A handful of protesters rallied outside Encinitas City Hall on Wednesday to demand the city restore civil liberties and end what they called the "police state."True dat. And don't forget the Leucadia Big Brother Cam.
The protest was led by Alex Fidel, whose Facebook page says he is running for mayor. Fidel claims Encinitas and other cities get money from the Department of Homeland Security which they use to "beef up" police and fire departments.
"And it doesn't come for free. It comes with strings attached," said Fidel, who claims one of those strings is police militarization. "We don't want our children to grow up in a war zone on their streets."
Fidel used an incident from last year as an example. In that situation, a young man shot and injured two San Diego County Sheriff's deputies who were investigating a stolen car. Within minutes, the neighborhood filled with police from several surrounding agencies. The SWAT team was called in, and hours later, 22-year old Evan Kwik turned the gun on himself.
Fidel said there might be criminal neglect on the part of deputies for not calling in the psychiatric emergency response team, which is trained to deal with people with mental health issues.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Mayoral candidate Alex Fidel highlights police state
10 News:
Hey Alex.... Shoot a cop, expect to die. What part of that don't you understand ??
ReplyDeleteThe part where the Sheriff mishandled the whole event.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the whole thing could have been prevented if Erik hadn't shot two cops....
DeleteI'm not exactly sure what point Mr. Fidel is trying to make, but I'm fairly confident that he will not be a factor in the election. I just don't see him as a vote splitter -
ReplyDelete- The Sculpin
Isn't one kook enough? Of course, he is no more or less sane than the majority of commentors on this blog...
ReplyDeleteHow is the Sheriff's response tied in any way to Homeland Security money and the "police state" it's supposed to be creating? You think the response would have been any different before 9/11? Kwik already tried to kill two deputies.
ReplyDeleteThis guy in Looney. Where does he get this clap trap?
ReplyDeleteThis description doesn't sound like they get involved directly (i.e. "talk him down") in armed standoff situations.
ReplyDeleteFrom the County of San Diego Health and Human Services website:
Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) information provided by: County of San Diego Mental Health Services
PERT provides emergency assessment and referral for individuals with mental illness who come to the attention of law enforcement through phone calls from community members or in-field law enforcement request for emergency assistance. PERT pairs licensed mental health clinicians with uniformed law enforcement officers/deputies. Clinicians work out of individual law enforcement divisions and respond in the field with their law enforcement partners. The PERT team evaluates the situation, assesses the individual's mental health condition and needs, and, if appropriate, transports individual to a hospital or other treatment center, or referees him/her to a community-based resource or treatment facility.
Oh boy, now the fun starts! There is no way on Earth that Alex Fidel will be elected to anything public. But with his flair for the dramatic, he will spice up the campaign running up to the November 2014 elections in Encinitas. Expect many more nutty polemics from him. Despite their conspiratorial and anarchistic character, they will provoke response among the public and challenge other candidates to explain and defend their own positions. And Alex won't accept any mealy-mouthed statements. Candidates, prepared to get nailed!
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteI think many people have given up on the hope of good government, but at least we will be entertained!
WCV
Really? We're so disgusted with politics that we're willing to engage the sideshow aspect?
DeleteBottom line, Fidel doesn't get elected. We have local issues to be addressed (And yes, I feel like a total old man for thinking about this kid).
The kwik shooting to me is not so much about the police tactics, response etc, but more about the inadequacy of our ability to treat mental health issues in our citizenry.
In this case, the mother was aware of here son's issues, tried to get him help, and was unable to due to all the legal hoops.
See linkage below:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Michelle-Kwik-Evan-Kwik-Encinitas-Standofff-Lauras-Law-198348471.html
I actually think Fidel is doing the mentally ill a serious disservice by trying to portray the incident as evidence of a police state. He's drawing the wrong conclussion in this case (although I am not a fan of the increased homeland security money, mostly because it's a waste).
Interesting that Cindy Sheehan, of Peace and Freedom fame was there. Ever since 9/11, there's been an interesting link between some progressives and the wingnut community. Interesting.
But I digest. Mental illness is around us all the time, check it out the next time you're driving in downtown Encinitas or in the Encinitas library. When are we going to wake up and start making a change?
We could close the library... That's a change.
DeleteYeah, a bad one. Libraries are one of our great resources, especially that one...
DeleteCheck out thelecadiablog for last week. An awesome pianist performed at the Library. Not many stages get to have the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop.
DeleteDidn't Fidel speak before the council not too long ago and mention that he was still living at home. which isn't unusual for a 21 year old?
ReplyDeleteYes, let's make sure that Encinitas government provide us with high entertainment values.
Does Tony Kranz still live at home?
ReplyDeleteI don't know. Does he?
DeleteAre you suggesting he lives in a car?
DeleteHe's Cap'n Kinko on the three wheel bike! He is practicing his Travolta disco moves in his new threads and doo...
DeleteAlex Fidel has spoken at council meetings many times. He sets up his own camera and videos his appearances. His being in the mayoral race is great for two reasons: It will make the campaign and the candidate forums enormously entertaining, and Alex will hold all the other candidates' feet to the fire. Let the games begin!
ReplyDeleteYeah, except it's not a game......
DeleteOf course it is. It's a political game just as the administration of, say, professional football, basketball and baseball are political games. Maybe you should regard local politics and the labeling of it more broadly and less literally.
Delete3:13 makes a lot of good points, however, I would suggest that it is good to have the "legal hoops" in place. Otherwise, anyone, at least under Laura's Law, could be put in jail for even acting strange. There are no mental health facilities in California that deal with "before something happens with a mentally ill person." Reagan, when he was governor, shut down all of the large psychiatric facilities, stating they were inhumane.. He said he would put into place small group homes, but that never happened. So, they shut down the hospitals, and if a person didn't have a family, or if the family didn't want anything to do with them, they were put on the street. I would say about 50% of the people living on the street could use psychological help, including meds. I didn't know Kwik, but unless his parents had a lot of money he would not have even been able to get into a drug and alcohol facility, of which there are many. Lots of money to be made in drug and alcohol facilities, as they use mostly people like people who have been minimally trained, such as the PERT team volunteers. There is a reason why mental health professionals have such extensive training and have to pass a very rigid licensing exam.It helps with the idea of "Above all do no harm." I have seen harm done my a couple of PERT volunteers, including one incident that happened on my street many years ago. Longer story and not that interesting for this thread.There was nothing Kwik's mom could do, even though I am sure she tried. The State cannot forcibly commit someone who has done nothing wrong until they do it. And, personally I would not want a chip implanted in my brain so the cops and others could hear what I am thinking. In the former Soviet Union people who did not believe in communism and said so, were put in psychiatric facilities. Very Orwellian, as is Laura's Law.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the typos. It's 9"30PM and I just saw my last patient. I am rather tired and didn't "Preview" my typing as I usually do. However, I think you all get my drift. In case anyone is interested, California has the strictest licensing exam in the country. There are 2 parts, a written and an oral. Even as a Red Cross Mental Health Disaster Volunteer I had to undergo additional training. I don't think that the Red Cross uses paraprofessional therapists, as there is a real possibility of doing harm in stressful situations, such as evacuations etc. It's not easy talking someone down, and I remember in Katrina, there were so many people dealing with PTSD that those victims were beyond stressed. This is when you NEED trained professionals, or someone's life could be endangered beyond what the situation already put in their lives. There are no easy solutions to this, and anyone that takes it lightly is not helping the increasing anxiety, stress, and frustration, people are already feeling. Frustration often leads to aggression. Again, I didn't know Kwik, so I have no idea if that statement applies here. I have seen the police "amp up" a situation and make it worse. I have also seen PERT volunteers do the same. Sorry for the missive. But I am very passionate about this subject and would really like to educate citizens on ways they could be of help. One thing is "please never say I know how you feel." No one knows how another person feels. The other saying is "I know this person is telling the truth." Again I would offer that unless you are psychic you don't know if they are telling the truth until all the evidence is in. Again, sorry for the missive. I'll stop now:)
DeleteDr. Lorri- police do amp up situations but that is rare. Shoot a cop... And the perp has amped up the situation beyond all reason. Shoot TWO cops, expect to die.
DeleteI'm a big civil libertarian but I clearly understand screw with the cops bad things will happen.
Thanks Dr. Lori, 3:13 here. I agree with you. I remember when Reagan shut down the facilities, although I thought it was when he was prez. Either way, in the early 80's in LA, homeless people started turning up everywhere. You never saw homeless people before that unless you were down on skid row where the alcoholics were.
DeleteLaura's law sounds like another badly written law. My question is, what can we as a society do to move forward so people have options in this type of situation? That is to say, how can we take steps so we don't get to the point where it's an armed standoff?
That's my main point, the guy had mental illness, so let's take that as a starting point before the cops show up...
I think that's the fallacy of Homeland Security: the premise that they can stop a crazy person from doing something crazy. I was asked to be on Cristy Guerin's Crime Prevention Action Committee. Sounded good, but at the end of the day, no one could name one bank robber who didn't rob a bank. Sure, there are common sense steps to take for security, but I always hear "They should have seen the signs" by someone's strange actions before they "went off". If that were possible, so would a news report called "Witch hunts gone wild".
DeleteGood point Fred, but having lived next to someone who had a mental health "emergency" (said person was a copious firearms owner), believe me, you would like a more available outlet for evaluation.
DeleteIt's a two way street, a person's rights to act out in this case, vs. the neighborhood's rights to some peace. I will advise people to do what we did, just keep calling the fire, police and psych squad, let them handle it.. Eventually they hit the guy in his wallet, and he got the message.
3:16
DeleteGood for you. I didn't know wallet punching could create such a calming effect on insane neighbors. Whatever works. Greats like Sigmund Freud and Joyce Brothers should have considered that alternative. I'm no expert, but living next to someone with mental health issues and an arsenal of weapons are seldom a good mix I suppose.
So back to reality,
ReplyDeleteDid City Council do anything on Wednesday night to discuss putting a plan together to get our City out of its financial woes?
When is City Council going to fire the inept current City Manager who help lead Stockton and Sacramento to its current financial demise as their finances. Director?
Why would are City keep such a loser with such a losers track record ?
What ever happened to the fact that actions speak louder than words? His actions of borrowing even more money to complete the Regional Sports Complex all on 20,000 Encinitas tax payers is proof he is not a good leader and has no clue about financial matters.
City Council - We are watching…… and your inability to act will lead us to voting against all incumbents.
When will City Council act on this imperative issue and remove the poor performer?
If you want reality, you should stop calling the park a "Regional Sports Complex". That has been debunked in previous threads. But that doesn't fit your narrative, so spin away.
DeleteThe park was designed as a regional sports complex from the very beginning. Certain council members didn't try to hide this truth. Through 12 years of lawsuits and delays due to a flawed EIR and lack of funding, the fundamental park design never changed. It was planned to generate money through regional sports events. A less intensive design would not accomplish this. Will 90-ft lights for regional tournaments be next? Sorry, but regional sports complex has not been debunked, and never will be, unless the city decides to only run local events on the ball fields.
DeleteWhen you provide documentary history showing malfeasance by Vina that caused Sac's and Stock's financial problems, and that he is largely or solely responsible for financial problems in Encinitas, I'll adopt your point of view. Until then, you're going on hearsay, supposition and talk off the top of your head. Show the proof! If people accused you of nasty stuff, you'd demand proof, right?
Delete12:36 - Actually, the park was designed to accommodate the many local children and adults who love to participate in organized sports on both a recreational and competitive level. That is its primary focus, and that is why it will have lights. So children and adults can play in the early evenings. I am sorry that you are upset that the city would devote significant resources to accommodate a majority of citizens, but so be it. It's time to move on......
Delete- The Sculpin
We went over it ad nauseum here:
Deletehttp://encinitasundercover.blogspot.com/2013/08/quarterly-investment-reports.html
Lights are needed because kids go to school during the day and participate in after school sports in the evening. In the winter, its dark before 5pm.
And as of now the park won't have lights and its a shame.
It was also designed for the dog lovers and the skaters in our community. It is a park that addresses the more critical needs of our entire community: playing fields, dog space, and a safe skate area.
DeleteOh, 2:18 - like you're a sk8tr!!!!! Ha!! Maybe you are, but when adults start to rally to the defense of sk8trs it reeks of hypocrisy. No one sticks up for sk8trs - in some small part that's why they sk8t! I remember the workshops - 100% passive park - and those wishing it were so did not include sk8trs and dogs were relegated to the back. Sorry, pal - it's meant to be a park for people who play sports.
Delete- The Sculpin
No one was ever going to be happy at the park, property values got too high and that means NIMBY time.
DeleteThat and everyone has a lobby, skaters, dog lovers, soccer teams, strollers, moms, poop sniffers, lawn gazers etc...
12:36 is correct, in that it's not sandlot time anymore, soccer clubs are big business, people make money off of that enterprise, and thus the argument about what the park should be.
in general, I agree that I'd rather see kids playing soccer then getting up to something else. Nothing is ever that simple nowadays, though, and the spirit of compromise was loss. To me the whole thing can be summed up by 1.) Poor planning of the park 2.) lack of compromise on the park and the amount of fields, although it was never going to be perfect and 3.) Poor leadership at the city level guiding the process.
The park will open, it will be enjoyed, no one will be killed, but it sure could've been handled better, especially considering the largess of the Halls..
And it cost about $40 million!
DeleteIt is in fact a Special Use Park that is planned tom be used as a Regional Sports Park.
Delete"..the fundamental park design never changed." Factually, the city asked the community to design its own park. They did. the city fundamentally changed the design by inserting, without public input, the directive ..."to maximize sports fields." then the city hid the Community Input Map and eliminated basketball, tennis, community center and Amphitheatre. now we have six or seven sports fields.
"Lights are needed". Cardiff has three light fields. They tried to put lights at Leo Mullins. Neighbor complained, even though it is mainly commercial. Start with 90 foot lights at Leo Mullins. Nine fields with sports field in a quarter mile radius seems too much, too close. Start at Leo Mullins.
it is not true that everyone at the workshop wanted a "100% passive park". the results of the workshops showed that the community wanted a community park with sports fields, court sports, teen center gardens and more and additional amenities. see: Community Input Map.
It is a sports park.
6:18pm
DeleteThere are not enough lighted fields in Encinitas for everyone who wants to use them. There is a tremendous demand for field space. The Y and Mullen are jam packed with kids, there are sometimes 6 teams on Mullen, which is one field.
You may think there was no public input, but the public did have input in the forms of voting for their council representatives. It was THE BIGGEST FACTOR in at least one election. There was a lot of input and it wasn't solely through the planning commission or workshops. Those representatives that wanted a sports park campaigned on that issue and won.
There is not a huge demand for basketball or tennis courts. There are 4 multi-use fields and one soccer field. If you want to count half fields then double it. (Maggie used half-fields when canvasing our neighborhood -- she was for four "fields".)
Sculpin (2:29)? There is a skate park at the park. And a dog park.
Deletede-bunk: verb,
Delete1. expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief).
Myth: CalSouth will hold regional soccer tournaments at the park
Fact: CalSouth Foundation provides grants to communities and non-profits to promote youth soccer, including for field and facility improvement, without any intention of hosting their own tournament
Myth: 5 fields, one of which is too small for a regular soccer game, will attract large tournaments
Fact: the large tournaments require much more than 5 fields. The current locations for such tournaments include over 20 fields. See Lancaster, Polo Grounds (Surf Cup) and the future Corazon Development in Oceanside
Myth: a council person said "regional sports complex" so it must be
Fact: That same (former) councilman has been ridiculed many times for his misstatements. He misspoke, but it fits the paranoid narrative and so this time it must be so.
Myth: it goes against the community's wishes
Fact: the community voted for the council people who campaigned on building the park. The community attended council meeting and gave input in various ways, not just the workshops.
Fact: it is a sports park, AND a dog park, AND a skatepark. It will include nice pathways.
Fact: it is expensive
Fact: Encinitas will still need fields with lights ...
DeleteFact: Prop A will require a vote for all lights over 30 feet.
DeleteGood luck getting 90 foot lights now for any night time sports activity in Encinitas.
If you want reality, you should stop calling it a community park, a regional sports park has not been debunked, the cost is more in the range of $55 million plus, the majority did not want a sports park and there are three multi use fields, one full field on the NW side, two junior fields in between and the area where the aquatic center was to be is being graded as a field. more than four.
Deleteput the light on fields that don't obstruct historic ocean view corridors in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Leo Mullins lights?
Agreed that elections were won and lost on if you hated kids or not. It still seems wrong to get clear consensus from the community through workshops, city funded surveys, the planning commission, letters, the city sponsored Community Input Map and such and then radically alter the design for a community park with sports fields.
Fact: The park is bordered on two and a half sides with non residential property.
DeleteFact: The aquatic center was to be built in the third phase of the park.
Fact: It is NOT a Regional Sports Park.
Fact: Most of us want that park. Just wait and see in September.
The majority actually did want a sports park, or else they wouldn't have voted in the candidates who said they wanted one built.
DeleteThe shame of it is that people are still so bent that they will fight tooth and nail to prevent kids from being able to practice their sports from 5pm to 8pm in the winter. What beautiful views are they protecting after the sun has already set? Only the view of bitterness and resentment.
1:39pm, i'm good with 30' lights. let's put them in now, the electrical is already run...
DeleteFact: over 80% of people will use the park, yet only 100% of us tax payers will pay for it.
DeleteFact: That is the result of Jerome Stocks, Mark Muir, and Gaspar's followers.
so if you love Manhattan beach, you should love Gaspar and vote for pro growth.
If you love your neighborhood and nature, you would love no growth.
10:07 - please, think about what you are saying....for example, only 0.72% of the population is in prison, but 100% of the taxpayers pay for it. 13% of the population ride bicycles, but 100% of the taxpayers pay for bike lanes. 63% of the population own a boat, but 100% of the taxpayers pay for harbors, buoys and the Coast Guard. And how does this relate to MB?
Delete- The Sculpin
3:13, Fred and others: There is a lot we can do for people that are either mentally ill, drug or alcohol addicts, or people on "the margin" of society. However it takes money. And, at least on this blog, it would seem that people would rather spend money on something like PV or a HUGE park, rather than help solve this puzzle. A law is not the answer, and strangely enough I am not a libertarian. I am also not psychic and cannot predict, as some people think they can. I think of the Filner situation in this case. Whatever one thinks about Filner I guarantee there is more to the story and certain people used other people to get what they wanted. Enough said or I will be given a stern lecture by one of our local attorneys who thinks he or she is psychic. There are signs, however, that someone in struggling. More later as I have a patient right now.
ReplyDeleteDr. Lorri, I agree, it's a question of resources, and at this point in time, we'd rather waste our money on so called Homeland Security than on our own mentally ill citizens.
DeleteI think it's a national embarrassment how many mentally ill people we have on our streets. A lot of them are veterans who served our country.
I will stick to my guns and say the Kwik story is about the challenges of mental illnedss, not the amount of homeland security $ going to the cops. They have to respond in those situations, it's their job. I'm sure it's their nightmare to have to roll up on a situation where someone is mentally ill or people in a family are fighting.
I by know means want to start locking up the mentally ill, I just want to provide a better system where we can at least understand the options available to us...
3:35-You sound like an intelligent person. Yes, as many have said, it is a difficult situation to know when the rights of the collective should be chosen over the rights of the individual, especially regarding 1st and 2nd Amendments. I would pose this question to all. Do you think that a person wakes up one day and decides, for no particular reason, to become a heroin addict, an alcoholic, or a cop killer? If you answered yes, then there will be no solution. I have worked with addicts and alcoholics throughout my entire psychological career. Not one of them has ever said "Oh I just thought it would be fun to become a heroin addict." I bring up heroin because, unfortunately, there is a lot of it around our community, and it IS a dangerous drug. As much as I rethink our position on marijuana being illegal, I would not want to make heroin legal. We have to look underneath the addiction and look at "why" a person is so unhappy they turn to something artificial for their happiness. Of course, as most of you know, this becomes impossible to continue without a lot of money, so people steal, and do all sorts of things to obtain their "drug of choice". In other words after the first few "hits" of heroin they person continues to "chase the dragon" looking for that first feeling they got with their drug of choice. What can we offer these people to make them understand that, while fun to feel that euphoria, what else could they do to get it, and also to realize that life cannot always be euphoric. I agree with one poster that if you kill a cop, you go to jail. In fact, I would say if you kill anyone you go to jail. But there's the deal. Many mentally ill people are very paranoid and psychotic (out of touch with the common reality). So, when the police approach a person that is obviously psychotic, they need to exercise great caution or some will will get hurt. There was a story many years ago that happened on Midway Drive in San Diego regarding am obviously mentally ill man, who was brandishing a large stick on a corner. The police arrived and brought a German Shepard police dog. The person got so freaked out he started waving the stick with even more gestures. The cops shot and killed him. The question here is "what if the police had handled it differently? This man was a danger to himself but really not to others, at least in this situation. What should the police have done?
DeleteFred- Your point is well taken. Who is qualified to predict if someone will become violent? I wouldn't want to be put in that position. As you know, people are put in jail all of the time when they have done nothing wrong, except perhaps being at the wrong place and the wrong time. Unless there truly are psychics out there, prediction becomes impossible. So that leaves us with statistics. But human beings are quite complex, and just because a statistic may say one thing, it still does not predict with 100% accuracy who will become violent and who will not. It does take a village as someone said. Encinitas could be the perfect community to begin tackling these issues. We are large enough to make a difference and small enough that something could be possibly done to make a difference. However, and I sound like a broken record, it takes money. It also would take creative thinkers that think outside the "norm" and a willingness to want to make things better. I think our community has the 2nd and 3rd things in place but not the first. When we can have mental health become high on our priority list, perhaps things will change.
DeleteAmen, I for one would be willing to commit the money and think outside the box to provide mental health alternatives. Are there any good programs that other countries have used, or are we all struggling along on this together?
Delete6:31-Yes, there are some awesome programs out there to help keep people from using and abusing. There is a place called Green Chimneys in upstate New York that takes inner city kids form NYC and keeps them for a while. It is a rural area and the kids are asked to pick an animal that they might like to have in their care while they are there. I remember one young man, who came from an incredibly poor, gang ridden family from Brooklyn, that told me that he had picked a horse. He named it "Redemtion". The people at Green Chimneys taught him how to take care of the horse, how to feed, water, and brush it. They showed him how to saddle up and ride. At the end go his stay there, he was a new person. When last I spoke with him he was doing community organizing in the Bronx, giving back what he had learned about things such as love, compassion, friendship, and much more. He has not used heroin since he left there. We could do this on a smaller scale, perhaps even at Leichtag, if it were possible. I am meeting with Jim Farley to talk about this very issue. Kids could learn how to grow things, and if animals such as rabbits, chickens, and perhaps dogs could be there, the kids could learn how to take care of them as well. I truly hope if Mr. Farley is at all interested, we could begin a pilot program.
DeleteHi Lorri, Yes I agree, there is a lot of help available to challenged people and certainly that's a good thing. One man I knew back in the 80's thought his dog told him to bomb Scripps Hospital. They took him away. He was on a diet of distilled water and bee pollen. They changed that. He's fine now. Really! That's the most extreme case I can recall. But we don't live in a perfect world, and I think everyone struggles to some degree. Others don't show a hint of a sign and do something drastic. But if we had to treat everyone suspected of showing signs, Holy Cow. ... and just WHO is qualified to accurately predict someone's going to go balistic?
ReplyDelete"provide documentary history showing malfeasance by Vina that caused Sac's and Stock's financial problems,"
ReplyDeleteHere is the proof- He was the Director of Finance!
That is the proof. You show me the evidence that he did anything to warn Stockton or Sacramento of their future doom. Quite the contrary… he did nothing to educate the City Council on responsible actions.
He also not only spent all of our City's remaining money on the regional sports park but borrowed yet another 10 million to do it, all without presenting a complete financial plan on how to pay for the perpetual operations and maintenance cost. By doing so, he proves he is an inept Financial Manager and a terrible City Manager.
Fire Gus Now. Vina is terrible for Encinitas!
Our City Council is failing at their primary function as a Council and that is to provide our City a good City Manager that can lead a well functioning City Hall.
ReplyDeleteAll else pales in comparison. This chatter about Strategic Planning is just more delay tactics focused on getting Vina closer to his nearing retirement day. Man is our Council asleep at the helm.
Fire Vina and fix our roads!!!
ReplyDeleteYou're like a metronome. Think of something else to post!
DeleteGet common sense and rid our City of shitty managers wasting tax payer's dollars.
DeleteI think that Anon 5:06 makes good sense. He is getting back to basic actions to actually improve our city. FIRE Vina and fix roads. Certainly, it is a better focus than pay raises for City blood suckers.
DeleteMr. Anonymous(es), quit complaining about our City and run for council!
ReplyDeleteI'll be voting for change. Myself and many others will be voting for Alex Fidel.
ReplyDeleteGO ALEX!!!
Maybe readers want to check Alex's website for his positions on a few local issues.
DeleteHere's the URL: http://www.freeencinitas.org/issues/
I found it very hard to read, but I stuck with it and am now familiar with some of his views.
I too will vote for Alex…. no need for me to run.
DeleteOK, I am beginning to think that Alex FIdel or his political operatives have hijacked this blog posting I am voting for Alex- it's not surprising it is what Mikey A and J Stocks would do along with WLE- in fact it might yet be MIkey A trying to split the vote.....see how it works.
DeleteI have $1000 says he doesn't get in....
DeleteHey good news. If we get Alex and others with his same mindset, we also get FOR FREE, Homeland Security, the FBI, NCIS, CBI, and who knows how many other agencies. We wouldn't need the pay for a sheriff's dept. I like it.
ReplyDeleteAnswer to Fred's 3:10 post:
ReplyDeleteThe Mad Hatter
"Have I gone mad?"
Alice
"I'm afraid do. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All of the best people are."----------Lewis Carroll
I read Alex Fidel's website. I'm now on board and will also be supporting Alex.
ReplyDeleteOK, Alex now has three votes and "many more."
DeleteNo need. I will be voting for the best non- incumbent.
ReplyDeleteI'm voti g for Fred..... No need to look further.
ReplyDeleteSo tell me, Why are we allowing more homes to be built and encouraging more people to live in this arid desert?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.redbluffdailynews.com/business/ci_25042017/amid-drought-california-agency-wont-allot-water
Stupid people.
9:12-Great question. I wonder if we could get around density bonus because we live in a desert and there is not enough water to continue to build and build.
DeleteNot only density bonus. A moratorium on new development. Without that, we'll have rationing and soaring rates. The desal water from Carlsbad will already cost double the current rates for local and imported water.
DeleteWhy do you think builders contribute to campaigns? Water is a huge issue in our area, no more so than this year. Yet it still is never discussed when new developments are up for approval, and it should be point 1 every time...
DeleteWe already will have rationing and soaring rates. Any new homes or new sports field at our Regional park, just mean more existing plants will die and your rates will go even that much higher!
ReplyDeleteCouncil should adopt a moratorium on all new development and the issuance of water meters including ones at the new regional sports park.
Yes, our water rates are already set to go up at least 30% in five years. But with our contract to purchase water from the desalination plant, it is estimated that, alone, could cause another 30% raise, effective in far less than five years! The drought is of overriding importance. Govt. agencies, including non-elected officials and those that are elected, shouldn't force more development on pre-existing residents WHO DO NOT WANT MORE TRAFFIC, MORE WATER SHORTAGES.
DeleteGrowth is being pushed by Vina, Sabine and Murphy, including on the County and any other agency that has what is considered to be "surplus land." Our City thinks the highest and best use always involves rezoning. Thank God Prop A passed.
Gus Vina and Glenn Sabine "briefed" the eminent domain special counsel, Ms. Bartz, for about two hours in a "private meeting," before the 1/22 CC meeting. Her publicly released report, for Agenda Item 11C was much more neutral, quoting the law. But to Council, at the meeting, after being "prepped," she put a more negative spin on the issue of eminent domain.
However, the Court would simply determine whether the District's CURRENT use is of better public benefit than the City's proposed plan for PV after purchase. Council needs to learn to be more assertive with the City Manager, City Attorney and heads of department.
The issue of possible rezoning could effect what the Court determines is fair market value, after considering the current appraisal, and the likelihood that there would be any rezoning in the near future, which rezoning would require approval by the Planning Commission, Council, appealable to the Coastal Commission, and subject to approval by the General Public.
Dave Roberts told me Solana Beach has had Prop T, for 20 years, which is similar to Prop A, and that Del Mar also has a similar initiative. Many elected officials from nearby jurisdictions were very disappointed in Council's lack of neutrality or objectivity re Prop A.
When our City was first established, in 1986, there was a moratorium on growth. We were formed, through the North Coast Coalition to Incorporate Encinitas to slow growth and take back local control. Solana Beach was incorporated one year earlier for the same reasons.
Vina and Sabine, with Murphy's assistance, are now working against Council. Staff and Sabine have got the reins of City firmly in their hands. Council has bits, firmly clenched in their jaws.
This is the Year of the Horse. I hope SOMEONE on Council will step up, and show some leadership. Perhaps we need a horse whisperer?
The purple pipe just went in this week. The Community Park will use recycled water on its fields. How about we turf one or two though, that would help keep fields open during heavier rain. What say you, Mr. "Regional Sports Park"? Want to help campaign for turf fields?
DeleteRecycled water is too salty, it will kill the grass. This is the reason that the medians throughout town have dead zones and lack flowers and plants. Recycled water!! It kills.
Delete6:46 PM
DeleteIt's nice to see that you stick to your standard MO. When confronted by an expert who knows way more about a subject than you do, you drop into conspiracy mode. You can never be wrong. You can never show humility. It's always the bad guys are conspiring to get us. Who would ever expect someone to try to be prepared when acting as an expert for the council. No, in your mind, they have to learn the party line and know their talking points. I'm sorry but this behavior is just pathetic.
You'd fit right in with the 9/11 conspiracy fanatics if you aren't already there.
I was NOT confronted by an expert. I carefully read the expert's report. Her written report to Council was neutral. It did NOT have a more negative spin.
DeleteI said nothing about a conspiracy, other than Gus Vina and Glenn Sabine met with Ms. Bartz immediately before the CC Meeting for a couple of hours. She then declared, not stating what she was basing her opinion on, other than her "briefing" by Vina and Sabine, that the City didn't seem near to having a plan for PV, and that any plan would have to go through environmental review. But she didn't say the plan would have to be approved, or that the environmental review would have to be completed, or that if PV classrooms were rehabbed, for a community arts and learning center, that a negative environmental impact declaration could not be easily obtained, because it would be essentially the same usage.
There should have been an environmental impact report BEFORE the playing fields were paved over by the City after its initial lease of PV in December of 2003, as a temporary public works yard, after it took the SDWD headquarters and land, with only $1 million in credit to the SDWD ratepayers, with NO hearing, until after the fact, and NO process of eminent domain, just an outright taking from one public agency to another, for the library's parking lot.
Only horse wimperer's presently.
ReplyDeleteThe young man who is a student at La Costa Canyon High, is the head of the Youth Commission and spoke at length at a recent City Council meeting is mature and sensible. Alex Fidel is neither.
ReplyDeleteAlex says that he'll stop Density Bonus and up upzoning - he has my vote!
ReplyDeleteProp A already stopped upzoning without approval by a public vote. Unless Alex has a lot of pull with the building lobby and the state legislature, or he can get many other cities on board the effort to stop density bonus, he doesn't have a chance. Before you try to shill for Alex, get a brain and know what you're talking about.
ReplyDeleteCurrent Council isn't going crap except holding hands and letting Vina grind Encinitas into the dirt and have us looking like Manhatten Beach.
DeleteNo Thanks- I'm voting for real change, I am voting for Alex.
Remember the other promises were made before the election by Shaffer and Kranz? After they were elected they went the other way and are not following their own election promises. So Alex says he'll stop density bonus. How is it that a very young person can do this, when others have tried and failed. I would suggest that if anyone promises something, from now on, they had better deliver, or we should kick them out of office immediately! Exceptions would be that the issue they campaigned on was so intricate they could have not known the "fine print: on a some laws before they campaigned on it. Alex says he will stop density bonus. OK, Alex, tell us how you are going to do that. It certainly will be brought up at the Candidate's forums. If you campaign on it, you had better have a legitimate way of getting rid of DB, otherwise you are pandering to the audience, and the audience is getting less enamored with talk, and more enamored with action.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand. Now your saying the city "CAN"T DO ANYTHING" about Density Bonus. If that's the case, WTF is all of this ranting about the city not doing anything to stop Density Bonus. I don't get you.
DeleteI'm willing to give Mr. Fidel a chance.
We gave Arnold a chance. How did that go?
DeleteAlex is an immature kid. He doesn't have even a slim chance of being elected. What he can do is spice up the process and hold the real candidates to account.
me too…. as for the incumbents, they are failing in their primary objective to provide the City a top level City Manager.
ReplyDeleteGus is proven method is spend on huge trophy projects (Fire Stations and Regional Sports Complex) and pensions and staff benefits, and then over develop our City to raise taxes to try and pay for the hungry appetite.
Vina is misaligned with the vision most Encinitas have of our town. The developers love him.
Its time to elect effective leaders that will fire Vina.
I wish we could have a run off, with an initial vote during the primaries. I would like FOR ONCE for our mayor, and council member, to be voted in by a MAJORITY. Because I would also like to give Alex a chance.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if any candidate gets a majority in the primary, then that question is decided, and there doesn't need to be a subsequent vote in the General Election.
Council needs to set it up so that we participate in the primaries. If they don't do it, it's because of self interests. Some may WANT to the vote to be split, to increase their chance of winning by a bare plurality.
I get your point, but I disagree that we need a primary. That's more cost and effort for the city.
DeleteIt makes sense for some elections on the state level, where you rank your choices so there can be an instant runoff.
To me when we talk about this issue, we need to talk about vast amounts of unregulated cash coming into our elections from out of town, deep pockets, and special interests.
You want a fair election, have a 2 month election cycle, 5-10k a candidate limit, and 3 debates. Then we'll see who can campaign.
Otherwise, it's the sad truth that it comes down to incumbency, who has the biggest sign on Encinitas Blvd, and who can swing big cash for nasty attack mailers and phone calls...All backed by big bucks.
I am not sure our city could put a 5-10K $ limit on local elections, because of fairly recent Supreme Court rulings that money = free speech. The justices that voted that way should be impeached, in my opinion.
DeleteThe money and cost for us to participate in the primaries to the taxpayers is FAR LESS than hiring one Communications Specialist, who is probably posting on this blog.
I like Marlena Medford; but her position is NOT necessary to our City's running. ALL public speakers spoke against hiring another full time staff position, as did Kristin, Mark, and Tony. But they caved to Gus Vina's insistence.
It would be WORTH the money and expense to the public interests, so candidates do not get elected by a small fraction of the voters, by a vote, split so many ways. We should try it out this year, because we will be voting for only one Council Member and the Mayor. Each could be elected by a majority, after a run off. We would get someone that a MAJORITY of the voters support. Since no one has yet researched to total number of votes cast for candidates in 2012, we don't know if Lisa Shaffer received a majority, or not.
Just because primaries are primarily used for Statewide and National issues, doesn't mean we couldn't participate in them. Doing so is FAR LESS COSTLY than having Special Elections. But we could also put an issue, such as the N101 roundabouts and lane elimination for motorists on the ballot for the primaries. Oh, that's right, staff doesn't have time. I can just hear Gus Vina interrupting Council with another one of his, "If I may's." Staff is too busy staging elaborate Strategic Planning marketing productions to glorify Gus.
1:02- Density Bonus is a California State Law and unless Alex intends to break the laws, he alone can't do anything. Personally I think the law is stupid and should not be in existence, however, I would not want to vote for a candidate who says up front that they will break the law. If he knows how to change it, then let him tell us how. I also think he is way too paranoid. That always scares me, be it on the left or right. However unless others decided to run, he could possibly win, although I would never vote for him until I learn what he will do for Encinitas. So if you are reading this blog Alex, tell us if you care to.
ReplyDeleteDensity bonus was written by developers to benefit themselves. It's not really stupid, but it is totally self-serving. It's another example of money and the power it carries being in control.
DeleteAlex, or any other mayor with courage, could show that drought considerations take precedence over the need for more affordable housing. Moreover, what happens, usually, is that the density bonus projects, such as the one installed on Hermes, eliminate far more ACTUAL affordable housing than they create.
DeleteTrue…. developers got together with bleeding hearts and convinced them that density bonus was in their best interest…. brilliant.
ReplyDeletethe developers found a way to make even more money… playing to bleeding heart liberals. The existing public pays the price for the special interests again.
That is, till the "bleeding heart liberals" figure out the sham. As a lifelong BH liberal, I am adamantly anti low-income housing as it relates to development.
DeleteThe problem is, most folks don't realize that the developer-influenced laws have nothing to do with giving a leg up to very low and low income folks. The word is slowly getting out, though. Why don't you lend a hand, write a letter to the editor, and educate some of us BH liberals...make yourself useful!
Dumb and dumber!
DeleteHCD should convert RHNA (Regional Housing Need Assessment ) to the RWNA (Regional Water Need Assessment). The density bonus law should be replaced by the water conservation bonus law.
ReplyDeleteI am getting thirsty hearing about all these drought news!
YOu BH. are the devil….. You BH figure it out. Your the one that fuck up CA so bad, you can figure out how to fix it.
ReplyDeleteMe…. I'll be out of here in one second… to another state, another country…I think Costa Rica sounds better than being for neighbor.
Adios
DeleteWell maybe the schools down there will do a better job of teaching you correct grammar and sentence structure than you apparently were able to ingest here and demonstrate. Pretty first grade guy and not to stain our brilliant first graders here but they can do better than you already. Grade f, try and catch up and be a man and expand your vocabulary from the need to be profane. You will benefit from it and sound more like the man your mom and dad raised you to be. Make them proud.
ReplyDeleteYou are an elite snob , get over your self.
ReplyDeleteThere you go, better already. See how easy that was. Thanks. cha ching.
ReplyDeleteEnter Muir in his spandex fireman suit - he'll smite this anti-authoritarian upstart! Then he'll go to the new In N' Out for the "ribbon" cutting ceremony - except the ribbon will be made of bacon strips and Muir will devour his way thru to the counter, where he will stimulate the economy with an order that would choke Wimpy! Tried and Tested!
ReplyDeleteIt's satire - public figures have to endure it. As one observer noted, there are symbolic overtones that the less erudite (11:43AM) don't fathom. How do you think a political cartoonist would depict him? His weight is part of his persona and fair game for verbal editorial lampooning.
DeleteIn N' Out, In N' Out - that's what it is all about!
DeleteMuir campaign theme song!
I find it both sad and interesting that when someone on this blog picked on a couple of others who were overweight a lot of people said basically "only talk about the topic, not the person. But, for some reason, some people on this blog cannot seem to let go of Mark Muir's weight, as if that alone was enough to decide if he is terrible as many of you think. I am not defending Mark in this post, but as a psychologist who knows many people who read this blog and are overweight as well. I have had emails from some of them, when people have talked about Mark's weight, and say they feel they they are getting victimized because they are overweight. Can we try to be a little more sensitive people. If you don't like what Mark has done for the community, that's fair game. However, to continually go on and on about his weight, serves no useful purpose and only demeans the poster but this whole blog.
ReplyDeleteClearly that person has no legitimate argument. What he/she can't seem to grasp is that an attack on the basis of appearance not only isn't valid, it shows the writer to be severely lacking in intellect.
DeleteIt's not that Muir is overweight, it's that he's severely overweight, what's called "morbidly obese." That fact connected to his having been a fire chief — a profession whose members pride themselves on being in good shape because they have to be to perform their jobs well — indicate that something's just not right with Muir. That's what the criticism is about, not just the simple fact that he's overweight.
DeleteThank you 11:43. I agree. We all have our "demons" and we all use different ways of coping. Some use drugs, some alcohol, some gambling, some eating. If we could show some compassion on this blog, perhaps we could show others how its done?
DeleteDr.L- Muirs weight is an issue when a grossly obese man rises to the top of his profession and yet is unable to scale a fire ladder... That says all anyone needs to know. Not that it matters in this town where ever private home burns to the ground....
DeleteAs a Council Member, Mark Muir's weight is irrelevant.
DeleteAttacking people personally is a huge problem in the blogosphere. People are no longer able to have a civil debate without including a personal attack, whether on appearance of ideas.
DeletePart of the problem is the anonymity sites like this provide. That and people don't want to have a discourse, they want to make their point, and have it agreed with.
I for one, am happy for the discourse. We had an excellent back and forth on mental health issues earlier in the week. A great exchange of ideas.
We have a lot of difficult and pressing issues to face, if we just keep pointing fingers, nothing will get solved.
His weight is inverse to his Intellect??
DeleteEchh, troll away, troll.
Delete12:55 PM A distinct possibility!
DeleteMark Muir seemed to be the only one asking good questions of Staff at last Wednesday's Environmental Strategic Planning "workshop." I put workshop in quotes because it's mainly presentations by staff and some related "experts," not so much about getting input from the public. Rather Strategic Planning has already been done. Public outreach is about marketing to us, and delaying the hard decisions. Also staff is too busy with these elaborate presentations to get a lot of important work done in a timely manner.
ReplyDeleteMark was pressing staff on timelines. He does have more institutional history with the City than anyone else on staff or Council. I agree, Dr. Lorri. Mark's weight, or my weight is irrelevant.
Somebody said on the Alex Fidel post that anyone who helped to Dump Stocks is a local hero. Well, Mark Muir did help to do that by getting more votes than Stocks did in the 2012 General Election. Had Lisa and Tony not said, vote for only two, Barb Yost could have received more votes than Muir. That was shortsighted for Lisa and Tony to promote, very unwise. Because Jerome Stocks could have more easily come in third place, with LIsa and Tony's electors only voting for two candidates. So we're fortunate that Mark Muir did have more support than Stocks, and did displace him. Thanks, Jim and Jerome and Kristin, for appointing Mark. That was the nail in Jerome's campaign coffin.
People are justifiably upset that Mark makes such a high pension. At this point, we can only work to not let that happen with newly hired employees. I don't think the pre-existing contracts can be changed? I'm not sure how the City of San Diego dealt with that with their Prop B?
Also people were upset because Mark Muir was campaigning with Jerome Stocks. Mark Muir did put out campaign signs early, too, but our City Attorney's Partner, a supposed expert in Sign Law, and 1st Amendment Rights, has since said campaign signs cannot be regulated as they have been in the past. They CAN'T be confined to only one month before the election. Hey, I don't like to look at them, either, but our City's laws are not above the U.S. Constitution.
The conundrum of campaign sign law will "come back" before the election. What should also come back ASAP is a plan whereby our City could participate in the Primaries, so that our Councilmember and Mayor can be elected by a MAJORITY and not a bare plurality. Jerome Stocks, in the past, as well as Jim Bond, both counted on the vote being split. Any candidate who is against participating in the primaries is acting in self interest, not in the best interests of the public.
That way, also, candidates would have to declare, sooner. None of these "last minutes" changes of mind, for which Jim Bond became infamous.
I still don't want this guy on the council. He's on there to protect his pension interest, those of the firefighters, and developers.
DeleteI'm not sure what you have against Lisa and Tony, I know you would like to think Mark and Kristen will vote to include existing housing as affordable, but I think you're kidding your self on that one.
The "Non-development" slate has always run together, the same way it used to be"Go Long with Stocks and Bonds" then Dalager, then Muir. Stocks and Muir basically ran on the same ticket, that's why they were out putting signs up together.
We'd have been more fortunate if Mark would have lost and Barb Yost won, that's probably true. People have their vote, and they're inclined to use it different ways. There's a reason why the Stocks/Bonds crowd gets people like harriet Seldin to run. People on this blog have been approached to run. They want women to run so they can split the vote. They love it when Bob Nanninga ran because he split the vote.
on the signs to me it's simple, are you person of honor and integrity who waits for the right day, or are you a chisler who jumps the gun, like the Stocks /Bonds camp has done every time for 20 years.
out ot fown cash, illegal pacs, hidden money, none of this will stop on the Stocks side of things, so don't kid yourself..
12:28-The run women so they can split the vote. How very sexist of you. And, was Bob run because he was "gay". If you are the representation in Encintias, I feel sorry for all of us. Asshole!
DeleteBob was gay???? Shit howdy !! Had no idea.
DeleteYou can vote with your conscience, of course, whoever you are. But your opinion has less value to me since I don't know your identity.
DeleteHowever, while I'm sure you are correct about much of what you say, I don't think Mark Muir has to protect his own pension interests, now. Those are locked in. And he may not be as hungry as Stocks was, for the development cash. But you are right; the flyers put out by the out of area PACs were pushing Stocks and Muir. Still, were it not for Muir, Stocks would have been third place.
We need to ask Council to participate in the primaries, so the votes will not be split so many ways.
Muir's personal and professional qualities didn't produce his third place finish. He simply was a better choice than the reviled Stocks or the not-ready-for-prime-time Yost. Muir took third by default.
ReplyDeleteMuir's weight is an issue for the same reason Chris Christie's is now and was before the bridge scandal. Something's not right with anybody who has so little self-control or respect to become and stay that heavy. So voters have to ask, Do I want this person in government?
Agree. Jerome lost because he was caught on camera acting like a jerk while he was putting signs up early. Negative information like that right before an election really sways undecided voters who don't know a lot about the candidates.
ReplyDeleteThere are always a lot of candidates in "on" year elections. Kevin Forrester and some of the others pulled a lot of votes too, speaking of vote splitting..
Lisa R. Shaffer .......... 15,606 votes 23.4%
Tony Kranz .......... 12,262 votes 18.4%
Mark Muir .......... 9,521 votes 14.3%
Jerome Stocks .......... 8,442 votes 12.6%
Barb Yost .......... 6,840 votes 10.2%
Kevin Forrester .......... 6,033 votes 9.0%
Bryan M. Ziegler .......... 3,833 votes 5.7%
Thomas Brophy .......... 2,687 votes 4.0%
Peter Allen Schuh .......... 1,539 votes 2.3%
Jerome lost because he no longer had a plan. The "voters" really didn't care about his electioneering transgressions just as they didn't care about Tony's "garage issues" or any of the other garbage that typically occurs in a campaign. Really, you should give the voters more credit - yes they're cynical, but they more often than not get the right result.
Delete- The Sculpin
What was the total number of voters who cast a vote for Encinitas City Council in 2012?
DeleteSculpin - did a barge hit you in the head? Voters get it right???? Look how long $tock$ was on the council; and nationally, Bush was reelected. I'd say money sways the majority of the campaigns.
DeleteAnd Muir did the city no intentional service by inadvertently bumping $tock$ - he is $tock$ under-study, like Gaspar. He was running as a back-up, as was Gaspar for Dalager.
Scuplin reveals himself to me as a person full of delusions. Could it the Manhattan townhouse, the trips to the London or the acreage of Olivenhain prompting Scuplin to cling to delusions in an effort to rationalize a broken ideology? Stocks was booted out, run out, chased out by an informed public alerted to his mismanagement, chicanery and seeming malfeasance. Stocks gave his friend Muir a 30% pay and pension spike, Stocks gave his friend Cotton a extra paycheck and pension spike, Stocks couldn't build the park, Stock's couldn't maintain our roads, Stock's could protect our quality of life and community chacharacter. Stocks had a plan and it was to take care of his cronies. Hundreds of citizens alerted thousands of citizens that Stocks had to go so he was voted out.
Delete5:34 - It appears that we agree on this one! Stocks didn't have a plan!! His electorate turned against him because he didn't have a plan.........
Delete- The Sculpin
4:43 - No, a barge did not hit me on the head. Yes, I saw that Bush got elected twice - did you notice who ran against him the 2nd time? Stocks kept winning because he had a strong constituency. He lost them because he didn't have a plan for moving forward. Why is it so hard to understand that we agree?
Delete- The Sculpin
Bush was selected by a corrupt Supreme Court the first time, and he cheated to win the second time. Did you notice that he was a national and international disaster?
DeleteThe pension increase was 35 percent and Stocks wasn't the only council member to vote for it. So did Houlihan and I forget who else.
Stocks was voted out because of his misbehavior as a council member and because better candidates ran against him. He dug his own grave, but an aware public and his political opponents helped.
4:42, can you add? Look at 3:18 above your post.
6:42
DeleteThere's no way to determine how many voters voted by the numbers above. Only that there were at least 15,606.
7:43 is right. The registrar of voters would have a count of the number of ballots cast.
Deleteare you kidding me 5:42? Bashing Bush is a ruse used by ideolques to distract. President Obama has been an unmitigated disaster. I vted for Obama, I also voted for Bush. Obama is known to me not only as an ideolque but also a teller of untruths and I dare say a liar. President Obama has not only been bad for america, the middle class, our kids and their kids, he has been bad for the world. There is little denying that the only group that seems to have benefited from the Obama administraion are billionaire profiteers trading ahead of the markets like Warren Buffet and al quada and the taliban. For most of us in america our taxes are up, premiums are up while our futures are down. Give it a break and open your eyes, all too often both parties seem to be the same
DeleteWell, let's see, 9-11 happened on Bush's watch, he invaded Iraq, which had nothing to do with 9-11, costing ~5,000 American lives, ~100,000 Iraqi lives, an untold number of maimings and other injuries, and ~$1 trillion. Then Bush crashed the American and global economies, from which everybody is still trying to recover. And you're saying Obama is a disaster? Is your short memory the problem?
DeleteI read that the National debt took 227 years to reach $6.666 trillion. From the 1700's to 2003. Then I read since Obama's been in office the debt has increased $6.666 trillion and now is at over $17 trillion. I had to check it out cause it sounded like bullshit. But it ain't. It's one thing to blame former presidents for the problem. But it's quite another to revese the process.
DeleteMark Muir was promoted to fire chief for running campaigns,notably Jim Bond, Christy Guerin & Jerome Stocks and some times from his office at city hall A very big no no. ethically challenged? Morally challenged YES!
ReplyDeleteThe matter of his wieght is this, he held his to employees to a higher standard, a case of do as say not as I do.
to a much hi
4:25PM - A lot of bloggers have apparently forgot about Muir's history. Not so pretty....
DeleteI'll post it here, too; Muir's license plate, which spelled out with an 8, reads "Satiated." Definitely something off there.
ReplyDeleteThat's not his car dumbass. The plate and car that you're trying to tie to Muir, belongs to someone else at the city. Definitely something off here...That would be you!
Deletewhoops, my bad! So someone at the city, not Muir, is crowing over his/her situation in life. Still a big "ew."
DeleteWhoever you are, 6:52, you sure like to use that word "dumbass." Someone taught you that name-calling helps make your point. Ew.
I agree Muir's fat and I didn't vote for him. But, I can't find "one" vote he has made in office that I didn't agree with. If I'm wrong, please show me just one!
ReplyDeleteChubby has my vote next election!
Given that most votes have been unanimous, you might be able to say the same thing about most of them.
DeleteBut what have any of them done for the people of Encinitas beyond rubber-stamping Vina's plans?
WCV
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteCorrection, Andreen was seen alone, with a City Planner, on behalf of someone named Baird . . .
DeleteThe plot thickens. Why was a planner talking to Andreen? Shouldn't they all shun him. Maybe the planners would be better off just talking to the "good" people and refuse to talk to the "bad" people.
Delete11:27 PM Linda Bartz, an attorney specializing in eminent domain, has been in private practice for over 20 years after working in the City of San Diego City Attorney's Office. But what does she know? And of course she can be easily co-opted to give the council bad advice. Just more standard operating procedure here. If you can't out argue someone then trash their motives and reputation.
You are pure, they are tainted. Just pathetic.
8:45 AM - I see Lynn deleted the 11:27 PM post. That's okay. She's said the same in other posts.
DeleteI deleted it, to repost, below, with corrections.
DeleteMore ad hominem attacks, 8:45, which is an obvious form of fallacious logic. I respect Linda Bartz expertise. I respect the neutrality of her written report. I don't respect that Glenn Sabine and Gus Vina are pushing growth and that they prepped Bartz for a couple of hours before the January 22 CC Meeting, putting a negative spin on the option of Eminent Domain, which will be discussed again on February 12. Why don't you show up and show your face, if your motives are so pure?
No one said or implied that I am pure. You are projecting a false dilemma, trying to set me us as "confronting" Bartz, or down playing her expertise. Not true.
You are the one who is playing out the scenario you suggest, 8:45: "If you can't out argue someone [on the facts], then trash her motives and reputation."
That is exactly what you are futilely attempting to do to to me with your pathetic projections of fallacious thinking.
Also, I didn't suggest anyone should shun Mike Andreen. It's just strange timing considering the PV controversy, and I wonder if the Baird is Tim Baird; I also wonder why Mike Andreen is helping someone out by going to Planning on his behalf?
DeleteUsually it is Owner-Builders or contractors or subcontractors that go to City Hall to facilitate plans that are to be "in the works," not the non-resident head of a local business association, right?
Her report is more vanilla than neutral. It's the kind of report that a paralegal in her office could create from templates. I'm sure with her experience she's developed a good boilerplate. Meeting with the the city attorney before the council meeting to review the particulars of PV is just good preparation. Bartz would want to be able to respond to specifics, if asked. But you see this as sinister without any factual foundation other than Bartz didn't say what you wanted to hear.
DeleteAlso, you are questioning Andreen's motives without any foundation. Maybe he needs the work. Who knows.
Actually, you question anyone's motives when you don't agree with them.
When one disagrees with someone, it makes good sense to question his or her motives.
DeleteI will continue to question authority.
Bartz would want to be able to respond to specifics, but it shouldn't have to be after two hours of "prepping" outside of Council's eyes and ears, and the publics, right before an item is on the agenda.
Vina and Sabine are trying to push more growth. Why did Vina hire Rutan and Tucker for the so-called "independent" impact report re Prop A?
Why did Vina hire Integra Systems as an appraiser for Pacific View, which firm also did the appraisal for the Mossy Property, that was NEVER released to the public that I know of? That appraisal report was also exhorbitantly high, considering the Mossy Property had been on the market for considerably less, and had received NO offers, before the City came in and ended up paying Mossy not only the $8.5 Million that Dan Dalager insisted was "turnkey," but an additional $1 Million for the structures on the property?
And by the way, the Mossy property wasn't "turnkey" as marketed by Dalager, and Stocks, but required about another $1.5 Million or so to make it ADA compliant. Now it is being "collateralized" as a fake "revenue stream," so previous Council could take out another bogus lease revenue bond, thereby avoiding a public vote on indebting the taxpayers, again, re faulty financing of the former Hall Property improvements and an unnecessary $1.4 Million lifeguard garage on our bluff at Moonlight Beach, when the Mossy Public Works Yard is very close, just east of Moonlight, off of Encinitas Blvd.
10:44 AM
Delete"When one disagrees with someone, it makes good sense to question his or her motives."
Thank you. You summed up your approach nicely. I couldn't have said it better and therein lies your problem.
That is not my only "approach." I was simply agreeing that if one is questioning some form of authority, it is wise to examine that person's or that institution's motives. Psychology is all about understanding motives. Motives are what are behind our actions, whatever those motives may be . . .
DeleteWhether one AGREES or disagrees, it is wise to question someone's motivation for his or her actions. Are you afraid of the questions? Or the questioner?
If you can't understand the wisdom in questioning authority's motives, well, that's your problem, not mine. I cannot reason with a mind that is closed.
Ms. Bartz' written report was not "vanilla" or "boilerplate" to me. It contained references to law that I had not studied, before. Someone on this blog kindly explained that the ED Sections are part of Code of Civil Procedure, which is helpful, so I can study the Statute further.
DeleteMs. Bartz was briefed for a couple of hours so she would answer the questions the way that Vina and Sabine wanted her to; "If I may" Vina thinks he is in the driver's seat, not Council.
I should be worried as you are an expert on closed minds. I however, don't have a closed mind. I look at words and actions as I best interpret them not how I may wish them to be. This sometimes means I interpret them counter to what I want. You, on the other hand, interpret everything based on what you want to happen.
DeleteI was the one who mentioned the ED sections in the Code of Civil Procedure. But you readily admit that you had no compunction challenging Bartz' motives while being ignorant of the ED rules and procedures.
Finally, I confess that my responses aren't geared toward you, as I have no expectations of changing your mind. My responses are geared toward those who read this blog and might mistake you for some kind of expert. You certainly have a lot to say but quantity doesn't mean quality. You may mean well and I don't mean to imply that you to stop giving your opinions. Just don't try to pass them off as facts.
You know nothing about what went on during Ms. Bartz briefing, so don't pretend that you do. My belief (I don't know what went on at that briefing either) is that they merely discussed the particulars of the PV situation so that Ms. Bartz could address the specifics of an ED proceedings on PV and be able to answer council questions directly. Nothing more. But because you heard things that you didn't want to hear, it had to be because Ms. Bartz was co-opted. At its essence, that means that Ms. Bartz was persuaded to give council bad legal advice.
It may interest you that a lot of agencies prefer to avoid ED because, while it always looks bad to acquire property through ED, it's often cheaper.
Well said.
DeleteI did not admit that I challenged Bartz motives. I was challenging Sabine and Vina's motives, not Bartz. I had already read Ms. Bartz written report, and felt it was fine. To me, it didn't appear to be "boilerplate." But you may be an attorney, since that was your phrase. If this is an attorney, you are free to post under your own name.
DeleteI never said I was an expert, but I have watched the City, closely, for over ten years. I don't claim to be an expert, and I don't hide my identity behind anonymity.
If you have questions about what I say, you are welcome to contradict me, as you do. No one is forcing you to read my "quantity." People reading here can speak for themselves. You also are not the blog administrator.
I have every reason to believe that Ms. Bartz was "briefed" on how to answer specific questions. I would have loved to have been "a fly in the room." But I wasn't. The "briefing," could have taken place, publicly, as this is the subject of many public hearings, and there is no reason for more "privileged" conversations, where the public is cut out of the loop.
I also said nothing about her being co-opted. She had a certain negative spin after the briefing that she didn't have in her written report. You can draw any conclusions you want; I think she felt obligated to present the "worst case scenario," and perhaps that was good legal advise. Again, her written report was more neutral.
I know that for Del Mar Shores school considered ED, but the Del Mar School District and the City of Del Mar came to a mutually beneficial decision, whereby the surplus school site was reasonably sold, benefiting both the District and the citizens of Del Mar, including for open space.
Ocean Beach also came to a reasonable value for purchasing a surplus school site from that school district. Sometimes ED may come up, but reasonable Superintendents are willing to recommend a compromise, and reasonable Boards of Trustees work with their respective cities to keep the costs down. No need to pay lawyers for a court case, when public agencies cooperate for the benefit of the public trust which they are duty bound to uphold.
Mark Muir did question the timelines on Vina's plans. Kristin Gaspar did question the wisdom of defunding the open space and habitat and flooding funds, and building a garage for lifeguards on the bluff at Moonlight. She did question putting the two projects together, Moonlight Beach and the former Hall Property, now Sports Park. Jerome laughed out loud at her, and she asked him, point blank, "are you laughing at me?" He just grinned. But she ended up voting with Teresa and everyone else, Mark too, to defund those 17 funds, and take out another bogus lease revenue bond with no actual lease revenue stream! That was before Lisa and Tony were elected. Lisa did question that the two projects had been combined for purpose of defunding and the lease revenue bond, after the fact, but it was "too late." That bell, too, had rung. And Lisa still voted to give Vina an excellent, as did Tony and all the others.
ReplyDeleteWC is correct. They've all let us down. Again, and we can't forget this, they voted UNANIMOUSLY to give Vina an excellent, and supported Sabine, although I wrote them and spoke to them all asking them not to, giving detailed reasons why.
In the end, it seems Council "sticks together" with Staff and Sabine, but most especially Vina, which will be their undoing . . .
Still, Mark and Kristin also voted NOT to have more secret, unnoticed, ad hoc subcommittees. Teresa learned the hard way, that she cannot negotiate "in good faith," with a weasel like Baird.
I got a note in my inbox tonight: A friend of a friend was down at city hall yesterday about building plans and lo and behold there was Andreen, with a City Planner on behalf of someone named Baird, to “help him out.” Coincidence? “Now there is a match made in heaven. Up to no good no doubt. So Baird is using Andreen to help him out with whatever at our city hall. Watch out everybody. There is subterfuge afoot."
But isn't there always subterfuge afoot with staff and special favors? That's the impression I get. From what I understand after speaking with Supervisor Dave Roberts, and having e-mail conversations with Pam Roberts, staff, more so than Council, are the ones pushing growth, including on the County, insisting upzoning is necessary for "highest and best use" at the burned out dump site by the Sheriff's substation, the Ford parking, and the Solana Center.
Sabine and Vina prepped the special counsel on eminent domain for a couple of hours before the Jan. 22 CC Meeting. Her written report was much more neutral. Her verbal report was obviously affected by her "briefing." These guys are using Jeff Murphy to push growth for more tax revenues, yes, to support their pensions, support their high salaries, and support hiring ever-more members of Vina's cabinet.
Oh and one last thing... The moon is made of green cheese.
DeleteI hope your nonsensical comment is "one last thing." You prove nothing but the irrelevance of your remarks, and your inability to logically dispute facts or informed opinion.
DeleteInteresting information Lynn: Andreen and Baird together? As the saying goes: birds of a feather F...Encinitas together!
DeleteNothing good can come out of something where Andreen gets involved.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteOh, I meant to say I spoke with the moon personally and had an e-mail conversation with the green cheese.
DeleteMore fallacious logic, 7:45. Why don't you contact Supervisor Dave Roberts? I had left a message for him and he called me back at 8:30, January 31, which was last Friday night.
DeleteI had been in an e-mail conversation with Former Encinitas Mayor and Supervisor Pam Slater-Price on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 30 - February 1. I am sharing this information to verify my sources.
I made the correction, above, because I mistakenly had written "Pam Roberts," instead of Pam Slater-Price. Just a slip-up on my part. I could delete the entire comment and repost, and maybe I will.
That's why I delete mine usually. Or because I go nuts with the F word. jk
Delete8:41 from yesterday morning should read:
ReplyDeleteBut isn't there always subterfuge afoot with staff and special favors? That's the impression I get. From what I understand after speaking with Supervisor Dave Roberts, and having e-mail conversations with Pam Slater-Price, staff, more so than Council, are the ones pushing growth, including on the County, insisting upzoning is necessary for "highest and best use" at the burned out dump site by the Sheriff's substation, the Ford parking, and the Solana Center.
Sabine and Vina prepped the special counsel on eminent domain for a couple of hours before the Jan. 22 CC Meeting. Her written report was much more neutral. Her verbal report was obviously affected by her "briefing." These guys are using Jeff Murphy to push growth for more tax revenues, yes, to support their pensions, support their high salaries, and support hiring ever-more members of Vina's cabinet.
I ment to say, I had a conversation with the green cheese and e -mailed the moon.
DeleteParody, not to be taken seriously. ( unless you have no sense of humor and too much time on your hands).
What happened to the wild parrots of Leucadia. ?? I haven't seen them in years.
ReplyDelete12:51
DeleteI think its' been too cold.
A developer cut down the Zapote tree, where they liked to feed, next door.
ReplyDeleteLast I heard, they flew the coop, to Ocean Beach. The Reader did an article about them, and I believe KPBS did a short documentary, too. They are Amazon Parrots, but with red heads, or red on their heads, not yellow.
I'm glad they've adapted from the jungles of Mexico. But they were captured and brought to San Diego, as caged pets.
There are two giant flicks of parrots in OB. Also a wild macaw that sits outside of a caged macaw. They converse in macaw.
DeleteI still see a few around here. I really miss the wild chickens that were around Leucadia in the 70's.
Delete5:22 PM I hope "flicks" was a typo when you meant "flocks".
DeleteIn the "there is an organization of everything" realm, I give you:
The California Parrot Project was born from the recognition that parrots are now an important component of our urban avifaunas in many parts of the state, and the populations they have established are deserving of monitoring and in-depth ecological study. The first step in monitoring is accurate identification, so we provide hints on distinguishing the genera and species in the field. We also present basic information on distribution, habitat use, and population sizes, but we are fully aware that (with your help) we will continually refine and augment this information.
Flicks is plural for flocks(s). I think.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe wild chickens have been replaced by caged chickens. Free the chickens!
DeleteFlocks is plural for Flock
ReplyDeleteFlicks are expensive chocolate treats at the movies.
Flicks is also slang for movies.
Flicks occur when something's stuck on your finger.
Flecks are specks.
Flack is what I get on this blog a lot.
Typos are usually the result of hitting a letter key adjacent to the key you should have hit. An unintended mistake. But sometimes typos can have dire consequences.
"Susan Taylor's car was fine" is one example from an interview transcript of a man who arrived at the scene of a murder in La Costa in 1990. A defense lawyer who believed that statement was very significant, years later relied on that transcription alone to create "reasonable doubt" for a defendant. He wasn't Sherlock Holmes. But because of the transcript, if Taylor's car was "FINE" being present at the scene when the man arrived, so was the man Susan had just sold it to - and it could likely be the killer. The premise was inconsistent with the car buyer's story that he'd left the house hours before the killing.
Attempting to establish the car buyer was a liar, when the interviewee was on the stand the laywer said "You said that Susan's car was fine at the house when you showed up?" The man said "No. There weren't any cars around". The lawyer then quoted the transcript and the witness said "I never said that".
That's because one word was a typo. On the audiotape the man had actually said "Susan Taylor's car was GONE." A typo because g is next to f and o is next to I on a keyboard. A momentary shift of both hands to the right by the transcriber changed the whole meaning of a simple sentence formed a failed strategy by a defense lawer. Not to mention that it was the "rabbit in his hat" that backfired on the defense lawyer who thought it would create reasonable doubt for his client (when he should have simply told her side of the story to her judge and jury.)
What's that got to do with Alex? About as much as flocks of parrots. But I wanted to narrate the the view while we're on another track.
Nicely done!
DeleteWell, reasonable doubt and roundabout go well together.
Delete