Housing Element Open Dialogue Dec 3rd

Small Business Saturday in Leucadia

Housing Plan Update Looms in 2016

In 2016 there will be a ballot measure on the new Housing Element for the Shire of Encinitas.

The city is seeking input on what the Housing Element will look like.

Visit the city's Housing Plan Update page: clicky clicky

My Pacific View site Proposal: Make it a "Glamping" Campground

I've been thinking about our recent Pacific View land purchase and I think I got a good idea for y'all.

We need more camping opportunities around here, camping in our urban beach environment is super fun. Even locals book a campsite at Cardiff or Carlsbad once a year.

With the proper landscaping and love the Pacific View site would make for great "Glamping" (glamor camping).

The city could put in cool Airstream trailers, build modern hipster tents and yurts and install facilities like showers and restrooms. It would be great.

Imagine spending the day with the family at Moonlight Beach all day, then walking a short walk to your Glamp Site. You could enjoy downtown Encinitas easily if you get tired of the beach.

I haven't crunched the numbers, but it should be an affordable build out and I have no doubt it would book out far in advance.

Don't laugh at my crazy idea, this could work. Classic retro family camping is the future. 

Why Kristin Gaspar will be mayor of Encinitas for the next decade (and beyond)

Encinitas, Kristin Gaspar is your mayor for at least the next 10 years and maybe more. 

Let's think about that for a minute.

In the last election we all decided that we should start electing mayors instead of the ceremonial rotating system that always broke down into weird high school politics.

But, we are a fearful group so we adopted a mere 2 year term for mayor.

Now that Kristin Gaspar has handily secured the mayor spot she will now spend the next 2 years in campaign mode. Look for her to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and sharp and on point everyday all day. She will never really say anything too controversial and she will milk her role as a visible and attractive mascot of all the good things of Encinitas. Not even  Dan Dalager could crush a ribbon cutting like Gaspar.

Previous mayors like Christy Guerin and Jerome Stocks would always slip up and say mean grumpy things that eventually erode at their votes and reputations. Gaspar is way too savvy for such slip ups.

Who can beat Gaspar in the next election for mayor? There is nobody in this town with a strong enough cult of personality to energize the amount of money and votes it would take to upset Gaspar.

Newly elected council person Catherine Blakespear has good support coming out of the gate, but she would be foolish to challenge Gaspar head to head so soon, losing to Gaspar in a mayor run in 2 years would only erode her reputation and make her council seat vulnerable.  

Silver haired business men can come out of the woodwork and spend their retirement money on runs at mayor, but why would they beyond satisfying their own egos? Washed up ceo's fresh off the golf course won't beat Gaspar and they would be better off lobbying her in the background anyway.

It would take a major, major mistake on Gaspar's part to derail her destiny as the new perennial mayor of Encinitas. The now missing 10,000 strong Leucadian vote that once supported Maggie Houlihan has no-one to rally behind. Are they even still out there?

Media coverage isn't a factor.
The San Diego Union Tribune will never write anything overly harmful about Gaspar.
The Coast News might take shots at her but nobody will read it because you can't get past their online subscription form.
The Seaside Courier will probably just shut down now that election 2014 is over because the Courier is pointless.
The Encinitas Advocate will continue to do fair balance journalism and no-one will notice.
The handful of local blogs are only read by fringe weirdos like you and me.

Another huge factor, Kristin Gaspar is only in her 30's.

Bud Lewis recently passed away, he was mayor of Carlsbad for 24 years! (source)

Unless a bright new star emerges (preferably a millennial female) on the local political stage over the next year we can count on another easy win for Gaspar in 2016 and she will keep on winning every 2 years for the next 2 decades.

Easy Win for Mayor Gaspar

screenshot from sdvote.com

Visit Encinitas Advocate for election roundup: clicky clicky

Leucadians vote for Kranz & Blakespear Tuesday Nov 4th election 2014

On Tuesday November 4th 2014 I'm voting:

Tony Kranz for Mayor
Catherine Blakespear for city council

I've found both Kranz and Blakespear to be calm, intelligent, professional and reasonable people and Leucadia would do well to support them.

 Also, I'm voting Yes on F

 thank you