Remote Surveillance Trailer in Escondido, CA

The United Stated Department of Labor sued Escondido based company, Alta Drywall, on behalf of 580 of its employees. The company is ordered to pay $790,000 for allegedly underpaying employees, overworking them and not keeping the right records.

A federal lawsuit filed in September claimed the practices were ongoing for at least three years and said:

“Defendants pay employees an hourly rate for some jobs and pay employees piece rate for other jobs. When employees are paid by the piece, foremen do not keep track of workers’ hours. Instead, at the end of a workweek, foremen fill out timecards for workers, writing that the workers worked less than 40 hours per week regardless of the amount of hours the workers actually worked.”

The California Department of Industrial Relations gets hundreds of thousands of wage theft claims every year.

“The employees don't get paid overtime, or they make them work off the clock, or they steal their tips, or they misclassify the employees,” said Deputy Labor Commissioner Mabel Martinez. “Many times, the employees don't complain while they're working with the employer because they fear retaliation. And they come after the fact.”

Martinez said undocumented workers also hesitate to report wage theft because they’re afraid they will be deported, but, she clarified, her department helps everyone, regardless of immigration status. In fact, if someone has left the country after a violation, they can still report it and get help.

Alta Drywall reps responded to NBC7’s request for comment:

"Alta Drywall made no admissions in connection with the settlement, denies the allegations in the complaint and has no further comment about the claims.

"We can confirm that many of the employees who will receive payments under the settlement remain employed by Alta Drywall."

About 13,000 Escondido water customers were overcharged roughly $2.5 million, another 10,500 were underbilled nearly $3 million as a result of this billing snafu.

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Thousands of utility customers in Escondido, California, will see changes to their wastewater service bills following a massive billing error that lasted for 14 months. The mistake, which affected a total of over 20,000 households, resulted in approximately $2.5 million in overcharges and nearly $3 million in undercharges.

"On behalf of the city of Escondido, I want to apologize to each and every one of you, and every resident. This was a simple yet colossal mistake that can never happen again," said Escondido Mayor Dane White.

The error occurred when the rate calculation formula adopted by the city was not properly coded into the billing software system. As a result, about 13,000 customers were overcharged, while another 10,500 were underbilled.

Christopher McKinney, Deputy City Manager, explained, "Where there is a very real impact is that we underbilled about 10,500 customers."

To rectify the situation, the city council has decided to credit the overcharged customers on their October billing statements. However, those who were underbilled will face an additional $10 monthly fee starting in January to recoup the lost revenue. That fee will remain on their bills for as long as it takes to repay the amount they were undercharged over the past 14 months.

City Manager Sean McGlynn warned of potential consequences if the funds are not collected.

"Non-collection of some of this money may in fact impact future rates," he said.

City officials stressed that foregoing the recovery of these funds would result in delays to critical wastewater system projects, potentially increasing costs in the long run.

The decision to recover all underbilled funds was not made lightly. Mayor White expressed concern about the impact on vulnerable residents, asking, "Is it fair to go back and say we need all of this money? Well, I think there's a small minority of people in Escondido who are going to hurt beyond repair, in particular senior citizens and mobile home park residents."

Council Member Judy Fitzgerald emphasized the need for compassion, saying, "For those that absolutely cannot pay that we can identify, we also have to have a plan for them."

The city is also vowing to work with those residents who may struggle with this increase.

"I assure you, we are going to be very customer friendly throughout all of this, because even the process of back-billing is placing a burden on our customers," McKinney said.

Council Member Joe Garcia also acknowledged the gravity of the situation, adding, "I think that that is about as best as we can get with the terrible situation that we got ourselves into, because we are the ones who got ourselves into this and we shouldn't forget that."

In addition to the billing corrections, Escondido residents will also face a previously approved rate increase that was postponed during the investigation of the billing error. This annual increase will take effect next month.

Ron Lelakes didn’t go searching for the YMCA. It found him.

And along the way, he learned about the YMCA’s programs, facilities and the various locations in San Diego County, including Escondido. Now almost 30 years later, he is the executive director of the new Escondido YMCA – A Campus for Community Well-Being.

“It’s been a place where I can go and talk with people within the membership or the program participants and really form strong bonds that really kind of make you feel like you belong to something,” Lelakes said about why he has made the YMCA a career.

He started working at the YMCA in 1996, after moving from Florida to San Diego, when a friend suggested visiting a branch near Leucadia because Lelakes was looking for some guidance.

“I knew one person in (San Diego) and, through that, interaction I built a family at the Y,” he said. “My best friends are from the Y. My groomsmen who were in my wedding were from the Y. The Y has always been a safe space for me.”

One of the duties Lelakes has held at the YMCA is overseeing facilities across the county of San Diego for maintenance and capital improvement projects.

“It was something vastly different than what I was doing because I was always a (program developer) and a leader,” he added. “But I got the ability to learn about a variety of communities around the county, including Escondido. I really loved the fact that the (Escondido) community had its own identity.”

Lelakes explained he learned about Escondido’s diverse community by talking to everyday people, school districts, government officials and nonprofit leaders about what they wanted from their local YMCA.

Since January, he has been in charge of reopening the Escondido YMCA campus with a focus on community well-being and partnering with organizations to accomplish the goals of more higher education programs, healthcare services and activities for the youth.

The campus will open in phases, Lelakes said. The first will be a new community pool where students from the Escondido Union School District will get free swimming lessons, starting in September, according to Lelakes.

He also said that Neighborhood Healthcare will be partnering with the Escondido YMCA to provide neighborhood healthcare programs and services such as dentistry, pediatric care and mental health care for low-income families.

“I look at my skillset, (and I feel) it’s my job to bring the community together and give them what they need,” Lelake said.

Here are his favorite places to support and visit in Escondido.

Q: Where is your favorite dining option?

A: Burger Bench for its great burgers and outdoor patio. My favorite is the California burger, which has bacon and avocado. Upper East is a great meeting spot with a friendly owner and great ambience. Mike’s BBQ is probably my favorite barbecue place. I have been going here for years. They have TVs everywhere, great service and the food is outstanding. I love all their barbecue.

Q: What is your favorite small retail business or pop-up vendor to support?

A: Children’s Museum of Discovery is a great place for kids to explore, socialize and expand their minds. I remember bringing my kids there when they were little. It is a place that kids can explore, open their minds, look at how physics works through being able to use your hands, being able to build things, looking at different water features, looking at gardening features. It’s just like a parent’s dream to be able to go there, bring your kids and watch them have a lot of fun. And also as a parent, (you) really kind of get the network with (other parents).

Q: Where is your favorite open space?

A: Daley Ranch is one of my favorite places to mountain bike. I’ve been riding there for decades. The scenery and well-groomed trails are the best places to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

Q: Where is the best piece of artwork?

A: The California Center for the Arts, Escondido, for the amazing artwork. The first time I was at the center, the CEO Gina Lopez took me on a tour of it, and it blew my mind. They have an amphitheater in there that is huge. They have plays, concerts and comedians (perform) in there. And they had a Hispanic exhibit on display. All these pieces took you through all the cultural heritage, artwork and they had a lowrider (car) in there and then they had all these different artists presenting all the different Hispanic cultures. I hadn’t seen anything like that.

Q: Where is your favorite entertainment attraction or historic landmark?

A: Sitting at the viewpoint on top of Cougar Pass. There’s a little place up there that you can sit and you just overlook the mountains of Escondido, with the breeze coming through and the quietness of the area. It’s just amazing. And then right below that you’ll, you can see like Dixon Lake, it’s just, it’s just a gem of Escondido in my opinion.