Monday, September 5, 2016

If Voters Pass Measure T, High-Density Housing Could Clog New Encinitas

Waves to Ride.

130 comments:

  1. Guess what - it's ALREADY clogged!

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  2. That's why you should Vote NO.

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  3. The HE is a blatant attempt to rezone all former agricultural land and older neighborhoods to allow high density jam packed development. There is nothing "affordable" about it. It is a sham by big money interests to maximize profits at the expense of community character and the way of life of current residents. Mandates should not be forced upon people under false pretenses - the city council should abide by the electorates' wishes. If it fails in November, then the dye is cast - demand the State revise their inappropriate housing regulations.

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    1. "The HE is a blatant attempt to rezone all former agricultural land ..."

      If you live in New Encinitas what do you think you've been living on. It's just that land got converted a before your house was built. This was a nice farming community before it got suburbanized.

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    2. "This is just a blatant attempt to rezone all former nomadic foraging lands to agriculture."

      --San Dieguito Tribe, circa 1881.

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    3. 11:39 and 11:55 AM Implied justification for redevelopment to hamster hovels. Totally irrelevant to the issue.

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    4. 1:30 PM

      "Totally irrelevant to the issue"

      That all depends on when you got here.

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  4. It can't be wrong. Teresa Barth, Lisa Shaffer and their Enrage Encinitas group says the city MUST do it and It's the right thing to do!

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  5. The link to WtR doesn't work.

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  6. If Encinitas votes down Measure T, all it does is kick the can down the road. But there can be no doubt that we will be brought into compliance with state law one way or another in the next few years, and that conformance requires rezoning enough land to R30 to accommodate our full past and present (and future) RHNA allocation. This law isn't about to change, so delay doesn't make much sense as a strategy.

    Some here argue that a court will simply reset the clock and ask Encinitas to start the HEU process over. That is one possible outcome, but it's dangerous to think that path leads to an infinite loop process where we can simply vote no every couple of years in perpetuity. Courts might give us one more shot, but probably not two.

    So the question becomes: Is there really a magic solution HEU that would be acceptable to both voters and HCD if we restart the process? To answer that question, one only needs to look at the hundreds of other certified Housing Elements of other cities. There is a huge body of work out there, upon which millions of Californians have collectively spent thousands of years working on the same challenge we face. It's pretty arrogant to assume that we will come up with a Housing Element that is completely novel and solves the problem in a way that only we can find, and that our solution will be embraced by HCD. It's pure hubris to imagine that we are somehow smarter than the rest of California combined.

    I've read a handful of certified Housing Elements, including Measure T. Unfortunately, they are all pretty similar.

    Before you vote this down, I would encourage everyone to go grab a few certified Housing Elements from other cities. Read them. Mine them for best practices. Ask yourself what magical aspects of those plans are missing from Measure T that make it worthwhile to reboot and revote.

    If we vote this down, our city will be mired in distraction and legal bills. And to what end? In my humble opinion, we are faced with two bad choices, but both lead to the exact same destination in the long run. A no vote just takes years longer and redirects our tax dollars to buy a fleet of boats for needy lawyers.

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    1. 11:24: The best way for the city to pass a HE is to establish the minimum requirement for the state and use it as a basis for the new HE and promote it as such. Of course that would be too honest and logical and fair to the existing homeowners and renters since the most respected "stakeholders" are D Meyer and other developers that live in RSF which has the most restrictive land use laws in the county.

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    2. 11:24 here. I actually agree with you there. I follow this closely, and the RHNA allocation plus "buffer" calculation is very unclear. HCD should have a clear explanation for each city of what the number requirements are, and exactly how they rolled down from
      the state level, including units carried forward from previous cycles. They should also declare a standard required buffer expressed as a percentage of the required RHNA units (15%?).

      The unit requirement is clear as mud, and it doesn't need to be.

      Point for 11:55.

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    3. 11:24 AM
      Your position is the Council position. HCD only requires that the update is of the previous housing element. The Encinitas Measure T throws out our previous housing element and replaces it with the new one from planning. Nothing like burning the documents of government so there is no trace of history.

      A very crooked segment of government is running the show in Encinitas. It starts from the top down.

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    4. 12:03 It is clear as mud on purpose to placate the donor class lawyers. The law is really about payback for the donor class and reaping the tax benefits to prolong the fat guv culture. This has nothing to do with affordable housing.

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    5. We are a small, well educated community that other cities have copied. Yes, we are smarter.

      Rather kick the can down the road and have hope then roll over to greed.

      If we spent the same money fighting SANDAG and the state then we have trying to fool the residents, our allocation would be much smaller.

      We should let every developer know that this scam will not fly here and we will cut off our nose to spite our face if that what it takes. Bring the lawsuits, bankrupt the city. Then housing will be more affordable and deveolpers will be less inclined to come here.

      A Prop B that takes more power from the city when they fail is a great idea. We could shed some pensions too.

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    6. 12:30 is willing to burn the village in order to save it. That's one strategy, I guess.

      http://youtu.be/Z_JOGmXpe5I

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    7. 11:55 AM

      "...establish the minimum requirement for the state and use it as a basis for the new HE..."

      Meaning what?

      12:03 PM

      "...HCD should have a clear explanation for each city..."

      HCD has a clear number for the San Diego region. SANDAG along with the cities and county distributed it to each. They all agreed to the process. Encinitas also has carryover from the last RHNA that it blew off.

      Also, there is no standard carryover percentage. It depends on a city's development experience. Encinitas' buffer is larger because of Prop A which requires a vote for any upzoning.

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    8. Yes, the RHNA number should be real, not an imagined, buffered explosion. And there should be a required number of affordable units since providing affordable housing is the stated purpose of the law.

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    9. 12:52 PM

      I meant "also, there is no standard buffer percentage"

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    10. 12:52,

      Can you show us where our number is, in writing online, showing carry forward?

      I've honestly tried to follow this, and the target number seems to change.

      I also understand that the purpose of the buffer is to keep us above our RHNA target in the event that some selected parcels are found to be unsuitable later on. A city without Prop A can get by with a smaller buffer, because they can more easily swap in parcels with a council vote. But I'm not clear on how they quantified the buffer difference between the two models. Is our buffer 50% bigger than an average of other cities? 2X? 10X?

      Not playing dumb. I have looked for the information and cannot find it.

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    11. The buffer on top of the RHNA number in Encinitas is 82%.

      Since the purpose of the state law is to create affordable housing but it doesn't do that in Encinitas and other cities, could the law be challenged in court on the basis of that failure?

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    12. 1:07 PM

      The Housing Element document on page 11 has the table. You can find it at:

      http://www.encinitasca.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=7789

      It's an Adobe Pdf file. Also, the city can't assume any development will use density bonus so the calculations have to assume base density.

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    13. People keep forgetting that Density Bonus is added on top of the new HEU zoning, making the net buffer much bigger than 82%. The new DB rules, independent of the HEU, make DB so easy and attractive and limit the City's local control to nearly nil that most of these projects will be DB.

      Measure T is just way too much.

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    14. 1:09,

      No.

      The law defines several different ways to make housing more affordable:

      One is to look at the historical record of actual affordable unit creation in a city, and what the zoning was that led to the creation of those units. The city must then prove that enough land is zoned appropriately to allow market forces to construct their RHNA for all income categories. Obviously, this method doesn't work on the coast. Our historical rate of affordable unit creation is so low that there simply isn't enough land to rezone to make the math work.

      The second method is to use R30 instead. The resulting housing won't be affordable to the lower categories of income, but it will certainly be more affordable than R8 McMansions built on the same land.

      So the result is housing that is more affordable than what Encinitas would otherwise build, but not affordable to a minimum wage worker.

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    15. 1:09 PM

      "...could the law be challenged in court on the basis of that failure?" The process is spelled out in the statute. You would have to prove that the city either isn't following the statute, the statute is in conflict with another statute/initiative that takes precedence or is unconstitutional.

      Also, the city of Irvine sued SCAG challenging their RHNA allocation as being too high and lost.

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    16. 1:28,

      Housing Element buffer has nothing to do with Density Bonus.

      DB is additive to the zone. You can't say we've zoned R22 in anticipation of DB, and want credit with HCD for R30.

      I understand why you'd like to do that, but it's just not reality.

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    17. 1:31

      The median income for San Diego County is $75,900 for a four-person household. Affordable for very low, low and moderate income earners is a percentage of the median. The figures are adjusted proportionally for households of other sizes.

      The purpose of the law isn't to make housing relatively affordable. It's to make it affordable per the HUD-defined income levels.

      Since it doesn't do that in Encinitas, can't it be challenged in court?

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    18. Why doesn't the city just raise the minimum wage to $35/hour so all workers, especially in retail, will be able to afford to live where they work. Of course the residents would have to shop at local stores and not drive outside the city to shop but we could keep the city at its current density. That way workers don't have to commute and residents wouldn't be making extra trips so it's a win-win to reduce air pollution. We are the environmentally conscience city after all.

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    19. 1:21,

      Thanks for the link. 80% buffer seems large. Any idea how this compares to other cities?

      If other cities (without Prop A) are averaging 40%, then maybe doubling the buffer is reasonable given that Prop A requires much more lead time and cost to make any changes.

      But if other (non-Prop A) cities are at a 10% buffer, and ours is 8X that, then it sounds unreasonable.

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    20. 2:17 PM

      I know Escondido in a previous election, since they have something similar to Prop A, voted to increase their buffer for the current RHNA cycle. I don't know the percentage but I do know they still had barely enough initial capacity if the measure was defeated. It passed.

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    21. Prop A does not apply in any of the AHE upzoned areas. Prop A has no bearing, so how can it be used to justify an 82% buffer?

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    22. 2:32,

      If a major parcel, or several parcels from an approved Housing Element are later found to be unsuitable for R30 construction (unstable soil, Indian burial ground, endangered species, etc), a city without Prop A can swap another parcel into R30 zoning by vote of council to replace the bad one. A council vote is faster, cheaper, and more likely to keep a city from falling below their required unit capacity.

      The increased buffer mitigates the risk.

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    23. Actually, the catalyst for this (Prop T) goes back to 2008/9 when Sacramento voted that transportation dollars would be awarded through SanDag and doled out according to who up-zoned the fastest: the new requirement for receiving the money/grants etc. required each city to show an up-zoning plan that accommodates SB375 and AB32 both of which require cities to clean-up the local environment, in part addressing green-house gases generated by lack of mid-level housing: by building multi-family units in an R-30 configuration that optimally is close to a freeway; Prop T is not designed to provide any affordable housing: its the higher-population-density of 30 new housing units per acre to house workers and their families, HERE where they work; rather than house them 75 miles a way in the desert driving 150 miles a day: that's the kind of change that AB32 and SB375 were crafted to achieve: but, too many local voters with too much education and not enough places for local employment leads us invariably to proposals that attempt to achieve change without disturbing anything or anyone. Literally idle hands. So, judge Prop T by HOW it might create the conditions to create housing for teachers, fire men, nurses; OR stop any new family units and pay the price by further increasing climate change by forcing all middle class worker in Encinitas to rent or own in cities 75 miles away. Ain't no two ways around it! Vote NO and shorten the time until the State steps in.

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    24. 2:50 Virtually all the parcels designated for AHE upzoning already have major construction on them. High density housing wouldn't be created from scratch on empty land. Parcels would be converted from their current use to mixed use, including high-density housing.

      Plus, all the conversion construction would be by right, meaning restrictive laws like CEQA don't apply.

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    25. Other 2:50

      In Encinitas and other cities with comparable real estate values, R30 does not produce housing that fits the HUD definition of affordable.

      So the people the high-density development is supposed to help couldn't afford to live here anyway.

      Measure T as the implementation of the state law would not meet its purpose.

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    26. It's not that our rate of affordable unit creation is so low; the reality is, our rate of accounting for existing affordable units is not working because the powers that be want higher density for increased profits.

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  7. Encinitas is UNIQUE! It has a special history and character that is unlike anywhere, to say super special would be an understatement. The ruin of our character is a loss for EVERYONE, not just those who live here.
    WE ALREADY HAVE THE LOW INCOME UNITS!! That is the thing that burns because the city only needs to green light them. So far they are not making it easy, sometimes council acts like there may not be enough, when UNITS ARE HERE and easily would fill state requirement. COUNT THESE UNITS!!!

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    1. You're talking of the grannie flats? Most owners won't come forward, as they'll then get nailed with code issues, fees and concession demands. The city is all about extracting revenue for the parasitic workers - I've seen this happen to someone with such a sub-unit on their property. It was a nightmare for them dealing with the city.

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    2. 1:37 PM

      That's right. We don't want to enforce building codes, they're for wimps. Who's afraid of a little electrical fire.

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    3. 146 PM Heard of any electrical fires in add- ons recently? Sounds like code enforcement trolling the blog on their paid holiday.

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    4. 1:51 PM

      Actually, I have. Big fire, lots of water but thankfully no one was hurt.

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    5. I'm searching the law, but cannot find a separate set of rules for "super special" cities.

      I joke, but seriously, in the eyes of the law, all cities are equals. We should be playing by the same rules as Beverly Hills and Needles.

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    6. 1:59 PM In Encinitas on a add-on unit? You sure it wasn't Muir on the barbe doing a triple-triple-triple?

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    7. 2:21 How about super special unincorporated areas like Rancho Santa Fe?

      Do the same rules apply there?

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    8. Build a wall ! Save our heritage, culture and way of life.



      ( in Encinitas of course)

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    9. The City could subsidize improvements for pre-existing units to bring them up to current code, and/or the City could have a true amnesty whereby all existing units could be counted after thorough safety inspections. Many, if not most older homes in Encinitas may not be in compliance with current codes; they could have been in compliance at the time they were constructed, if the building was permitted, or if no permit was required at the time of construction.

      The City has incomplete residential building records, and permits were not required for accessory units under 500 sq. ft, under the County, pre-incorporation.

      Despite past city claims to the contrary, there is such a thing as a "grandfathered" unit, which our city usually describes as legal, non-conforming; meaning: codes change, but are typically not retroactive. It truly seems as though the City, in cooperation with SANDAG does not want to count all existing units.

      Our city has made individual voluntary compliance very expensive and time consuming; the average owner of a property with an existing accessory dwelling unit is frightened, more resistant to coming forward to be counted. Most people feel disincentivized and discouraged, while developers stand to reap profits at the expense of ever mounting densification.

      Also, remember, if the "by proxy" upzoning does not result in actual affordable units being constructed, then those missing units are added on to the next cycle, whether there is an approved housing element update, or not. This leads to a vicious cycle of further upzoning, under the false pretense that the units don't actually have to be built.

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    10. So you want my tax dollars to subsidize your accessory unit renovation?

      I don't think so.

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  8. Easy to list 10 things that make Encinitas unlike anywhere, and that would be after mentioning one of the top three point breaks in California. Huntington Beach was a ghetto before being completely ruined by development, no comparison to what over development will do here.

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  9. Just make an HEU that gives property owners the right to ad units like the law specifies. Not big ass money grabs for developers, Cant do that like every other city? Your fired, next. That should be a seperate prop, the developers would have to start all over corruptingmthe new staff.

    Can residents get an HEU reviewed? Lets make our own and put in on the ballot. Im calling tomorrow, screw staff, lets show how dumb or corupt they are.

    HEU language talks about agriculture and owner-occupied senarios yet niether of those pay for those golden parachutes pensions so forget about an honest attempt by staff.

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  10. Replies
    1. The problem is, we've had the second unit law on the books for many years, and our measurable rate of affordable unit construction has been very low.

      What changes do you propose that will bring our rate of measurable affordable unit production up to where it needs to be.

      You can't propose that a policy that failed historically will produce in the future without changes.

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    2. First, a very liberal grandfathering of granny flats rather than the prohibitive amnesty the city offered.

      Second, an accessory unit law that incentivizes building them.

      The city should be on the residents' side, not the developers' side.

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    3. Define "very liberal grandfathering." I'm not dismissing it, but I never hear anyone offer specifics that directly address why owners stay under the radar in the first place. How do you keep the county from reassessing your livable square footage and raising your property taxes? How do you avoid giving the IRS a paper trail to cash rental income? How do you balance the need to make it easy with the city's costs to inspect and manage the application process? Finally how do you make it simple and easy for the owner while assuring the space is not a fire trap, going to collapse in a small quake, or a lead poisoning hazard?

      And how do you incent building accessory units, how much would it cost, and who pays for it?

      I'm not saying it can't be done, but I haven't heard a serious proposal yet.

      Currently were getting exactly 146 units credit for accessory unit construction under the current policies. To wipe out our RHNA number, that program would have to expand by 1000%. That's pretty dramatic.

      As Carl Sagan said, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

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    4. It could chip away at the number and take a few places off the map. The city has millions to spend on consultants why not spend millions getting residents up to code in exchange for participation.

      Incent property owners to add more upzoned units by offering all of encinitas the option to add income through a few extra places to rent out. The same incentive developers get but on a smaller scale spread out. The city could even offer plug and play plans for com plete tear downs.

      This is not my job, we pay humdreds of thousands of dollars a year for a team of people to do this. They cant do it then fire them and hire people that can.

      I Would like to see encinitas fight every lawsuit and appeal all the way to the supreme court if necessary. HEU law conflicts with enviromental laws, water rights, traffic mandates, emissions laws, and probably a host of others. Strong leadship and GOOD attorney couod make it very well known that the city will fight any lawsuits based on other laws and are willing to be the case law that clears the muddy waters. Meyer is the only one dumb enough to stick around to the end, which by that time the housing market will have cooled considerably.

      5:54 there probably are 1000%(using your math) more available in the city but nobody ever said or would be an end all be all solution. We just want the real number to rep our actually contribution to real affordable housing. Wr as city provide much more then are given credit for.

      Carl Sagan called BTW, he wants to know where the extaordinary claim was made?

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    5. 5:54 You have all the right questions, which indicates you're versed in the subject. How about putting as much time in coming up with the answers, that is, solving the problem, as you did in devising the questions?

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    6. If this stinker get approved, start calling in your neighbors for code violations. If they are there, and they exist, you should report them to code enforcement. Legalizing units will make the RHNA number drop. If it drops considerably, then we will ask Council to change some of the rezoned sites.

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  11. This is probably either a stupid question or one that has been asked and answered but here it goes: Is there an operational definition of affordable housing anywhere? I mean an actual dollar figure to say what affordable means? I keep hearing "affordable housing' and I have no idea what that means in Encinitas. Thanks.

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    1. Excellent question and one nobody answers when they toss the word "affordable" around.

      If you can wade through 13 pages, this doc explains what "affordable" means.

      http://www.hcd.ca.gov/housing-policy-development/housing-resource-center/reports/state/inc2k16.pdf

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  12. Another question from 4:03- Regarding granny flats. If a person has one and decides to let the city use it as part of the HEU, does it affect the property taxes of the entire home? In other words, would it negate whatever taxes one now pays and trigger a new tax base?

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    1. Yes.

      Your livable square footage just changed, and the County Tax Assessor-Recorder will notice and Change your assessed value just like if you filed permits for an addition or a pool. This is one of the reasons people don't come forward.

      It's not easily solved, because public records are, well, public. The city can't create records related to daylighting accessory units, and limit the use of those records to satisfying HCD.

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    2. If a person can prove that the livable space existed at the time he or she purchased the property, then the property taxes should NOT increase. If there is no new build, then there has not been an actual increase in livable space, only an increase in accessory units that could actually be counted for the State's housing mandates.

      Isn't there a law that the State cannot force unfunded mandates on local government agencies? Not sure on this issue, but that's my understanding.

      Someone's property tax would increase if a room were to be added, or if a new accessory unit were constructed. The State, according to Govt. Code, does consider accessory units to provide affordable housing. Covenants are not required for accessory units to be counted as affordable housing.

      Forcing 20 year or longer covenants on individual homeowners, particularly owner occupied homes is one more way that the City is DISincentivizing existing and potential new build accessory units from being counted.

      Another way that some are being disincentivized is through perceived onerous off-street parking regulations. But according to city code, structures built before the off-street parking ordinance was enacted are not considered "non-conforming" due to lack of off-street parking. That off-street parking ordinance was put into effect in 2003.

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    3. Aren't people objecting to the HEU based on reduced parking requirements? Isn't ignoring parking requirements for accessory units the same problem. Do I really care if the on street parking in my neighborhood is caused by accessory units or an HEU development?

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    4. When this Prop T went before the Planning Commission, aside from no alterations or additions being allowed, Tasha wasn't satisfied: she asked if she and her peers could remove 25% of the parking spaces created for those living in the newly created R-30 units, so people who really need to work are forced to park further down the street, ride their bikes to their car parked a block or two away or walk to their bike then bike to their bus stop then ride the bus to an out-of-town bike rack, then walk to work from that bike rack; then after work they walk to the bike rack, ride it to the going-home bus-stop, attach their bike to the bus, ride the bus to another bus stop now in Encinitas, get off, remove the bike, ride it to home; lock it up, organize the kids and their bikes then lead them and all their bikes and permanent grocery bags for a bike trip to the store to purchase groceries for dinner; shop, then ride back home where a tired husband awaits, wondering just where a home-cooked meal is: because styrofoam has been outlawed and the paper bags the to-go orders are now placed in since the ban can drip oil/grease all over the sidewalks and bike lanes, ruining new back-to-school wear.

      Seriously, creating housing units that allow working-folks to actually live in Encinitas but whom are then punished with no available parking because Mike Strong et al need to display their environmental credentials? A Planning Commission with the approved powers to withdraw or remove parking spaces designated for the R-30 units? Followed by an annual ordinance that will require commercial shopping centers to remove 5% of parking spaces every year to force more and more elderly upper-income people to walk or bike to the store, doctor or drug store? We suppose those who cannot walk and bike will be chauferred around town by the mythological Google driverless sedans? These new ordinances, removing parking spaces, banning styrofoam, painting 'sharrows' on half the routes leading into and out of Encinitas are being made by people who have never really worked for a living; how 'bout the Council be filled with working people? Taking tix at the off-track betting parlor or working as a substitute does not count as having worked in a business.

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    5. 8:09 is practical, realistic and funny. Council, staff and commission members might as well be living on another planet. How many of them practice what they impose on everybody else, often in a tone of moral superiority?

      When George from Cardiff asked, "How many of you walked, rode a bike or took the bus to get here tonight?" how many council and staff hands went up? Answer: zero.

      It's do as I say, not as I do.

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    6. I thought that was funny too, but the next speaker after George stated that he rode his bike. So..... point missed.

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    7. George directed his question to the council.

      The guy who spoke next is on the environmental commission and an avid bicyclist — one of very few who ride for transportation, not only recreation. He can't understand why more people don't follow his example

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    8. The parking requirements are only relaxed for accessory units, or any structures, that existed before the off street parking ordinance was enacted, in 2003, I believe. So that is NOT the same thing as relaxing off-street parking for high density new build. I don't think the City has a choice about relaxing parking for density bonus projects, because of State Law.

      However, existing units already have occupants with cars, which are parked on our neighborhood streets. What people are concerned about with the HEU is that there will be a MUCH WORSE problem with parked cars crowding our neighborhood streets, many of which already present parking challenges for existing residents, due to lack of off-street parking for older structures.

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    9. Where would you say there is a parking problem? where are the rezoned sites in relation to that area? If you say near the hospital, then I got news for you....

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  13. On a 500 sq ft unit it would not be prohibitive, it is added to existing tax base, not some giant reappraisal to current value. Should not be a real concern for someone to get their unit on the books, and it is a yearly increase to city property tax base (are you listening pension man Muir?) so this should be ok but not the bs fees and red tape headaches city is currently dishing out.

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  14. 7:07 has been studying.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xNJFmA759VQ

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    1. 7:37 more a trick the developers and their tools use.

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  15. Question...
    Our allocation number is refering to the number of units or people? How many people per units? Is 1000 3 bedroom units the same as 1000 studios?

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    1. Units are units.

      I don't think the number of occupants matters in state law, unless a city is unduly restricting square footage to make commercial success impossible.

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    2. I always enjoy Susan Turney before the Council, snidely asking which RHNA numbers are the correct ones; then she states that at first, after she lost her appeal over what kind of bushes were located around the Starbucks on the corner of I-5 and Leucadia Boulevard, she claims the numbers were around 1300 units; then when Jeff Murphy was hired, he lobbied to count the units differently and the number dropped to a near-doable 600; only to increase back up after Prop A passed to around 1200. Several times we have listened to her sob story, as she openly blames the city staff for the up-the-down RHNA numbers. Please tell us that Susan Turney isn't so stupid that she REALLY doesn't understand that Mr. Murphy through intelligent and informed action, got the RHNA number almost cut in half; and that it was only after she and her hubby and Shaffer and Judy/Julie misled the voters and Prop A passed that the RHNA numbers almost doubled to 1200 Plus; 'cause, either Turney IS that 'thick' or she is consciously lying to the voters. Which is it? Hint: Do not bother to ask HER husband.

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    3. Wish we could ask Murphy...oh wait, he quit or was fired.

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    4. 12:17 PM

      Murphy is now head of planning for the city of San Diego. He was recruited to apply. Definitely a step up.

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  16. So what I saw today was two plump cops joyriding in a beach buggy bikini patrol making kids scamper to avoid being run over, while over on Hwy101 drag races with Straight pipes prevailed all day. WTF?

    Where are your priorities City Manager and City Council.

    City Council its clear that the City Manager will not act on this important issue to properly priorities the Police duties and start enforcing muffler laws without your leadership.

    We elected you to look our for our quality of life. Please put an agenda item to discuss the issue and direct our cops which we pay for to start enforcing the California Vehicle Code and ticket straight pipes.

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    1. Take your beef to the council, city manager and staff. You're getting nowhere by repeatedly posting it here.

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    2. 12:04-

      All of these complaints should go to staff city Council. no need to post anything . You're just wasting your time

      Delete
    3. Not the topic of the thread. The thread is about a ballot measure that should be discussed and debated. People who want information can find it here.

      Your pet beef has nothing to do with it. Take it to the council, staff, city manager and sheriff's department.

      Delete
    4. My personal suspicion is the straight pipes poster is a City employee and/or developer shill (really can't tell 'em apart) trying in a really pathetic way to pull a "hey, look over there!" move. Not working. HEU going down. IN FLAMES.

      Delete
  17. I totally agree. The State needs to start enforcing the muffler laws as well. The freeway noise is ridiculously loud due to not enforcing straight pipe laws on all those uneducated rude bike wannabees. Pathetic.

    Come on City Council - Please address this issue that has a simple law cost solution. Police can and have in the past ticketed for no mufflers.

    Its that simple.

    ReplyDelete
  18. CORRECTION TO 6:51 "Biker wantabees"

    ReplyDelete
  19. HCD letter to Encinitas

    http://www.hcd.ca.gov/housing-policy-development/housing-resource-center/plan/he/housing-element-review-letters/heweb_date16.xls

    The 6th cycle due date is June 2019. No mention of a code that calls for a judge. As far as I can tell the consequences for being out of compliance are only the need to account for the past missed compliances and they will have to update every fours year instead of 8.

    http://www.hcd.ca.gov/housing-policy-development/housing-resource-center/plan/he/housing-element-review-letters/heweb_date16.xls

    The good part of the letter seems to be cut off. Only mentions of being out of compliance but no mention of the consequences except for a due date in 2019. What three strategies? The different maps perhaps? Can we trust the city provided version is the same as the one missing from the HCD website?

    Even if the courts get involved it will be clear why and the residents will not be punished. Some city staff, elected officials and developers will be the ones getting punished.




    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A few things I've learned over the years:
      -it is very difficult to predict what the courts will do,
      -voters are never as stupid as you think they are,
      -you've got 30 seconds to make a point; use the time wisely,
      -The only way to make something "more affordable" is to make too many of them,
      -roads are noisy; if you don't like the noise, move.

      - The Sculpin

      Delete
    2. "roads are noisy"?????? I would think the cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles that use the roads are the noisy ones. At least they are in my world.

      Delete
    3. 12:35 PM

      I hope you're new here because this has been vetted ad nauseam. There are already two lawsuits that involve the city being out of compliance on the housing element. Both have reached settlements. The city has agreed to have a housing element that meets HCD approval and is placed on the November ballot for public approval Measure T).

      Being out of compliance opens the city to these lawsuits.

      Delete
    4. Sheesh 1:16 - if you want to get technical, fine. Cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles in and of themselves are not noisy either - but some of their component parts may become noisy when activated. In addition, the friction between a vehicle in motion and the surface that it moves across can also lead to an increase in decibels - I believe that is colloquially referred to as "road noise". But what the hell do I know - I ride a horse....

      - The Sculpin

      Delete
    5. And falling off that horse doesn't hurt, it's the hitting the ground part.

      Delete
  20. Did you two little pickering girls even read the post you replied to?

    Nobody cares what you learned over the years but we all learned reading is hard for you if it takes over 30 secs to do. Its a blog, go turn on the TV if this is too hard for you.

    The other responder is perhaps responding to the wrong post? That is a canned response that did not adress anything the poster asked. Suspicious.

    It has also been covered that the city should fight and not settle. The HEU conflicts with other laws, is not clear, and the courts are the only way the settle it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 2:26 - this is what I was responding to:
      "Even if the courts get involved it will be clear why and the residents will not be punished. Some city staff, elected officials and developers will be the ones getting punished.".
      To me that reads as a prediction as to how the court will rule, and so there's my comment. And no, it did not take me more than 30 seconds to read that. After that I decided to throw in a few more based on some of the more inane conclusions and positions some of our beloved and esteemed fellow posters hold. As for 1:23 - just a bit of fun. You should try that sometime!

      - The Sculpin

      Delete
    2. Sculpin you're such a dumbass I don't know how you survive in life.

      The problem is not about legal road noise from vehicle tires engine and muffler exhaust .

      It from illegal rude polluting behavior which make the problem ten times worse.

      There is an easy fix. The City is just two lazy.

      Delete
    3. 6:26 - What's mystifying to me is that you're complaining about "noise" on a road that has historically been a showcase for everything that is American when it comes to cars and bikes. Come on, man.....we're talking about Hwy 1 - PCH - home of the hot rod, cruising, burger stands, the beach, freedom!. Counter culture, rebellious, youthful and carefree. So to me there is no fix. It's perfect the way it is! It's been that way for decades - it's part of the community character! You must have known that when you moved here - even if it was in the '60's.

      - The Sculpin

      Delete
    4. 12:01 You sure live in your own little world. You are not only a dumb ass, but a smart ass to boot. Why don't you move near the 101 if you love it so much?

      Delete
    5. Jumping to assumptions there, 1:48! Maybe I do have a place, in a city, a city full of lights, that is noisy, boisterous, energetic and full of life. And maybe I really enjoy being there and experiencing everything it has to offer. Of course I live in my own little world!! So do you! We all do - that's why we sometimes don't agree on what that little world should look like. But if your little world isn't working for you, but seems to be working for your neighbors......well, that's a pretty clear sign.....

      - The Sculpin

      Delete
    6. 2:48 So full of BS. That's the only world that works for you.

      Delete
    7. 3:03 - That's my point!!! And if it no longer works? I change it to something that does. Is that so hard to understand? Is that the BS part? How are you any different? To bring it back to the topic at hand, what are you going to do if the HEU passes? How does that affect your day-to-day? What if it fails? Does that change your day-to-day? What's the next step for you? What's the next thing that threatens your little world? There's plenty that threatens mine!

      - The Sculpin

      Delete
    8. 3:19 Whether the HEU passes or doesn't pass does not affect me.

      I will cast a NO vote on it because it does not in any way, shape or form solve the problem of affordable housing.

      Delete
    9. If it passes, there will be a lot more traffic. Unless you never use local roads, it will affect you.

      Delete
    10. 7:13 Nope, don't use the roads that much.

      Delete
  21. 2:26 obviously you need to hook up with the grammar lady.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Where is your comma Mr. ad hominem waste of time..

    ReplyDelete
  23. Let me guess, next to your coma?

    ReplyDelete
  24. This is not a debate of the HEU issues. its a love fess of the anti HEU posters. This platform has major bias which I agree with.

    Too bad so many of the posters are clueless as to what really improves the quality of life of communities and property values. Encinitas has some real dumbass active in the conversation.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Does this sound familiar?

    • Donna Frye, the maverick former city councilwoman and almost-mayor, is suing the city over descriptions of her own Measure D, a competing stadium/convention center expansion initiative. “She claims the language the city approved to describe her initiative, on the ballot and in the voter’s guide, is false, misleading or inaccurate, and wants it replaced with language she suggests in her complaint,” Courthouse News Service reports.

    ReplyDelete
  26. In tonight's national coverage of a question and answer session of Presidential candidates Matt Lauer interrupted Donald Trump everytime Mr. Trump began pointing out the differences between his policy positions and Hillary Clinton's. It was as if Matt Lauer did not want people to hear how Mr. Trump and Hillary are different

    Matt Lauer also chose not to ask Hillary Clinton about her taking money from foreign country's thru the Clinton Global Initiative.

    Should we expect to be surprised to learn Matt Lauer is a member of the Clinton Global Initiative? Should we be surprised Matt Lauer's boss NBC is a donor to the Clinton Global Initiative and hired Chelsea Clinton despite the fact Chelsea had no journalistic background?

    Like Encinitas, we can't fix a rigged system by electing the people who rigged it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right, it's a vast left-wing conspiracy, and Matt Lauer is the madman honcho of the whole thing.

      Donald Trump is not a blowhard buffoon who bathes in orange juice, and America is looking forward to having him as our leader.

      Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former Republican Goldwater Girl, switched parties and spent 30 years in public life so she could run for president in '08 and again in '16 and totally screw the country over. She's just in it for the money. She wants to give it to her grandkids.

      9:11 should apply for a brain transplant.

      Delete
    2. 10:47-

      Hillary is part of the ware machine feeding war to keep the profit machine and jobs pumping at Haliburton, Exon and others. Iraq was one if the biggest mistakes in our Countries history and Obama and Hillary are proposing status quo. All fucking idiots. I don't think its a conspiracy. I think its fact.

      Delete
    3. Of course Hillary is in it for money for her. Her campaign took 30 million from the Saudi's. The Clinton Foundation took money from the Saudi's. The saudi's imprison homosexuals and subjugate woman. Hillary and the foundation took money from. Oligarchs in Russia, and then acted to reward them with US uranium a rights. The Clinton Foundation took money from special just interestso in Columbia and then brokered the sale of de-forestation rights to a Clinton crony. While in the Whitehouse the Clinton's brokered donations for a night at the white house.

      After donating to the Clinton Foundation NBC rewarded Chelsea Clinton with a 600,000 a year part time job, even though Chelsea had not journalism experience.

      After donating to the Clinton Foundation Viacom gave Chelsea Clinton a board position and a 300,000 a year salary even though she had no business experience.

      You can't expect to fix a rigged system by electing the people who rigged it.

      Delete
    4. "I think it's fact" That should be the republican motto.

      Delete
    5. 6:01 and 9:56 demonstrate the failure of the American educational system and the triumph of false information sources like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Fox News.

      A dumb, unthinking and biased populace does not bode well for our country.

      Delete
    6. 1:42. Please share with readers facts. You provide no facts that what is written regarding Chelsea Clinton and the Clinton foundation is not true. That is likely because you know it is true.

      Glen Beck is a globalist loon who opposes Trump and his America First policies. Beck supported Cruz. Like Hillary Clinton, Cruz also supported increased H1B visas by 500%.

      Rupert Murdoch is also a globalist. He also opposes the America first policies of Trump. Murdoch also supports open borders. Please do some esearch, get informed and provide us facts.

      Thank you

      Delete
    7. 11:57

      You offer no informaton to disprove or refute the facts presented on The Crooked Clinton's.

      The facts presented are, as you know, the truth.

      Delete
    8. 8:16

      Present a fact, with sources, so I can put your stupidity on diplay. You calling tinfoil hat politics facts DOES NOT make it a fact.

      You made the claims but you are anonymous and provided no sources. Voices in your head maybe?

      If you are too dumb to understand why someone makes fun of you becuase you wrote "I think It's fact" then this is probably a lost cause anyways.

      Delete
    9. 8:16

      Again, each fact presented is accurate.

      1. Chelsea Clinton was paid $600,000 by NBC even though she has no journalistic background.

      2. NBC is a member and donor to the Clinton Foundation.

      3. Matt Lauer of NBC is a Clinton Initiative member.

      4. Chelsea was given a BOD role at IAC despite have no business experience.

      5. IAC is a donor to the Clinton Campaign and the Clinton Foundation.

      6. IAC paid Chelsea $300,000 plus stock.

      7. The Saudi's have donated tens of millions to the Clinton Global Initiative and Hillary's campaign.

      8. Glenn Beck does oppose Donald Trump and his America first policies.

      9. Glenn Beck does support Ted Cruz and the Cruz proposal to increase H-1 B visa's by 500%

      10. Rupert Murdoch does support open borders and is a globalist.

      Lastly, Hillary Clinton is unfortunately very sick. Her propaganda arm at NBC, ABC, PBS, have all been trying to protect her. CNN fired Drew Pinsky for questioning her health. We the people have again been lied to by the political elites who mislead us while working against our best interest.

      You can't fix a rigged system by electing the people who rigged it.

      Delete
    10. You forgot the Russian uranium deal.

      http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/us/cash-flowed-to-clinton-foundation-as-russians-pressed-for-control-of-uranium-company.html

      Delete
    11. 1:57

      I fell into the trap. "Unfortunately Hillary is sick"

      why should I feel sympathy for her? Is there a political narrative being put out by her press so she can be resurrected as a hero later? While shielding her from criticism of her failed open borders, trade and Islamic jihadi's policies? Does Mook and the DNC want me to think Hillary is a poor sick woman, the victim?

      Hillary is a liar. Yet again she has withheld information from voters to benefit her and her crony friends that start wars and profit from them.

      Wow, I actually started to feel sorry for her, and completely ignored that for weeks some have questioned her health and they have been labeled racist, bigoted, small minded and anti-woman.

      Crooked Hillary, to weak to lead, a history of failure, to self-obsessed to put the good of the country before her own hunger for power.

      Delete
  27. 9:11pm. How appropriate a time on the clocking of your post. Perfect, really.

    Right, Trump is our saviour.

    You can't fix stupid, nor can you have an intelligent conversation. Trying to do so, is like teaching a pig to..... whats the point? The pig doesn't give a heck and you only lower yourself to his standards.

    If you had another brain, it would be lonely.

    Have at it. I am sure you have no ability to resist sharing your ignorance with us.

    Lets not leave out arrogance, since the two are so closely aligned.

    Arrogantly ignorant or ignorantly arrogant. If there is a difference, it must be infinitesimally small, even as small as your own small mind.

    Faux News has to be to blame for your small intellect, or as Jon Stewart called them so perfectly, BS Mountain.

    Now back to the Up Yours Encinitas Hosing Plan. Your belong in off topics if there were such an option.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vote Libertarian.

      Delete
    2. Encinitas city hall is rigged for insiders. The elected work to serve the interest of insiders and cronies. City employees actively work against the residents. Lies, misinformation are spread throughout the community. Newspapers and media are in place to spread propaganda and shape public opinion to the benefit of the insiders of the rigged system. Money that should go to fix roads or schools is paid to consultants and insiders.

      At the federal level abuse of citizens by elected leaders, insiders and cronies is massive. The Uni Party of for profit globalist named Bush Clinton Obama have used government to actively work against citizens. Trade deals like TPP are fast tracked. Presidential use of Executive amnesty is used to illegally change laws to benefit insiders. The Butcher of Benghazi Hillary Clinton uses the military resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths to Libyan citizens. Bush does the same in Baghdad. Globalist like Soros, and Warren Buffet amass billions, the media is made up of Clinton Global Initiative members who don't want to lose membership to the insider club, so they mislead and misinform.

      Hillary Clinton destroys cell phones with hammers- and no one says a word, not a single question asked from Lauer. Hillary Clinton takes money from foreign governments thru her pay for play Clinton Glocal Initiative, not a serious question is asked. Hillary Clinton tells the FBI she has a brain injury, can'the remember details of security meetings, not a question is asked.

      Hillary Clinton avoids having an unrestricted press conference for 265 days, not a question is asked.

      Locally the Uni-party is working to destroy our quality of life and ignore the will of residents. Muir, Gaspar, Blakespear, Kranz, Tasha, Graham, Brady, Busby are all working to benefit themselves and their special interest.

      At the federal level there is a candidate who has said you can't fix a rigged system by electing the people who rigged it. I agree.

      Delete
    3. OK 6:57, take a vacation trip to Aleppo.

      Delete
    4. re: hammers

      I think you are confusing HRC with Tom Brady.

      Delete
  28. Send this off to the FPPC-Blakespear, Kranz, and Tasha
    Political contribution fund raiser -
    Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 5:30 p.m.: Dudek, 861 2nd Street, Encinitas (use alley entrance). Organized by Traffic and Public Safety Commissioner Brian Grover.

    Dudek is Commissioner Grover's employer. Dudek also receives lucrative contracts from the City Council.
    More than a Conflict of interest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pay for play - typical kick back schemes. It has become blatant, as corruption is in every venue of government. Bonnie Dumanis is playing dumb for collecting illegal campaign donations - do you think she'll make any noise?

      Delete
    2. I believe that Dudek was charged with election malfeasance in the past when it was revealed that they tried to coerce employees to donate to a particular campaign.

      Too bad we don't have an ethics professor to sort this thing out!!

      Delete
  29. Vote out school board encumbants - they rubber stamp Baird's schemes and get rewarded with free vacation trips, disguised as "fact finding" seminars. More rip-offs, realizing that nothing will be done to curtail it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'll NEVER pull off removing the trustees; as they can legally require their vendors; many who are paid millions, to fund the incumbents campaigns; regardless of their veality or incompetence, the incumbents cannot lose as long as district vendors can be compelled to put out tens of thousands of dollars to reward some of the least honest people who walk the earth. NOTE: Now that Carol Skiljan has done her 20 years as an EUSD Trustee and gets a full pension, finally she is hanging them up; her balls that is. That leaves Emily as next in line evil genius; we're sure that drive from Lakeside every day must be killing her. What's next; a limo for Mrs. Andrade? C'mon Tim, that way she can do her 'downward dog' in the back seat!

      Delete
  30. Great new word: encumbants.

    We are encumbered by encumbants!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hot news from city council agenda for Sept. 14 -

    Council to sell public works and water district property.

    On the council agenda -
    Discussion of whether to consider price and terms of the potential sale of property located at 160 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, CA, APN 258-112-28-00. CITY NEGOTIATOR: Bob McSeveney, Management Analyst; TO NEGOTIATE WITH: Guesthouse Hotel Development, LLC - Jordan Scott.

    ReplyDelete