Lincoln Club of San Diego County attacks taxpayers' candidates, implicitly supports union-backed candidates

By now we're used to the sleazy mailers being sent out by "Voter Education Group" and Jane Twining-Blair and other developer front groups behind the Dalager-Gaspar campaign.

But I was shocked to see the same trash being sent by the Lincoln Club of San Diego County, which I had previously understood to be a mainstream, respectable, Republican-leaning business group.








Now I'm no fan of politician junkets and conferences, but $9,987 is a trivial amount of money for attending multiple conferences over a couple of years. To put that in perspective, Dan Dalager voted to give his developer buddy a break of over $200,000. And Dalager voted to increase the underfunded employee pension benefits by tens of millions. And Dalager has wasted millions overpaying for the Hall Property, and left the city with no funds to build or operate a park there!

The Encinitas Taxpayers Association, with whom the Lincoln Club should be ideologically sympathetic, rated Barth and Kranz A- and B+ and the union-backed Dalager and Gaspar D and F.

Barth responds here.

I do not know if that dollar amount listed is correct but I do attend meetings, workshops and the annual League of California Cities conference as a means of staying current with changing state laws, urban planning, transit, and environmental issues. Registration, transportation and lodging fees are paid by the city. I do not however request reimbursement for any out of pocket expenses or for per diem.

For the last two years the council voted unanimously to designate me as the city’s official delegate at the League’s annual conference. The other council members have had two opportunities to question the expense of attending the conference but they not raised any objections.

I don't know whether the Lincoln Club is corrupt in bed with the Dalager-Gaspar campaign, or if they were duped. Either way, it will be hard to trust anything from them again.

Follow the money

Details here and here. I'd expect this to get some press attention this weekend.

I'm your man

The world-famous Leucadia Blog is taking a break to let tempers cool off.

In the meantime, if you really need to vent, this is your place.

If you'd like to share commentary or op-ed, please e-mail encinitasundercover -at- gmail -dot- com.

Coast News covers Rotarygate

Somebody just flunked the Four-Way Test:

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Coast News:

Tempers flared at a forum for City Council candidates sponsored by the Leucadia Town Council on Oct. 12. Particularly, accusations that one of the candidates, current Councilwoman Teresa Barth, was called a “whore” by one of the spectators have caused a stir.

Because the forum was videotaped, Barth can be seen asking a person in the audience, “What did you call me sir?” The person was a local dentist and Rotary member wearing a Kristin Gaspar T-shirt. At least one other Gaspar supporter, Rotary president Roger Bolus, was sitting next to the man, Dr. Fitzpatrick. The two left before the forum ended.

Speaking of the Four-Way Test, how 'bout those Gaspar mailers?

WTF?

An Encinitas political mailer with no lies or smears?

Somebody's running under a very different set of rules.

Jane Twining-Blair gets cease and desist notice for illegal contributions to Kristin Gaspar campaign

Who is Jane Blair and why is she spending so much to buy the city council?

Jane Twining Blair Letter-1



Meanwhile, developer DCM Properties dumps another $6,000 into the sleazy mailer firm. Though Jane Blair's motives remain a mystery, we know who DCM are and what they want. Spend a few thousand to buy the city council, get development permits worth hundreds of thousands or millions. This, my friends, is a textbook example of small-town corruption.

Kudos to the U-T's excellent reporter Jonathan Horn for uncovering the corruption. I hope the voters are reading.

Encinitas Citizens United puts up Tony Kranz web site

This is to counter the smear campaign about Tony getting in an argument with a "Obama's Religion -- Destroy America!!!" protester.

Tony Kranz web site with lots of videos here.

Dalager confirms criminal investigation

NC Times:

Encinitas Mayor Dan Dalager confirmed Friday that the San Diego County District Attorney's office is looking into complaints filed against him, but added that he welcomes the probe and hopes it will be finished before the upcoming election.

Dalager said he believes the complaints are similar to those filed in August with the state's Fair Political Practices Commission, alleging that Dalager received discount appliances from a local merchant and later voted in favor of the merchant on a matter before the council. A later complaint alleges the mayor failed to report a $100,000 loan on financial-disclosure paperwork he filed with the city in 2007.

Coast News endorses Barth & Kranz

One paper that gets it right. They hit Dalager not just for corruption but for being clueless about several major issues: "Duh." I only wish they'd commented on Gaspar's cluelessness as well:

It’s not often The Coast News takes a stance on political decisions voters have to make concerning this great place we all live in. With the upcoming election, however, we felt compelled.

For too long now voters have cast their ballots without considering the qualifications of the candidates.

Voter apathy has led to electing officials less responsive to the people and the real needs of the city.

Witness the financial mess residents in some cities now find themselves in. Salaries and pensions are a major funding problem and infrastructure is neglected.

But times are changing. The public is demanding a more open and responsive government. People interested in government of the people and for the people are becoming involved, bringing fresh new ideas and trust back to government.

One of these individuals is Councilwoman Teresa Barth. She has championed open government, frequently to the disdain of some of her colleagues.

As a newspaper, we support elected officials who stand up for the people’s right to know what their government is doing.

She studies the issues, is well-prepared and responsive to the public. She supports both environmental stewardship and fiscal responsibility.

She often points out, “It’s not about me but about we.” She has proven that promises she makes are promises she keeps.

Teresa Barth has earned your vote and deserves a second term.

As for Tony Kranz, we believe Deputy Mayor Maggie Houlihan and Councilwoman Teresa Barth when they say, “He’s the man for the job.”

Who are you not going to vote for?

Just in case you are reading this and don’t have all the facts that have come to light recently concerning the incumbent Mayor Dan Dalager, here goes.

He is accused of accepting deeply discounted kitchen appliances for his council vote. This newspaper had the opportunity to break the story, but declined because we thought it a minor pre-election jab. Other newspapers pursued and found out our mayor also received a $100,000 loan from a person with business before the council where he gave the only favorable vote. We started wondering what else don’t we know. His excuse, “I goofed.” Duh.

At a recent candidate forum Mayor Dalager was asked what he thought about Prop. P, a $44 million Encinitas school bond issue. He didn’t have a clue what Prop. P was. Duh.

Our city has held five community workshops to review its General Plan. The mayor was asked how many of the five community workshops he attended and what he had learned from citizen input. He replied that he hadn’t attended any because he didn’t want his presence to skew the input. Duh.

Mayor Dalager is not an evil man. He has done a lot of good.

Is he working hard doing his job and being honest and transparent enough to deserve our vote? We don’t think so.

Do the right thing. Vote for incumbent Teresa Barth and Tony Kranz for Encinitas City Council.

Will Danny look good in stripes?

Oh, Danny boy!

State Fair Political Practices Commission suspends investigation to make way for District Attorney investigation.

That's District Attorney as in criminal. As it should be.

North County Times: No on Prop P

It's good to see some independent reason rather than homer school cheering at the NC Times:

[...] the district's own facility accountability report in 2009-10 said every school was "good" and "no repairs were needed."

[...]

The measure would tack on a 14-year extension to the bond that taxpayers are currently paying through 2012.

The San Diego County Taxpayers Association has pointed out that the measure lacks some specificity in how the money will be used.

We wonder whether the bond is essential at this time.

For instance, while it might make sense to buy solar panels to shield the district from electric rate hikes while interest rates are low, we believe any savings generated by lower power bills should go to paying off the bonds, not for maintaining class sizes. And giving a grade-school child a computer to haul home is an invitation to see what happens when high-tech stuff is dropped.

Additionally, while the learning center proposed for property near the Encinitas Ranch development would be nice, it is not essential for the mission of the school district at this time.

With an economy that has many people stretched, Prop. P is the wrong proposal.

For the school board, they endorse Andrade, Gray, and Stritch. I've heard good things about Andrade from another source who has kids in the district.

Your November HoodLink is up

In this issue, candidate endorsements and I-5 expansion public comment deadline.

HL-2010-11[1]

Lawnmower Man

Remember Lawnmower Man, the 80's Stephen King sci-fi movie about an affable moron who becomes a power-mad tyrant?

Why does that story line sound so familiar?

Outrageous and unsustainable pensions aren't only a problem in Bell-cinitas

They're going to bankrupt states and cities nationwide.

Joshua Rauh, of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and Robert Novy-Marx, of the University of Rochester, estimate that the states’ pension shortfall may be as much as $3.4 trillion and that municipalities have a hole of $574 billion. Mr Rauh calculates that seven states will have exhausted their pension assets by 2020—even if they make a return of 8%, a common assumption that looks wildly optimistic. Half will run out of money by 2027. If pension promises are to be kept, this will place immense strain on taxes. Several have promised annual payments that will absorb more than 30% of their tax revenues after their pension funds are exhausted (see chart 1).

The severity of states’ pension woes was disguised for years, because asset markets were so strong and because of the way states accounted for the cost of pension provision. But the 21st century has been dismal for stockmarkets, where most pension money has been put. State budgets came under huge pressure as a result of the 2008-09 recession, which caused tax revenues to plunge. Meredith Whitney, an analyst who made her name forecasting the banking crisis, believes the states could be the next source of systemic financial risk.

Now the problem is making headlines, especially in California, where taxpayer groups have been highlighting the generous pensions of some former employees. More than 9,000 beneficiaries of CalPERS, the largest state retirement plan, receive more than $100,000 a year.

Citizens of Bell-cinitas: No more!

Union-Tribune: Encinitas rally culminates in calls for mayor's resignation

North County Times: Crowd rallies against mayor at City Hall

10 News: Citizens call for Encinitas mayor to resign

The Leucadia Blog: Message delivered

Get up, stand up

Don't give up the fight.

It's about time that the public stands up and tells the city council that they work for us. We have one chance to get the city council majority to tell us the truth and be accountable, and it won't take much from you to help.

We the People start taking our city back on Wednesday at 5pm at city hall. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

More places I suddenly don't feel like shopping

Fred's Flowers and Plants, Leucadia

No prison for online predator

I guess it's open season on 15-year-old girls.

U-T:

A man accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl, who lied to authorities and said she was raped by three men who kidnapped her in Encinitas, pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor statutory rape charge.

Jose Adrian Cano, 20, of Vista was given credit for time served in county jail and placed on probation for three years. Vista Superior Court Judge Robert Kearney ordered Cano to stay away from the girl.

Deputy District Attorney Katherine Flaherty said in a telephone interview that Cano pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sex with a minor more than three years younger than he.

Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Cano will now undergo immigration proceedings and a judge will determine whether he will be deported. Cano was deported this year after he was arrested on a minor drug offense, according to court records.

I guess it's cheaper to just deport him and hope he doesn't come back right away just like he did last time.

Big Dirty Money in Little Encinitas

While The Leucadia Blog readers investigate the developer, union, and statewide physical therapist group money behind the Kristin Gaspar campaign (read the comments here, including a link to Gaspar's filing and background on Paul Gaspar's position in California physical therapy), Mike Andreen is investigating the funds behind the Yes on P campaign. And -- shocker -- the Proposition is behind funded by the same firms that will profit from selling crap to the district if Prop P passes!

Andreen:

According to the 9-30-2010 460 on file with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters; the proponents of the misleading $150 million dollar facilities bond Proposition P, (that the Encinitas Union School District has placed on the November 2 ballot) the Committee for Encinitas Schools has raised $38,700 from only 8 donations; 6 out of 8 of these donations are from vendors of the district, legal firms, construction companies and consultants that will benefit most by passage of Prop P. The vendor’s investment $38, 500 has a financial return of $150 million dollars over 30 years. The remaining $200 balance of donations is by two incumbents. Are we to understand that, out of the thousands of families with students currently enrolled in EUSD not one parent of one student donated even one dollar toward the passage of Prop P?



Don’t let six vendors and two incumbents mislead you into assuming $150 million dollars in debt for buildings. Defeat Prop P and ask the school district to return next spring with a proposition to fund programs and teachers; not buildings.

Your October HoodLink is up

HL-2010-10

Hansen's pulls Dalager sign!

Just a day after we noted the unseemly sign in support of Dan Dalager in front of Hansen's, the sign has been removed!



I would like to thank Hansen's for doing the right thing. I'm sure Dalager is an old friend going back years, but it's time to clean up city hall.

Maybe a little friendly pressure from customers would help bring down the rest of the signs supporting the ruling majority. Just let them know that we see what the developers and the unions are doing at city hall, and we don't approve. A lot of these small businesses might not be aware of the shenanigans, or might even be afraid to oppose the people in power.

Anybody need a new surfboard? Hansen's is open for business!

Places I suddenly no longer feel like shopping in Encinitas

Hansen's Sports


O'Brien's gas station


Encinitas Ford


California Community Bank


What places do you no longer feel like shopping? Send the pics or at least the names and I'll put 'em up! Send to encinitasundercover -at- gmail .com

Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas

San Diego hates children

Families are not welcome at the Tour de Fat, because Demon Beer is served there.

San Francisco allows families into the Tour, with no adverse effects.

The Tour de Fat organizers did the best they could to accommodate families within San Diego's fascist rules. They set up spaces near the stage but outside the fence where kids could hang.

Tour de Fat today!

Bicycles and beer. Two great tastes that taste great together.

Balboa Park, today, 10-4.

Former Dalager supporter Andrew Audet calls for resignation

... video at Encinitas Citizens United.