Two comments under vina should go here. Picked up votes category: Cameron, Graboi, possibly even Fidel. Lerchbacker guy continues to baffle, as he admits he has no experience with the issues that plague us today, no experience going down to city hall, yet thinks we should vote for him. Blakespear a complete flat line, with not a single person going up to speak with her afterward.
Zeigler did a bit better, but touting his law-and-order answer to everything not really attractive. At least you can say he believes in his stand, which is more than you can say for Kranz. Tony got really weird when he talked about Prop A...he's finally waking up to the fact that his siding with developers pissed off a whole lotta people.
There is no validation to the premise that Kranz is or has 'sided with developers'. There is validation to that claim when addressing Gaspar. Blakesphere will get my vote for council.
6:12 nails it. 6:22 must be Shaffer or Blakespears daddy. Only ones in audience who seemed to side with her and Kranz. Shaffer came late and left early. 6:12 is so RIGHT about those two. They were ge least dynamic there. Finally Blakespeares daddy had to go up to chat wit her since no one else did. Even Kranz got a couple of people tho not very happy with him. Sheila and Julie were the clear winners.
What "lies"? The entire council voted the same. Those votes were completely logical. What specifically is your problem w them. I want my mayor,whomever, to be familiar w the players. What are you alleging? Please share what information was discussed at these meetings? Who were all these developers? You have offered nothing that makes your point.
"Validation" on Kranz' siding with developers comes from Kranz himself. He began referring to his good friend X (fill in developer name), stating that projects "couldn't pencil out" unless they went to three stories, and having that specific plan argument clearly fed to him. He did not sit down and cook that up himself. All that started going down just about the time he took office.
What he consistently leaves out of his specific plan take of woe is the fact that City-appointed resident task forces opposed the specific plans at the time. Council voted 180 the opposite to support higher development...but Kranz knows all this. He just chooses to ignore it. Loser.
Anyone who owns property is a developer, eh? Must 30,000 of them in Encinitas: put down your comic book version of Karl Marx, please.
That long line you see on Vulcan Avenue is full of people discovering they cannot build or bring their accessory units(s) up to code because Donna/Bonde demanded the Natural Grade be included in the chock-a-block initiative! Sheila refuses to recognize this fact: I am investing in a Starbucks franchise where the old gas station was located at the bottom of City Hall to capture revenue from thirsty line-waiters for Planning..
Don't know, Lurchbocker says he won an award for heroism while under fire off Iran and a bunch of other experience, I mean, its not like Catherine suggesting turning Village Park into a pre-capitalist 17th century French village for bartering, or Julie's cry for help in the Coast News this week (Her plea to Jeff Murphy about animals at a vet's is curious, as it practically sits on Lynn Braun Marr's front porch?) Does the public really want Teresa's hand picked replacement? Doubtful.
Right now he looks like a guy from out-of-town with a big snow shovel who has stumbled across our post-avalanche problems in land use. Should we ask him to dig us out? Or, we could try telepathy to move the snow as Sheila is suggesting. Julie is a one issue candidate, Desert Rose, Catherine is a carpetbagger and Sheila, is a shaman, but one that should only be allowed to read tea leaves, not bones. We're screwed.
Sounds like you're screwed, if measuring from the natural grade and not an artificially-raised pad that allowed the developer to get around building height restrictions makes you so sad. So now developers get to make a profit and not a killing, awww our hearts bleed.
Barth and Shaffer's hand-picked replacement for Barth is Blakespear...sounds like you kind of make this up on the fly, don't you.
And a big "whatever" to you talk of anyone owning a property being a developer. Who said that? You did...sorry, your lack of critical thinking and ability to counter something you don't like is absolutely clear to you only.
Get outside. The fresh air may do you some good. Or not.
I did not attend, but I have the following observations:
About 30-35k people will vote in this election. Only about 50-100 people attend these forums. Most of the people at the forums are the same people from forum to forum, year to year. These are people who are interested and informed.
Most of the people voting are not interested or informed. They vote their business interest, men for men, women for women, pet people for Maggie, realtors for jerome, whatever it is.
Iti's these people that have to be reached. Most people don't even know what Prop A. is, let alone care. The contenders are Kranz and Gaspar for Mayor, Blakespeare vs. Graboi for council.
No one else is above a distant third, and that's how it is most years.
Right now the biggest issue to me is the schism between prop A. supporters and the old slow growth backers who also backed Tony, Lisa, Sheila many years ago, Barth etc.
It is that schism and the voting for Sheila, similar to the voting for Bob, that will put Gaspar in the mayor's seat. And there aren't going to be enough Prop A. folks to overpower Blakespeare's backing, money and early start...
labels, labels, labels- there are no "slow growth' people. There are taxpayers who want to ensure the zoning that protected their land whey they purucashed property remains. Then there are politicans and interested parties who want to change land-use and grant new property rights to a lucky few.
I'm a slow growth person. We still exist. You guys just proved one of my points, in that everything for a large group of you boils down to your individual property rights, your taxes, and anything you perceive as a threat to your comfort level on those two issues.
We know developers want to change zoning so they can build more. This has been true for years. A group of us has been fighting to prevent crap like Fulvia, Hermes and Daphne for years. I guess the question now is what candidate best embodies the "sensible growth" ideal. It definitely isn't Gaspar, people think it's not Tony, and a lot of people think it's not Blakespeare.
At this point, I'm not sure you're ever going to get what you want. Things are always going to change, the best we can do is make our voices heard and get the best candidates we can. For me, it will never be the Mark Muirs or the Gaspars of the world. For many years, Teresa was our only voice. Even Maggie voted the other way more often that not.
All I can tell you is this, you split the vote with Sheila, Gaspar is in. Blakespeare is already in...
During the 2007 Cardiff Specific Plan city leaders told the untruths-
1. No one will fix up their buildings without new zoning
Reality- The Seaside Market has improved and just renovated the old realtor office, and did new steps on the north plaza, on Newcastle local builder Bruno did a great job, on the corner of Newcastle and Chesterfiled new owners remodeled the exterior and new paint
This is growth within current zoning- you can label it or call it whatever you want , but the fact remains that there is room fr growth within the current General Plan
Now there is even talk VG's will get a face lift
All of this proves the statements made by city staff that new zoning has to be made to before residetns would invest in properties, start new businesses or 'revitalize' the neighborhood were coomplete lies-
Teresa was never our voice, she voted with Stocks 95% of the time, the few times she did not vote with Stocks was because it served her interests not the public. Her record of failure is higher spending, higher debt, underfunded projects and higher densities- those are the facts
The real leadership in Encinitas has come from residents- Prop A, Cardiff Specific Plan, new DB interpretations- all led by residents, not Barth. Those are the facts.
7:51, Newer developments aren't guaranteed killings. The lofts lost over $5 million. 4 of the The Phoebe/101 lofts went bankrupt. Dos Palmas failed (nice guy, great building, but wrong venue for Mexican bread. I hear Haggo's it taking over and wish him well). God knows what happened to Pacific Station but I doubt it made a "killing" with units selling for $425,000 and ALL the underground parking / permitting / ground water issues / initial costs etc. etc. etc. Prop A passing has protected many developers from themselves.
Blakespear wants to maintain the "quirky individual charm" of the 5 communities of Encinitas. She said that Prop. A would make it more unlikely that the Boathouses could become a Bed 'n' Breakfast or museum. That would be quirky.
Lerchbacker repeated that he is the "new guy' and is learning a lot talking to members of the community. Nice if he had started learning a bit earlier.
Ziegler said he would bring "law and order" to the city council. Not a bad idea with a lawless council.
Kranz was full of promises and thought that there is great morale at city hall. He was unhappy about certain situations with city manager and attorney refusing to talk publicly about it. He never smiled during the whole 2 hours and was very defensive about his positions on Prop.A and Pacific View, with only Blakespear agreeing with him.
Gaspar was a no-show, having mayoral duties to attend to. No more explanation was given.
Cameron was Cameron and Fidel was Fidel. Both smiled. Funny that Blakespear didn't support their "quirkiness." The audience did.
Bawany said the city is at a tipping point. Let's hope it tips the right way.
Graboi emphasized Desert Rose. She had home turf advantage. She also smiled.
6:21 AM Thank you for the highlights. Blakespear is clueless when it comes to the Boathouse mismanagement. The Preservation Foundation deferred maintenance on the Boathouses thereby running up a quarter of a million dollars needed in repairs of the Boathouses. The Foundation hasn't provided any financial information on the Boathouses leading to the question of a default of the loan payments. Did Blakespear bring up that information? Probably not. She wants to get rid of Prop A - the people's right to vote and instead build stack and pack. A vote Blakespear is a vote for increased density.
6:21- Blakespear seems clueless on about everything except what she doesn't want with Rossini Creek. She is adamant about that and that's about it. Saw her yesterday putting up her big signs on public property. Is it time to do that yet?
Gaspar's camp knows that she can only damage herself with public appearances, so she will lay low. The slick glossies are in the printing presses = that's her campaign.
Blakespear seems obsessed with her family's history yet she seems almost like a stranger to Encinitas. It's weird. Even her constant "quirky " comment sounds foreign and out of touch.
Blakespear has referred repeatedly to "innovative growth." What the heck is that and why does it sound so ominous coming from her?? Her ability to speak only in generalities and her only accomplishment being an urban farming enthusiast does not make her fit to seve...far from it.
Only thing going for her is her encounter with Murphy, where she had the opportunity to see his maneuverings up close and personal and called him on it. Still, not enough, especially given her "go along to get along" attitude toward working on the inside.
I'm not that thrilled with Tony. He's not a leader, but he votes right more often than not. I'm not willing to write him off for one or two issues I disagree on. Tony is the least bad option.
Catherine is an enthusiastic vote. She has deep community roots, she has revealed herself as a sharp mind, and a savvy political operator. She was well prepared, well supported, and has organized a textbook campaign. She has studied the issues, and staked out smart positions. Finally, she has a great foundation of legal knowledge. The current council has really struggled with how to write clear, detailed ordinances. Their struggles open the door for staff questions that undermine it delay their efforts to change the rules (e.g. Debsity Bonus calculations).
So if slick wins your vote, why not cast it for Gaspar? The words "savvy political operator" do not sound good to most Council-weary voters.
And Tony? Willing to lie to throw votes at his "good guy" bank of developer friends. How many times has he said "he's a good guy, he has some good ideas?" That one referred to Farley, whose "good idea" was a convention center and hotel complex on Saxony. Tony is dangerous because he's a little guy thrown in with the big ones. He's impressionable and has no moral compass to tell him when he's off track.
His opposition and willingness to lie about Prop A is enough for him not to deserve my vote. He even had the nerve last night to actually defend the infamous Rutan & Tucker report. Ugh.
Savvy political operator, to me, is the basic shared toolset of people who make shit happen (public sector, private sector, or non-profit). It's the ability to look at a complex problem, and identify all of the people and process issues that have to happen in a specific order to achieve a goal. Look at Catherine's campaign. Before she ever announced, she had a website ready to go, she had studied up on policy positions, she had a message, she figured out the new sign ordinance, she had financial backers lined up, and the mechanisms in place to accept contributions, she had allies and endorsements lined up.
This is a window into the mind of people who make things happen. If you don't agree with her policies, she is your worst nightmare, because she will out think you, out plan you, and out hussle you.
What a load crap. Blakespear is an empty suit, just like Shaffer and Gaspar. She drones on and on, she is selfish and self-seeking, she is me first. What , you want examples?
She has not taken a postion on any issue of substance. Her three supporters on the council all lied, all underfunded projects, all voted against resident safety at desert rose.
Really, you sound like her mom who wants a quid pro quo to keep new rights to upzone development
She has benefited from copying Shaffer and Barth's previous campaings and mailing lists. I also saw another mailing list she selfishly took over even when it did not concern her
She might well win, but the same fate that got Stocks, Barth, Dalager and in 2 years Shaffer will get her as well, she will be exposed as a self-seeking fraud
We should all be troubled that Barth and Shaffer thought so little of residents they did not dicslose during Coral Tree that they had donated to Blakespear's campaing and attended her kick-off party, and planned to used their newsletters to promote her
Yea, no conflict there.
I hoped Catherine would be different, she is just as ethically challenged as her supporters. She'll fit right in with the council of liars.
Catherine has deep local roots- hey that is teh same shit KRanz said, just before he started lying to the public, taking trips, voting against resident safety and underfunding projects-
Catherine is an elitst, she lives in a home her mommy bought, KRanz lives on land his wife's mother own's, two of kind, both unable to make it in the real world
Lerchbacker, though a very nice guy, gave examples of how he went into organizations or took over projects and ballooned them up in size. His one example of downsizing is that they told him that he had to close a base.
The back story on Catherine. At the Democratic central committee meeting where they chose the candidates to endorse, Busby practically bullied the 60 members of the Central Committee into voting for Catherine. Not so much Tony, but he is the only Democrat they felt they could endorse. Busby, who lives in Cardiff, has never participated in our local politics (she aims higher), but she used that as her ace in the hole, in case the Dems were split between Julie and Catherine. As a matter of fact, they were. It is only because Busby billed them, that Catherine won by 2 votes. As for Francince, after the first of the year, she will be persona no grata and will be bounced as the Chair of the San Diego Democratic Party. Many of the 60 wanted to vote for Julie, but Francine's bullying tactics held and it didn't happen. For me, I am voting for Julie.
Busby is not a factor in this race, it's one endorsement, and there's plenty of independents and Republicans in this town who don't give a rats rump on this endorsement....
Yes, Julie and Catherine both spoke at the North County Dems and the San Diego County Dems. All I can say on this blog is that "the fix was in". You can take that for whatever it means.
Did Julie identify Francine's influence as a critical facet of the campaign before the meeting? If so, did she take the initiative and ask for time to make her case with Francine? Did she make a strong case, and directly ask for her support?
Or,
Did she send out an email at the last minute asking supporters to show up at the meeting?
These are serious questions. It's about organization, effectiveness, competence. Who do you want in office representing you? Someone focused and prepared, or someone, well, not?
Your "serious questions" make it sound like you know something, but are asking anyway. If your point is that Blakespear has a well-oiled machine behind her while Graboi was not quite as nimble is NOT a substitute for substance of believe and conviction that residents must be protected from an ever more aggressive city hall.
And while we're at "influence," how about Shaffer's texts to Busby & Co. that Graboi was a tea party activist? Blakespear was more than glad to take that ride into Dem party favor. Graboi had the decency to correct Shaffer in private, for all the good it did her. Guess I'm not as decent :D That story needs to be repeated, and repeated often.
The Dem cards were stacked and a less slick Dem (Graboi) lost out. No great loss in the end, since this is not a party-line election. Graboi is for all residents, no matter their affiliation. Let the Dems keep Blakespear, she's nice and moldable.
How many voters will even know that Blakespeare was endorsed by the Democratic party. This is about getting out early, getting mailing lists, hosting fundraisers, meet and greats etc. That's why Blakespeare is leading this race....
If you don't like it, get your ass out and do some work for Graboi....
If the Dem cards were stacked against Julie, then her smart play was to announce before the meeting that she would not seek, nor accept the endorsement of any major party. She rails against machine politics gridlock as a true independent voice of the people. Run a campaign of rebel outsiders, people without a voice--blah blah, blah.
It's the difficult--correction--it's the definition of "self-seeking" to try to run that kind of campaign after seeking and losing the endorsement of the political establishment.
Just more evidence of a poor campaign. She could have player her hand much better.
It's not just political blood-sport. Effective, motivated leaders have to be able to drive an agenda.
Both Catherine and Julie spoke at the North County Dems and the San Diego County Democratic party. Francine was insistent, to the point of yelling at one of the 60 central committee members, that they had better vote for Catherine.
You don't just show up at the meeting, give a speech, and get the endorsement. By the day of the meeting, the outcome is pretty much determined. Surprises do happen, but a good candidate would start working the party voters and leaders a year in advance. You ask for their commitment to support your endorsement. If you don't get it, you can assume they are supporting your opponent. If you don't have the support and votes lined up in advance, you're better off running against the system as an outsider.
11:36-All you have said is true. However, there is one thing that isn't Both of the candidates did exactly as you suggested. They didn't just suit up and show up at only one meeting. Busby wanted Catherine for reasons I cannot share. Sorry about that. You don't have to believe a word I say. There was a great deal of party infighting about this. And, as one of the other posters said, it does matter, as the mailers say who to vote for, and since most people are not engaged in the process they usually follow party lines. Busby and Graboi tangles about 3 years back and from that time forward Busby vowed to get revenge, and she did. However, none of this has gone unnoticed by the Democratic Party and as another peter said, she will be shown to the door come January. Julie knows Francine very well, as do some others that I also know. Catherine had never met Francine until she decided to run. you can believe me or not. The choice is yours.
I believe you. Everything you said makes intuitive sense.
Given the background, it sounds like the nomination was a long shot from the start for Julie. I still don't understand why she didn't run an outsider campaign from the start. I guess it was a close vote on the party endorsement, and she thought she could win it, even with party leadership working against her.
What happens to Busby is immaterial to me. It won't affect the outcome of our local elections one bit.
Makes sense to me as well. I felt going in that Katherine had the backing, and that's key to the win. With it comes the money and the resources. I agree that Julie would have been better off going 100% independent...
Busby may be the head party hack, but she's been irrlevent on an electability level for a long time. She ran some absolutely awful campaigns and was a weak candidate. I quit voting for her after the first attempted upset with Duke....
They are both running for mayor so you can't vote for both. You need to pick one. I have to say it scares me that there are people on this blog who don't seem to "up to speed" shall we say.
Relax 12:04 & 12:33. Just wanted to get a rise out of someone. And yes 12:34. I was so confused wether 12:33 was referring to what she had to say or some collective group. Thanks for the grammar tip. And come to think of it, "PLEASE DON'T VOTE" might make a cute bumper sticker for Encinitas. (or how about: "DON'T FORGET TO VOTE NOV. 5!")
My ass, btw, is out working for Graboi and Cameron both. Yours appears to be applying your 20/20 hindsight to what Graboi, as an unseasoned politician, should/should not have done. I'd rather have someone more real, as Julie is, than someone who knows how to run a seamless campaign...or rather, someone who's being taught by Barth and Shaffer how to do it.
Ah, you still singing that song, 6:20? If someone has a good message and knows how to fight for residents, I don't care if they've lived on the moon for the last 100 years.
Blakespear is clueless when it comes to the Boathouse mismanagement. The Preservation Foundation deferred maintenance on the Boathouses thereby running up a quarter of a million dollars needed in repairs of the Boathouses. The Foundation hasn't provided any financial information on the Boathouses leading to the question of a default of the loan payments. Did Blakespear bring up that information? Probably not. She wants to get rid of Prop A - the people's right to vote and instead build stack and pack. A vote Blakespear is a vote for increased density.
Blakespear is clueless when it comes to the Boathouse mismanagement. The Preservation Foundation deferred maintenance on the Boathouses thereby running up a quarter of a million dollars needed in repairs of the Boathouses. The Foundation hasn't provided any financial information on the Boathouses leading to the question of a default of the loan payments. Did Blakespear bring up that information? Probably not. She wants to get rid of Prop A - the people's right to vote and instead build stack and pack. A vote Blakespear is a vote for increased density.
6:21 PM Haha! Good one. What a sense of humor. Blakespear is a stack and pack high density politician following Shaffer and Barth's lead. Blakespear is clueless when it comes to the Boathouse mismanagement. The Preservation Foundation deferred maintenance on the Boathouses thereby running up a quarter of a million dollars needed in repairs of the Boathouses. The Foundation hasn't provided any financial information on the Boathouses leading to the question of a default of the loan payments. Did Blakespear bring up that information? Probably not. She wants to get rid of Prop A - the people's right to vote and instead build stack and pack. A vote for Blakespear is a vote for increased density. Is she a member of the Rotary with Mayor up-zone Gaspar?
Yes, it's Sheila and Julie. I was at last night's forum. Blakespear was bland and robotic and shows little passion for anything. Even her touting of urban farming is delivered with a flat, monotone voice. Julie defended the Strawberry Fields. Blakespear didn't defend them. I guess she is happy with the proposed Park and Ride. There goes the finest ag land left in the city.
In Barth's latest FB post she brags about how there is going to be an all day Encinitas event downtown that also features an all day "happy hour". Way to go Teresa. You and Tony can get drunk even earlier than usual. Anyone can go to Barth's FB page if your are so inclined. I am not making this stuff up.
These are the alcoholics ruining Encinitas. Take note. We don't want you or your bad habits. You should be ashamed of what your lives have become. Seek help asap
It is appalling that some of you can vote. And that is one of the major reasons that Prop A should not have passed. Most of you should not be allowed to vote, judging from what you wrote above.
Good to hear Francine Busby will be getting the much deserved axe come January. She allowed her position to be played for a fool by listening to our very own Ms Ethics Lisa Shaffer and her many lies about Julie's affiliations of which not one was true.
Ms. Busby owes this city a public apology for allowing herself to be persuaded into coming out for catherine before the dem. meeting. I was there and it was all too obvious the fix was in and now we all know why.
Francine could have done the right thing when she learned Lisa's lies about Julie were just that, lies. Not a shred of truth in any one of them.
Ms. Busby could have come out and retracted her endorsements with the reason being she was misled by our own Ms. Ethics, Lisa Shaffer.
Well Francine, we can't put that back in the bottle can we at this late date? Your name is all over this and we have to wonder, How could it have been worth it to stain your name for such cheap tactics?
As for LIar Lisa, we all have our day of reckoning and yours will come too. What or rather who specifically manipulated you with these falsehoods to encourage you to go to Francine with these mistruths? I can't believe you came up with this yourself and feel you were played just like you played Busby.
Now that would be interesting to know if it wasn't all of your own doing.
Busby never apologizes. That is one of her many downfalls. She may be living it up at the moment, but her time is short. Not too many people will be sad to see her get the boot.
2:30- If you think these comments mean nothing, then perhaps you are the one who should get your head out of your sandcastle. Let's be honest folks. As much as many of us would like the pensions reduced, it cannot happen unless the City leaves Cal Pers, and that isn't going to happen. The reason is because we don't have the money to leave! You can thank Jerome and company for the 35% wage increase, and pension increase. So, we can't reduce salaries of the already employed, and we cannot lower pensions of the already employed. Gaspar found this out when she ran on the promise that we could have 401K's instead of Cal Pers. She found out after she was elected that it really was not an option. We can, however, control spending, and we can get rid of staff. So, which staff should go, and what costs do you want to control? I don't want Pacific View at 10 million plus. And, I don't care if it is Tony's legacy property, it's too damn expensive. I want my potholes fixed, I want less waste at City Hall. I want Vina and Sabine to go away as quickly as possible and hire a full time City Attorney for about $260,000 (which is what Oceanside pays their full time attorney, and they are a lot bigger than we are). I want to get rid of a lot of the Cabinet members, especially Lisa from Parks and Recreation; Jim Giliam (who I personally like, but we have a lot of artists in this community and we really don't need an art director); Marlena Medford, because form what I have seen she hasn't done anything (maybe not her fault but too bad); Murphy; and if I thought a bit longer I could come up with more. That would be a good start. So let me ask you all. Who do you think would do this? Catherine, Tony, Sheila, Julie, Gaspar?
Sadly you don't get to pick who is on staff either, and you never will, no matter who's on council. You did give a great reason not to vote for Gaspar, and that's promising things that are legally not possible.
Here's your best scenario for change. 1.) Vote out Gaspar now, make Muir the lone big development/rotarian vote. 2.) Vote out Muir in 2 years.) 3.) Lisa leaves after one term. 4.) Vote out Tony.
"You can thank Jerome and company for the 35% wage increase, and pension increase."
The increase was to pensions only, and it took a majority of three or four to OK it. Stocks and Houlihan voted yes, as did at least one other council member.
A judge ruled that civic pension obligations are not exempt from restructuring during a bankruptcy proceeding, a precedent that may have huge impacts on municipalities around the State. The way Encinitas is going, it could eventually become another Stockton - the multi-millions in pensions obligations could re- aligned to fiscal realities. Muir and his trough drivers are shaking in their boots - this may be the only way to achieve pension reform.
2:45 PM Don't forget the new planning deputy director Manjeet Ranu who singlehanded pushed through the El Cajon housing element. Manjeet is pure stack and pack. Get rid of Manjeet and have one less rat in planning.
Manjeet gave his first presentation about "5 cities and 5 hearts." The presentation that he gave for the joint Planning Commission and Council Meeting this week started off with, "Planning is cool!" Considering that this is a group of citizens and a professional meeting, can't we expect an adult presentation?
What happened to Mayor Kristin Gaspar last night? She wants to put more debt on the taxpayers with buying Pacific View school at a lower price than the other three council people agreed to with the school district. Mayor Gaspar doesn't seem to understand that debt is debt.
9:20 I saw the same pig fly by. Government function my "A". She was afraid what questions she would get from the Olivenhain people. Mommy told her not to go.
I've attended every forum and met personally with the main candidates. Blakespear is like mass produced junk food: overpriced, fancy packaging, lots of marketing and no substance. Ditto for Gaspar except she's Stepford Barbie: mechanical, fake hair, boobs and nails. No substance. Julie and Sheila emerge as the only real choices for leadership and they grow stronger at each debate. Blakespear seems to fade and get more mechanical. Gaspar doesn't show. Tony is a lying phony. Vote SHEILA for Mayor and JULIE for Council. They're our only chance for real leadership and getting rid of Vina and Sabine.
If anyone cares to, take a look at Ruben Flores's "official" government Facebook Page. Oh, you didn't know? Yes, Mr. Flores who is a Plannng Commissioner has his very own official FB page, as well as a more generic one. One the "government official" page, as he likes to call himself, he supports Catherine and Gaspar. Interesting choices. He has also come up with his own definition of "community character." I notified all 5 council members who didn't think there was anything wrong with it. The interesting thing is that in 2013, all Commissioners were supposed to attend an ethics seminar (yes you read it correctly) run by Lew and Company. It cost the City $1500.00. At the meeting all commissioners were given the legal rules of what they can and cannot do. And one thing they cannot do, (well I guess with the exception of Mr. Flores) is to not say you represent the City. Only City Council can do that. So, Mr. Flores violates the ethics law, set forth by the State of California, and he gets a pass. Hmmm, I wonder why?
MGJ at 8:37am has it right. The "masses" will vote based on a few minutes of consideration of a sound byte or nice picture. Candidates should worry only about form, substance doesn't matter right now.
4:46- Gaspar was at a "thank you to the commissioners function" that holds a once a year thank you dinner. Commissioners, except planning, volunteer their time. Usually all of the Council attends that dinner. So, Kristin was thanking volunteers and Tony was campaigning. Is that about right?
10:13 How did she thank them? Did she use a jar with sand? Or did she come up with another childish magic trick? Did anyone count how many times she said thank you?
Two comments under vina should go here. Picked up votes category: Cameron, Graboi, possibly even Fidel. Lerchbacker guy continues to baffle, as he admits he has no experience with the issues that plague us today, no experience going down to city hall, yet thinks we should vote for him. Blakespear a complete flat line, with not a single person going up to speak with her afterward.
ReplyDeleteZeigler did a bit better, but touting his law-and-order answer to everything not really attractive. At least you can say he believes in his stand, which is more than you can say for Kranz. Tony got really weird when he talked about Prop A...he's finally waking up to the fact that his siding with developers pissed off a whole lotta people.
There is no validation to the premise that Kranz is or has 'sided with developers'. There is validation to that claim when addressing Gaspar.
DeleteBlakesphere will get my vote for council.
Prop A lies, Prop A vote, Desert Rose vote, Leichtag vote, Papa Doug Manchester party, seen around town dining with Meyer and other developers...
Delete6:12 nails it. 6:22 must be Shaffer or Blakespears daddy. Only ones in audience who seemed to side with her and Kranz. Shaffer came late and left early. 6:12 is so RIGHT about those two. They were ge least dynamic there. Finally Blakespeares daddy had to go up to chat wit her since no one else did. Even Kranz got a couple of people tho not very happy with him. Sheila and Julie were the clear winners.
DeleteWhat "lies"?
DeleteThe entire council voted the same.
Those votes were completely logical. What specifically is your problem w them.
I want my mayor,whomever, to be familiar w the players.
What are you alleging? Please share what information was discussed at these meetings? Who were all these developers?
You have offered nothing that makes your point.
The Planning Commission and the Superior Court didn't find Kranz's vote on Desert Rose completely logical.
DeleteThe voters didn't find Kranz's vote on Prop A completely logical.
"Validation" on Kranz' siding with developers comes from Kranz himself. He began referring to his good friend X (fill in developer name), stating that projects "couldn't pencil out" unless they went to three stories, and having that specific plan argument clearly fed to him. He did not sit down and cook that up himself. All that started going down just about the time he took office.
DeleteWhat he consistently leaves out of his specific plan take of woe is the fact that City-appointed resident task forces opposed the specific plans at the time. Council voted 180 the opposite to support higher development...but Kranz knows all this. He just chooses to ignore it. Loser.
Anyone who owns property is a developer, eh? Must 30,000 of them in Encinitas: put down your comic book version of Karl Marx, please.
DeleteThat long line you see on Vulcan Avenue is full of people discovering they cannot build or bring their accessory units(s) up to code because Donna/Bonde demanded the Natural Grade be included in the chock-a-block initiative! Sheila refuses to recognize this fact: I am investing in a Starbucks franchise where the old gas station was located at the bottom of City Hall to capture revenue from thirsty line-waiters for Planning..
Don't know, Lurchbocker says he won an award for heroism while under fire off Iran and a bunch of other experience, I mean, its not like Catherine suggesting turning Village Park into a pre-capitalist 17th century French village for bartering, or Julie's cry for help in the Coast News this week (Her plea to Jeff Murphy about animals at a vet's is curious, as it practically sits on Lynn Braun Marr's front porch?) Does the public really want Teresa's hand picked replacement? Doubtful.
Right now he looks like a guy from out-of-town with a big snow shovel who has stumbled across our post-avalanche problems in land use. Should we ask him to dig us out? Or, we could try telepathy to move the snow as Sheila is suggesting. Julie is a one issue candidate, Desert Rose, Catherine is a carpetbagger and Sheila, is a shaman, but one that should only be allowed to read tea leaves, not bones. We're screwed.
Sounds like you're screwed, if measuring from the natural grade and not an artificially-raised pad that allowed the developer to get around building height restrictions makes you so sad. So now developers get to make a profit and not a killing, awww our hearts bleed.
DeleteBarth and Shaffer's hand-picked replacement for Barth is Blakespear...sounds like you kind of make this up on the fly, don't you.
And a big "whatever" to you talk of anyone owning a property being a developer. Who said that? You did...sorry, your lack of critical thinking and ability to counter something you don't like is absolutely clear to you only.
DeleteGet outside. The fresh air may do you some good. Or not.
I did not attend, but I have the following observations:
DeleteAbout 30-35k people will vote in this election. Only about 50-100 people attend these forums. Most of the people at the forums are the same people from forum to forum, year to year. These are people who are interested and informed.
Most of the people voting are not interested or informed. They vote their business interest, men for men, women for women, pet people for Maggie, realtors for jerome, whatever it is.
Iti's these people that have to be reached. Most people don't even know what Prop A. is, let alone care. The contenders are Kranz and Gaspar for Mayor, Blakespeare vs. Graboi for council.
No one else is above a distant third, and that's how it is most years.
Right now the biggest issue to me is the schism between prop A. supporters and the old slow growth backers who also backed Tony, Lisa, Sheila many years ago, Barth etc.
It is that schism and the voting for Sheila, similar to the voting for Bob, that will put Gaspar in the mayor's seat. And there aren't going to be enough Prop A. folks to overpower Blakespeare's backing, money and early start...
-MGJ
MGJ
Deletelabels, labels, labels- there are no "slow growth' people. There are taxpayers who want to ensure the zoning that protected their land whey they purucashed property remains. Then there are politicans and interested parties who want to change land-use and grant new property rights to a lucky few.
Exactly. One only has to read Shaffer's and Barth's "newsletters" to get the message good and clear that they support stack n'pack all the way.
DeleteI'm a slow growth person. We still exist. You guys just proved one of my points, in that everything for a large group of you boils down to your individual property rights, your taxes, and anything you perceive as a threat to your comfort level on those two issues.
DeleteWe know developers want to change zoning so they can build more. This has been true for years. A group of us has been fighting to prevent crap like Fulvia, Hermes and Daphne for years. I guess the question now is what candidate best embodies the "sensible growth" ideal. It definitely isn't Gaspar, people think it's not Tony, and a lot of people think it's not Blakespeare.
At this point, I'm not sure you're ever going to get what you want. Things are always going to change, the best we can do is make our voices heard and get the best candidates we can. For me, it will never be the Mark Muirs or the Gaspars of the world. For many years, Teresa was our only voice. Even Maggie voted the other way more often that not.
All I can tell you is this, you split the vote with Sheila, Gaspar is in. Blakespeare is already in...
-MGJ
MGJ
DeleteDuring the 2007 Cardiff Specific Plan city leaders told the untruths-
1. No one will fix up their buildings without new zoning
Reality- The Seaside Market has improved and just renovated the old realtor office, and did new steps on the north plaza, on Newcastle local builder Bruno did a great job, on the corner of Newcastle and Chesterfiled new owners remodeled the exterior and new paint
This is growth within current zoning- you can label it or call it whatever you want , but the fact remains that there is room fr growth within the current General Plan
Now there is even talk VG's will get a face lift
All of this proves the statements made by city staff that new zoning has to be made to before residetns would invest in properties, start new businesses or 'revitalize' the neighborhood were coomplete lies-
Teresa was never our voice, she voted with Stocks 95% of the time, the few times she did not vote with Stocks was because it served her interests not the public. Her record of failure is higher spending, higher debt, underfunded projects and higher densities- those are the facts
The real leadership in Encinitas has come from residents- Prop A, Cardiff Specific Plan, new DB interpretations- all led by residents, not Barth. Those are the facts.
7:51, Newer developments aren't guaranteed killings. The lofts lost over $5 million. 4 of the The Phoebe/101 lofts went bankrupt. Dos Palmas failed (nice guy, great building, but wrong venue for Mexican bread. I hear Haggo's it taking over and wish him well). God knows what happened to Pacific Station but I doubt it made a "killing" with units selling for $425,000 and ALL the underground parking / permitting / ground water issues / initial costs etc. etc. etc. Prop A passing has protected many developers from themselves.
DeleteHighlights:
ReplyDeleteBlakespear wants to maintain the "quirky individual charm" of the 5 communities of Encinitas. She said that Prop. A would make it more unlikely that the Boathouses could become a Bed 'n' Breakfast or museum. That would be quirky.
Lerchbacker repeated that he is the "new guy' and is learning a lot talking to members of the community. Nice if he had started learning a bit earlier.
Ziegler said he would bring "law and order" to the city council. Not a bad idea with a lawless council.
Kranz was full of promises and thought that there is great morale at city hall. He was unhappy about certain situations with city manager and attorney refusing to talk publicly about it. He never smiled during the whole 2 hours and was very defensive about his positions on Prop.A and Pacific View, with only Blakespear agreeing with him.
Gaspar was a no-show, having mayoral duties to attend to. No more explanation was given.
Cameron was Cameron and Fidel was Fidel. Both smiled. Funny that Blakespear didn't support their "quirkiness." The audience did.
Bawany said the city is at a tipping point. Let's hope it tips the right way.
Graboi emphasized Desert Rose. She had home turf advantage. She also smiled.
6:21 AM
DeleteThank you for the highlights.
Blakespear is clueless when it comes to the Boathouse mismanagement. The Preservation Foundation deferred maintenance on the Boathouses thereby running up a quarter of a million dollars needed in repairs of the Boathouses. The Foundation hasn't provided any financial information on the Boathouses leading to the question of a default of the loan payments.
Did Blakespear bring up that information? Probably not. She wants to get rid of Prop A - the people's right to vote and instead build stack and pack. A vote Blakespear is a vote for increased density.
6:21- Blakespear seems clueless on about everything except what she doesn't want with Rossini Creek. She is adamant about that and that's about it. Saw her yesterday putting up her big signs on public property. Is it time to do that yet?
DeleteGaspar's camp knows that she can only damage herself with public appearances, so she will lay low. The slick glossies are in the printing presses = that's her campaign.
DeleteBlakespear seems obsessed with her family's history yet she seems almost like a stranger to Encinitas. It's weird. Even her constant "quirky " comment sounds foreign and out of touch.
ReplyDeleteMaybe she can use "groovey"!
DeleteBlakespear has referred repeatedly to "innovative growth." What the heck is that and why does it sound so ominous coming from her?? Her ability to speak only in generalities and her only accomplishment being an urban farming enthusiast does not make her fit to seve...far from it.
ReplyDeleteOnly thing going for her is her encounter with Murphy, where she had the opportunity to see his maneuverings up close and personal and called him on it. Still, not enough, especially given her "go along to get along" attitude toward working on the inside.
I think she got it from this video.
DeleteI believe she did. The only thing missing from that video is Blakespear, guiding her childrens' hands as they plant seeds.
DeleteTony and Catherine have my vote.
ReplyDeleteI'm not that thrilled with Tony. He's not a leader, but he votes right more often than not. I'm not willing to write him off for one or two issues I disagree on. Tony is the least bad option.
Catherine is an enthusiastic vote. She has deep community roots, she has revealed herself as a sharp mind, and a savvy political operator. She was well prepared, well supported, and has organized a textbook campaign. She has studied the issues, and staked out smart positions. Finally, she has a great foundation of legal knowledge. The current council has really struggled with how to write clear, detailed ordinances. Their struggles open the door for staff questions that undermine it delay their efforts to change the rules (e.g. Debsity Bonus calculations).
Thanks Mrs. Kranz.
DeleteSo if slick wins your vote, why not cast it for Gaspar? The words "savvy political operator" do not sound good to most Council-weary voters.
DeleteAnd Tony? Willing to lie to throw votes at his "good guy" bank of developer friends. How many times has he said "he's a good guy, he has some good ideas?" That one referred to Farley, whose "good idea" was a convention center and hotel complex on Saxony. Tony is dangerous because he's a little guy thrown in with the big ones. He's impressionable and has no moral compass to tell him when he's off track.
His opposition and willingness to lie about Prop A is enough for him not to deserve my vote. He even had the nerve last night to actually defend the infamous Rutan & Tucker report. Ugh.
7:37,
DeleteSavvy political operator, to me, is the basic shared toolset of people who make shit happen (public sector, private sector, or non-profit). It's the ability to look at a complex problem, and identify all of the people and process issues that have to happen in a specific order to achieve a goal. Look at Catherine's campaign. Before she ever announced, she had a website ready to go, she had studied up on policy positions, she had a message, she figured out the new sign ordinance, she had financial backers lined up, and the mechanisms in place to accept contributions, she had allies and endorsements lined up.
This is a window into the mind of people who make things happen. If you don't agree with her policies, she is your worst nightmare, because she will out think you, out plan you, and out hussle you.
8:04
DeleteWhat a load crap. Blakespear is an empty suit, just like Shaffer and Gaspar. She drones on and on, she is selfish and self-seeking, she is me first. What , you want examples?
She has not taken a postion on any issue of substance. Her three supporters on the council all lied, all underfunded projects, all voted against resident safety at desert rose.
Really, you sound like her mom who wants a quid pro quo to keep new rights to upzone development
She has benefited from copying Shaffer and Barth's previous campaings and mailing lists. I also saw another mailing list she selfishly took over even when it did not concern her
She might well win, but the same fate that got Stocks, Barth, Dalager and in 2 years Shaffer will get her as well, she will be exposed as a self-seeking fraud
We should all be troubled that Barth and Shaffer thought so little of residents they did not dicslose during Coral Tree that they had donated to Blakespear's campaing and attended her kick-off party, and planned to used their newsletters to promote her
Yea, no conflict there.
I hoped Catherine would be different, she is just as ethically challenged as her supporters. She'll fit right in with the council of liars.
Catherine has deep local roots- hey that is teh same shit KRanz said, just before he started lying to the public, taking trips, voting against resident safety and underfunding projects-
DeleteCatherine is an elitst, she lives in a home her mommy bought, KRanz lives on land his wife's mother own's, two of kind, both unable to make it in the real world
Ah, now we're down to calling people "elitists". You better get used to it, Blakespeare is going in, she is running a good campaign.
DeleteThe split with the Prop A. people will put Gaspar in as well. It's become like a pack of wild dogs fighting with each other.
If one of you can do better, get off your ass and run next time. Other than Julie, it's all talk no action from the gang on this board...
Lerchbacker, though a very nice guy, gave examples of how he went into organizations or took over projects and ballooned them up in size. His one example of downsizing is that they told him that he had to close a base.
ReplyDeleteDo we want a BIGGER City Hall with more staff?
7:34 AM, it's comments like yours that lead to questions like this, "Do you even have a G.E.D 7:34 AM.?"
Delete11:27, Yes, 7:34 got his G.E.D.. But like me, he went to San Dieguito before it was an "Academy".
DeleteIt's Tony or Gaspar simple choice for me TONY!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Teresa and Lisa. Or is Francine and Catherine today? LOL!
ReplyDeleteThe back story on Catherine. At the Democratic central committee meeting where they chose the candidates to endorse, Busby practically bullied the 60 members of the Central Committee into voting for Catherine. Not so much Tony, but he is the only Democrat they felt they could endorse. Busby, who lives in Cardiff, has never participated in our local politics (she aims higher), but she used that as her ace in the hole, in case the Dems were split between Julie and Catherine. As a matter of fact, they were. It is only because Busby billed them, that Catherine won by 2 votes. As for Francince, after the first of the year, she will be persona no grata and will be bounced as the Chair of the San Diego Democratic Party. Many of the 60 wanted to vote for Julie, but Francine's bullying tactics held and it didn't happen. For me, I am voting for Julie.
ReplyDeleteShould have said "bullied them"
DeleteBusby is not a factor in this race, it's one endorsement, and there's plenty of independents and Republicans in this town who don't give a rats rump on this endorsement....
DeleteYes, Julie and Catherine both spoke at the North County Dems and the San Diego County Dems. All I can say on this blog is that "the fix was in". You can take that for whatever it means.
DeleteDuh, it's called Politics. Blakespeare had the pull with Lisa and Barth no doubt. This is not a surprise...
DeleteI don't think you understand what bullying is.
ReplyDeleteDid Julie identify Francine's influence as a critical facet of the campaign before the meeting? If so, did she take the initiative and ask for time to make her case with Francine? Did she make a strong case, and directly ask for her support?
Or,
Did she send out an email at the last minute asking supporters to show up at the meeting?
These are serious questions. It's about organization, effectiveness, competence. Who do you want in office representing you? Someone focused and prepared, or someone, well, not?
Your "serious questions" make it sound like you know something, but are asking anyway. If your point is that Blakespear has a well-oiled machine behind her while Graboi was not quite as nimble is NOT a substitute for substance of believe and conviction that residents must be protected from an ever more aggressive city hall.
DeleteAnd while we're at "influence," how about Shaffer's texts to Busby & Co. that Graboi was a tea party activist? Blakespear was more than glad to take that ride into Dem party favor. Graboi had the decency to correct Shaffer in private, for all the good it did her. Guess I'm not as decent :D That story needs to be repeated, and repeated often.
The Dem cards were stacked and a less slick Dem (Graboi) lost out. No great loss in the end, since this is not a party-line election. Graboi is for all residents, no matter their affiliation. Let the Dems keep Blakespear, she's nice and moldable.
whoops meant oiliness is not a substitute for belief and conviction.....
DeleteHow many voters will even know that Blakespeare was endorsed by the Democratic party. This is about getting out early, getting mailing lists, hosting fundraisers, meet and greats etc. That's why Blakespeare is leading this race....
DeleteIf you don't like it, get your ass out and do some work for Graboi....
10:08,
DeleteThe endorsements go out on the party voter guide mailers.
The masses who aren't paying attention tend to follow the recommendations from their party voting guide.
10:06,
DeleteIf the Dem cards were stacked against Julie, then her smart play was to announce before the meeting that she would not seek, nor accept the endorsement of any major party. She rails against machine politics gridlock as a true independent voice of the people. Run a campaign of rebel outsiders, people without a voice--blah blah, blah.
It's the difficult--correction--it's the definition of "self-seeking" to try to run that kind of campaign after seeking and losing the endorsement of the political establishment.
Just more evidence of a poor campaign. She could have player her hand much better.
It's not just political blood-sport. Effective, motivated leaders have to be able to drive an agenda.
Both Catherine and Julie spoke at the North County Dems and the San Diego County Democratic party. Francine was insistent, to the point of yelling at one of the 60 central committee members, that they had better vote for Catherine.
Delete11:14,
DeleteYou don't just show up at the meeting, give a speech, and get the endorsement. By the day of the meeting, the outcome is pretty much determined. Surprises do happen, but a good candidate would start working the party voters and leaders a year in advance. You ask for their commitment to support your endorsement. If you don't get it, you can assume they are supporting your opponent. If you don't have the support and votes lined up in advance, you're better off running against the system as an outsider.
11:36-All you have said is true. However, there is one thing that isn't Both of the candidates did exactly as you suggested. They didn't just suit up and show up at only one meeting. Busby wanted Catherine for reasons I cannot share. Sorry about that. You don't have to believe a word I say. There was a great deal of party infighting about this. And, as one of the other posters said, it does matter, as the mailers say who to vote for, and since most people are not engaged in the process they usually follow party lines. Busby and Graboi tangles about 3 years back and from that time forward Busby vowed to get revenge, and she did. However, none of this has gone unnoticed by the Democratic Party and as another peter said, she will be shown to the door come January. Julie knows Francine very well, as do some others that I also know. Catherine had never met Francine until she decided to run. you can believe me or not. The choice is yours.
Delete1:39,
DeleteI believe you. Everything you said makes intuitive sense.
Given the background, it sounds like the nomination was a long shot from the start for Julie. I still don't understand why she didn't run an outsider campaign from the start. I guess it was a close vote on the party endorsement, and she thought she could win it, even with party leadership working against her.
What happens to Busby is immaterial to me. It won't affect the outcome of our local elections one bit.
Makes sense to me as well. I felt going in that Katherine had the backing, and that's key to the win. With it comes the money and the resources. I agree that Julie would have been better off going 100% independent...
DeleteBusby may be the head party hack, but she's been irrlevent on an electability level for a long time. She ran some absolutely awful campaigns and was a weak candidate. I quit voting for her after the first attempted upset with Duke....
I'm voting for Tony and Sheila!
ReplyDeletearrrgh...please don't vote
DeleteThey are both running for mayor so you can't vote for both. You need to pick one. I have to say it scares me that there are people on this blog who don't seem to "up to speed" shall we say.
DeleteShould read: who don't seem to be "up to speed"
DeleteRelax 12:04 & 12:33. Just wanted to get a rise out of someone. And yes 12:34. I was so confused wether 12:33 was referring to what she had to say or some collective group. Thanks for the grammar tip. And come to think of it, "PLEASE DON'T VOTE" might make a cute bumper sticker for Encinitas. (or how about: "DON'T FORGET TO VOTE NOV. 5!")
Deleteha ha I thought about that about an hour later...ya big kidder - 12:04PM
DeleteSheila is going to be the spoiler, but without the kind of support (Dem Party) that Tony is getting, she has no chance.
DeleteMy ass, btw, is out working for Graboi and Cameron both. Yours appears to be applying your 20/20 hindsight to what Graboi, as an unseasoned politician, should/should not have done. I'd rather have someone more real, as Julie is, than someone who knows how to run a seamless campaign...or rather, someone who's being taught by Barth and Shaffer how to do it.
ReplyDeleteSadly, you're wasting your time with Sheila. 14 years has come and gone since Sheila was in office. Way too long...
DeleteAh, you still singing that song, 6:20? If someone has a good message and knows how to fight for residents, I don't care if they've lived on the moon for the last 100 years.
DeleteYour argument is stupid.
All things considered, and I really do mean all things considered, the two best people to vote for are Sheila and Julie.
ReplyDeleteYou can blah, blah, blah all day and night, but in the final analysis, the best choices are Sheila and Julie.
ReplyDeleteBlakespear is clueless when it comes to the Boathouse mismanagement. The Preservation Foundation deferred maintenance on the Boathouses thereby running up a quarter of a million dollars needed in repairs of the Boathouses. The Foundation hasn't provided any financial information on the Boathouses leading to the question of a default of the loan payments.
Did Blakespear bring up that information? Probably not. She wants to get rid of Prop A - the people's right to vote and instead build stack and pack. A vote Blakespear is a vote for increased density.
Blakespear is clueless when it comes to the Boathouse mismanagement. The Preservation Foundation deferred maintenance on the Boathouses thereby running up a quarter of a million dollars needed in repairs of the Boathouses. The Foundation hasn't provided any financial information on the Boathouses leading to the question of a default of the loan payments.
Did Blakespear bring up that information? Probably not. She wants to get rid of Prop A - the people's right to vote and instead build stack and pack. A vote Blakespear is a vote for increased density.
Gaspar and Kranz both support the nasty bar scene in downtown Encinitas.
ReplyDeleteDisco Tony is in the booze groove - his new threads and hairdo are a hit at the downtown digs. Probably tells the chicks that he runs the city now.
DeleteBlakespear supporters are mainly her relatives. She doesn't have a clue on what is going on at city. Blakespear is a Lisa Shaffer mini-me.
ReplyDeleteWell, she must have a lot of relatives, because they will be voting for her en masse on the way to a victory....
Delete6:21 PM
DeleteHaha! Good one. What a sense of humor.
Blakespear is a stack and pack high density politician following Shaffer and Barth's lead.
Blakespear is clueless when it comes to the Boathouse mismanagement. The Preservation Foundation deferred maintenance on the Boathouses thereby running up a quarter of a million dollars needed in repairs of the Boathouses. The Foundation hasn't provided any financial information on the Boathouses leading to the question of a default of the loan payments.
Did Blakespear bring up that information? Probably not. She wants to get rid of Prop A - the people's right to vote and instead build stack and pack. A vote for Blakespear is a vote for increased density. Is she a member of the Rotary with Mayor up-zone Gaspar?
Yes, it's Sheila and Julie. I was at last night's forum. Blakespear was bland and robotic and shows little passion for anything. Even her touting of urban farming is delivered with a flat, monotone voice. Julie defended the Strawberry Fields. Blakespear didn't defend them. I guess she is happy with the proposed Park and Ride. There goes the finest ag land left in the city.
ReplyDeleteIn Barth's latest FB post she brags about how there is going to be an all day Encinitas event downtown that also features an all day "happy hour". Way to go Teresa. You and Tony can get drunk even earlier than usual. Anyone can go to Barth's FB page if your are so inclined. I am not making this stuff up.
DeleteThese are the alcoholics ruining Encinitas. Take note. We don't want you or your bad habits. You should be ashamed of what your lives have become. Seek help asap
DeleteBarth wouldn't look good even after a 12 pack!
DeleteToday I saw a yard sign for Tony illegally posted on the public right of way in front of the Encinitas Post Office off of Camino Real.
ReplyDeleteCome on Tony and take it down asap. You know better and so do your supporters.
Lets all let the city know in addition and see how quickly they respond. We can hold our breath now waiting for that to happen.
It is appalling that some of you can vote. And that is one of the major reasons that Prop A should not have passed. Most of you should not be allowed to vote, judging from what you wrote above.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear Francine Busby will be getting the much deserved axe come January. She allowed her position to be played for a fool by listening to our very own Ms Ethics Lisa Shaffer and her many lies about Julie's affiliations of which not one was true.
ReplyDeleteMs. Busby owes this city a public apology for allowing herself to be persuaded into coming out for catherine before the dem. meeting. I was there and it was all too obvious the fix was in and now we all know why.
Francine could have done the right thing when she learned Lisa's lies about Julie were just that, lies. Not a shred of truth in any one of them.
Ms. Busby could have come out and retracted her endorsements with the reason being she was misled by our own Ms. Ethics, Lisa Shaffer.
Well Francine, we can't put that back in the bottle can we at this late date? Your name is all over this and we have to wonder, How could it have been worth it to stain your name for such cheap tactics?
As for LIar Lisa, we all have our day of reckoning and yours will come too. What or rather who specifically manipulated you with these falsehoods to encourage you to go to Francine with these mistruths? I can't believe you came up with this yourself and feel you were played just like you played Busby.
Now that would be interesting to know if it wasn't all of your own doing.
Busby is one of the reasons I've gone independent.
DeleteBusby never apologizes. That is one of her many downfalls. She may be living it up at the moment, but her time is short. Not too many people will be sad to see her get the boot.
DeleteAll these comments mean nothing. Which candidates are dedicated to controlling costs, reducing regulations, salaries and pensions???
ReplyDelete2:30- If you think these comments mean nothing, then perhaps you are the one who should get your head out of your sandcastle. Let's be honest folks. As much as many of us would like the pensions reduced, it cannot happen unless the City leaves Cal Pers, and that isn't going to happen. The reason is because we don't have the money to leave! You can thank Jerome and company for the 35% wage increase, and pension increase. So, we can't reduce salaries of the already employed, and we cannot lower pensions of the already employed. Gaspar found this out when she ran on the promise that we could have 401K's instead of Cal Pers. She found out after she was elected that it really was not an option. We can, however, control spending, and we can get rid of staff. So, which staff should go, and what costs do you want to control? I don't want Pacific View at 10 million plus. And, I don't care if it is Tony's legacy property, it's too damn expensive. I want my potholes fixed, I want less waste at City Hall. I want Vina and Sabine to go away as quickly as possible and hire a full time City Attorney for about $260,000 (which is what Oceanside pays their full time attorney, and they are a lot bigger than we are). I want to get rid of a lot of the Cabinet members, especially Lisa from Parks and Recreation; Jim Giliam (who I personally like, but we have a lot of artists in this community and we really don't need an art director); Marlena Medford, because form what I have seen she hasn't done anything (maybe not her fault but too bad); Murphy; and if I thought a bit longer I could come up with more. That would be a good start. So let me ask you all. Who do you think would do this? Catherine, Tony, Sheila, Julie, Gaspar?
DeleteThe 35% increase in 2005 was for pensions only, not wages. Houlihan was among the majority who voted for it, so was Stocks.
DeleteIf you post something that's supposed to be a fact, first make sure it is a fact.
3:20 PM
DeleteKerry Miller also increased wages/salaries during his reign. Some employees had a 40% increase.
Sadly you don't get to pick who is on staff either, and you never will, no matter who's on council. You did give a great reason not to vote for Gaspar, and that's promising things that are legally not possible.
DeleteHere's your best scenario for change. 1.) Vote out Gaspar now, make Muir the lone big development/rotarian vote. 2.) Vote out Muir in 2 years.) 3.) Lisa leaves after one term. 4.) Vote out Tony.
See how it could work?
6:29- Excellent. Now all we need are some decent candidates. Anyone up for the task?
Delete6:29 Absolutely vote OUT Gaspar so we can get rid of one more of Stock's puppets and developer's friend. Next time, DUMP MUIR.
Delete3:20 replied to this frequently posted error:
Delete"You can thank Jerome and company for the 35% wage increase, and pension increase."
The increase was to pensions only, and it took a majority of three or four to OK it. Stocks and Houlihan voted yes, as did at least one other council member.
A judge ruled that civic pension obligations are not exempt from restructuring during a bankruptcy proceeding, a precedent that may have huge impacts on municipalities around the State. The way Encinitas is going, it could eventually become another Stockton - the multi-millions in pensions obligations could re- aligned to fiscal realities. Muir and his trough drivers are shaking in their boots - this may be the only way to achieve pension reform.
Delete2:45 PM
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the new planning deputy director Manjeet Ranu who singlehanded pushed through the El Cajon housing element. Manjeet is pure stack and pack.
Get rid of Manjeet and have one less rat in planning.
Manjeet gave his first presentation about "5 cities and 5 hearts." The presentation that he gave for the joint Planning Commission and Council Meeting this week started off with, "Planning is cool!" Considering that this is a group of citizens and a professional meeting, can't we expect an adult presentation?
ReplyDeletewho hired this idiot? Fire them and this loser.
DeleteJeff Murphy hired him. I would like to see them both go.
DeleteWhat happened to Mayor Kristin Gaspar last night? She wants to put more debt on the taxpayers with buying Pacific View school at a lower price than the other three council people agreed to with the school district.
ReplyDeleteMayor Gaspar doesn't seem to understand that debt is debt.
She probably got sick eating lima beans.
DeleteGaspar was Hosting a Government Function: the Olivenhain Council promised to make that clear.
DeleteGaspar was hosting a "government" function - I think I just saw a pig fly by.....She was practicing "duck and cover"....
Delete9:20 I saw the same pig fly by. Government function my "A". She was afraid what questions she would get from the Olivenhain people. Mommy told her not to go.
DeleteThe Olivenhain guy said Gaspar was at a mayoral function, meaning in her current role as mayor. God help us.
DeleteI've attended every forum and met personally with the main candidates. Blakespear is like mass produced junk food: overpriced, fancy packaging, lots of marketing and no substance. Ditto for Gaspar except she's Stepford Barbie: mechanical, fake hair, boobs and nails. No substance. Julie and Sheila emerge as the only real choices for leadership and they grow stronger at each debate. Blakespear seems to fade and get more mechanical. Gaspar doesn't show. Tony is a lying phony. Vote SHEILA for Mayor and JULIE for Council. They're our only chance for real leadership and getting rid of Vina and Sabine.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone cares to, take a look at Ruben Flores's "official" government Facebook Page. Oh, you didn't know? Yes, Mr. Flores who is a Plannng Commissioner has his very own official FB page, as well as a more generic one. One the "government official" page, as he likes to call himself, he supports Catherine and Gaspar. Interesting choices. He has also come up with his own definition of "community character." I notified all 5 council members who didn't think there was anything wrong with it. The interesting thing is that in 2013, all Commissioners were supposed to attend an ethics seminar (yes you read it correctly) run by Lew and Company. It cost the City $1500.00. At the meeting all commissioners were given the legal rules of what they can and cannot do. And one thing they cannot do, (well I guess with the exception of Mr. Flores) is to not say you represent the City. Only City Council can do that. So, Mr. Flores violates the ethics law, set forth by the State of California, and he gets a pass. Hmmm, I wonder why?
ReplyDeleteMGJ at 8:37am has it right. The "masses" will vote based on a few minutes of consideration of a sound byte or nice picture. Candidates should worry only about form, substance doesn't matter right now.
ReplyDelete4:46- Gaspar was at a "thank you to the commissioners function" that holds a once a year thank you dinner. Commissioners, except planning, volunteer their time. Usually all of the Council attends that dinner. So, Kristin was thanking volunteers and Tony was campaigning. Is that about right?
ReplyDelete10:13 How did she thank them? Did she use a jar with sand? Or did she come up with another childish magic trick? Did anyone count how many times she said thank you?
ReplyDeleteAny one know why these two events were held on the same evening? Looks like someone was not doing their job.
ReplyDelete