Christy Guerin for VP

Sarah Palin? pffft. Mr. McCain, you want a milfy small town city council person who shoots guns to be vice president of the USA? Then you should have chose former Encinitas sheriff and mayor Christy Guerin.

Political forum for seniors, Oct 8th

copy and paste press release:

Nanninga for Encinitas campaign schedules political forum for seniors.

Encinitas – Reaching out to senior voters, Encinitas City Council candidate Bob Nanninga has invited six other candidates to participate in an political forum to discuss issues important to senior members of the community.

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 , 9:00 – 11:00 Am, at the Encinitas Community and Senior Center candidates Joe Sheffo, Harriet Seldin, Doug Long , Betsy Aceti, Rachelle Collier, Tony Brandenburg will join Bob Nanninga to make the case for change. “Encinitas seniors are high propensity voters, as candidates we need to hear from them as much as they need to hear from us. ”

Hosting the daytime Senior forum, Helen Nielsen -Eckfield will ask candidates prepared questions and facilitate questions from the audience. Intended to meet the informational needs of absentee voters and seniors voting by mail, the public forum is a chance for voters, uncomfortable or unable to drive at night, to meet several candidates up close and personal.

Distinguishing between challengers and incumbents, the field of candidates has been limited to 7 due to time limitations. The event is independently sponsored by the Nanninga For Encinitas campaign.

“This is active 'Get out the Vote' campaigning. Reaching out to voters is more than bulk mailing glossy brochures to a list of likely voters. Campaigning is about meeting the people you hope to represent. Change will only come when people gather on common ground to talk about their issues, that's why I invited other challengers to participate in the dialogue.”

The Encinitas Community and Senior Center is located at 1140 Oakcrest Park Dr. (nearest cross street Encinitas Blvd.) The event will be held in Banquet Hall B.

Contact:

Bob Nanninga, cell 760-840-0838 or
http://www.nanningaforencinitas.org

Encinitas CC Drinking Game

I thought it would increase civic involvement to share the rules of the increasingly popular City Council Drinking Game.

Encinitas City Council meetings air live Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.
Cox Cable - Channel 19 at 6:00 PM live on the Wednesday evening of the council meeting.
Time-Warner Cable - Channel 24 at 6:00 PM live on the Wednesday evening of the council meeting.

You can watch the meetings live via the city website: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us/video/video.html

Rules
Find your liquor or beer of choice and take a shot/chug it down whenever the following things occur:

• Whenever Stocks has to remind Bond what is going on.
• Whenever Houlihan repeats herself.
• Anytime Stocks checks his blackberry.
• Anytime staff says, "Because that is the way we have always done it."
• Whenever Dalager fondly reminisces about something he plans to destroy.
• Whenever Houlihan makes a motion before anyone else speaks.
• Whenever Stocks says to a citizen or councilmember, "You have a right to an opinion."
• Anytime Stocks looks like he is holding back a nasty remark.
• Each time Dalager says "its for the kiddos."
• Anytime Lynn gets a time donation.
• Whenever Barth smiles the "what planet is this" smile.
• Anytime the camera catches Dalager looking out into space.
• Anytime a counselor can't operate their mike.
• Anytime the city attorney actually says something.
• Anytime Dalager reminisces and then doesn't talk about the issue at hand.
• Anytime Barth makes a motion and nobody seconds it.
• Anytime Stocks says something phony.

The Leucadia Blvd intersection functions better without the stoplights

The Leucadia Blvd/Hwy101 intersection works better without the long red lights. It sure does need some new asphalt and fresh paint though.

After a week of flashing red lights the city has finally finished a temporary fix for Leucadia Blvd and Hwy101, the worst intersection on the coast highway.

It is my opinion, and I think a lot of people will agree, that the intersection flowed much more smoothly with the stoplights. Sure there was a little confusion, especially from the scowling woman in the black BMW SUV who tried to mow down a jogger and then crash into me, but it seemed like most drivers could grok the intersection as a 4 way stop. Normally, leaving Beacons beach and heading east takes an agonizing longtime and the traffic backs up way past Gary Murphy's house and the roadside park, but with the flashing reds there was no delay or backups.

It looked like the southbound traffic was flowing good, although I never saw it at peak rush hour. It seems like the southbound traffic has been staying on the I-5 for most of the summer ever since gas hit $4 bucks a gallon and more people started taking the Coaster train.

I think the Leucadia Blvd/Hwy101 intersection should stick with the flashing reds. What do you think?

2008 Leucadia Art Walk Poster

By Kevin Doyle.
click poster for full size view.

Single Lane with Tree Canopy

Also, the hot topic of the day: ENCINITAS: Council to look at limiting ground floor uses in downtown

City Council Meeting, Wed Aug 27

Issues of importance:

Drought Response Conservation Ordinance.

Three Presentations at the beginning of the regular council meeting including an update from the Environmental Advisory Committee Chairman

Council to meet applicants to fill the vacant seat on the Environmental Advisory Committee.

Discussion on draft ordinance to limit ground floor uses along Hwy 101 in the downtown area.

Consideration of modifications to public road standards for a project proposed at 125 Mozart (Cardiff)

Staff request for approval to proceed with a Citizens Satisfaction survey.

View the Agenda online, click here.

Remember, you can watch Encinitas City Council meetings live online, click here.

What does the RED in Red County Blog stand for anyway?

You've seen the Red County Blog right?

Jerome Stocks Red County Blog post, My Answers to a Questionaire (he spells questionnaire wrong in the his blog post title).

Posted by: Jerome Stocks | 08/21/2008 11:08 PM

It comes as a surprise to some first time candidates for public office that various interest groups send out questionaire's to get a feel for where you as a candidate stand on issues they care about. Candidates receive these from public safety groups, the building industry, the right to life folks, the sierra club, organized labor, and more. This blog is a sample of one from a local group, along with my answers...

click here to read the rest

Jerome does not mention that the questionnaire is from the Encinitas Taxpayer's Assocation. In the comments section somebody ask where the questionnaire came from. ETA president Kevin C. then posts a comment and says, The select questions came from the...

The answers are not yet due and after they have all been returned we will comment on all the responses. I can say now that Mr. Stock's responses include some positions that will be welcomed but there some serious problems in other responses.

Until we gather all the responses, check out our latest newsletter at: Here is where Kevin adds a link to the ETA website but that link is quickly edited out and this comment appears, ...Sorry. We don't advertise other blogs for free here...

Kevin attempts a follow up post with a link to Encinitas city council candidate and republican Joe Sheffo's NO Tax Challenge, but again his post his edited with, Sorry. We don't advertise other blogs for free here...

The San Diego Red County Blog is run by an anonymous person who calls himself The Mighty Thor.


It is odd that "The Mighty Thor" would edit a link, especially to a taxpayer watchdog group. The Red County Blog often post links and stories relating to the San Diego Taxpayer Association. I wonder why Thor is so nervous about the Encinitas Taxpayers Association that he felt compelled to resort to censorship?

The statement "we don't advertise other blogs here" is just downright bizarre. It's hardly advertising, it's not like it's an ad for Monster Energy drinks or something, it's a link to a public taxpayer watchdog group made up of mostly republicans. The whole point of the internet is to link to each other, that is why it's called the web.

There was some serious avoidance of mentioning the name "Encinitas Taxpayers Association." on the San Diego Red County Blog.

Leucadia Merchants at work in 1994...

From the files of Fred Caldwell,

Hi JP,
Going through a stack of local pics I took, it's staggering how many things have changed in the last 15 years. But wanted you to see the "boat" in it's home grown glory day. We replenished it twice, and it actually did have some water, but not enough.


Pres. of LMA Fred Caldwell and Vice Pres Sheila Cameron....(the boats were a gift from restaurant row in Cardiff. The other one we planted is still doing well in Cardiff, with full sun. Our Hwy 101 bookends...
Leucadia Town Council initially planted this island with flowers trees and benches about 10 years before incorporation. The original LEUCADIA sign was where the tacky arrow is, but that shortly disappeared after we incorporated in 1986. Rumored to be in some politico's backyard still. (They tried everything to abolish the term Leucadia, and that was one reason LMA formed - to preserve it. In doing so it helped all 5 of our communities retain identity. I think. )

Nanninga is looking for answers...

Encinitas council candidate Bob Nanninga files Public Records Act request asking for detailed list of private consultants hired by the City of Encinitas since 2001

Responding to concerns of citizens Encinitas City Council candidate Bob Nanninga has filed a Public records Act request asking for a lists of consultant hired by the city between January 1, 2001 and August 20, 2008.

In the spirit of transparency and due diligence, Nanninga is looking for answers regarding the amount of money being spent on consultants when the City is fully staffed with highly paid and professionally competent employees. At question is whether Encinitas taxpayers are paying twice for the same work to be done.

“As I talk to residents and voters as part of my campaign, one of the major concerns if the fiscal wisdom of hiring consultants to do the work of city employees. If city council and the city manager believe current staff is unable to do the tasks required for the proper functioning of city business and civic planning perhaps it is time they be replaced by those who can.” Nanninga continued, “I believe staff is up to the job if only council and department heads would allow them to do it.”

The Public records request covers all consultants hired by the City of Encinitas between January 1, 2001 and August 20, 2008 and includes their primary business address, job contracted, price paid and resulting actions.

Monterey Tree Planting

We're Back to Sand

Swamis Beach - Most Sand Ever. I've been surfing daily for over two decades and I have never seen so much sand at Swamis.

Normally, this little girl would be running across dry reef. Now there is no exposed reef at all, so there are no tidepools for all the tourists to explore.

This makes me wonder about statements like,

Now there's cobble in the summer where there shouldn't be cobble," Aceti said. "Over the years I got spoiled. I got used to running from Moonlight Beach or Stone Steps down to Swami's without any problems. Now, even if it's not high tide, you can get cut off. It's terrible conditions out there."

Aceti has long lobbied for more sand on local beaches, and is a proponent of Encinitas's "sand tax" initiative, which has been placed on the November ballot after failing to pass in the June election.

Aceti has also been promoting the regional quality of life tax, which has a sand component.

Aceti's wife, Betsy is running for Encinitas City Council.

August Issue of Hoodlink

August issue of Hoodlink click here/pdf file.

Hoodlink archives at www.civics-101.com/hoodlink

Hawaiian Shirt Night: Encinitas City Council Meeting

Surfing is the theme of tonight Encinitas city council meeting,

At the beginning of the council meeting San Dieguito Heritage Museum will present:
San Dieguito Legends and Legacy Encinitas Surfers Part 1. The video documents the recollections of Don Hansen, Linda Benson , Woody Ekstrom, Ron McCarver, Fred Ashley, Richard Dowdy and Schuyler McFerrin.

World longboard champ and Encinitas local, Schuyler McFerrin

There is also council discussion regarding commercial use of city parks & beaches, primarily by surf camps.
signonsandiego.com story: Council to consider regulating businesses at city parks, beaches

"Under a broad proposal, the city would begin regulating surf camps and other business activities – fitness “boot camps,” yoga classes and personal training sessions – that take place at city beaches and parks.

Encinitas already requires business licenses. The idea of establishing additional permits for using beaches and parks began when surf camps proliferated."

It's also Hawaiian shirt night, so if you want...go ahead and wear a Hawaiian shirt and jeans. The meeting starts at 6.