On the Governance page of our website you will find a set of proposed actions to modify the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation, Inc., d.b.a. San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG). The amendments relate to deleting the requirement for SDBG to have statutory members, and they were approved by our Board of Trustees on November 25, 2013.What that means is taking away the members' right to vote for trustees, and making the board a self-selecting cabal.
It has been pointed out by several different constituencies within the community that most nonprofit public benefit corporations do not have statutory members. Statutory members have the right to vote on certain issues, including the election of trustees. There is often a concern that special interest groups may organize to “take over” nonprofits by applying for membership and voting in new trustees who may then change the purpose and direction of the corporation. Some of the plans SDBG has been working on to acquire additional property are being jeopardized by the way we are presently structured with statutory members.
The Gardens appear to be in financial trouble, losing more than half a million dollars last year on revenue of $2.2 million. What's this land deal they think the members won't like?
The land deal has to do with a portion of the adjacent Ecke Ranch property now owned by the non-profit Leichtag Foundation. The original proposal was to give the land to the Quails Botanical Gardens Foundation. Now it seems Leichtag wants to sell the land to Quails. Changing the Bylaws would squash any opposition among the membership.
ReplyDeleteI don't care one way or another.
ReplyDeleteNot my business.
Next post please.
Quail Gardens 37 acres is prime real estate. Julian Duval and the Board of Trustees want the members to vote away member rights to determine the continuation of the gardens. The wolves are at the door. No to the Board on changing the Gardens by-laws.
ReplyDeleteGiven that the Botanical Gardens is zoned ER/OS/PK then the wolves at the door better actually be wolves because with Prop A, the chance of that land being rezoned for any kind of development is zero and none.
DeleteSounds like council is planning two mass upzoning ballot initiatives. Who knows whether they will include upzoning Quail Gardens?
DeleteWCV
Oh please. Aren't we getting a little too conspiratorial here. With absolutely no proof whatsoever, you pull something out of your butt and go BOO!!
DeleteYou think the council would risk not getting a housing element approved by throwing in Quail Gardens? Who among the council acts like they'd like to see Quail Gardens developed?
Ain't going to happen.
Leichtag? isn't that where what looks to me like the developers best friend Pedr Norby went?
ReplyDeleteNorby works for the city of Carlsbad.
DeleteNorby does now work for the City of Carlsbad. But he showed up to support Leichtag when the question of interpretation of "incidental accessory uses" was on the Agenda with respect to Leichtag's plans, which were approved by Council, to expand their accessory uses to include moving their corporate headquarters to the land which is restricted to agricultural in perpetuity.
DeleteNot pertinent specifically to Quail Gardens but part of the larger Encinitas picture:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/28/us/police-salaries-and-pensions-push-california-city-to-brink.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&hp
The chickens have come home to roost in DHS, just as they will throughout calif. Enc just kicks the can down the road a bit farther than DHS.
DeleteBang your pots.
Fiscal sanity.
Drive them out.
Interesting sidenote from the article:
Delete"This is not Desert Hot Springs’ first experience with fiscal problems. In 2001, it went bankrupt after losing a $10 million lawsuit brought by a developer who complained that the city was thwarting his efforts to build affordable housing. The city had to borrow to pay the judgment and is still paying off that debt — a struggle for a working-class town. "
And just so the untold part of the story is out there, Desert Hot Springs is where the black workers for the Palm Springs area have historically lived because they weren't allowed in Palm Springs.
DeleteMore scoop from the local muckraker..
Deletehttp://www.desertvortex.com/2013/07/13/city-manager
So how does an entry on Quail Gardens morph into Desert Hot Springs? Talk about single mindedness.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should read the thread from the top.
DeleteIt morphs because we have had issues with Gus Vina and past City Managers, just as Desert Hot Springs has had issues with its current and past city managers. To quote the article linked above (and thanks for providing the link!):
Delete"As [city manager of] one of the poorest cities in California, Rick Daniels is credited with making a few improvements, including the paving of 34 miles of city streets and most recently the construction of a new $20 million Health and Wellness and Aquatic Center in the city. He managed to find funds previous city managers had not been able to muster for the city.
He also, however, left a mountain of debt. For example, the annual operating cost of the Health and Wellness and Aquatic Center is $1 million per year. That money is not budgeted. The city is also stuck with repaying over $34 million in bond money that was used in part to pave those 34 miles of roads. Accusations still dog Daniels that millions of city dollars were lost or misspent."
This is similar to our City taking credit for so much, but not taking responsibility for the many mistakes made, the monies misspent and overspent, and for Council's continuing lack of transparency, which is designed to limit their public accountability.
Despite the recent UT article and Supervisor Dave Robert's rave reviews, Encinitas has NOT bid adieu to dysfunction.
Encinitas DOESN'T bid adieu to dysfunction
Lynn
DeleteYou should always preface your statements (IN MAY OPINION )for that's all it is .Thank you.
Pavlov would have had a field day here. Why use dogs.
DeleteYeah don't diss Lynn, she has such a huge fan base now it's the council that has almost zero ZERO! support. Lynn is serving our community in spades and thank goodness. Get over it, you will see her liked more & more. Go Lynn!
DeletePeePee CaCa.
DeleteThe Rick Daniels situation sounds eerily like the City of Bell. A bunch of pols and city managers controlling a dirt poor city to keep their fat salaries.
DeleteI think we have a little better oversight here....
We have the blood sucking highest pensions in the county so that shows no oversight. And basic infrastructure is overlooked for a fluff ribbon cutting park. Again no leadership.
DeleteWow if only Gus had wasted our money paving roads like DHS but we get a toxic park that has polluted all the way to the ocean!
ReplyDeleteI think this website has been taken over by zombies:
DeleteGus Vina!!! Give me Gus Vina!!!
Or however zombies talk as I don't go to those movies.
The answer to any word association? Gus Vina
Right, why couldn't we have this kind of witchhunt for Phil Cotton? I'm sure he would've loved it!
DeleteThe irony being, Vina isn't going anywhere, despite the pitchfork and fire crew calling for his head...
This blog is full of vampires and they are sucking the life's blood out of this town,including you WCV give it a rest.
DeleteWorld War V
DeleteIf you don't appreciate what you judge to be vampires, or this blog, then you are welcome to stay away and stop commenting here. Why don't YOU give it a rest? You do appear to be a sockpuppet, defending staff, Council's actions, and city policies that are often NOT in the best interests of Encinitas citizens.
DeleteSometimes the truth hurts.
Many come here to share our views; whether we all agree or not, I thank WC for providing this valuable community forum.
"Encinitas Bids Adieu to Dysfunction"
I decided to post this link, again, as I am still practicing adding links through the editor WC previously shared with us, on an older blog post.
Lynn practice saying -------IN MY OPINION -----please.
DeleteSometimes the truth does hurt but luckily it rarely occurs here. You call me a sockpuppet. Ooh - that hurts.
Delete5 18
DeleteDon't you know that anyone who may differ with Lynn's twisted world view is a sock puppet?
The blame it all on Gus for everything bad in the world crusade is getting to be tiresome.
Unless you have real tangible solutions that can actually be supported by a majority and a genuine platform for implementing the needed changes for fixing the isssues that you all bitch and moan about... Just shutup. .
Stocks is long gone, Prop A passed, Sabine is in hot water, tell me this site doesn't provide a platform. Barth & Gaspar don't stand a chance due to what is revealed here so we will keep on. Are you worried city worker ?
DeleteWhat did "this site" have to do with Vina being forced out of his previous job? Rumor is that he was detested by his own line staff, and we heard that there was a party after he left--to which he was not invited.
DeleteThe reason that more time was not spent on Phil Cotton when his hand was caught in the cookie jar is because he took the money and ran for it. Gus will hang on until this council is replaced by those who will fire him. These council members have shortened their own political futures because of Gus.
Rumor and hearsay is your only vehicle for presenting facts. Ludicris behavior from the lunatic fringe.
DeleteCommentators are providing links. It's not just rumors and hearsay.
Deletehttp://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/sock-puppet
"A sock puppet, in the context of online communications, is a fake identity created to promote someone or something through blogs, wikis, forums or social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter.
Sock puppets are often created to improve the status of some company or other entity or to promote a particular viewpoint that is expected to be helpful to that entity. Fake identities are created to circumvent site bans, increase product sales, improve or tarnish reputations, spread disinformation and stifle dissent, among other possibilities.
Sometimes people create their own sock puppets; sometimes they hire others to do so. Someone hired to create a sock puppet is referred to as a meat puppet, an Internet shill or a cyber shill. The use of a sock puppet to artificially stimulate demand for a product or service is known as sock puppet marketing."
The 8:59 comment actually had "rumor" and "we heard". Oh, by the way, who is"we"? Are you both posts or multiple posts on this blog? Is that why you know so much about the subject of fake identities?
DeleteIn the immortal words of Archie Bunker... Zip it! Meat head.
Too bad for Lynn but I'm not a sock puppet. Sorry. I just believe in verifiable facts and not hearsay and innuendo. Wishing doesn't make it so.
DeleteHowever, do we know where Gus Vina was on 9/11? I hear it was an inside job.
Gus was forced out of his last job, and he hid the park violations from citizens for over a year. If those were the only 2 things that he had done, he should be fired. There are many other verifiable facts if you care to read the articles that are from unbiased, vetted sources provided on this blog. We can and have given many examples of unethical and unprofessional behavior.
DeleteExactly what has he done that you support unless you are benefiting financially yourself in some way? I am seriously asking you for a list of what Gus has done since I can't think of anything that hasn't come at a great cost to citizens and a benefit to himself.
Just going off the pie charts on their web page, the Botanic Gardens spent $594,629 in fundraising expenses in 2012 to raise only $523,427 (contributions, etc. 13% & in-kind 11%). This doesn't include memberships which I'm sure some of the fundraising was targeted to. Contrast this to 2011 where only $278,274 was spent to raise $831,498 (contributions, etc. 22% & in-kind 11%).
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm sure the economy played a part, the increase in fundraising expenses of $316,355 while netting less revenue, $308,069, is not a good trend, although membership revenue was up slightly at $37,911.
I hope they have reserves. There is data for 2010 but I didn't check it. Other than what I've just laid out, I have no meaningful info on the Gardens.
Encinitas is the perfect example of a wonderful city that had great leaders who donated time and money to form a city with higher standards. We now have a set of employees and a council that see Encinitas as a pot of money to raid. The same might be said of Quail Gardens. Many volunteers have donated time and money to build on a vision for public good, and the real vampires--developers and their friends, see a source of money. Be careful! Gus Vina will move heaven and earth to break into any source of revenue as long as he can get a slice.
ReplyDelete"The same might be said of Quail Gardens."
DeleteYou base this on what? If you read the above entry there doesn't appear to be any pot of money unless they have a large reserve.
I'm afraid that dog won't hunt.
Dog could have hunted but was so disgusted by our city leadership it ran away to Carlsbad.
Deletewell put. that's exactly what happened.
DeleteWeren't those the same wonderful leaders who wanted to declare Leucadia blighted so they could create a redevelopment agency? My how time does affect people's memory.
DeleteAnon 5:42, is the dog who went to Carlsbad Norby? If so, good riddance!
Delete1:04
DeleteIt wasn't just Leucadia that was "blighted" or "underutilized" but the entire corridor. But the city voted down Redevelopement and found a way to restore / improve it without a blood sucking Redevelopment Agency or taking private property through Eminent Domain. And yes, there were some who wanted the Library placed on Quail Gardens Drive to create a new commercial corridor through town. Peder, Sheila, Ida Lou Coley (RIP), Jack Orr (RIP) and myself together campaigned against that effort (Prop H) and won - keeping the new downtown library downtown. THANKS City of Encinitas and the Encinitas Library Committee!
Opps!! And of course Bob Bonde who hosted the committee... I knew I left someone out!
DeleteOops, I think you mean "oops," not "opps."
DeleteHey sorry to ruin a good conspiratorial rant but I just looked up Quail Gardens property info.
ReplyDeleteIt's parcel 257 02 027 00. The owner is the County of San Diego.
From the Quail Gardens website:
San Diego Botanic Garden, formerly known as Quail Botanical Gardens, began as the 30-acre private estate of Charles and Ruth Larabee. The Larabees landscaped the property around their modest home with exotic plants they collected during their worldwide travels, including cork oaks, palms, cycads, aloes, cacti, hibiscus, and unusual subtropical fruit-bearing shrubs and trees.
As active Scout leaders, the couple sought to personally educate local young people about nature, using the estate's plantings as their teaching site. In the spirit of continuing public environmental education, Mrs. Larabee left her private residence and its grounds to the County of San Diego in 1957. Quail Gardens Foundation, now known as the Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation, Inc., was formed three years later to preserve and support this remarkable Garden. "Quail Gardens" opened to the public in 1971 and later became "Quail Botanical Gardens."
The county financially supported and managed the property for 32 years until the early 1990s when serious economic challenges drove county officials to seek alternatives. In 1993, a group of dedicated members of the Foundation signed a long-term lease from the County and privatized the Garden as an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to actively participate in the conservation of rare, threatened and endangered plant species, to serve the botanical and horticultural needs of San Diego County, and to exist as an urban retreat.
So the county would have to be in on the treachery.
Technically it's two parcels both owned by the county. The other parcel is 256 34 031 00. The system was running a little slow.
DeleteDesert Hot Springs can't be all bad... They are home to world best NUDE spa. Sea Mountain Resort. Mmmmm nice.
ReplyDeleteI know this is a bit off topic (well, at lot off topic), but I was wondering if anyone knows who is exactly on Gus Vina's "Cabinet". Are they the Directors of each City department, or is it the City Council, or is it something else? If no one responds, I guess will do a Freedom of Information Request.
ReplyDeleteIt is off the topic of best nude spa... What's wrong with you anyway?? Trying to hijack this blog? Stay on topic...
Deletedepartment heads plus a couple managers
DeleteIt shows his arrogance to call department heads "Cabinet" members.
DeleteHe is not the chair of the parliament. He is supposed to running a fiscally conservative City.
Fire the loser. Our current council is a feel good, do nothing council. Nothing more.
well said 7:26, in addition to his 'cabinet' he is also keeping an enemies list- just like a third world dictator. He even looks a little like a mini-Che. Hey, but he has such cool glasses.
DeleteThe city manager, attorney, and clerk all report to the city council. Department heads report to the city manager. There is no cabinet however, Vina may be referring to those who he considers his closest advisers which could include any of the above and members of his staff. Who know, who cares.
DeleteWow, I hadn't heard about the enemies list. Very Nixonian of you. One thing I have to hand it to many of the commenters here is their creativity. It shows what you can do as long as you aren't bounded by reality. It's very entertaining.
The city clerk reports to the city manager. Vina created the cabinet, and he constantly refers to his cabinet.
DeleteCabinet Team Members
City Manager Gus Vina
Deputy City Manager Richard Phillips
City Clerk/Legislative Services Director Kathy Hollywood
Engineering/Public Works Director Glenn Pruim
Finance Director Tim Nash
Fire Chief Scott Henry
Human Resources Department Manager Courtney Barrett
IT/GIS Department Manager Lynn Tufts
Law Enforcement Services Director Captain Robert Haley
Parks & Recreation Department Director Lisa Rudloff
Planning & Building Director Jeff Murphy
Risk Management Department Manager Jace Schwarm
I stand corrected on the City Clerk. I guess I should have checked first but many cities have the city clerk report directly to the council. As far as Vina using the term "Cabinet", it's actually used right there in the municipal code section Chapter 2.28 whose heading is "Cabinet Team Positions and Officers". Subsection 2.28.010 heading is "City Manger-Cabinet Team Positions" and lists those positions so Dr. Lorri doesn't have to bother with a FOI, just read the code online.
DeleteBottom line is that Vina didn't create the "Cabinet" term, it's right there in the Encinitas Municipal Code.
1:33 PM
DeleteVina changed the code and created the "Cabinet" term on August 15, 2012 in a report to the city council.
Bottom line is that Vina manipulated the code and the gullible council to approve his new "Cabinet" term. That is why it is "right there" in the Encinitas Municipal Code.
2:09 PM. You're correct. Whether it was Vina's idea or the council, the staff report doesn't say why they wanted to change the headings. The action was to reflect the combination of Engineering and Public Works into one department so they eliminated the Dir. of Engineering position and retitled the code sections. Other than terminology and the deletion of engineering, nothing changed nor is "cabinet" some sort of secret group. It all happened in plain sight.
DeletePersonally, I wouldn't use the term "cabinet" but that's all that changed.
Thanks for looking that up.
I agree. Thanks for looking it up. Every time a get an email from the Director of Parks and Rec. it says to Cabinet and Commissioners, so I wasn't sire who exactly is the Cabinet. Thanks for the clarification. Secondly, Sabine is to in trouble as one poster stated. He got a good report card just like Vina. When I spent 9 minutes in front of the City Council, attempting to show Vina's incompetence, where were all of you. There were only a handful of people in the crowd, including Jerry Sodomka and Lynn Marr, who gave me time donations. Thanks you two.
DeleteI think you mean Sabines incompetance but vina is right behind him. Both need to go.
DeletePhillips is not deputy city manager, and Henry was fire chief two chiefs ago.
Delete7:44 PM
DeleteThe cabinet members list was on an introductory page of the city budget FY2013-2015 document as of May, 2013. Vina should use an etch-a-sketch for personnel turnover.
4:56-Thank you for the correction. Yes I did mean Sabine, not Vina.I also made another typo when I said Sabine is to in trouble. I should have written he is not in trouble.
DeleteScott Henry was fire chief, on the Cabinet, a term created by Gus Vina. Henry retired only last spring.
DeleteA front page Coast News article from last Friday, 12/27, explains that Mike Daigle was named as the new fire chief. "He replaced Jon Canavan, who resigned three weeks ago holding the position for only two months . . . Daigle first had a chance to apply for the chief position when Scott Henry retired this spring. Daigle explained that at the time he wasn't entirely sure the job was the right fit for him. So he opeted to serve as interim chief for five months while the cities [Daigle will "oversee more than 80 firefighters across Del Mar, Solana Beach and Encinitas"] swearched for a long-term candidate."
I am always happy to donate my time to a worthy cause. Thank you, Dr. Lorri for taking the time and the effort to speak before Council.
DeleteWe had been promised an opportunity to give online comments, so that public opinion could be included as part of the evaluation of Vina & Sabine.
Lisa Shaffer and Kristin Gaspar were on the open subcommittee that held meetings, but with poor noticing, for the City Manager and City Attorney evaluation process. After the first subcommittee meeting, when the public was promised that there could and would be an opportunity to solicit public comment, Shaffer and Gaspar suddenly "changed their minds." This was upon recommendation of Jace Schwarm, also on the Cabinet. She was a mole for the City Attorney and City Manager during the subcommittee meetings.
However, since the subcommittee of Shaffer & Gasper held public meetings, the City Manager and City Attorney, themselves, could have attended. They didn't need to. Cabinet Member Schwarm, Director of Risk Management, was there to report to them and, through Vina and Sabine, and by mere mention of the law firm our City uses for "labor issues," Liebert, Cassidy and Whitmore, to foil the open process, also failing to provide, despite numerous public info requests, ANY case law or Government Code that would prohibit Council exercising its discretion to allow more open evaluations, with more public input and feedback.
Gaspar brought up, at the second committee meeting, her family corporation's practices. Case law states that public officers are held to a higher standard of transparency. If city officers want expanded rights of privacy, they are free to transfer to the private sector.
The City has been informed by General Counsel of Calaware, Terry Francke, through numerous communications, including one e-mail sent directly from Mr. Francke to Tony Kranz, that although evaluations of executive officers can be done through closed council sessions, Council has the DISCRETION to hold them openly. Mr. Frankce shared precedent that demonstrates no public agency has ever been successfully sued for defamation of character or violations of privacy rights by a public officer as a result of any part of an evaluation process being public.
By not creating a Sunshine Ordinance, as promised to "nail down" how our City is going to DO THE MOST WE CAN, NOT THE LEAST WE CAN to establish more open government, more transparency and more accountability, more honesty,Teresa Barth broke more campaign promises, promises that were the crux of her past platforms. Mayor Barth, as Council's new leader, betrayed the public's trust by violating her word.
Council also should have allowed the public to weigh in on their sudden, unilateral decision that two mayors were appointed simultaneously, to share a one year term. Sabine of course said that wasn't precluded by EMC, after the fact, at the following Council Meeting. The code was changed in 2010, to belatedly make it seem ok that Sheila Cameron had been ousted, so James Bond could say he was Mayor when he ran for State Assembly, and also changed to make more clear that Council, at the time consisting of Stocks, Bond, Houlihan, Gaspar and Barth, would not be bound by what had been an honorary rotational system. During his assembly race, Jim Bond had promised not to run again, for Council, but he "changed his mind on that," as he did, again in 2008.
John Dewald is the developer of Pacific Station, I was shocked to see by the link in the article he is on the board of SDBG.
ReplyDeleteConnection? Development Opportunity? Pacific Station #2?
Have many forgotten the Encinitas Commons proposal? This was a plan to development the Quails Garden Drive corridor with museums, hotels, and other visitor serving amenities. It's not unreasonable or conspiratorial to think that land now zoned for agriculture or open space/park might be "tweaked" in its zoning to allow added usages. Prop. A is an impediment right now, but look to November 2014 for a city sponsored vote to gut it.
DeleteThere already is a museum in that corridor. It's called the San Dieguito Heritage Museum. Also, EUSD has talked about developing some kind of children's type natural museum on their property. The vision report has no mention of hotels. The report was paid for by the Leichtag & Ackerman foundations. And yes, Peder Norby and John Dewald were listed as participants as was Evelyn Weidner and others.
DeleteAs far as Pacific Station goes, it's design followed Transit Oriented Development (TOD) guidelines. Whether or not you think the result was successful, that kind of development isn't going to happen along Quail Gardens Drive.
During discussions of the Encinitas Commons there were suggestions of hotels, specifically on the Golf Course, which is still having economic difficulties. One needs to keep in mind that developers in this town have long range vision and carefully plan to reach their goals. What is put in a report often sounds innocent, but things slip out in discussions and meetings.
DeletePlus, developers are persistent, patient and have deep pockets.
DeleteThis city can't get a already approved hotel built at 101 and LaCosta blvd... What makes you think Quail Gardens will support a hotel?? It won't.
DeleteRead today's Financial times, big story on Chicago pension problems. Coming soon to a calif city near you....
At 4:22 PM. Nowhere in the actual Vision report does the word hotel appear. A lot of things get mentioned in planning type discussions which is what the Vision report resembles but the report had no city sponsorship. Just because something gets mentioned during discussions doesn't mean it has any traction.
DeleteVision report:
DeleteCommercial uses (such as lodging) supportive and consistent with these activities will have been developed within and around the area.
WCV
You're right WCV, my bad. That's what I get for doing a quick search on "hotel" which isn't the document but it's lousy with "lodging". I never gave that document much credence as it struck me as done by someone who jumped in quickly with good intentions, Leichtag, without knowing the lay of the land (no pun intended) here in Encinitas.
DeleteAnyway, it's a classic grand vision report that will only gather dust or what ever the digital equivalent is. Although, the idea of putting in more trails throughout isn't a bad idea. The graphics are nice but the rest is craptacular.
It's not going anywhere even if it does give some developer wet dreams.
9:05 Encinitas Commons- wasn't that a plan Norby was leading with David Meyers or the Eckes? Aren't Meyers and the Eckes one and the same? Isn't this Phony Tony with his deep local roots and Socialist Shaffer with her shoe box living? The only thing this council is interested in sustaining is their pensions and upzoning
ReplyDeleteTony is very good friends with lizbeth ecke even maybe classmates
DeleteGuess I will do an FOI request and see exactly who is on the Cabinet list. And exactly where are those nude spas:)
ReplyDeleteDavid Meyers is head of Carltas, the Eckes development company. If Lisa's a Socialist, she's probably the only one ever to work for SAIC.
DeleteCarltas and other developers like Doug Harwood are always looking to get ag land rezoned. That was the whole thing with Maggie and the clown, they wanted her off the council so they'd have an absolute majority and could reverse that public referendum on the Ecke land.
http://www.ballpublishing.com/GrowerTalks/ViewArticle.aspx?articleid=19190
And more..
Deletehttp://www.gpnmag.com/ecke%E2%80%99s-proposition-defeated
David Meyers isn't head of Carltas, although he is married to Lizbeth Ecke. Didn't see the socialist side of Shaffer, although SAIC was the largest employee owned company at one time. Maybe that qualifies as socialism. You know how sneaky they are.
DeleteJohn White is President of Carltas company, Chris Calkins is CEO, and Lizbeth Ecke is Vice- President. David Meyer is married to Lizbeth Ecke. .
Deleteshaffer supported the anarchist movement occupy that destroyed private property, destroyed private businesses, intimidated and bullied private citizens seeking to go to work. she also thinks it is goverments job to provide housing and beach front living to all, redistributive policies and she supports parking meters to increase fees on residents and raise more money for government.
DeletePhony Tony is a former school mate of Liz Ecke, it is my understanding that since being elected Tony has been invited into the inner circle of local developers. I also understamd phony tony wants to get re elected to get a pension. Deep local roots to developers.
I guess it is true what you are all saying about Tony. He is hanging around with the the Eckes, and other people of monetary, as well as political influence. I wouldn't be surprised that if he ran again, he would be a bit more pro development. He has already stated that certain buildings should be able to go up 3 stories without voting on it, as Prop A says we must. Look for the Council to try to find ways around Prop. A. We had better watch closely, as they are holding their cards tight.
DeleteKrappy Kranz is a blight on the city. The video the pro-developers used in the 2010 election appear to reflect who Krappy really is. Not is he only apparently angry and a bully, but it looks like he is a sell out, a tool, a prop.
DeleteRemember Kranz going down as a citizen asking for the road report to be released? Now he backs Vina hiring Rutan for 50K behind closed doors. How about Kranz saying he was for resident rights? There Krappy is voting against residents at Desert Rose.
Kranz reflects why our country and our kids are truly in trouble. Incompetent self seeking egoists run while the rest of us work.
Krappy's deep local roots now that he is elected is to the Ecke's, Harwood's, Meyer's and Stock's of the world. I know Krappy to have no principles. It is my understanding Krappy needs to get re-elected to get a pension becuase he couldn't make it in the private sector with the rest of us.
See how it works................Dump Krappy
I've never understood this visceral hatred by some of the Eckes. I'm not part of their inner circle or even their outer circle. I don't always agree with their positions. But this attitude that they are a scourge to Encinitas is just mind boggling.
DeleteDump Krappy-
DeleteI did not say there was hatred of the Eckes. They can live their lives within the confines of the citywide zoning that protects all of our property values and property rights.
Then again they can choose to use their inside access and money to rewrite zoning laws or receive variances and special treatment to make more money and take away from everyone else.
Example? Carltas/Ecke gets a nice $1M loan, deferred, payments deferred at ERGA while taxpayers get an increased in Mello Roos. Oh, how about inperpetuity? Doesn't apply to the Eckes.
Krappy fooled all of us. He was a no body, now he is a sell out. Dump Krappy.
What good is it to sell your soul for power & money? Here these folks now have to live in a town where they are despised and laughed at. The comments I hear about council these days are not good.
DeleteThat never stopped Jerome Stocks...
DeleteIf it weren't the lack of certain words, I'd think 8:03 was Mike Andreen. Maybe he changed his writing style.
DeleteSo you're saying you want the pro developer candidates like Jerome back in the fold to team up with Kristin and Mark?
Clearly you don't understand how density bonus works, it's a state law that enforces a mandatory increase in allowable units on a development when the developer calls it in.
Tony has nothing to do with it, those kind of projects have been approved for years. What we need is some changes to city code that redefines what's allowable on certain property types.
There was a discussion on here a week ago about the Fulvia development. I would reference that if you have any questions.
The pension that Tony would get a 5 years is miniscule. And BTW, he has a job. It's dude's like you who are going to get us back to a majority of Jerome, Kristin and MArk.
But maybe that's your goal, to slander Tony, Teresa etc. We had to put up with about 16 years of team developer in this town, with the exception being with Sheila Cameron, Holz and briefly Christy (If you want a sellout, it's Christy).
If that's what you want, I recommend a move to Carlsbad...
Meyers works for Carltas, whether on or off the books. He has been seen with Jerome Stocks many times. Nothing wrong with that, people can do what they want. But development is what he does, and sympathetic candidates are what he's looking for. Follow the money.
DeleteA little light reading on Meyer:
http://voiceofsandiego.org/2008/09/23/in-leucadia-a-subdivision-half-built/
http://www.theleucadiablog.com/2008/06/nantucket-leucadia-plot-thickens.html
11:14 written like a developer! Nice of you to get a pro-development council just like the days of old. How do we know this?
DeleteDesert Rose- Shaffer, Barth and Phony Tony vote as Stocks Dalager would have.
Prop A- Barth, Shafffer and Phoyn Tony not only vote as Stocks would have, but they also use a campaign of misinformation paid for by developers- Just as Stocks and Dalager would have. So where are your facts? Where are the votes to support your claim they are different?
I don't know if Phony has a private sector job.................where is he working?
You might call getting your health insurance paid for by taxpayers for life minuscule but given a premium of $600 a monthy at $7,200 a year x 30 years equals a payout of about $216,000 or close to a quarter million dollars. See how it works, Jeez, maybe that excplains his Prop A chane and his Desert Rose Vote.
Dump Krappy!
I'm not a developer. But I never guessed that so many of you built your own homes. They couldn't have been built by developers because I'm sure most of you would never stoop to buying a house that a disreputable developer built, which from the comments here are all developers. Oh maybe some of you had a friend who was a developer but they were probably the exception.
DeleteEncinitas where developers are unwelcomed because we build our own!
And no, I'm not Mike Andreen either or any of the usual suspects.
11:14 - you are using false logic when you ask "So you're saying you want the pro developer candidates like Jerome back in the fold to team up with Kristin and Mark?"
DeleteIt's not a black and white choice. One could also pick "none of the above," if we have alternative, qualified candidates. Only Alex Fidel has declared, so far. He would be far better than anyone who has lied by both omission and commission.
The fact is that Barth, Kranz and Shaffer betrayed those who pushed hard to get them elected in order that Lisa, Tony, and yes, Mark, could dump Stocks. They did help us to dump Stocks, for which I am grateful.
But Barth, Shaffer and Kranz have NOT kept their promises. Barth and Shaffer also wanted to eliminate non "group" time donation for individual speakers during discussion of agenda items.
We were also very grateful Jim Bond finally retired. Bond started out much better, as a fiscal conservative. He got progressively worse and worse on his decisions, until at the end, he just went along with the majority of Stocks, Dalager (voted out in disgrace) and himself, not standing up for some better decisions (votes) he had made only six months before.
With respect to Tony Kranz; people willing to collect signatures aren't going to recall him. He and Shaffer have safe seats for the next election. Personally, I feel that a sitting council member should not be allowed to run for mayor. We could change EMC to include that provision, as well.
If we elect you for four years, don't say, well, that was just a stepping stone, and see if your ego can "do better."
But no need to distract the discussion away from those actions we can take, what we CAN do. We can make a decision not to elect someone who has shown poor leadership, and who has broken promises, snubbed past friends, as mayor. We can elect someone willing to re-evaluate Gus Vina and Glenn Sabine through a more open process.
Lisa Shaffer has suggested that we should study charging for public parking. That's an awful idea, in my opinion, except within public parking lots, paid for and operated by the City. In fact, some lots could be acquired through eminent domain, if that would be for the betterment of the 101 corridor, for instance.
Any permits that are granted should take into account the amount of public parking available. If there is insufficient parking, then some kind of a shuttle service could be provided to parking, leased from nearby property owners.
REally Lynn, how long have you been attending council meetings in this town.
DeleteOk, if you prefer, "grass roots" candidates like Teresa, Tony and Lisa, rather than "out of town" money candidates like Gaspar, or Fire Union candidates like Muir.
You know the breakdown in this town. The slower growth, non big money camp, of which I count myself, have spent the last 16-20 years fighting the big money from Carltas, developer interests and out of town money that have always supported Jerome, Jim Bond, Danny D, Christy Guerin (other than the first time). The independent people have been candidates like Maggie, Teresa, Rachelle Collier, Dennis Holz etc.
That has general been the dynamic and I can't see it changing.
I will call your bluff on Fidel. Give me five bullet points on why he's better. Just because he's the new horse in the race doesn't mean I should vote for him. All I could tell from his site is he'd like to legalize pot and is against fluoridation. I'd need to hear a lot about his take on local politics to get an understanding.
Jim Bond was shifty, he always stayed on top of public opinion, and was a genius at avoiding bad political heat and trying to say he was for the people of this city.
If you look at the majority of his votes, he voted along the same lines as Jerome the bulk of the time. For full disclosure, Maggie did as well. I never voted for Bond, Jerome, Danny, Gaspar, Muir and never would.
The fun of politics is you're never going to get 100% of what you want. It's a complicated process, and right now with the mayor being elected, and the prop A. brouhaha, it would be tough for anyone. People will always break promises, at least in their supporters minds.
Can we get more open government? Yes, but it won't happen overnight....
Alex Fidel is a bright but immature kid. He has no idea how politics and the real world work. He's basically an anarchist. If by some odd turn of events he were elected, the council members and staff would ostracize him, thereby bringing everyday operation of the City to a standstill.
DeleteEveryday operation is at a standstill now. Potholes in the "new" road overlay on El Camino Real. Hey, Vina and Pruim, three months is enough of trying to avoid the potholes. You made your point. Get some city crew out there to fill in the potholes.
DeleteUm, I don't think potholes on El Cam Real say that everyday operation of the City has stopped dead.
DeleteSit through a strategic planning workshop. Council is brain dead.
Deletenews release:
DeleteCouncil to adopt new city song presented by El Presidente Gus Vina and his Cabinet:
Manana is good enough for me.
1:33 PM
ReplyDeleteVina changed the Encinitas municipal code and created the "Cabinet" term on August 15, 2012 in a report to the city council.
Bottom line is that Vina manipulated the code and the gullible council to approve his new "Cabinet" term. That is why it is "right there" in the Encinitas Municipal Code.
Power grabbing Vina.
I assume you're the same one who posted the 2:09 PM entry above. See my response to it but here I see the added line "Power grabbing Vina". I'm sorry, but you obviously don't know how city government works. Changing headings from "Department Head" to "Cabinet" has no legal effect. Vina doesn't need to change the headings to power grab if he wanted to. In my experience, the change appears to reflect more a feel good attitude, as in we are all a team not just department heads working for a city manager.
DeleteAnyway, calling departments part of a cabinet does nothing.
2:57 PM
DeleteLOL
The gullible council wants to desperately be part of Vina's team. Calling the five elected people a council does nothing.
Vina had to change the headings in the municipal code to give him more power. "Look" says the gullible council - it's in the code.
7:09, I can see your tinfoil hat, it matches your straightjacket nicely. Trying to draw someone who's a city council person to a national movement is something team Jerome and Mike Andreen have been pulling in this town for a long time.
DeleteIt's called a smear campaign. Guess what, Lisa and Tony have at least 3 more years. Give them a chance! We had to put up with Jerome and his clown parade for a lot longer....
7:09 try as you might it is a fact that Lisa Shaffer supports the global anarchist movement calling itself occupy. You can name call and make derogatory comments in hopes of covering up fr Shaffer but her ideologies have been exposed. She believes in resdistribution because redistribution is a stated goal of occupy. THis mmenas Shaffer beleives it is ok to take from one hard working and family so that government can give to another.
DeleteLocally that menas Shaffer supports taking the quality of life from residents by telling untruths on the PRop A ballot statement so govenrment can award profits to developers and so called low income housing to others. Shaffer has also supported pensions- not surprising given Shaffer gets a pension herself.
I held my nose and voted for Shaffer and I am sorry I did. She is in my view a socialist at best and a communist at worst. Worst of all she has been ieffectual, told the public untruths and has been a self-promoted with nothing to show for it.
The truth hurts, but we must not look away.
Is this the same Lisa Shaffer who worked for SAIC, known for their work in the defense industry?
DeleteIf you want to talk Prop A, fine, that's a local topic. BTW, the local gov. has been awarding profits to developers like David Meyer, Carltas, the Eckes etc. for most of the last 20 years. Where have you been, living in Carlsbad? Jerome, Jim Bond, Danny D, Christy, Chuck Duvivier worked hard to make sure the developers got their way.
People like you who waste all your time labeling someone a communist, in the manner of ofJoe McCarthy, the John Birch Society or other right wing demagogues do us all a disservice. We have real issues to discuss in our town, density, traffic, drinking in the downtown area and more. Pensions being the big one I forgot.
Pensions that were voted in under Jerome's watch. If you want to compare one year of Lisa vs. 12-16 of Jerome and Jim, so be it.
Because either way, she's got 3 more years to try and get something done.
In the meantime, you can get to work on Kristin's mayoral campaign, she has to have someone to tell her what to say, why not you, Joe McCarthy?
A lot of people supported Occupy before it became the filth- and rape-fest that it did. In its beginning, it appeared to be a legitimate movement sparked by outrage at the Wall Street bailouts. I don't believe Shaffer supported Occupy other than in the very beginning.
DeleteShe does seem to support redistribution and social engineering, but those are mainstream Democratic positions.
WCV
Agree, WC. I just think it's got nothing to do with our local range of issues, and I've had to see this nonsense for years from Jerome and the gang. Who doesn't remember the "Maggie embarrassed our city when she picked up a cat in Japan" ploy, or the clown that they hired to stalk her.
DeleteIt's the work of children, stick to the issues, I say. At least Tony read that guy from the bar owners assoc. the riot act the other night. And Lisa did ask for a review on Sabine.
And at least we have some expectations for Teresa, Lisa and Tony. There sure aren't any for Kristin and Mark, other than counting on Kristin to be out of town and Mark to back pensions.
redistribution is not a mainstream democratic position, it is a maintstream communist position. It is time we begin calling ideologies what they are.
DeleteIf as you assert redistribution - the government taking from one family and giving to another family- is a mainstream Democratic Party position then the Democratic party has become the communist party.
11:58 ahhh- excuse me, but when did Barth, shaffer or Kranz call for a forensic accounting of the pension liabilities, a hiring freeze to prevent future pension obligations and a move to end pensions in Encinitas? right, they haven't.
Delete11:42-
DeleteYou can call me names all you want, it does not take away from the facts. Shaffer supported Occupy. She 'marched' in teh Gaslamp to support Occupy and she 'marched' on Encinitas city hall to support Occupy.
Shaffer does not want to solve the real issues- upzoning- she not only voted against A and actively opposed it with the same hihg density developers Jerome supported but Shaffer told untruths and put her name on the untrue ballot statement.
Real issues like community particiaption? Shaffer rcommended the council discuss limiting time dontations and public involvment.
Open government- shaffer pulled an Orwellian pig like manuveur turning a blind eye to Vina's use pf $50K in taxpayer money to pay for a bogus Rutan and Tucker report to be used as propaganda.
The environment? Shaffer stood by while the council voted to destroy wetlands at Desert Rose.
Community Character- Shaffer is working with developers to present an upzoning overlay to remove resident control and reinstate government control- hoping no one will notice.
I supported Lisa Shaffer with time and money- she has turned out to be a failure. What should she do?
1. lead an effoprt against Sacramento to defeat density bonus based on bogus forecasts and by not upzoning any current commerical parcels to residential.
2. Immediately call for a hiring freeze to prevent future pension obligations.
3. Immediately move that the city appoint KEvin Cummins to lead a citiens forensic acccount committee to review the city books on unfunded road, pension, park and ERGA liabilities.
Shaffer has shown me who she is. You might look away but I won't.
Drive her out.
DeleteDump Shaffer!!
Kevin cummins is part of the state pension problem,let's not put the fox in charge of the chickens!
Delete1:43, sorry, I was at a meeting of the local commintern. We were planning the May day march! Wetlands? Only a communist cares about the environment! You'd let a wetlands stand in the way of Capitalist enterprise, horrors.
DeleteLet's see Gaspar and Muir also voted to allow the Desert Rose development, are they Commies as well? Does this mean we have 5 commies on the council?
I mean, come on! Being disappointed is part of the Democratic process. If you can't handle it, maybe you shouldn't vote. BTW, it was known before the election that she supported Occupy, so maybe you should do a little checking next time.
The funny thing is, I too would like to see a hiring freeze and the end of the density bonus. To be fair, a lot of other people have come before Lisa who could be taking up the cause of getting rid of the density bonus.
I think in the short term, a lot more creative approach will be needed. We need a way to make adding that Density bonus less attractive, and I think this was brought up in the Fulvia discussion.
As for the forensic audit, both you know and I know Cummins isn't going to be brought in to do a review, and neither is anyone else. Cummins because of his abrasive manner, and B.) no city wants and outside auditor checking their books. If you want that, you better get a slate of 3 people so you have the majority.
See how actual politics work? I mean, you and I have some of the same goals, but I've been working on campaigns in this town the last 16-20 years, and believe me, I've seen way worse than what we've got now.
If you're going to hold Lisa to the standards above, I suggest you do the same for the other 4 council people.
Again, she's got 3 more years, let's see what happens..
3:07 spell out exactly what you mean if you're going to attempt to slander someone. Do you know exactly what the terms of his pension is, if he even has one?
DeleteKevin cummins is a joke at city hall oh ya he won the law suit and did nothing absolute nothing it didn't change a thing 100000 K for nothing.the word on the street is he got large kick back from the lawyer.
DeleteI won't look away, either, 1:43.
DeleteI think Kevin Cummins COULD be brought in if Shaffer, Barth and Kranz agreed to employ him to oversee a forensic audit. He isn't a joke to me or anyone I know. He and others, such as Bob Bonde, and other key current and past members of the ETA have given a great deal of time to our City, working toward a forensic audit and pension reform. This project could happen, but so far, has not, with our current failures in leadership.
Anon 3:10, everything that you write is questionable since Mark Muir recused himself from the Desert Rose issue and didn't actually vote. With respect to your opinion about Kevin Cummins' abrasive manner, could you provide guidance for how he should act when he asked for information to which he had a legal right, and tried over a number of years to work with the city in every way possible before going to court and winning the case.
DeleteThere is an undeniable pattern that citizens, judges, state agencies, and the Sacramento City Council that gave Gus Vina a vote of no confidence identified performance issues with Gus Vina and the people he has had in his charge. Our city council majority and Mayor Barth have lost tremendous credibility among former supporters over Gus Vina and his empowerment and support of unacceptable professional standards among staff.
Save what he says about himself and what trolls on this blog say in support of him, the Encinitas citizens who have been following the last year have little faith in Gus Vina either.
3:10 because you lack principles don't ask us to join you. You are a Shaffer apologist, own it. You make excuses for Shaffer, own it. You look the other way at her failures, own it.
DeleteI look at the truth. I helped Shaffer get elected. she has been a failure. she supports goverment taking from one family to pay another. She supports behind door governance........see Rutan. She supports speading misinformation and falshoods, see Prop A. she supports developers over residents, see Prop a. she supports parking meters to tax residents. You can call me names all you want but Shaffer is Shaffer, a failure and a self seeking politican. She supports Occupy as well. Own it.
Is it any wonder that some of the 28 activists get pissed off when there are over 200 city employees who are paid to work for us, yet the activists have to go down on their days off and uncover the truth? By accepting this level of work, the city council are telling us that they also have bad standards and/or they are in on the cover ups too.
DeleteShaffer should show how ethical she is and resign.
Delete4:49 I can give him guidance, per me prior "Kill them with kindness" approach I detailed in our Toyota Carlsbad discussion.
DeleteYour mistaking a discussion about interpersonal tact (my side) with the cities responsibility to release information. I backed KEvin in his request. And btw, I'm the one asking other not to slander the guy for where he works.
I'm fighting for responsible discourse on this blog, and you have entries like the above that accuse Kevin of taking a kickback. IF you're going to bring up something like that, prove it with links, or shut the hell up.
It's up to Kevin to see if he would want to get involved. If you talk to him, let us know what he says.
And if it makes you feel better, I'm not a Vina supporter either.
5:47. You and I both supported Shaffer and voted for her. Both of us are disappointed, you more than I. Let's agree to disagree on the rest.
DeleteI'm not on here to call your names, but I'm trying to point out through absurd humour that calling people a "commie" gets us nowhere.
Let's have a rational discussion. It's 3 years from now, who is one of your proposed candidates for Lisa and Tony's spots. There's no wrong answer.
Because let's be honest, no one is resigning, there have been no crimes committed. So we're talking about 3 years from now on Mark, Lisa and Tony. We're one year out on Kristin and Teresa for Mayor, assuming they both run.
If you want to go all out on rooting out Commies and talking about Occupy or other past events, I salute your effort.
I'm moving forward to issues that can be solved, like the park runoff question...
As someone who isn't fond of Kevin Cummins and thought the whole release the draft effort was a waste of time and money, I nonetheless am in total agreement with 7:03 PM about attacking him. Don't just drop unsubstantiated rumors about anyone here no matter which side they're on. It doesn't help anyone here.
DeleteI disagree. The '"whole release the draft effort" was not a waste of time. It revealed that the city was hiding information that showed the tens of millions of dollars the city was behind in street maintenance. It's only gotten worse since the judge' decision. It also showed that the claim that city was in excellent financial condition to be a lie. Add in the unfunded pension liability, and it explains Vina's pellmell rush to increase city revenues. And what did he do? He borrowed more money instead of reducing expenses and cutting back on expensive capital projects.
DeleteBTW, Kevin's lawyer worked on contingency. Kevin paid the filing fees with contributions from others added in. Sadly the lawyer died after winning the case. He was one of the best defenders of the California Public Records Act.
the city tried to hide the report under Stocks. Just like Vina and the council under Barth and shaffer hid hiring Rutan and Tucker to spread misinformation on Prop a. Just like the city under Barth and Shaffer were fined 400K for illegal discharge. Barth and Shaffer are no different then Stocks. Very disappointing. It is who they are.
Delete7:07 Communism is alive and well in the USA and Encinitas. Communism is the ideology of the goverment controlling the quality of life of each resident. It takes away free will and self reliance. It uses force, laws and propagand. It takes liberty away a little at a time until it is gone.
DeleteProp A, UN Agenda 21, Upzoning, High Density transit centers, pension for a few, entitlemnts for the many, are all goverments ways of imposing goverment over freedom and self reliance. It must be met with the ideology of freedom, liberty and a goverment of for and by the people.
Barth and Shaffer turned a blind eye to Vina hiring Rutan. Shaffer barth and the others opposed A and sided with out of townvelites over citizens, Barth and Shaffer refuse to confront Sacramento or Sandag over bogus forecasts.
I know where I stand. If you don't know where you stand you will fall for everything.No Joke.
8:17, I applaud everyone's effort on the draft, from Kevin on down. A lot of people volunteered their time to shine the light.
DeleteBang your anti-Communist pots!
DeleteBut only after you bang your Anti-Socialist pot...
Delete9:54
DeleteProp A is pretty far from communism. It was voted on by the people and passed. Prop A better gives the people the right to vote on how their community is developed and not the government. It takes that power away from 5 people and gives it to the voters. That's democracy. Design a five story structure that fits in Encinitas, is beautiful, has redeeming value (and plenty of parking!) and it will be approved. Design a large building where its already congested with inadequate parking and you've just helped Agenda 21 get closer to its goals putting everyone on bicycles. (Not to mention built a sturcture that will likely go bankrupt). Prop A is we the people in action instead of we the 5 people. I don't see how you can stir it into the recipe of your communism cake.
Fred- No one said Prop A was communism. However the council's opposition to A raises interesting questions. Such as
Delete1. Communism uses state run propaganda to mislead and misinform the public. Vina along with the council used a state paid for 50K Rutan and Tucker report in an attempt to mislead the public to vote against their right to self determination and to empower the state.
2. Communism uses force to take from one family and give to another. In downtown Encinitas the state rewrote zoning laws that have in the eyes of many local resident destroyed their quality of life. This 'taking' happened becauyse the state in some insrances called / used state laws.
3. Communism writes news laws to reduce individual rights and empower the state to control quality of life. In California the State has written enws laws that empower thate empower the state and reduce individual rights. See Desert Rose, residents bought property to live in the country. The state rewrote density laws to empoewr government. Lawyers like Marco Gonzalez then argued against the rights of individuals using the courts and new laws written by government as the tool and the weapon.
Actually you're talking more about Stalinism that communism is any of its "pure forms".
DeleteI would actually argue that it's more about unfettered capitalism via business utilizing their power to get beneficial laws passed.
Who got the density bonus law passed in Sacto? My guess would be developers, and I'm pretty sure I'm right.
So I agree with fred, the initiative process is a way for the people to counteract the power of big business in alliance with the state, at times. Of course this can go wrong, a la prop. 13.
The big problem is this: Badly written laws = bad result. The Density bonus laws were at the very least poorly written, allowing developers to exploit the loophole. The loophole needs to be closed.
Marco actually advocated for the individual, just not the individuals who are home owners around desert rose.
Don't get me wrong, I don't support that development, but everyone is in their right there to advocate their cause, but the developers have the law on their side.
The bottom line is that law has to be changed. I can't hold the current council any more to the fire than past councils who've let developments go through because of density bonus. The law is the law, until it's changed...
BTW, our new motto is "Better Fred, than Red"..
DeleteThe Density Bonus law was not poorly written. The developers who wrote it and lobbied for it, including our own David Meyer, got exactly what they wanted. It was only poorly written for the average citizen.
DeleteWhat have our council and our city manager done to change the law? We have a paid lobbyist in Sacramento. Their inaction shows speaks volumes.
RIght, that's what I was trying to say, the density bonus, as written is only a bonus for developers. If it was truly written to provide low income housing, perhaps it wouldn't have the loophole. It would probably be a totally different thing.
DeleteThere may be merit in including low income housing in developments in ca, but not as currently written.
To be fair, one city will not get that law changed. It would take a whole coalition throughout the state. I would like to see Encinitas be on that team, along with every other city in the county. Currently there are none on that team.
Concluding that 9:54 and 10:53 above are the same person, you can demonstrate your self-reliance and other beliefs by denying your Social Security benefits, turning down Medicare, and vouching for the fact you've never collected unemployment insurance, got food stamps or benefited from any other local, state or federal social program.
Delete4:06 what is your point?
DeleteCommunism = the state writing laws to reduce individual rights and supercede local resident control. Common core and education? UN Agenda 21 and High density transit centers? Density Bonus and the lie of affordable housing?
Communism = the state taking from one and giving to another. In California 1 million people lost their health plans they liked. The goverment decided their plans were substandard so they took away their plans and forced them to in many instances buy more expensive plans with reduced coverage and loss of doctors. Exempted from this state law were illegal alians who can still not be denied access and care at emergency rooms paid for by those same citizens who had their plans taken away by the government. In California thos same law breaking illegal immigrants expemoted from the government health care law are now entitled to a legal drivers license, despite being illegal- becuase the courts and the state say it is so.
You seem unable to grasp the difference between a government of for and by the people that provides a hand up and a safety net and a government of for and by they government that takes from taxpaeyers to pay for state political pensions and reward state political special interests..........
You might believe you and the government have the right to take from one family and give to another. Don't expect the rest of us to join you.
5:29, he's saying you have no clue what you're talking about. We all benefit from the work of the government at some time or other, that's the point.
DeleteYou're repeating the same stuff over and over about what is called "Zero Sum Game" thinking, if someone else is getting a benefit, you must be losing, that's the concept. Illegal aliens who have no insurance are in great shape somehow because they can wait in line for days at the hospital.
This is where we're at, thanks to NAFTA, corruption in Mexico, and the insatiable need for cheap labor in the U.S.. If you are like most people, you've hired an illegal to do work for you. If so, like Home Depot and countless big corporations in this country, you're part of the problem. Going back to the 40's, this state has treated Latinos like garbage, bringing in workers from MExico at low wages when the demand for labor was high, and booting them out when it wasn't. God forbid we should treat people like humans. You simply can't have it both ways, and every president since Ford has passed on dealing with the issue, including Obama.
Special interests rule ALL of our politics, whether it's the big labor union, to Hollywood filming kickbacks, to companies getting tax wavers to move to a city. This is where we're at, and it's been this way for awhile. We just didn't want to admit during the stock or housing bubbles. Now that white boomers want to retire, people are freaking out, because they don't want "others" to cut into the pie.
If you don't like it here, get the hell out. I love California, warts and all.
Go move to the South if you don't like people of color.
5:58 you reveal your bigotry and intolerance. How do you know what skin color I am? A person for the rule of law and equality for all stands for that. You stand for supporting lawbreakers , it is who you are.
Delete2:57 PM
ReplyDeleteThe "team" is more appropriately called a cabal.
So the city manager and department heads shouldn't work together as a team, whether or not they're called a cabinet, because some, such as yourself, will deem them to be a cabal?
DeleteYeah, that makes perfect sense.
Of course the city manager and the department heads should work together. What most citizens object to is that they are motivated to protect themselves in a collaberative way and not motivated to do the job of protecting the citizens and our tax funds. For example, a citizen's initiative process resulted in Prop A, and Gus Vina spent $50,000 to try to derail this legal effort.
DeleteWhen the City was hit with a $430,000 wetlands violation for Rossini Creek, the "cabinet" coordinated on how to cover this up. How do we know? Both Gus Vina and Glenn Pruim were named on complaints. Don't you think they may have had a few conversations in order to keep it under wraps for more than a year? Their solution was to keep it hidden and hire Marlena Medford using taxpayers dollars to be their PR person. See how it works. It is not about being collaberative to protect our city and citizens' interests. It is about spending our money for personal ass-coverage and job security. They should all be fired.
So when will you bang your pots and drive them out???
DeleteThe city discovered and notified the California Regional Water Quality Control Board of both discharges. It wasn't until November 21 that the Board issued the complaint.
DeleteWhile the complaint for Rossini Creek has more to do with the discharge into San Elijo Lagoon, how is it that a creek in a semi-arid region, not more than a few miles long, has water in it that can sustain fish?
DeleteIf we're all about natural habitat, Rossini Creek isn't it. I like it but it's fed off the landscape irrigation from the surrounding homes. In Arizona they call them washes as they only have water in them when it rains.
This isn't meant to downplay the discharges but lets put the creek in perspective.
Read the complaint! The reason that they are being charged punitive damages is because there was the appearance of a cover up and the straw devices appear to have been put in place after the damage was allowed to happen. There were also letters from other contractors who bid on the project and pointed out that the contractor awarded did not have hazmat certification. In addition, no samples of the discharge were captured by our city--causing the appearance of more cover up. Also, the first letter to Gus Vina was from November 2012! Fish are not the only thing living in the wetlands, city employees.
DeleteBarth. Gaspar, Muir, Socialist Shaffer and phony tony are not interested in sustaining the environment, they are interested in sustaining their jobs and pensions- tell your neighbors, vote all 5 out
DeleteNote to you, Shaffer, Muir and Kranz have 3 years left on their term. Might get a little tiring to keep shouting that for the next 3 years.
DeleteBTW, if we vote them all out, who are we voting in, hopefully not FOJ (Friends of Jerome).
Vote all 5 out? Vote all 5 out? That is THE best idea! Tell your neighbors and spread the word! Worst is the one that betrayed voters.
DeleteLots of newbies to our political process this time around, we'll see if they even turn out to vote next time..
DeleteHow did fish get in Rossini Creek in the first place?
DeleteWhere in the complaint does it say there was an appearance to cover-up? It says there was a failure to enforce city code and to provide proper oversight and take proper corrective action. There is no mention of cover-up that i can see. State the page number or section.
DeleteOf course, there is nothing in the complaint. The coverup was at the city level. The first letter from the Water Board was sent to the city in January 2013. Nary a word leaked out until some alert citizens broke the news to the city council, and it became public in October 2013. The council hurriedly held a closed session. In December there was an "informational" agenda items, but no council member uttered a single word. There was only a short, sketchy report by Public Works director Pruim, who said everything had been corrected and done correctly.
DeleteThe complaint was kept "hidden" for almost a year. This is the coverup. The city may be on the hook for $430,000, and the public should have been told in January.
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Time to rid us of the head of this ill willed Cabal.
ReplyDeleteLeichtag's Farley has told a number of people he would like to see a convention ucenter as part of the plan to "improve" Encinitas for us poor, uncivilized masses. A hotel would go with it.
ReplyDeleteKranz, who is very friendly with Farley from years past, thinks Farley "has some good ideas that would require up zoning."
Never say "never."
Is Farley the guy smoozing the council for a 5 story boutique Hotel by the W or Starwood downtown? More bottle service for Phony Tony, Bar Czar Marco and out of town developers?
DeleteKeith Harrison's big plans for a "nice, boutique hotel" (Dody Crawford) - so far - by Prop A,
DeleteFarley is some kind of publicity schmoozer for the Leichtag bunch, but I'm sure someone else can supply his real title.
Meant to say: Harrison's big plans in Encinitas, not downtown, were thwarted by A. That is, until he figures out a way around the roadblock with council assistance, of course.
DeleteFarley's official title is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Leichtag Foundation.
DeleteHarrison owns the properties between 101 and 3rd St. across from the thrift shop, fire station and residences on the south side of C St. Of the four residences on 3rd between C and the south side of Cottonwood Creek canyon, he owns the southern and northernmost. Other people own the two in between. Harrison also owns the north corner of Jasper and 101 where Ipe, Surfy and the gallery rent. He also owns the north corner of Jupiter and 101 across from Just Peachy. Now you know why the council and staff suck up to him.
DeleteHe owns the yoga studio and the bakery building? Namaste to him...
DeleteThose two businesses rent from him, as do three from Jasper and 101 north and however many there are in the large space between 3rd and 101 across from the Moonlight parking lot. Presumably, that space was/is to be the site of his hotel, convenient to the freeway, beach and our vibrant downtown.
DeleteSounds like a winner of an idea. I vote yes.
DeleteOK, Keith, thanks for your comment!
DeleteOther than the stink flower which blooms every 100 years, is there anything at QBG worth getting excited about??
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a point here, I just wanted to say the word "cabal".
ReplyDeleteCitizens want a council that will "play ball" not cabal.
ReplyDeletePlay ball does rhyme with cabal....
ReplyDeleteYou can watch the council on Wednesdays on cabal tv.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they all practice Kaballah?
DeleteLynn the failures are on this blog .The blog to nowhere
ReplyDeleteYou mean the nowhere city manager trying to fail another California city.
ReplyDelete9:18 - under direction of the city council...
ReplyDeleteEveryday operation is at a standstill now. Potholes in the "new" road overlay on El Camino Real. Hey, Vina and Pruim, three months is enough of trying to avoid the potholes. You made your point. Get some city crew out there to fill in the potholes.
ReplyDeleteWho run Barter Town?
ReplyDeleteSpecial interests run Barter Town.
Bleat Bleat Bleat = sheep
ReplyDeleteTwo go in, one comes out!
ReplyDeleteCould one of you commie hatin freedom lovers name me one country that doesn't "re-distribute" the wealth. Please educate us on your every man is an island utopias, then go live in one of them.Try Somolia.
ReplyDeleteLOL, yes, we've been getting a little far afield, haven't we? America's gotten some strange ideas in the last 10 years. Funny what a black president will do to people's minds, even though the guy grew up with his white grandparents and went to the local private high school. Suddenly socialism and wealth distribution are the words of the day, despite this not being a part of what's happening.
ReplyDeleteThere's no substantial differences in our two parties, yet we fight like cats and dogs over it their supposed evils. We don't vote in our local elections, but when we do, we want everything exactly how we had it in our minds, and any candidate who doesn't deliver that is a traitor and should be dragged through the streets.
I think as Encinitans, all we're asking for is new development that tries to fit the character of existing neighborhoods, without shoehorning in too many houses. I live near one of the new developments off Vulcan, and so far, so good. There will be many new houses, but so far, it looks reasonable. This is unlike up the street off Eolus, where the refused to use a watering truck and blew toxic dirt around for months.
The elephant in the room is the STATE MANDATED density bonus, which has been a thorn in our side for the last 15 years. But suddenly, our current council is on the hook to change this law for the whole state.
We've got to work together people, come up with some ideas on how to convince developers to not go to the density bonus. And to be honest, most of the developable land is under the plow right now. If you live next to a lot, it's either now occupied, or being built on. If you live next to an empty lot, raise your hand.
Next to Leucadia liquor is the only spot I can think of that will be changed when those folks leave. The time to deal with all of this was 15 years ago, not now...
Let's try and work together and bring out some ideas in the new year, instead of just bitching...
No difference between Dems and Reps? Don't tell that to the ghosts of Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt, or to the still-alive bodies of George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
DeleteAnd while you're at it, check this:
http://www.amazon.com/Bulls-Bears-Ballot-Box-Performance/dp/1599322889
Reps are basically about selfishness and greed, taking for themselves and denying everybody else. Dems are more charitable, more other-oriented, more socially and environmentally conscious, less destructive.
The density bonus law was written by developers for themselves. It has nothing to do with affordable housing. Convincing developers not to go for density bonus is the same as persuading them to be happy with less profit.
Not that substantial, not like in other countries. Ask someone from another country, they'll tell you our parties are indistinguishable to them.
DeleteWhen did people from other countries become authorities on American political parties? Since Republicans and Democrats are almost identical, that must be why Republicans have obstructed the Democratic president and party for the past five years. It must also be why Fox News is going out of business.
DeleteDid you ever watch professional wrestling?
DeleteHulk Hogan and Rowdy Roddy Piper were enemies.
Kinda like that.
WCV
Had the 2000 election been honest, Al Gore would have been inaugurated in January 2001 and probably again in January 2005. It's likely that 9/11 wouldn't have happened, and the US certainly wouldn't have gone into Iraq and Afghanistan. Thousands of American lives and about a hundred thousand Iraqi and Afghani lives would have been spared. Is the economic cost of those overseas tragedies up to a trillion dollars now? There would have been Democratic administrations from early 2001 to early 2009. Domestic and foreign policies would have been different, that is to say better for many more people. There would now be more sitting Democratic-leaning federal judges. There probably would have been and still be more Democratic governors, Senators and Congressmen and women. The economic crash of 2007-8 and its devastating consequences would probably not have happened or would have been far less severe. Much more serious steps would have been taken to slow or arrest global warming and climate change. The country and the world would be in a much better place. So, no, I don't think the differences between Republicans and Democrats are so trivial as professional wrestling.
DeleteFox news is going out of business? what planet are you from? what are you smoking? Fox is the #1 watched cable news program in the country, incredibly profitable. MSNBC is in 10th, a few hundred thousand watch Chris Matthews, or the others like Maddow. CNN sucks so bad they are changing away from news and going to entertianment.
DeleteYou are wrong, the facts do not support you. It is ok to say you have a different view or ideology, but FOX news is ranked #1
Al ' I invented the internet1 Gore is a liar. Gore lectures on gloabla warming and carbon footprints and the flies around in his private jet. He lectures on electric cars and then drives around in limo's. He left office worth 2Million and is now worth 500Million. His investments in failed solar energy companies that netted him millions before the crash is disgusting. By the way, I supported President Obama before he revealed himself to be a liar. More over I sent Obama the candidate money, what a waste. By the way, where did global warming go? no one talks about it. Could it be becuase the earth is factually getting colder? How about that ice pack that grew this year by some 30%? oh right, now ti's climate change so al the lair Gore can get more money trading non existent carbon credits. Don't let a thing like facts get in your way in the new year
Delete5:46 you reveal your racism and bigotry. President Obama is a liar. The poor are more poor today then when hej took office while his friends at the unions and special interest lobbyists have cleaned up. The world is less safe because of his failed policies. The economy sucks, college kids have been enslaved by Obama's bubble to pay for tuition allowing schools to jack up rates. AQ is stronger today vkilling more homosexuals and subgugating woman in the middle east. These facts are not in dispute. Rather than admit the facts you label those with oppos8ng views racist, it is you who is the bigot. Own it.
Delete12:40,
DeleteWait a minute. Al Qaeda is on Hulk Hogan's side and only did 9/11 because Rowdy Roddy Piper was President?
I see!
WCV
Where does George "The Animal" Steele land in this discussion? I love the way I got called a racist and I didn't even vote for Obama.
DeleteIt's a lonely world over here in independent land.
Guess what, Obama is president for 3 more years, and there's nothing any of us can do about it. But don't worry, in three more years you'll probably have a Republican president, and nothing will change there either.
Sorry you sent Obama that money, I didn't....
-Jimmy "Super Fly" Snooka
12:41, viewership for CNN, MSNBC and Fox were all down, there was no election this year.
Deletehttp://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/nov-2013-ratings-fox-news-primetime-2-among-all-cable-networks_b205176
Except we have enough affordable housing that we don't even have to be under this affordable housing mandate. This proves the council wants it or they would be working in that direction. As long as this city is only about pension greed and hanging on to a job until retirement nothing significant will change, the attitude at city hall is in a deep rut. We need firings and new hiring. It is up to the tax payers to make this clear or 2014 will bring more of the same.
ReplyDeleteThanks. 5:46 PM was sounding way to reasonable. Gotta steer this sucker back to fantasy land.
DeleteFantasy land is at 505 S. Vulcan
DeleteI agree that the voters will have their say this year. Not sure how within our dreaded current setup with the state, we convince them to let in all the so called "illegal" units and let us use those as part of the allotment. I personally am for this, but would love to know how it could happen.
DeleteAnd for the record, I think anyone with a job right now ANYWHERE is trying to hang on, because there's bias against anyone over 40 right now because of supposed insurance cost s and other perceptions about retirement.
So think twice before you make a statement like that, your ass might be next...
Good comments 6:15. we have an unholy alliance between developers who say that it is the state's fault or that it is too late to do anything, and the city workers who claim that they can't do anything but show up to collect their paychecks and pensions because "they will get sued." Add to that an experienced city manager who has run 2 other cities into the ground and a council that seems to accept all of the lies that staff and developers feed them. Finally, we have a mayor who is always looking for more new ribbon cutting opportunities.
ReplyDeleteWho is looking out for Encinitas taxpayers??
What happened to the Peter Principal? Vina is several tiers past his incompetency..
Delete