Mary Ann Thiem, MainStreet Oceanside Board Vice Chair, welcomed a spirited crowd back to the Morning Meeting after a break in November.
OCEANSIDE POLICE CHIEF TAURINO VALDOVINOS
Before sharing his goals for the Oceanside Police Department, Police Chief Taurino Valdovinos shared a brief personal history. He was born in Mexico but raised in North County. His father died when was a kid and the family moved around a lot, including living on the east side with cousins and aunts. When he and his family received their green cards, they settled in Carlsbad.
Valdovinos attended high school in Carlsbad and received a college scholarship and played football at St. Mary’s in the Bay Area. He was encouraged to go into law enforcement by a couple of police officers who were also former football players. However, at that time he was not a US citizen. He obtained citizenship around [the] 9/11 [terrorist attacks], and he and his wife moved back to North County.
He has been with the Oceanside Police Department for 22 years, starting as a beat cop and working his way up, mostly with narcotics and gangs including undercover for four years. After promotion to sergeant, he started the Oceanside Youth Partnership (OYP) for at-risk youth. The program continues today, meeting every Wednesday, and partners with the Oceanside Unified School District and the Boys and Girls Club.
Officially promoted a week and a half ago to Police Chief, Valdovinos says he has no plans to make big changes internally citing the department has had three police chiefs in four years causing uncertainty and anxiety among the department’s employees. He prefers to create stability and consistency and fill the double-digit vacancies the police department currently has.
Externally, his and the department’s goal is to win the hearts and minds of the community. To accomplish this goal, they will meet three expectations of police department employees: they will be hard workers, treat all people with respect and decency, and be positively impactful.
Valdovinos says he is a 1,000% believer in small businesses and organizations such as MainStreet [Oceanside], citing they are what drives the local economy and what drives Oceanside to thrive. He remembers when Oceanside had 23-25 homicides a year in the 1980s to early 2000s. Oceanside has done such a good job – not just the police department, but MainStreet, small businesses, politicians, council members, police and fire commission – that the average now is less than four homicides per year. Homicides used to be gang-related, and now they are related to unsheltered individuals.
His objective at OPD is to address the recruiting efforts. The department currently has 23 vacancies, which is unacceptable as it impacts the level of services to the community and places a burden on the existing officers.
During the Q&A, town hall meetings, neighborhood watch groups, and calling the Oceanside Fire Department for situations with the unhoused were discussed to be more informed and lift some of the burden off of the police department.
A standing Neighborhood Block Captain’s Meeting occurs every fourth Tuesday at 6 pm in the Mission Branch Library Community Room. Attendees include individuals from several Oceanside communities and topics include reports from OPD, updates around the whole city, and what civilians can do to protect their neighborhood. More information can be found on the Neighborhood Watch webpage.
Additional questions were asked about the level of difficulty in becoming a police officer and if that is why vacancies are high. Valdovinos said an individual has to pass a background check, which eliminates half of the applicants; take a test, which eliminates another half; get through the academy, which eliminates one-fourth; pass a six-month training phase, which eliminates another fourth; and then make it through a six-month probationary period. Additionally, other communities are hiring around the county. OPD has a training team of eight officers who will walk people through the process if they need it, and provide a practice PELLETB test. The Careers page on the OPD website has more information. There is no age or weight requirement for applicants, but they must be able to pass a physical agility test.
Finally, the OPD Community Academy is still going on to allow people the chance to get their foot in the door and become police officers, dispatchers, records clerks, etc. The number was reduced to 8-10, but Valdovinos would like to increase the number to 14-15.
MainStreet Oceanside staff with Chief Taurino Valdovinos after he was sworn in as Chief of Police.
MAINSTREET OCEANSIDE HOLIDAY EVENTS
Bobbie Mills, Business Support Administrator at MSO, announced ‘Tis the Season to Shop Local kicked off on Small Business Saturday, November 30. This year the lineup includes the Oceanside Holiday Challenge digital passport giving consumers the chance to win local prizes, including a staycation and a shopping spree, while driving foot traffic to businesses; the promotion of in-store specials and events at local shops; and a window decorating contest for businesses giving them the chance to win monetary first-, second- and third-prizes.
Jacqueline Pelayo, Market Administrative Coordinator for the Sunset Market, announced the return of the annual Giving Tree Toy Drive. In its 11th year, the program displays Christmas trees decorated with ornaments made by local under-resourced youth from the Growing Minds and North County Lifeline youth development. Members of the community are encouraged to take an ornament, buy one of the items listed, and return the ornament and unwrapped item to the MSO office by December 18. Monetary donations to the Main Street Foundation for the toy drive are also accepted in place of purchasing gifts.
Pelayo went on to announce the annual Holiday Tree Lighting, family-friendly activities, and special holiday festivities will be on December 5 in conjunction with the Sunset Market. Curated Holiday Gift Markets begin on December 5 and are held every Thursday in December at the Sunset Market. Santa will be at the December 12 and 19 markets for visits with kids.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mills reported that staff from Main Street America, the national Main Street organization, were in Oceanside for their winter retreat. MSO staff had the pleasure of giving the group a tour of some of downtown and sharing the accomplishments and goals of MSO and partnering organizations. The national group was impressed with Oceanside. Mills stated it is a privilege for the national organization to choose Oceanside for their retreat.
Steve Burrell, present on behalf of AARP, asked attendees to take the Age-Friendly Community Survey to assist in identifying the priorities and challenges facing older adults (50 and over) and individuals living with disabilities in Oceanside and what they would like to see happen in Oceanside to improve livability. The survey will be available until January 6, 2025.
Beth Holmes reported the Oceanside Pop Warner Football program has the opportunity to attend national championships but needs help getting the funds to go. More information is posted on their Facebook and Instagram pages. Please email Joshua Galeai at jgaleai@csusm.edu for more information and how to donate.
Karen Graham reported the Rory Graham Foundation is taking donations for Giving Tuesday (and beyond). Donations can be made by mail while the website is under construction.
Larry Brian reminded the meeting attendees that the Oceanside Pacific Kiwanis meets on Wednesdays at 7:15 a.m. at the Broken Yolk Cafe.
Alex Goodman, managing director at Oceanside Theatre Company, announced Manny and the Wise Queens premiers at The Sunshine Brooks Theater on Friday, December 6 with shows through December 22.
Dawn Tappen and Brigid Parsons with the First Friday Art Walk announced the December Holiday Art Walk will be Thursday, December 12 from 4-8 p.m. at The Seabird Resort.
Help Wanted
A highly organized individual(s) to take the Monthly Morning Meeting notes. Notes would consist of a recap of the Morning Meeting. This individual(s) would need to follow up with community members to obtain accurate information about announcements. Meetings occur monthly on the first Tuesday from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Turnaround time for the notes is 2-4 days. Interested individuals can email Bobbie@mainstreetoceanside.com.
Notes submitted by Bobbie Mills.
Coffee is provided by Pier View Coffee.
The MainStreet Morning Meeting is held monthly on the first Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.
We welcome all parties interested in the progress of Downtown Oceanside, including businesspeople, residents, and City staff.
This informative one-hour meeting is held in an informal discussion format. The general public is always welcome! Meet your city officials, MainStreet Oceanside staff, and members and find out about upcoming events and changes to YOUR downtown and city.
The MainStreet Morning Meeting is held at the MainStreet Oceanside meeting room at 701 Mission Avenue.
Call our office at (760) 754-4512 for more information or directions.
