Voice of San Diego:
More than 20 liberal organizations, calling themselves the Quality of Life Coalition, have pledged to defeat
More than 20 liberal organizations, calling themselves the Quality of Life Coalition, have pledged to defeat the proposal from the San Diego Association of Governments. They argue the package of transit, highway, stormwater and preservation projects doesn’t do enough to shift the region to an environmentally sustainable transportation network, or promise enough to the laborers who will construct the $18 billion worth of projects over 40 years.
[...]
Heebner and Shaffer responded that it was insulting to suggest they were being duped.
“We are both thoughtful, intelligent women who have studied the issues,” they wrote in response.
Does relying on misinformation from staff sound familiar?
In one section, Heebner and Shaffer argue that the federal government prevents SANDAG from striking project labor agreements – deals that guarantee worker pay and benefits and that require hiring to be done through union halls. It is a specific priority for the coalition.
Ricardo Ochoa, a union attorney and coalition member, responded harshly.
“The assertion that ‘the Federal Government does not allow PLAs’ is 100% false, and I am sorry that SANDAG staff is apparently spreading such misinformation,” Ochoa wrote.
He’s right. The Obama administration encourages PLAs on federal projects, and has since February 2009.
Heebner copped to the error, apologized, and said she stood by the rest of the letter.
No indication whether Shaffer also admitted to the mistake and apologized. But that would be very
uncharacteristic for her.
Her Majesty Shaffer apologize for a misunderstanding?? There is a rumor that there are some pigs trying to grow some wings....
ReplyDeleteHer Royal Highness Dame Lisa never apologizes. No need. She thinks she is always right. Last night at the council meeting was a new low for the old highest-of-the-high Shaffer. She is really the lowest-of-the-low pawns at SANDAG.
ReplyDeleteIn Shaffer's newsletter today, she admits the HEU she enthusiastically supports will not provide any affordable housing.
ReplyDeleteThe HEU can't achieve its purpose, but Shaffer and the other council members want voters to pass it anyway.
Shaffer is a top 5 idiot council person in Encinitas. Along with Cameron, Stocks and Dalager.
ReplyDeleteNever met a tax she couldn't agree with, as a govt tick why should she ?? Her only interest is continuing her pension and the salaries and pension of her govt tick friends.
Today's San Jose mercury news tells it like it is....60,000 working TAXPAYING Californians moved out of the state last year and have been replaced by ILLEGAL aliens and 35,000 Obama refugees that neither work nor assimilate into the California way of life or culture.
Is Shaffer's pension secure?? Not really.
I also read Shaffers missive this morning. Yes, she finally admitted no low income housing will be generated by the HEU. It seems as if the wording on the ballot is a bit misleading.
ReplyDeleteAnd the messaging from the city the past two years completely misleading. They knew from the beginning but thought we wouldn't catch on.
DeleteLast December when the ruse hadn't yet been completely exposed, every person on the dais during the Shaffer-Muir HEU conclave at the library said the plan cannot provide affordable housing because the economics prevent that. One of the people on the dais was/still is an HCD executive. HCD itself knows the Encinitas HEU cannot achieve its purpose.
ReplyDeleteTechnical definitions aside, aren't housing prices a function of supply and demand? If every city in CA is compelled to rezone to encourage construction of units, then isn't the supply increased? And if the zoning is such that the units to be constructed would be smaller than your average detached house, then doesn't that also reduce the cost of housing generally?
ReplyDeleteIn other words, if every city does this, shouldn't it result in potential reductions in cost per square foot, and create more options at lower total square footage?
These reductions may not appear in the absolute values. Your home and mine might still go up in value, but perhaps not as much as under status quo.
True.
DeleteSo you're suggesting if we cover every town in cement and high density, prices will creep down? That may on paper be true, but the notion is abhorrent. If you're using that as an argument to pass the HEU l, 11:44, you just lost. Big time.
DeleteGreat theory. Where has that happened in practice?
DeleteIn what high real estate values locations has high density produced housing affordable to very low and low income people without subsidies?
11:44 is an academic, bureaucrat, developer or developers' lawyer pushing stupid ideas that don't work.
DeleteJam in the people like sardines and hope housing costs marginally decline? There are quality of life issues, infrastructural support issues and a myriad list of downsides to overcrowding. Face it - housing in Encinitas will never be "affordable", given the definition of "affordable" is being substantially under whatever current market rates are. This is just a gift to developers - those who influence and control the City government thru their bought council minions.
DeleteOn top of that, 11:44's reasoning doesn't make sense, and he/she uses weasel words like "potential," "may," "might" and "perhaps."
Delete11:50, not true. Rather, 11:44 is false.
DeleteY'all are missing the boat here. 11:41's assertion would be true if prior to the zoning changes demand and supply were materially equal. By changing the zoning to increase supply, demand would stay the same and prices would go down.
DeleteUnfortunately, the housing supply/demand curve is completely out of whack (despite what 10:53 above implies). Today demand is much, much greater than supply and this will likely continue for several decades. So when it comes to the HEU, it will not have any material impact to the overall housing demand and it will not have any impact on home prices.
From my perspective, the only purpose of the HEU is to provide the state with a housing / zoning plan on how to accommodate for expected population growth. All these horror stories (no pun intended) on the ramifications of passage of the HEU being bandied about are going to happen regardless of a Yes or No vote. Just look at the development by the Potato Shack.
The HEU is not the problem - Planning is not the problem - Sabine is not the problem - Council is the problem.
- The Sculpin
Sculpin has a good point. Price sensitivity is not linear, and adding a relatively small supply to a deep imbalance might not affect price much.
DeleteGood article here.
In a similar supply and demand market, they say that the cure for high oil prices is high oil prices. Meaning that when prices become unaffordable, demand destruction happens to solve the problem.
Around here, it would mean that Qualcomm, SAIC, the Navy and Marines, the biotech companies on the mesa, and other large employers move jobs to locations with better housing options for their people. This effect cascades through restaurants, stores, doctors, and services. It's usually not a controlled process, and it results in an economic collapse that brings home values along for the ride.
It's one way these problems get solved on their own.
If there is a three story building, pushed up to the property line, with no parking on your street, your value will go down. If said building is looking right into your yard, good luck ever selling. Sorry sculpin, you are wrong once again. The best investment in the entire world is Southern california coastal real estate so, yes, demand will always exceed supply. That does not mean that the HEU would not screw over the nearby property owners. Those lost home values go right inot the developers pockets. Available parking, privacy, and views all affect a home price and the HEU as currently constructed will absolutly hurt some home prices.
Delete7:10 - if you own property adjacent to or in proximity of a commercial zone - much like most of the areas targeted for upzoning - you can't possibly have any expectation that future commercial development will not encroach on your property. Unless you bought your property prior to 1960, that would fall under "what were you thinking?!?!".
Delete- The Sculpin
12:55 refers to 11:44, not 11:41.
ReplyDeleteIf the proposed HEU passes in November, there will be ugly three-story monstrosities like Pacific Station in each of the rezoned areas except Cardiff, which the council restricted to two stories. But there will be no additional affordable housing.
You're right that the council is the problem, directing and colluding with the staff and the lawyer. They all know which side their bread is buttered on.
Buildings could be 48 feet tall. With waivers for density bonus, who knows - sky's the limit. Mixed-use, which is condos over commercial, is planned for Sprouts shopping area, the Encinitas Town Center, Von's center on Santa Fe, the old Target center at Encinitas and El Camino, the intersection of Rancho Santa Fe Rd and Encinitas/Manchester, and Cardiff town Center. Most of Leucadia 101 south of Leucadia Blvd., most of downtown Encinitas will be mixed-use. All voted by the council to be mixed-use. The council voted to reduce the parking requirements.
ReplyDeleteNo place for parking on some of the sites - look for the city to require underground parking. City council wants residents to ride bikes or walk everywhere. Condos will be market rate that was emphasized by the previous planning director.
No, the city isn't guaranteeing that the condos will be for low income families. This is the whole reason for the up zoning for increased density - for low income.
Vote NO on the housing element update November. Tell your friends and neighbors to vote NO.
At the same time vote those fools of a council out of office
New dirt on Encinitas Farm lab scandal:
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nuMEL5bhNgo
Latest radio interview on Baird yoga scandal:
ReplyDeletehttp://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/kfmbam/podcast/audio/the_mike_slater_show_17440.mp3
Another interview today with Mayor Gaspar by Mike Slater. Gaspar was tough on the school farm. She used the same math figures from the YouTube video posted by 2:52 PM.
ReplyDeleteGaspar should run for school board. As Mayor, she's voting against residents
ReplyDeleteJust wait until she is Supervisor! She can sell the whole region out!
DeleteAt least Gaspar maintains her position, even if it is not my position and not popular. On the other hand, there are 3 Democrats on the City Council. All 3 of them are a disappointment and 2 of them have lost their base supporters. Gaspar will probably win against Roberts because frankly I would like to know what he has done for Encinitas?
ReplyDeleteWhat has Gaspar done for Encinitas?
DeleteLet's see. For one thing she didn't vote for Pacific View at 10 plus million dollars; she didn't support a 3 million dollar lifeguard tower at Moonlight;she didn't support the Cardiff Rail trail from the beginning; and I could go on. But since I already know you are not a fan of Gaspar's, and quite frankly I wasn't until some of the Council members I did vote for, did a 180 on their base, I like her now.As for Roberts. Forget the so called scandal which may or may not have happened the way it was reported. I would love to know what he has done for us? BTW, I have always been a Democrat, so for me to say these things about Republicans is usually not in my nature.
Delete6:16 GASbag may not have voted for the things you cited, but bottom line is that they were approved on her watch and the money will be spent on those projects.
DeleteNeedless to say, she's a loser.
8:02- I am not a Gaspar fan but I do believe in fairness. You say Gaspar is responsible for the things I stated in my post of 6:16? No, the 3 Democrats on the Council voted for those things. Gaspar and Muir voted NO on all 3. Just because she is the Mayor doesn't mean she gets to dictate who votes for what. Tell me some things she has voted for that have been bad for Encinitas
Delete3:11 You don't get it, do you? Just because GASpar and Muir voted NO on all 3 means they were not effective and lost in the vote process which eventually will cost the city tons of money.
DeleteAgain, and read my lips.....the vote was 3-2. GASpar and Muir's votes meant ZILCH.
GASpar will try to use that in her future campaigns, but anyone smart enough knows how it goes.
Tell us what good she has done for the city thus far and please go beyond these three instances.
3:11 We are all patiently waiting to hear what good things GASpar has done for Encinitas.
DeleteThat list is right next to the ledger of positive things Dan Dallager did for Encinitas...
DeleteEverything 6:16 cited about Gaspar are things she didn't do. What positives has she done? What leadership has she provided?
ReplyDeleteRoberts represents all of District 3. The fair and pertinent question to ask is what he's done for the whole district.
If you explore his website, you'll find plenty of things he's done for District 3.
http://www.supervisordaveroberts.com/
Roberts has done a lot for the district he represents. I don't think that Gaspar will be able to do what Roberts has done and that is to attend many events that go beyond the Board room. Gaspar thinks she can waddle into a meeting and waddle out and that is all the job entails. She better get used to being away from home and her kids. It is much more involved that what she thinks. Not to mention, all the ass kissing she will need to do.
DeletePlus she'll be filling all those potholes and building diverse water supply! Physically demanding work.
DeleteGaspar is a Republican. That's all I have to know to never vote for her for anything.
ReplyDeleteIt means she follows the Republican philosophy and is in league with other Republicans.
Republicans have dominated city and county government in San Diego County for decades. How have they done? Overall, do you like the direction the cities and county have gone since, say, 1970?
From Blakespear's newsletter:
ReplyDelete"Deputy Mayor Lisa Shaffer is an intellectual heavyweight who will be sorely missed when she retires from public office at the end of her first and only term in elected office. On Wednesday, Lisa and I were both appointed to write the November ballot argument in support of the Housing Element update that I mentioned above. Before 24-hours had elapsed, she had emailed me her first draft. This is Lisa’s approach to her City Council work.
"Just six months from retirement, Lisa continues to take every issue very seriously, reading every word in lengthy staff reports and offering important, substantive feedback. While we don’t always see things exactly the same way, the City of Encinitas has been lucky to have her talents for the last four years. Next year, many people, and particularly me, will miss her."
OK, Shaffer does her homework, but all too often she comes to the wrong conclusions.
If Shaffer and Blakespear did their homework on the housing element update, surely they will reveal their duplicity in hiding the seven mixed-use commercial properties that are slated for increasing the intensity of use with new condos on each site. Other words for duplicity - deceitfulness, deceit, deception, double-dealing, underhandedness, dishonesty, fraud, fraudulence, sharp practice, chicanery, trickery, subterfuge, skulduggery, treachery;
DeleteBlakespear was especially deceitful when she wanted the wording mixed-use removed from the ballot statement. Mixed-use is a major part of the housing element update, and Blakespear wanted it removed from the ballot statement so the voters wouldn't know. Yes, the other four council members went along with her.
"Intellectual heavyweight" 80% of the weight appears to be her ego.
DeleteShaffer has a big ego. It's all about HER. I will not miss the constant droning of her voice.
ReplyDeleteIntelligence often lacks common sense.
ReplyDeleteCommon sense and practicality grow from experience working in the private sector. Shaffer has very little such experience.
ReplyDeleteWrong, Shaffer has experience working in the private sector at SAIC and other companies. Not saying she's not wrong, but you can't use that broad brush indiscriminately to explain all her actions.
ReplyDeleteSAIC is a government contractor, so it's about as "private sector" as Gus Vina's consultants are.
Delete6:05 repeats: Shaffer has very little experience working in the private sector. The great bulk of her working life has been in the public sector. If she had significant private sector experience, chances are she would identify with and represent the residents of Encinitas much more than she does. She comes down on the government/special-interests side of almost every issue. Her time on the council has been very largely a betrayal of the people who supported her election.
ReplyDeleteAmong the greatest betrayals was her use/abuse of Maggie Houlihan to get elected. Shaffer, Kranz and Barth have all conjured the name of Maggie to try and prop up their lagging support.
DeleteWe were all taken in, but how can these three live with themselves?
Loyalty to supporters and having a conscience about one's community are not in most politicians' tool kits. Selling out precedes or follows being elected.
Delete