation of "FB Drama." This looks like it is shaping up well.

A classy exchange between two who believe they are among the best Escondido has to offer. This is a rather sad look at what Escondido can choose from. Looking at their resumes', I am not sure voters will want to cast a ballot for either of these two after this lovey Saturday Night Fight on Facebook.

Escondido, I last called for the Mayor's race to show some class and make a pact to keep the high ground. We got a bit of reassurance that the Mayoral candidates will do that, now if it can just trickle down to the rest of the races.

Campaigns Bring Out the Worst in People

The art of losing gracefully has disappeared in politics. Sure the concession speech still exists, but the overall reaction of one's constituents speaks volumes as to how the campaign has been waged.

A prime example comes from this week's San Diego Mayoral run-off election. As the news was announced on the local television station's websites, the comments immediately were filled with anger, hate, and disparaging comments. Ranging from personal attacks to attacks comparing their sexual actions to that of a former Mayor of San Diego.

Social media has turned everyone out there into an instant reporter, often the type of reporter that is lectured on in journalism and broadcasting classes around the nation that is what gives the industry a black eye.

Escondido relies on the City of San Diego if it is going to achieve the goals that are needed to make Escondido a treasured spot in the county. Our economy depends upon San Diego if we are going to grow or even keep the standard of living that we as residents desire.

I reached out to the two Mayoral candidates for the City of Escondido, Sam Abed and Olga Diaz and asked if they would request their constituents support them by not attacking and slinging mud at the opposition. Their answers were clear.

Sam Abed

Our current Mayor responded quickly to the request. From Sam Abed on Facebook, "My campaign has focus on message and facts. Sadly, the Escondido 2014 Blog and Escondido Democrat's website have not. I will continue to communicate our accomplishments to the community. we have a great success story to tell." Sam

He confirmed that he would strive and work to keep our elections at a higher standard than what we saw in the local media for San Diego. 


Olga Diaz, on the other hand, had to be asked multiple times and still has not given a complete answer. Here is what she says, "I'm running For Mayor of Escondido, not against the current Mayor. My prior campaigns have always remained on topic and positive and I plan to continue with that model."

Olga Diaz

Yes, there are blogs out there that are one-sided and inspire people to speak loosely about one candidate or the other, but I would call on those in leadership for all campaigns to take a higher ground and stick to their own candidate highlighting success that candidate has achieved. That is what a contest is about to highlight and sell yourself, not disparage one another. 

I call on www.escondido2014.com, the Escondido Democrats, and the Escondido Republicans to stick to this. We at Escondido -- A real look, will aim to follow this as well. 

What are your thoughts on running a quality campaign? Leave your thoughts here or on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/EscondidoReport