VOLUME 22 ISSUE 2 February 2021 Follow us on social media Columbia • Core/Civic • Cortez Hill • East Village • Gaslamp/Horton Plaza • Little Italy • Marina Grim Ave. History P. 5 LITTLE ITALY P. 7 2020 changed face of cycling for good? Businesses prevail despite pandemic LITTLE ITALY P. 7 Italian culture is preserved HISTORY P. 8 San Diego County Bicycle Coalition board member Alex Flores sitting with her bike at Balboa Park. (Photo courtesy Alex Flores) KENDRA SITTON | Downtown & Uptown News brought new cyclists on the road called Stay True Cycleworks, said “A lot of people who weren't cy- from many diverse backgrounds he went from trying to get his cling the last couple years found The First National Bank Building 2020 brought many unforeseen and abilities. name out there as a new business a new hobby. I know a couple changes and also highlighted Ridership went up over 40% that began in January 2020 to his people they don't like running pre-existing disparities in society. from March to August 2020 com- phone ringing off the hook as soon too much, but since the pandem- FASHION P. 10 Just one of the industries affected pared to the same period in 2019, as the pandemic started. Since ic they started biking more and by the pandemic and a renewed according to data from SANDAG. then, business has not slowed more and they're very active. focus on racial inequalities was bi- John Cooper of City Heights, down as many people dusted off cycling. The year of the pandemic owner of a mobile bike repair shop bikes that had gone unused. SEE CYCLING CHANGES, Page 11 Fighting COVID in America’s hardest hit city By JEFF CLEMETSON “When President Trump got diagnosed with COVID-19, they Like a lot of filmmakers, La Jolla took him to Walter Reed in a he- Jewelry with meaning resident Adam Raby’s film proj- licopter and as soon as he landed ects in 2020 were put on hold. they gave him this treatment,” But on Dec. 31, Empowering a Raby said. “It was only available Index Billion Women (EBW, ebw2020. to certain people at that point, it com) connected with Raby for an wasn’t available to anybody, real- News 2 opportunity to film ground zero ly. Now the government wants to Opinion 6 in the fight against the COVID-19 use this as a vehicle to lower the Service directory 12 pandemic — El Centro, California. hospital rates in because hospitals Puzzleds 13 EBW is an organization made are overwhelmed. In El Centro, Contact us up of a global network of women they got parking lots full of tents leaders who advocate for wom- with people in them and they’re Editorial/Letters en’s health and prosperity. Raby just trying to find a way to help 858-270-3101 x136 [email protected] was activated as part of the EBW this community.” Advertising network to aid in a public infor- The MAB program that EBW, 619-961-1958 mation campaign in El Centro, Raby and his partner Jose Valdez [email protected] informing residents about the filmed was started by Assistant sdnews.com availability of monoclonal anti- EBW founder and CEO Ingrid Vanderveldt (left) on the ground in El Centro San Diego Community Newspaper Group body treatments (MABs). SEE FIGHTING COVID, Page 6 meeting with other women leaders. (Courtesy photo) San Diego Downtown & Uptown News 2 February 2021 sdnews.com From Ocean Views to polished finishes, these extraordinary San Diego homes offer enviable Coastal Luxury. 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Tuesday to Jon David Guerrero “This is a painful reminder of who killed three homeless men how dangerous life can be on the in Ocean Beach, Mission Bay, streets,” said Koeshall. “May we and Downtown plus a woman in continue to support social services North Park. and continue aid to this vulnera- The sentencing of Guerrero, ble population.” now 43, ends the nearly five-year “Everyone is of precious value in case involved attacks upon mostly God’s eyes,” concluded Koeshall in homeless people that occurred in a statement. 2016. The third victim, Dionicio “You took a piece of my heart “Derek” Vahidy, 23, died four that I’ll never get back,” said Linda days after he was mortally Gramlick, the mother of Shawn wounded downtown. His cousin, Longley, to Guerrero, whom she Renzo Lara, told Guerrero “You… referred to as “a monster.” took our beloved Derek from this Gramlick spoke via a computer world.” feed from her Florida home, and “Only cowards like you have appeared on a video screen before the audicity of attacking…while San Diego Superior Court Judge (victims) are sleeping,” said Lara. Kennth So. Guerrero is also charged with Longley, 41, was found dead July killing Molly Simons, 83, in North 4, 2016, near the Robb Athletic Park, on July 13, 2016. Field tennis courts in Ocean Beach. The slaying of Molly Simons, 83, He was attacked while asleep by in North Park broke the pattern Experience Contemporary Downtown living in the iconic Pacific Gate high-rise in the Guerrero who hammered a rail- on July 13, 2016 when she was highly sought Marina District! Open concept living with harbor views: chef’s kitchen has road spike into his head. struck with an object around 5 Sub Zero/Wolf appliances, Caesarstone counters, big island w/4 stools, walk-in pantry and So gave Guerrero credits of serv- a.m. while walking to a bus stop. a 350 bottle+ wine fridge with 3 temperature zones. Dual master suites and all common-area ing 1,642 days in jail, although that She was on her way to a local rooms are lined with a wall of windows. The building offers lavish amenities including is moot since he can’t be paroled. YMCA where she volunteered and reserved use of private yacht and fleet of luxury cars, chef concierge, porter, 24-hr lobby He was fined $11,204, and ordered she died of a skull fracture. attendant, pool/spa/fitness and business centers, and pet retreat in the heart of DT! to pay $3,761 in restitution. The victims also included Guerrero’s first case occurred Manuel Mason, a 61-year-old man 2bd/2.5ba | 1,948sf. | $1,798,000 in 2009 when he shoved a home- less woman and took her bicycle, SEE GUERRERO HEARING, Page 13 records show. He pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to 1,168 days in jail that includes time at a mental hospital. So ordered the life terms to run without the possibility of parole. He also imposed an additional sentence of 143 years. Guerrero pleaded guilty in Jan., 2020, to four counts of first-degree murder as well as two arson counts in which victims had been set on fire. He pleaded guilty to eight counts of attempted murder and assault of other homeless people. The motive for all of the at- tacks was hatred of homeless people. Deputy District Attorney Makenzie Harvey told the judge that one surviving victim who asked Guerrero why he assaulted him said Guerrero answered “be- cause you’re a bum.” The sentencing was delayed because of the coronavirus out- break. Other delays occurred when Guerrero was found mental- ly incompetent to stand trial and was sent to a state mental hospital for treatment. The judge who sentenced him later found him to be mentally competent. Angelo DeNardo, 53, was sleep- ing under a bridge near Mission Bay on July 3, 2016, when a rail- road spike was driven into his head and his body was set on fire. DeNardo attended the Metropolitian Community Church which held a funeral for him and the others. “After many years, justice is being served on behalf of Angelo San Diego Downtown & Uptown News 4 February 2021 sdnews.com O U R S C H O O L I S O P E N ! N O W A C C E P T I N G P R E - K T H R U 1 2 T H G R A D E T O A W A K E N E A C H S T U D E N T ' S C A P A C I T Y F O R L O V E O F L E A R N I N G 1 2 3 SCHOOL FOR ALL OPEN AND SAFE TOP INDEPENDENT SCHOOL The Waldorf School of San Diego Because of the size of our school, offers Pre-K through 12th grade our adherence with CDC safety The focus of our work is the Waldorf education in the heart of guidelines, and the availability of in- development of the whole human an innovative city and beautiful person outdoor spaces, The being.