Cyclist fatality reported on Leucadia Boulevard

 Nextdoor.com:

Earlier today a truck was making a right turn off of Leucadia Blvd. onto Moonstone Ct., turning into the path of a cyclist in the bike lane. The cyclist was killed in the accident (updated).

I ride on that road often and it is easy to see how this happened. When cars turn right across a bike lane it is safest for everyone (and the law) that the car merge into the bike lane. That act of merging rather than just turning across the lane gives you the time to see any cyclists in the lane and figure out their speed to determine if you should go in front or behind them. Unfortunately, since the bollards on Leucadia Blvd. do not allow for this, the truck had to just make the turn without merging. It would be very easy to miss seeing a cyclist at that turn. When I ride down that hill I am regularly going 35mph, so a turning car would not necessarily have passed me recently to know that I was there. It is a big, wide bike lane, so a cursory glance in your mirror might not be enough to see if someone is there: bikes aren't that big.

I feel bad for the person driving the truck and worse for the cyclist. When the bollards went in several cyclists pointed out this exact problem with them and the city ignored it. Much as they are ignoring so many cyclists telling them how dangerous the cycle trap on 101 between Cardiff and Solana Beach is. They talk a big game about protecting cyclists, but then ignore what actual cyclists tell them. Hopefully this will get them to listen.

Fox Point Farms developer makes concessions to neighbors on condition they silence opposition

From the Inbox:

Attached is the MOU between Grover and residents. Odd that he is making a deal with them and not just resubmitting his plans with the city according to the promises he makes in the MOU. The whole thing appears orchestrated solely to stop any opposition. How much do you want to bet that when the time comes, he'll claim that the city is making him do what he promised he wouldn't?

Is this the new negotiating model in Encinitas, or is this just how you have to deal with those "crazy Leucadians"?

Robo-caller Ken Moser fined $10 million in Mark Muir dirty tricks campaign

 SD Rostra:

The pre-election surprise was the false allegation from Nichole Burgan. Fortunately, the San Diego Sheriff’s Office proved that Burgan was lying prior to Election Day but that didn’t stop Graham’s Republican opponents from trying to undo his advantage; Maureen “Mo” Muir started a whisper campaign, through surrogates, to try to rescind Graham’s endorsement from the Republican Party. Meanwhile, labor unions trafficked direct mail pieces about Burgan’s false claim and ran Facebook ads to discredit Graham. It looked like the Democratic-Labor Complex had successfully executed a hit job on Graham.

This past summer, The Voice of San Diego published an exposé about the FCC investigation into Ken Moser. In that investigation, Moser named Encinitas Council Member Mark Muir, husband of Graham’s Republican opponent Mo Muir, as the source of the the content for the robocall campaign against Graham. I questioned any and all people associated with the Muir campaign, here on San Diego Rostra, about the veracity of Moser’s accusation. Every single person I questioned denied knowledge or involvement with the libelous robo-call scam except Mark Muir.

Mark Muir danced around the question, first claiming that the robo-call campaign was not libelous. Then, Muir rationalized the campaign before thrice avoiding the question about whether Moser was lying about him being the source of the content. Muir knew better than to deny Moser’s claim because Moser provided the media with the email with the audio file, sent from Mark Muir.

Moser is also the guy who files FPPC lawsuits against political activists in Encinitas and elsewhere. Muir is still the reigning pension champion of Encinitas, pulling in $196,114 per year.

Appeal filed against Cardiff Post Office development

 From the Inbox:

With one no vote, the Planning Commission approved the tentative map (consolidating 12 regular lots into 4 irregular lots) and approved the Newcastle project that is significantly higher than existing adjacent buildings.

Despite a survey of 70 respondents near unanimously finding the Newcastle project was "inconsistent with" with numerous provisions of the Cardiff Specific Plan, a majority of Planning Commission members voted to approve the project.

An Appeal Request to the City Council was timely filed.  See attached file stamped copy of the Appeal Request.

Please click on the link to download a PDF file (including the survey results) and video that supports the Appeal Request submitted to the City Clerk.

https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/OOUY0zDrNX

After the matter is scheduled for a City Council meeting, there will be an opportunity for anyone to submit a written position.   The Appeal Request form states, in part:

Any person who wishes to submit a written position with arguments, documents, exhibits, letters, photos, charts, diagrams, videos, etc., addressing the challenged determination must submit these to the
City Clerk by 5:00 P.M. seven (7) calendar days prior to the hearing date. NO NEW INFORMATION WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER THIS DEADLINE. NO OTHER MATERIALS SHALL BE RECEIVED OR CONSIDERED AT THE HEARING. Upon filing with the City Clerk, those items will be available to the public. Any questions, please contact the City Clerk at 633-2601.

Stay safe!

Darren Quinn

   .

11/18/20 City Council meeting open thread

 Please use the comments to record your observations.

In Encinitas parks, festivals are exempt from Covid restrictions and permit requirements as long as they are called “rallies”

Anarchy in the ENC!

From the Inbox:

This is an "E4E" event run by Mali Woods-Drake.  According to the city, calling it a "rally" makes it ok despite Covid prohibitions against holding events, so Mali added the word "rally" to it just yesterday to make it all ok.  The city said No to her last week, but apparently with regulations tighter than ever it's ok now that it's a "rally."

Here is the mayor's response to a resident who wrote to complain:

"Thank you for your concern. There has been a lot of outreach and communication from the city and the Sheriff Department to the organizers of this event regarding the county's public health guidelines and the changes that take effect on Saturday. Ultimately the decision making about the expression of first amendment protected rights is made by those who plan these events, in the same way this occurred for those who organized events in our city and at our beaches in opposition to public health orders.

The City of Encinitas has cancelled its own public events and the city is not issuing permits for any events.

I hope this helps explain the situation. I'm copying the city manager Pam Antil here if you would like to followup further.

 

Wellness Festival to Highlight BIPOC representation in wellness and collectively heal after Election 2020

About this Event

Like many of you, Encinitas4Equality activists are feeling the anxiety, sadness, pain of the last years division and attacks against our communities of color.

We recognize that the movement for Black lives is just that, a Movement that will persist to resist through months and years to come, and therefor we want to take moments to rest, to collectively come together to heal, and to bring awareness of the importance of a focus on wellness for ALL.

The E4E Inagural Wellness Festival will be led in partnership with Black Lives Yoga & Black Sheep Yoga. Our goal is to raise funds so that we are able bring more accessibility to wellness, yoga, meditation, and more to BIPOC communities and support adults and youth. This will be achieved by sponsoring BIPOC instructors with an interest and wellness and funding free programs led by BIPOC instructors in communities where representation is needed

Come at 745a to enjoy a morning of community healing, peace, respite and stay for the whole day or pop in for one or two classes. We have a little bit of everything for everyone.

Bring your election fatigue and worries, and leave them on the mat for a moment, to enjoy the gifts and beauty of our community

Pot shops coming to Encinitas

 Wow! This is a result I did not expect.

Cardiff project on Planning Commission tonight

 From the Inbox [sent yesterday, so "tomorrow's" meeting means today's]:

Please urge your CARDIFF RESIDENTS/OWNERS to answer TODAY the short survey regarding the proposed MASSIVE Newcastle Project.  

The website www.StopBigCardiff.com is now live.  

Please click on  www.StopBigCardiff.com and click on the button: 

CLICK NOW TO RESPOND TO SURVEY FOR 11/5 HEARING

Please answer the short survey questions TODAY.  I'll submit the survey responses by tomorrow to the Planning Commission for tomorrow's 6 pm follow up hearing via Zoom.

The critical question the Planning Commission must answer is whether the proposed project is "inconsistent with" with any Cardiff Specific Plan provisions.  If the project is "inconsistent with" the Cardiff Specific Plan, then the Planning Commission should deny the project, so it can go back to the drawing board.

When I answered the survey, I answered "inconsistent with" on each survey question because I believe that is true.  You should carefully answer each survey question for yourself.   

Signs about the www.StopBigCardiff.com website and survey are posted on telephone poles on Birmingham and the Manchester alley.   Two signs are posted on the Kook statute railing.  One sign will likely be posted at VG's donuts.

Please tell your neighbors about this website.  If you are on NextDoor (I'm not), please post something on that as well.

I plan to speak again at tomorrow's 6 pm Planning Commission meeting via Zoom.   You can all attend via Zoom and/or sign up to speak via Zoom.  The Planning Commision Agenda with instructions how to attend and/or speak at tomorrow's hearing is accessible on the  www.StopBigCardiff.com on the "Planning Commission" page.

Stay safe!

Darren Quinn

Incumbents lead in early returns

 San Diego Registrar.

Still a lot of ballots to be counted, and early votes may not be representative.

Blakespear bike obstacles cause another crash

Facebook:

The Cardiff trap snags another victim. Riding north today in the bike lane right before Chesterfield. My friend turned because he thought he heard a car moving over to the right and boom, hit a wheel stop and went down. Fortunately no serious injury or damage to his bike. Such a shame and unnecessary that the city created this mess.

Political violence comes to Encinitas

Supervisor Kristin Gaspar on Facebook:

I am saddened to report that today a member of our community narrowly avoided a severe injury during an appalling display of campaign incivility. This morning my 10 year old daughter eagerly joined me to sign wave for a candidate I wholeheartedly support for Encinitas Mayor. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before we were both verbally accosted by a gentleman on a bicycle who does not support my candidacy or choice for mayor. This man continued through the intersection while pretending to shoot other supporters with his hand as he sped through. An hour later he returned to the scene on the wrong side of the road, traveling at a fast speed on his ebike, and hurled the shrapnel of a torn up Gaspar for Supervisor sign at sign wavers. Pieces of the thick wooden stake struck an unsuspecting 70-year old woman in the face. Only two days ago, I stood with a bipartisan coalition of elected officials, faith organizations, and the People’s Alliance for Justice to call for civility in our San Diego election. All people should feel safe supporting the candidates and measures of their choosing. Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and we must denounce acts of incivility. Please join me in taking the pledge for civility and in doing so, also setting positive examples for our young people: https://www.peoplesallianceforjustice.net/pledgecivility

Witnesses report that the attacker is a well-known, long-time volunteer for Catherine Blakespear's campaigns. The victim is reportedly pressing charges.

Catherine Blakespear: Make Encinitas Great Again!

Encinitas Guerrilla (satire):

I’ve been here for 100 years. No, wait, I’m delusional. My family has been here 100 years.

I’m the developers’ pal. I want to Make Encinitas Great Again, Again. You must re-elect me as your mayor so I can do that.

We can help solve the climate crisis by building more and denser housing in Encinitas. It’s common sense. More people packed together more tightly will release fewer GHG emissions. It’s the same as more cattle on less acreage burping and farting less methane.

My hands are tied when the city is up against state law. But it’s not a B&D thing. State law prevails over local ordinances, and there’s nothing we can do about it.

I know better than you. That’s why I don’t listen to residents and can do whatever I want. I’m sure you know that whenever the council faces an important decision, we don’t wait for the meeting. We decide ahead of time.