San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy rebrands as hippie commune

City cancelling Beacon's stairway; likely to borrow $22 million for Leucadia Streetscape

Coast News:

The Encinitas City Council is poised to defund a controversial proposed staircase at Beacon’s Beach and is considering borrowing $22 million to finance the construction of its major capital project, the Leucadia Streetscape.

As part of the proposed capital improvement project budget the council is considering at its May 22 meeting, staff is proposing — with the council’s direction — redirecting the $3.4 million for the project to the El Portal pedestrian and bicycle underpass project.

“The El Portal project in Tier 1 (B) for $4.7 million (General Fund portion) will be funded partially by using the funding previously appropriated to the Beacon’s project in the amount of $3.4 million. The Beacon’s project will be de-funded until reconsidered by Council,” the staff report states.

The Beacon's stairway was never popular with locals. Leucadia Streetscape remains highly controversial.

City clears homeless encampment from Cardiff Rail Trail

City crews were out today clearing the junk from a homeless encampment along the new Cardiff Rail Trail.

5/22/19 City Council meeting open thread

Please use the comments to record your observations.

Paranoid conspiracy bullshit?

Recently Mayor Blakespear's husband accused Supervisor Gaspar of "paranoid conspiracy bullshit" for discussing SANDAG Director Hasan Ikhrata's supposed plan to put black boxes in everyone's cars to track their driving and charge them for using the freeways.




You know who else believes in this crazy paranoid conspiracy? The LA Times.

From 2013 when Ikhrata was at SCAG, the LA area's version of SANDAG:

"This really is a must for our nation. It is not a matter of something we might choose to do," said Hasan Ikhrata, executive director of the Southern California Assn. of Governments, which is planning for the state to start tracking miles driven by every California motorist by 2025. "There is going to be a change in how we pay these taxes. The technology is there to do it."

Thanks to an anonymous commenter for the tip.

5/15/19 City Council meeting open thread

Please use the comments to record your observations.

Blakespear's husband calls Gaspar's telling of SANDAG meeting "paranoid conspiracy bullshit"

We noted recently that Kristin Gaspar is opposing SANDAG's plan to take money promised for roads and redirect it to mass transit. The fight is heating up.

KUSI on the recent SANDAG meeting:

Gaspar explained that the SANDAG Director, Hasan Ikhrata, is recommending everyone pay to drive on all freeway lanes because they are subsidized.

A black box would be installed in every vehicle, tracking every mile you drive on the highway, and then that information will be given to the government so it could charge you.

During last week’s SANDAG meeting, Ikhrata tried silencing board members who didn’t agree with his plan. Ikhrata became so aggressive, County Supervisor Gaspar walked out.

This is apparently what Catherine Blakespear's husband is referring to on Facebook:

Big vegan action in little Encinitas

Anonymous for the Voiceless

Celine Dion Kook

After being given a $10 million taxpayer-funded, debt-financed facility, Encinitas Friends of the Arts hosts event in old Senior Center

Del Mar Times:

The diverse traditions of five different countries will be explored at Passport to Dance, with performances by companies representing Spain, China, Indonesia, Ireland and the United States. Presented by Encinitas Friends of the Arts (EFA) the event takes place on Saturday, May 11, 7-9:30 p.m., at the Encinitas Community Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, Encinitas, 92024. In keeping with EFA’s mission to celebrate diversity through arts and culture, the event will foster an appreciation and fresh awareness of ancient and modern traditions while raising funds for much needed arts programs in the city.

What the heck did we go $10 million into debt for at Pacific View?

Cardiff celebrates installation of surfer-proof fence

Coast News:

“The opening of SANDAG’s Coastal Rail Trail in Cardiff is a great moment for our city,” said Catherine Blakespear, mayor of Encinitas. “This is a monumental regional project that aligns with our vision for mobility and access. I look forward to it being a convenient way for people to get around Encinitas.”

The group will meet after the SANDAG grand opening ceremony at the corner of Chesterfield Drive at San Elijo Avenue in Cardiff for check-in at the city of Encinitas booth.

Good fences make good neighbors!

5/8/19 City Council meeting open thread

Please use the comments to record your observations.

Gaspar takes on SANDAG

10 News:

SANDAG’S plan is to push for a more green and efficient future by getting more commuters to ditch their cars and hop on mass transit.

Gaspar said using TransNet funds is a bait and switch to voters.

“San Diegans have lost faith in SANDAG,” she said. “They can’t be trusted to follow through with their promises to voters.”

“In 2004, 67% of voters said they were collectively willing to take on a higher tax burden for the next 40 years in exchange for much needed highway improvements,” said Gaspar. “Fast forward to 2019, SANDAG has a new idea on how they want to spend that money.”

Proposition A promised to relieve traffic congestion, expand freeways and provide proper maintenance on local roads.

Another one bites the dust

Ace Hardware is closing downtown.

Nearby Pacific Station, the former Whole Foods site, has been vacant for more than two years.

Cardiff gets railroad quiet zone

10 News:

Rail engineers are no longer required to sound their train horns along the railway corridor just north of the San Elijo Lagoon in Cardiff-by-the-Sea.

The City of Encinitas established its first ever “Quiet Zone” this week as part of the North Coast Corridor transportation project. The zone is along a half-mile stretch of the railway corridor on Chesterfield Drive and San Elijo Avenue.