Latest news with #Knoblock
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
San Clemente looks to form Olympic committees ahead of being a host city
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games three years away, San Clemente is starting to plan for its role as a host city with surf competitions set to take place at Lower Trestles. San Clemente City Council Tuesday discussed the merits of forming a local Olympic committee to work on logistics, economic opportunity and host city duties ahead of the games. San Clemente is one of two Olympic host cities in Orange County with Anaheim as the other, thanks to indoor volleyball coming to the Honda Center. An April 15 Olympics news release praised the selection of Lower Trestles for surfing. 'The venue is synonymous with surfing culture, playing host to numerous World Surf League competitions and earning a mention in the Beach Boys' 1963 hit 'Surfin' U.S.A.,'' it read. Ahead of surfing competitions, Olympic committee duties outlined in a San Clemente staff report included coordinating logistics with the Orange County Transportation Authority, Metrolink, LA28, law enforcement and other agencies. Members would also work with the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and the media to expand economic opportunities that come with being a host city. Helping to organize Olympic watch parties and medal ceremonies as the games commence rounded out the list of future responsibilities. With San Clemente's world-renowned surf at Lower Trestles set to be showcased on such a grand stage, the City Council wrestled with the decision of forming one Olympic committee or several subcommittees, as everyone on the dais displayed enthusiasm about being a host city. Councilmember Victor Cabral favored creating just one ad hoc committee with two of his council colleagues appointed to it, which would streamline its activities outside of the state's open meeting laws. 'All of us will be involved in some way or another,' he said. 'Just having one committee is the right approach. The question for me is, who's on that committee?' Councilmember Mark Enmeier supported forming three subcommittees so that everyone interested would have a meaningful chance to participate. 'This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,' he said. 'I would hate for any one of us to be sidelined with this process.' Mayor Steve Knoblock wanted to appoint Cabral to a single Olympic committee alongside a permanent seat for the city's mayor, a position electorally up for a two-year term next year, until the games conclude. Even though Cabral supported forming one committee, he appeared hesitant to accept Knoblock's appointment with three other colleagues on the dais looking on. Knoblock argued that a majority of the council are ultimately going to vote on Olympic-related initiatives that arise from a committee. 'There's just too many things [for] two council members [to] handle,' Councilmember Zhen Wu said. 'Some of you will run a campaign next year.' 'That's the nice thing about having two people on every subcommittee,' Enmeier echoed in agreement. 'If one can't make it [to a meeting], then there is a second person there to fill that spot.' Councilmember Rick Loeffler has past experience with the Olympics. When Los Angeles last hosted the games in 1984, he received a medal for working security and surveillance. Cabral moved to appoint the mayor and Loeffler, given his credentials, to a single committee, but his colleague's deference defined the dynamics of the evening's discussion. Loeffler wanted to postpone a vote to a future council meeting until after council members have had a chance to converse with staff on how best to move forward, which they unanimously agreed to do. 'This city is going to have an opportunity to shine,' Knoblock reassured. 'We're all going to have an opportunity to shine.'
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Two Republicans are facing off in Bay St. Louis mayor's race. What are their priorities?
Incumbent Mayor Mike Favre and Councilman-at-Large Gary Knoblock are running in a primary election next week that will choose Bay St. Louis' next leader. Primary voters will decide the race because both candidates are Republicans and face no challengers in the general election. Municipal primaries will be held Tuesday across the state. Primary runoffs are scheduled April 22 for races with three or more candidates in which no one receives most of the votes. The general election is June 3. The Republican primary will be the most competitive race in Bay St. Louis. Four Republicans are running for council-at-large. City council races in wards 4, 5 and 6 are each between two Republicans. Candidates in wards 1 and 3 are running unopposed. The Ward 2 race is between a Republican and Democrat and will be decided in June. Both mayoral candidates have histories in city politics: Favre was councilman-at-large before he was elected mayor in 2017, and Knoblock filled the councilman-at-large seat that year. Whoever voters choose will lead one of the most popular, fast-growing cities on the Mississippi Coast. The next mayor will also confront questions over infrastructure and growth being raised in communities across the region. Favre said the city has restored its financial stability and improved quality of life during his eight years in office. He said he would keep striving for balanced growth by preserving neighborhoods and ensuring new development does not outpace infrastructure. Favre is advocating for more recreational opportunities in Bay St. Louis and said the city had taken good steps already by building pickleball courts. He said he wants to maintain low tax rates, address road and drainage repairs and listen to feedback from citizens. He also vowed to keep fulfilling goals for responsible growth outlined in the city's latest comprehensive plan. Favre was born and raised in Bay St. Louis. He ran for mayor as a Democrat in 2017 and joined the state's Republican Party in 2021. He said he is running again to keep city leadership transparent and accessible. 'We've done what we said we would do,' Favre said. 'As we move forward, we will continue to be that way and work very hard for our citizens and provide them with the best life that they can have in our city.' Knoblock said he would work to keep taxes down by reducing the city's debt. He also wants the city to enforce ordinances equally everywhere. He said the noise ordinance, for example, needs better enforcement downtown where bars play loud music at night. Knoblock is advocating for consistent maintenance on drainage, roads, lighting and city buildings. He said he is against high density development and is vowing to push for fiscal responsibility and transparency. He said he is challenging Favre because he thought city spending was rising too fast and wants to avoid tax increases. 'There's a lack of enforcement of city ordinances, that was another thing that pushed me,' he said. 'I just think I can do a better job.' Knoblock was a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas, before moving to Bay St. Louis three decades ago. He also owns a business called Lightning Quick Signs. He grew up in New Orleans and said he was drawn to Bay St. Louis by his parents, who fell in love with the city and moved there from Louisiana.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wealthy California beach town skirts state's sanctuary law in planned migrant boat crackdown
As other California cities double down on sanctuary policies to protect illegal immigrants, one coastal enclave is looking to work directly with border authorities to monitor its beaches 24 hours a day in an effort to thwart boats carrying illegal migrants. San Clemente city leaders told City Manager Andy Hall earlier this month to coordinate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to discuss installing and using existing cameras to watch over the city's 7 miles of coastline. Mayor Steve Knoblock told Fox News Digital the cameras are intended to deter illegal immigration and other criminal activity. He noted that small fishing boats called pangas often come ashore to drop off illegal migrants who disappear inland. Bondi Announces New Lawsuits Against States Allegedly Failing To Comply With Immigration Actions: 'A New Doj' "In the last month or so, we've had a large increase in the number of pangas that have come up on our beach," he said. "It happens, and nobody seems to notice. No one seems to capture it. There's no interdiction, and we've been having them with much greater frequency." The city has cameras on its pier to monitor the beach for marine safety issues but none that monitor the ocean, said Knoblock. He suggested turning the cameras toward the water and adding technological upgrades. At a Feb. 4 meeting, the City Council agreed to contact the U.S. Border Patrol to inquire about working together to surveil the waters off the city, the mayor said. Read On The Fox News App In 2021, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) warned of increased sightings of pangas being used for smuggling in Southern California. The fishing boats are used by smugglers to transport migrants and illegal drugs, according to ICE. At the time, ICE said around 90 migrants were caught along the coastline of Los Angeles County on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and in San Pedro, Long Beach, Malibu, Santa Catalina Island and Newport Beach in Orange County. In the past month, San Clemente has seen an uptick in small boats carrying migrants. In some cases, the migrants are still aboard when discovered, but, in many cases, the vessels are abandoned. The increase possibly stems from the Trump administration's tough border measures to curb illegal land crossings into the United States, said Knoblock. "President Trump has done a great job of securing the Mexican border in San Diego, but we're getting people from 150 countries that are coming up by water," Knoblock said. "It's like the land invasion has been stopped, but the sea invasion is starting." The U.S. Border Patrol operates a station and traffic checkpoint on the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 in an effort to curb the smuggling of illegal immigrants and drugs away from the border area. "Transnational criminal organizations continue to exploit the dangerous and often unpredictable maritime environment for the smuggling of people and other contraband," a CBP spokesperson told Fox News Digital when asked about the potential camera project in San Clemente. "In response, CBP will continue to assess the most effective deployment combination of manpower, infrastructure and technology to interdict maritime smuggling events, protect coastal communities and deliver criminal consequences to smugglers who prioritize profit over safety." In addition to the smuggling vessels, the city has had to contend with Chilean gangs targeting homes to commit burglaries. "We've had a rash of Chilean gangs. They're very organized," Knoblock said. "They monitor the neighborhood. They come in and out in five or ten minutes. We've had a spate of these." Since 2017, local authorities in California have been prohibited from cooperating with federal immigration officials after the passage of a sanctuary state law known as the California Values Act. However, some cities are pushing back. Huntington Beach, a city north of San Clemente, is suing Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta over the law and recently declared itself a non-sanctuary city. San Clemente declined to join the lawsuit, Knoblock said, citing a proposed $100,000 allocation from the city's general fund for litigation costs. Despite the state sanctuary law, San Clemente's camera project with border authorities wouldn't involve local authorities, said Knoblock. The city doesn't have its own police force and is served by the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Don Barnes has said immigration enforcement is the federal government's duty. Instead, San Clemente would work directly with border article source: Wealthy California beach town skirts state's sanctuary law in planned migrant boat crackdown
Fox News
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Wealthy California beach town skirts state's sanctuary law in planned migrant boat crackdown
As other California cities double down on sanctuary policies to protect illegal immigrants, one coastal enclave is looking to work directly with border authorities to monitor its beaches 24 hours a day in an effort to thwart boats carrying illegal migrants. San Clemente city leaders told City Manager Andy Hall earlier this month to coordinate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to discuss installing and using existing cameras to watch over the city's 7 miles of coastline. Mayor Steve Knoblock told Fox News Digital the cameras are intended to deter illegal immigration and other criminal activity. He noted that small fishing boats called pangas often come ashore to drop off illegal migrants who disappear inland. "In the last month or so, we've had a large increase in the number of pangas that have come up on our beach," he said. "It happens, and nobody seems to notice. No one seems to capture it. There's no interdiction, and we've been having them with much greater frequency." The city has cameras on its pier to monitor the beach for marine safety issues but none that monitor the ocean, said Knoblock. He suggested turning the cameras toward the water and adding technological upgrades. At a Feb. 4 meeting, the City Council agreed to contact the U.S. Border Patrol to inquire about working together to surveil the waters off the city, the mayor said. In 2021, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) warned of increased sightings of pangas being used for smuggling in Southern California. The fishing boats are used by smugglers to transport migrants and illegal drugs, according to ICE. At the time, ICE said around 90 migrants were caught along the coastline of Los Angeles County on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and in San Pedro, Long Beach, Malibu, Santa Catalina Island and Newport Beach in Orange County. In the past month, San Clemente has seen an uptick in small boats carrying migrants. In some cases, the migrants are still aboard when discovered, but, in many cases, the vessels are abandoned. The increase possibly stems from the Trump administration's tough border measures to curb illegal land crossings into the United States, said Knoblock. "President Trump has done a great job of securing the Mexican border in San Diego, but we're getting people from 150 countries that are coming up by water," Knoblock said. "It's like the land invasion has been stopped, but the sea invasion is starting." The U.S. Border Patrol operates a station and traffic checkpoint on the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 in an effort to curb the smuggling of illegal immigrants and drugs away from the border area. "Transnational criminal organizations continue to exploit the dangerous and often unpredictable maritime environment for the smuggling of people and other contraband," a CBP spokesperson told Fox News Digital when asked about the potential camera project in San Clemente. "In response, CBP will continue to assess the most effective deployment combination of manpower, infrastructure and technology to interdict maritime smuggling events, protect coastal communities and deliver criminal consequences to smugglers who prioritize profit over safety." In addition to the smuggling vessels, the city has had to contend with Chilean gangs targeting homes to commit burglaries. "We've had a rash of Chilean gangs. They're very organized," Knoblock said. "They monitor the neighborhood. They come in and out in five or ten minutes. We've had a spate of these." Since 2017, local authorities in California have been prohibited from cooperating with federal immigration officials after the passage of a sanctuary state law known as the California Values Act. However, some cities are pushing back. Huntington Beach, a city north of San Clemente, is suing Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta over the law and recently declared itself a non-sanctuary city. San Clemente declined to join the lawsuit, Knoblock said, citing a proposed $100,000 allocation from the city's general fund for litigation costs. Despite the state sanctuary law, San Clemente's camera project with border authorities wouldn't involve local authorities, said Knoblock. The city doesn't have its own police force and is served by the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Don Barnes has said immigration enforcement is the federal government's duty. Instead, San Clemente would work directly with border authorities.
The Guardian
07-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
California city partners with US border patrol to surveil beach for migrant boats
Leaders of the southern California city of San Clemente, located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, are partnering with US Customs and Border Protection to place surveillance cameras along the city's beach to detect boats carrying passengers attempting to enter the country without authorization. At a Tuesday gathering of the town's city council, members ordered city manager Andy Hall to begin coordinating with Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Mayor Steven Knoblock – a Republican who was elected in November on a public safety platform – told the Los Angeles Times the cameras are intended to spot fishing boats, called pangas, attempting to dock on San Clemente's shores and to lower crime rates. 'People have observed pangas crammed with illegal aliens, hitting our beach, and then scattering in the community or jumping into a van, which is parked nearby and ready to receive them,' Knoblock told the LA Times. He added: 'San Clemente has had significant crime issues with the sophisticated Chilean burglary rings hitting our neighborhoods on a very systematic basis and continues to be a problem.' The state of California has prohibited law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities since 2017, when the state passed its 'sanctuary state' law in an effort to prevent mass deportations during the first Trump administration. After Donald Trump's victory in the November 2024 election, Democratic California governor Gavin Newsom gathered lawmakers for a special legislative session to 'Trump-proof' the state. But since wildfires devastated much of southern California, the state is now seeking federal aid to rebuild. Before San Clemente city council members voted to collaborate with CBP on the camera initiative, the city had been considering joining a lawsuit against the state's sanctuary law. San Clemente will not technically be violating the sanctuary state law by coordinating with CBP. The law specifically prevents law enforcement from cooperating with CBP, but San Clemente does not have its own police force. Instead, the city will work directly with border patrol. Knoblock has proposed installing cameras that operate 24/7 and cover about 7 miles of territory. Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration after newsletter promotion 'I'm recommending the cameras being aimed oceanward with a rotating telescopic lens and thermal imaging for night viewing,' Knoblock told the LA Times. 'This additional visibility will hopefully provide interdiction prior to [migrants] hitting our beaches.' City officials are also considering ways to open access to the footage to the public. This is not Knoblock's first time challenging California sanctuary laws. As a city council member in 2022 he sponsored a measure calling for California to become a 'sanctuary city for life' – in contrast with California's laws permitting abortion. Nor is it the first time a California city has challenged the state's sanctuary law for immigrants. In December, the San Diego county sheriff said she would cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement despite state laws prohibiting such activity.
