There have been describing in Encinitas city politics. For me, it started when I moved to Encinitas, and realized that the scale of politics here was small enough that individuals could really make a difference. Someone suggested I meet Teresa Barth when she was running for City Council. I did, I was impressed, and I started paying attention.
There are many great things about Encinitas, and I want them to continue. There are some wonderful people working for the City, and I want them and the new City Manager to be successful. However, the current direction of the City Council majority is worrisome, and their lack of open, honest dialog about key issues makes me wonder if we really know the whole story – are we really as fiscally healthy as they claim? What about the underfunding of the Hall property park? What about unfunded road maintenance needs? What about the extremely generous pensions that continue to be offered to new employees?
I have seen some decisions that cause great concern, and behavior that is unbecoming a fine city like Encinitas. Some examples:
- Lack of transparency: The Council majority chose to go to court rather than release a draft report on road conditions, and then to appeal the ruling when the court said the city had no compelling reason to withhold the report. In just this one case, the City spent $35,000 on extra fees for the City Attorney, whose job and pay seem unrelated to his performance in protecting the City from lawsuits and/or winning those that are valid.
- Cronyism: I have heard Council members say that their goal is to have people who are like-minded on our public commissions. I think the goal should be to have intelligent, committed people with expertise and a range of views, who will try to balance the diversity of interests and opinions that reflect the diversity of our community. If you only appoint your friends to key positions, you’ll get cooperation and efficiency, but to what end? Whose interests are being served efficiently? My priority is a Council and commissions that are representative of the community.
- Lapses of ethics: Among the recent examples of conduct unbecoming a Council, the Council majority on Nov. 2 dismissed the serious allegations that Mr. Muir used City email during his official work hours to engage in campaign activities in violation of the City’s ethics code. A few weeks earlier, Mr. Stocks voted on the expenditure of city funds to install an electric vehicle charging station that would provide free power that he would personally benefit from, as the owner of an electric car. While the decision to put in an EV charging station is great, Stocks should have recused himself. Instead, Mayor Bond joked about it as being Jerome’s personal charging station, while the City Attorney looked on silently. Ethics are not a joke.
The list above just gives a few examples of behavior by the City Council majority and the City Attorney that have motivated me to get involved, get informed, bear witness, and ultimately to enter the race to win a seat on the Council. While I don’t claim to have all the answers, I do have a deep and abiding commitment to honest, open dialog, and to treating everyone with respect. I think Encinitas can do better and I know Encinitas deserves better. Seniors, youth, skaters, animal lovers, families, and anyone else who feels unheard – I urge you to get involved. Occupy the voting booth. Volunteer in a campaign. Talk to your friends and neighbors. If you aren’t upset about what’s going on in Encinitas, you haven’t been paying attention!
This Letter to the Editor was written by 2012 City Council candidate Lisa Shaffer.
If you have a Letter to the Editor that you would like to submit, please email it toMarlena.Medford@Patch.com.
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Cuddos to you for standing up. I agree with you just from my small and innocent questioning. I wrote a note to the Mayor (may as well start at the top) about the lack of a movie theatre in the area. To me, that's ridiculous to not have a theatre close by for our families. I didn't realize that the Wal-Mart controversy was going on at the same time...and did receive an e-mail back from the Mayor saying he didn't think a theatre was interested in opening in Encinitas. I e-mailed Marlena (editor of the Patch) to ask about any information regarding a theatre for Encinitas. She sent me back information in the form of the Wal-Mart reporting, about Ultra Star saying they'd love to have available to them the Home Expo building for a theatre. I sent that quote to the Mayor and his was response was..."thanks for sharing". In e-mail language I think he told me to ............ well, probably nothing I'd consider. I'm open for honest, responsible and accountable leadership.
http://encinitas.patch.com/articles/is-walmart-opening-in-encinitas
They will "DO WHAT THEY WANT", as a majority council member callously announced during one of the many occasions that the citizen majority disagreed with the council majority. And yes there is nothing we can do until elections next year. Their latest action to prove their contempt for the majority of voting citizens further show they are in control and don't care what anyone thinks. Embarrassing.
While the CEO of Ultra Star has expressed the wish to locate a theater in Encinitas, the fact is, at the present time, per-square-foot leasing rates for commercial space along El Camino Real being around $3.00, Ultra Star won't locate a theater here that will not be profitable and both the City and Ultra Star have done the math and at this juncture it does not make economic sense to open a new theater here; as much as we all would like one. Perhaps some time in the future? In fact, it is Deputy Mayor Jerome Stocks, himself, on his own personal time, whom has pursued a variety of entertainment companies in an attempt to bring a theater chain here to our home town; while he was not successful he gets an 'A' for effort; and as to the ability to bring a public electric car charging station; certainly no one would be allowed to get free electricity from such a municipal access; that is just nonsense and anyone viewing council comments about the possibility knows that. Announced candidates for public office, when accusing other public officials/potential opponents of political misconduct might be well-served to consider actual facts, not just public sentiment; before making unfounded accusations. Certainly they would like to be treated in the same manner; don't you think?
Teresa Barth has been passed over repeatedly. We've had enough. Write a letter to Patch and the other papers. View the video clips of last tear;s mayor appointment. http://www.youtube.com/user/encinitasyouneedus?feature=mhum#p/u/41/TpnJDtyYU9E Mark your calendar for Tuesday, December 2011. There are only 2 meetings before this one, November 9th and November 16th. This is the most important thing we can do RIGHT NOW to Occupy City Council. Again, talk to people face-to-face or Facebook. Email the Mayor, Deputy Mayor to demand Barth as mayor - often. Write letters to all of the papers. Don't ever count the people out. Screw us - We reproduce.
If this gang of four cronies isn't tyranny enough, Stocks as Mayor during an election year is a horror Encinitas citizens should not have to suffer.
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/104412/wall-mart-implodes