San Diego Union Tribune

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 24, 2019 sandiegouniontribune.com $2.77 PLUS TAX SUNDAY SECRETARY UNWRAP IDEAS OF NAVY: TRUMP’S FORGREAT GIFTS TWEET NOT INSIDE: The Union-Tribune presents its annual AN ORDER Holiday Gift Guide, 28 pages of ideas for unique Spencer, SEAL leader gift-giving, seasonal activities and more. said to be challenging intervention in reviews U-T NEWS SERVICES Navy Secretary Richard Spencer said Saturday that he would comply with any order by President Donald Trump regard- ing the case of a Navy SEAL whose continuance in the elite unit is be- ing reviewed by the service after a controversial murder charge. However, at the Halifax Inter- national Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada, where he is a key- note speaker, Spencer said he doesn’t consider a tweet by Trump an order and would need a formal order to stop a review of Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, who faces the loss of his status as a Navy SEAL. “I need a formal order to act,” Spencer said, and referred to the tweet posted Thursday by Trump. “I don’t interpret (tweets) as a formal order.” The statement came as Spencer denied a New York Times report Saturday that he and Rear Adm. Collin Green had threatened to resign or be fired if Trump inter- SEE NAVY • A7 CRIMINAL JOHN GIBBINS U-T PHOTOS JUSTICE The weighing of marlin is a momentous occasion each day of the Bisbee’s Black and Blue marlin tournament in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, because the difference of a few pounds can turn a potential $1 million catch into one worth several thousand dollars. REFORMS IN DEPTH SLOW TO Fishing for a big payday TAKE HOLD Some prosecutors, Hundreds converge in keting ploy and sun-soaked tax judges oppose two deduction hatched by the late Bob Cabo to chase marlin Bisbee, who owned a fuel dock and major bills in particular tackle store in Newport Beach. and the potential of The unique undertaking grew into BY GREG MORAN abait-chasing behemoth, luring million-dollar catches anglers such as television’s Dr. For more than half a decade the Phil, the late actor Jan-Michael state Legislature has churned out BY BRYCE MILLER Vincent, mixed martial artist Tito scores of bills and new initiatives Ortiz and four-time Indianapolis aimed at disassembling a vast CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico 500 winner Rick Mears to join in- criminal justice system built over s the crew of the Stella ternational teams sprinkled from nearly 40 years on tough-on-crime June dug into plates of Israel to South Africa. laws that increased punishments Asian fusion at the For three days each October, it and swelled state prison popula- Chubby Noodle on transforms into Las Vegas on wa- tions. A The blizzard of new laws has sleepy Paseo del la ter — boasting a record $4,591,950 Marina, captain Evan Salvay ran in prize money this year, dangled put the state at the leading edge of fingers through hair shaped by a at the end of fishing lines extend- the national criminal justice re- day’s worth of salt water, wind, ing from 126 boats. form movement that aims at re- broiling sun and spiking anxiety. One year, a vessel caught fire versing mass incarceration poli- The 27-year-old had ridden Stella June Captain Evan Salvay (left) and Seth Dubois react and sank just a mile into the three- cies by reducing prison sentences, both sides of the exhilarating and as their 466-pound black marlin is weighed. day tournament. Another year, opting for rehabilitation over puni- sometimes cruel waves at the Bis- participants refused to abandon shment, and mandating new ap- bee’s Black and Blue marlin tour- pounds as the paycheck plum- the dock. The estimated payout the beachside awards dinner proaches to policing and prose- nament, the richest sportfishing meted … to $7,020. for the day’s biggest catch ebbed when a storm tide rushed in, con- cution. chase on the planet. A year ago, a In this year’s tournament, the around $1.23 million. tinuing to drink at tables with legs Yet since the start of the re- fish the part-time Point Loma and Stella June caught a 466-pound The glazed ribs? The salt and submerged. There was a down- forms in 2011, when the Legislature Huntington Beach resident black marlin that held up as the pepper shrimp? The thought of town bar crawl on local firetrucks passed a law known as public safe- landed translated to just over $3 day’s best for hours on end. Two food nauseated Salvay. as organizers flung beads Mardi ty realignment that reconfigured million. Two years ago, a potential and a half blocks away, the only re- “I can’t eat, dude,” he said. Gras-style. Last year, a Louisiana the state penal system and kept $1 million catch was edged by 14 maining fish to weigh was nearing The Bisbee’s began as a mar- SEE IN DEPTH • A16 SEE REFORMS • A8 BIKE LANE CREATION ON A PEDESTRIAN PACE Ambitious program for the region is $79 million over budget and a year behind schedule BY JOSHUA EMERSON SMITH Ayear behind schedule and millions of dollars over budget, an ambitious plan by regional officials to build a sophisticated network of bicycle lanes and pedestrian crossings has proven more complicated than first anticipated. Obstacles include everything from neighborhood outrage at the loss of parking spaces to the technical challenges of overhauling streets designed primarily for cars. The San Diego Association of Governments —the agency undertaking the now-$279 million project — has found itself in the crosshairs of frustrated groups on all sides of the issue, from business associations to homeowners to sup- porters of cycling. The issue has become so contentious that a number of prominent bicycle advocates refused to go on record for this story, citing the fear of DENIS POROY reprisal by neighborhood groups. Several A construction crew builds the Rose Canyon Bikeway along elected officials also declined requests for Santa Fe Street, adjacent to Interstate 5. That portion of the SEE BIKING • A15 $279 million infrastructure project has proceeded smoothly. TRAVELU-T INDEX OAKLAND BY RAIL Books E7 Te levision E8 In Local: In U-T Offers: Lottery A2 Weather A18 Editorials Crossword An Amtrak trip, with a stop in Santa Barbara, lived up to tourists’ great expectations. E9 Movies A24 Wheels D15 Obituaries Dear Abby 22 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE SUNDAY • NOVEMBER 24, 2019 HOLIDAY EVENTS Christmas tree and menorah lightings hristmas is about a month away. We’re busily Square, 13490 Pacific Highlands making shopping lists and checking them Ranch Parkway. Highlights include live SeaWorld music, free photos with Santa, train Ctwice, planning holiday dinners for friends San Diego’s rides and holiday treats. phrvillage- .com and family or spending a day at a nearby tree lot or tree lighting. Vista: Vista Village welcomes visitors farm picking out that perfect Christmas tree. But to WinterFest from 2 to 7 p.m. Dec. 8 there’s one thing we can all share together: annual at Vista Village Complex, 25 Main St. Activities include live entertainment community tree lighting ceremonies. Some are also and music, roaming mariachis, holiday movies, ugly sweater contest, home- hosting menorah lightings to mark the eight-day made tamales competition, a holiday Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Here is a list of some marketplace, visits with Santa and a tree lighting ceremony. bit.ly/32Z5eBh of the major neighborhood gatherings — organized Poway: A community tree lighting by region and then by date. They are free and open kicks off Christmas in the Park at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 14 at Old Poway Park, 14134 to the public. Midland Road. Carolers, live music, horse-drawn hay and pony rides, visits Central San Diego Norfolk Pine tree for the lighting of the with Santa and other activities will be tree at 6:15 p.m. Nov. 29 at Liberty held from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. (858) SeaWorld San Diego: Guests of the Station, North Promenade, 2848 668-4576. poway.org marine park can gather at Rudolph’s Dewey Road, San Diego. From 4 to 9 Christmastown at 5 p.m. through Jan. p.m., there will be live entertainment, North Coastal 5 for the lighting of the park’s Happiest festive firetruck rides, free pictures Christmas Tree. Rudolph (and his shiny with Santa, food vendors, a screening Carlsbad: The 17th annual “The nose) and friends lead a sing-along of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Lighting of the Forum” will be held ceremony, illuminating the 40-foot, and ice skating at Rady Children’s Ice from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 30 at The Forum animated tree, which dances and Rink in Central Promenade will be Carlsbad, 1923 Calle Barcelona. A twinkles to classic songs from the open all evening. libertystation.com holiday tree lighting ushers in the nostalgic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed season just after Santa’s arrival at Reindeer” TV special. In addition to the Christmas on the Prado: The sixth 7:20 p.m., followed by a light show tree lighting, SeaWorld’s Christmas annual family-oriented and charity toy and magical snowfall. Free refresh- Celebration also features Santa’s drive (not affiliated with Balboa Park’s ments, prize drawings and musical Christmas Village, “Clyde & Seamore’s December Nights) will be held from 1 performances are part of the event. Christmas Special” sea lion and otter to 8 p.m. Nov. 30, with a Christmas (760) 479-0166.

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