The talk of the town in Encinitas this week is the latest hit piece against Prop A, a slick mailer sent city-wide from a faceless group known as EncinitasHOPE. While the group behind the mailer showed no hesitation in using the images of and quotes from our Council members without their permission or prior knowledge, as publicly stated by Mayor Barth and Deputy Mayor Shaffer, nowhere do we see the faces or names of those behind this mailer. Who are these people and what interests do they represent? Why are they afraid to reveal themselves to the public? Could it be that if you know who they are and how they get their money, you would not believe anything they say?
Our mayor and deputy mayor took steps to distance themselves from those they suspect are behind the mailer. Mayor Barth states in her newsletter: “I was not contacted by this group nor do I intend to have any contact with this organization or any other group.” Deputy Mayor Shaffer states: “…from what I understand, the mailer group includes people who worked actively to keep me from getting elected. While they are entitled to express their opinions, these are not people I associate with.”
Leucadia and Cardiff Main Street Associations also publicly protested when their logos were displayed and names listed as endorsements, without their authorization, on EncinitasHOPE flyers and its web site.
In addition to implying that certain members of our Council and our main street associations have connections to EncinitasHOPE, the mailer includes other misrepresentations about Prop A:
- “…could cost taxpayers millions of dollars for expensive citywide elections...”
FACT: Any special or regular elections for projects that will upzone are paid for by developers, not taxpayers.
- “…overrides more than two-decades of community input and millions of taxpayer dollars invested to revitalize Highway 101…”
FACT: That community input was overridden and zoning increases accomplished through a 4/5 supermajority Council vote.
- “…redefines how building height is measured, leading to taller structures, view blockage, depressed property values, and restricting homeowners ability to improve or restore their homes.”
FACT: Height limits are identical under Prop A to the current General Plan, imposing no restrictions, whatsoever, on residential and accessory units within current zoning. If you can do it now, you can do it with Prop A.
Even Deputy Mayor Shaffer, who is herself against Prop A states: “Their materials contain misleading and untrue assertions…”
Who is behind this slick, expensive mailer and has the resources to produce it? Why don’t the EncinitasHOPE backers want you to see both sides of the arguments, as shown on the Prop A and City websites? Why must they resort to such deceptive tactics to convince you?
Take matters into your own hands. Research the facts for yourself. Look at the arguments on both sides and come to your own conclusions! When you cast your vote at the ballot box or by mail, know that you are as informed as you possibly can be.
C.J. Minster & Susan Turney
