The gentrification of Encinitas began before you got here

Check out this local's outfit, that wasn't his first choice.

Cosmic Fireball streaks over Leucadia

Iconic Surf Cleaners signage gone

Here is an epic example of a small town mainstreet FAIL.

Who should have prevented this failure?

DEMA? Chamber of Commerce? Historical Society? Encinitas Planning Department? City Manager? Mayor? City Council?

What can be done to get the iconic Surf Cleaners sign back where it belongs?

October 2015: Strange Smell hangs over coastal Encinitas

What is that smell?
Stinky lagoons?
Leaky sewage pipes?
Dying kelp beds from unusually warm ocean temperatures?
The collective smell of dozens of damp, humid restaurant dumpsters?
What is that smell???

This is Leucadia

Leucadia!

August Evenings in Leucadia

Keep Cardiff Crusty

We in Leucadia know what it's like to lose a beloved live music venue. When Bar Leucadian lost its cabaret license a few years ago it left a big void in the local music scene. Even when a new owner took over he was stuck with the previous owner's penalties.

While many of us are hopeful that live music will return to Bar Leucadian soon after the license suspension has run its course, the recent news about noise complaints shutting down live music at the Kraken does not bode well.  Bar Leucadian is adjacent to many residences while the Kraken is about as far away from homes as any bar in town.

Encinitas Undercover has the full story on the Kraken's owner's decision to stop live music for fear of losing his liqour license over 5 noise citations between June and July.

An online petition to Encinitas Mayor Kristin Gaspar to allow the Kraken to continue hosting live music gained over 1,200 signatures in only two days time. And a recent update on the petition shows that the City of Encinitas has heard the message and that live music will soon continue at the Kraken.

Even if the City has reassured the Kraken that they can continue with live music, this whole ordeal should probably leave a bad taste in the mouth of any local who likes to hear music outside of a restaurant setting. Code enforcement is after your decibels!!!

Bad News for Encinitas Urban Campers

The city of Encinitas will be increasing police enforcement of two-hour parking zones in an effort combat the problem of people living in recreational vehicles on city streets.

Leucadia Farmers Market 10 year anniversary

On Sunday July 19th the Leucadia 101 Main Street is proud to celebrate the official 10 year anniversary of the Leucadia Farmers Market by inviting the entire community to join farmers market founders to hear about the unique history of the market. This celebration will also include an exclusive FREE tour of the market led by market manager Ron LaChance. The Leucadia 101 Main Street Association will also be handing out commemorative 10 Year Anniversary shirts to those who attend the market tour and to anyone who spends $50 or more at the market!  Festivities will start at 10:15am please RSVP for the Market Tour as space is limited. Email info@leucadia101.com for details and directions. 

Market Manager Ron LaChance

State of CA shutting off beach showers for Drought 2015 is a Bad Idea

This week the state of California is shutting off all beach showers in state parks in an effort to save water as our severe drought creeps in deep summer.

CBS news story

This is a bad idea.

Our beaches are extremely important for individuals, families and tourist.

People need to rinse off at the end of their beach day.

We all know how sandy our kids get at the beach, we need to rinse them off before going home.

Locals will bring their own jugs of water to rinse off with, but tourist are screwed.

Now tourist will get sand all over their rental cars and will have to rinse off sand at their hotel or rental.

To rub salty sand into the wound, it cost on average $15 a day to park at a state beach, annual passes are $195.

That is a lot to pay for no beach showers. 

The same amount of water will still be used with the beach shower shut off,
possibly more, just at a different location.  

Maybe this is good news for plumbers who get to root out pipes clogged with beach sand.

In related drought news, the state and builder's demand more housing (more stress on water supplies) clicky clicky Interesting Link: Drought: 10 things to know about California water use

The city of Encinitas vs Independence Day

Did you know that the city has an official Instagram account?
@cityofencinitas
The last post was 5 weeks ago on Memorial Day.
We became in a city in 1986.
Yet another Independence Day has passed without an official 4th of July fireworks display.
Imagine how incredible it would be to have a fireworks show from a barge off Moonlight Beach.
Maybe next year?

Summer 2015 in Leucadia Begins

Sign posted in Leucadia

Dear David, you are a bad person. Just give the lost phone back.

Summer Fun on the 101 Sat June 27th 2015

more info: summerfunonthe101.com

Really Thomas K Arnold?

TKA is a strange fearful man. 

This Carlsbad resident is always ready with am radio style attacks on the city of Encinitas. 

In his latest column for the Seaside Courier (yes, that still exist) TKA uses random crime episodes that occurred in other north county cities to attack the Encinitas city council for not hiring more sheriff deputies. He then rants how governments primary mission is public safety. 

The very same issue of the Seaside Courier has a story about the new approved city of Encinitas budget which includes new lifeguards and new fire fighter hires. You know, PUBLIC SAFETY.

Real residents of Encinitas know that our local sheriffs meander around town bored most of the time, looking for tickets to write or the occasional mentally ill person to gun down, while the lifeguards are overwhelmed as our beaches surge in popularity. 

Lesson: don't write an op-ed piece scathing about public safety, when the topic you are writing about actually increased public safety.

Burning Question:

*How many sheriff deputies is appropriate for a town with a mostly upper middle class population of 63,000 ?

www.seasidecourier.com

Really Stupid Spy "NOLEU" Billboard

NO LEU ??? Seriously???

Dear SPY,
Please stop embarrassing your town and your customers and yourselves.
Sponsoring local events and schools don't give you carte blanche to act like douchebags. 
The coast highway is traveled by thousands and thousands of people from all walks of life, not just your stupid demographic.
Keep it classy bros. 

Hwy 101 Loading Zone

Check out these three semi trucks parked on the north coast highway of Leucadia unloading junk. Gosh!

Summer Fun Time!

YMCA Damage Control

The YMCA has been in the news lately.
Here is a kinda sad attempt at damage control that they haven't violated their mission statement.

Leucadia Flea Market

Encinitas Union School District to spend $189,000 on Creepy iPad facial recognition software

Remember when you were a kid and you would forget your locker combination at Oak Crest Jr High and the janitor would have to help you?

Well, now it's the 21st century, these days our kids are using iPads at school and at home.

My kids (age 5 and 7) use iPads at both home and school and they both know their 4 digit code to unlock them.

Read this astonishing story in the SDUT by Pat Maio

Parents up in arms over facial recognition software

excerpt:

The software — which uses biometric technology — scans the face of a student every 60 seconds, and automatically logs him or her into multiple programs. Officials say the technology could make iPad use easier for elementary school students who can’t remember passwords and would keep others from using the devices should they be stolen.

and,

Biometrics technology analyzes human body characteristics such as fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, voice patterns, facial patterns, and hand measurements, for authentication purposes.

In March, the Encinitas district inked a $189,000 contract with Utah-based Virtual Keyring LLC to implement the program. District officials aren’t providing details on what it will involve, other than to say that it’s in a “proof of concept” phase, according to an email provided to the Union-Tribune by David Delacalazada, the district’s director of information technology.

Myself, I try not to be fearful and reactionary to new technology. I also avoid conspiracy freak outs that are so common on Facebook these days. 

 But, this one doesn't feel right. It's too much money just to be a lost password prevention. It's too weird. It feels like our kids are lab rats to Virtual Keyring LLC.

 One thing that bothers me, our local schools constantly hammer us for donations. Our schools are in non-stop fundraising mode, the pressure on parents and local businesses is relentless all year long. "Donate now are we lose the music and garden programs!" we hear constantly.

Now, we got a $189k program that scans our children's faces?

My new iPhone already uses biometric thumb print software, and it works great, and it's included with the phone!

Hey, there is a video to watch: From the article:

“From a security point of view, biometrics prevents misappropriation of technology on the iPads in the homes of students, and ensures that mom doesn’t use it for work, or dad or older brother watch porn or play video games,” said Kephart, a former counsel for the 9/11 Commission that looked into the circumstances surrounding the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks

Wait, our school district needs a $189,000 contract so mom doesn't use the school iPad for work and dad doesn't use it for porn???
Do we have evidence of all these hardworking moms and kinky dads using their kid's school iPads???

Dear Superintendent Tim Baird and Virtual Keyring President, Rod Garlick,

Stop being weird and creepy. Explain yourselves thoroughly or quit now.   
In fact, just quit. 

Check out Virtual Keyring's website, it's full of creepy!
www.virtualkeyring.com

No more Moms drinking white wine in Encinitas parks?

This is bad, mmmmmkay

FULL copy and paste from the Coast News story by Aaron Burgin: 

 ENCINITAS — Alcohol could be banned at all Encinitas Parks in the near future, as the City Council will consider drafting a ban at Wednesday’s Council meeting.

Staff is recommending the city prohibit beer and wine except for permits for moderate or large-scale events. If the council votes in favor of the recommendation, the city manager could return with code for the council’s consideration in a few weeks.

Currently, Encinitas prohibits beer and wine at four of the city’s 19 parks — Viewpoint, Glen Park, Ecke Sports Park and Cardiff-by-the-Sea Sports Park — public city beaches and beach overlooks unless they have a permit. Hard liquor is prohibited at all locations.

According to a city staff report, staff revisited its current code in the wake of the opening of the Encinitas Community Park, which is not specifically mentioned in the current ordinance.

City parks staff said they have received special-event permit requests to hold events at the park that would include alcohol sales.

City staff researched the ordinances of 11 other cities and found that 10 of them banned alcohol at all parks except if a party applied for a special events permit. The eleventh city banned alcohol outright.

Leucadia Blog reaction:

Soooooooo, in a city where the hot button issue has been drinking and partying along the now trending coast highway Encinitas district, the city is considering banning alcohol in our parks. That means all the cute yoga moms of Encinitas can no longer drink box white wine at their little kid's birthday parties.

No more mimosas in red cups!

The message from the city: drinking in parks is bad unless we are selling the drinks to you (the street fair, Art Walk, Taste of restaurant tours, Summer Fun, etc).  

Don't worry though, creepy dudes will still shoot heroin in the parks at night.

What a town!

L101 Annual Meeting TONIGHT

Leucadia 101 Main Street Annual Meeting on May 19th from 6:00-7:30 pm in the Poinsettia Room of Encinitas City Hall (505 S. Vulcan Ave).

L101 invites you to meet their volunteer Board of Directors, learn about programs and activities in Leucadia and find out about new and existing businesses. This meeting will include a 2014 year-end Leucadia 101 Main Street program review, membership information, community partnership awards and our Main Street goals for 2015. The evening will conclude with a presentation from Senior Engineer Ed Dean and Project Manager, Christy Villa regarding the status of the N. Coast Hwy 101 Streetscape project. We will leave time for questions and answers at the end. 

This event is open to the public and all are invited to attend.  Come get involved in your community! 

Hope to see you there, for more information call (760) 436-2320 or visit www.Leucadia101.com

Curiosity Nearly Kills DJ Mancat

Surely, plenty of Leucadia residents heard the Carlsbad police chopper looking for a "Felony suspect wearing a white shirt and backwards cap" yesterday. Since I couldn't find this incident in the police blotter today, I decided to repost my friend and neighbor's first hand account of the police chase. 

Meet Beau Doiron, aka DJ ManCat. Many of the reasonable questions you might have after reading his strange account can be explained by two mitigating factors: 1) Beau is part cat. This makes him overly curious in dangerous scenarios. He survives through his preternatural agility and those extra "9 lives" that protect him like a warm Teflon onesie. 2) Beau is new to Leucadia. Years of living in Solana Beach have insulated him from the harsh realities lurking west of the 101 in Leucadia where life is, as Thomas Hobbes once put it, "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short."

Take it away, Beau...   

"I heard a helicopter circling above my home in Leucadia. I could faintly hear a voice from the chopper that was clear as a Good Burger drive thru intercom. As I headed outside to get a better listen to what until now sounded like "a #4 with a liter of cola" being ordered, it was clear to me what was being announced on repeat.
"FELONY SUSPECT ON FOOT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WEARING WHITE SHIRT AND BACKWARDS CAP."

I gave myself the once over and observed that I was wearing a white t-shirt. But I left the house anyways. (People of color, please don't try this at home if you are in this situation).

I meandered out to the street and saw that it was blocked off with a police cruiser. I locked eyes with the cop and kinda did that thing tourists do when they are in a new city. My eyes quickly darted up at the trees and then gazed up & down my street as if to say to the cop "well, the suspect isn't in these trees or on this particular street. Also, I am not the suspect." I looked over again to make sure he was not charging at me and realized I should have just changed my shirt.

I started to head back to my place and heard a crackle behind the dumpster. The gears started shifting and I realized that behind my apartment was an open storage space of sorts. In fact, if I were in a neighborhood game of hide and seek...this would be my spot.
I approached slowly, and headed behind the dumpster and towards the "backyard" of the complex. As I peaked my head around, I saw a young man sitting down on his cell phone.
His eyes caught mine and he gave me a friendly wave. I waived back and was caught off guard by his friendliness. Was this one of my neighbors just chillin' behind the complex talking on his cell phone shirtless?
The ghetto bird had been squawking for the last 10 minutes with his description so that anyone with a bird brain would have taken off said hat and t shirt by meow.

He ended his phone call and I approached. As I got closer I could see the panic in his eyes. He started pleading (very loudly I might add) for me to take him in for refuge. His friends were on the way to pick him up and he just needed a place to hang out for a bit. As my eyes widened, he realized the weight of his request. His shoulders shrugged and his voice cracked "I'm not a bad person, I got caught with some weed...well a lot of weed. I was with my girlfriend, please just help me. I have money, I have $600 in my pocket please, please just help me."

The next 3 seconds I stood silent and had an inner monologue in my head that went something like this:

The whole wheat side needs to turn this guy in.
The frosted side of me wants to help.
Our lives are based on these split second decisions. We all try to be good people, but sometimes we make a bad decision thinking we are helping someone. The money was worthless to me. It woud be like risking a DUI that costs $20,000 because you didn't want to spend $17 on a taxi. But the compassion I felt for this human pleading gave me quite the inner struggle. As much as I wanted to help, I couldn't risk my own well being. I had a 2 year old cat at home and an aloe vera plant that has seen better days.

I told him to just hold on a second as I started backing away. His body language shifted and now he was thinking I was going to give off a scream to rival an angry goat to alert the near by police of his presence. He stood up.

As I took a step back, he took a step forward.
I plead with him to just stay put and the gravity of this situation started to sink in. As much as I would have liked to think he didn't have a gun, did they really have a chopper out and roads closed over some weed?

I let him know that cops were everywhere and on the street next to us. He kept matching my steps. We were getting further out into plain view.

I stop. He stops.
I told him, I don't know what I can do to help you but if you follow me out in front of the complex they will see you. I took a couple more steps back until I was now by the dumpster where I had the great idea to go investigate what the crackle was.

At this point I looked up the street and saw a police officer in full body gear and gun in hand walking down towards us. Since there were trees in between us, both the cop and the kid could see me but they could not see each other.
I now encountered a most awkward moment. A cop looking at me charging down the street with a gun in his hand and the suspect looking at me like a lost puppy dog.

As a puppy dog would, he started coming closer to me and all I could do was give him a look of sit, ubu, sit.
I was in clear view of the cop whose eye line was just about to see a shirt-less human puppy that I had just inadvertently pulled out of hiding.

I knew he was seconds away from being spotted when I heard,
"PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR, GET DOWN ON THE GROUND NOW!"

As the cops gun was drawn and pointed at the young man, I turned away in what could only be described as an awkward and confused Keyser Söze walk. Another cop pulled out his weapon from the other end of the street and unfortunately, from my angle, I was getting caught in the cross hairs between him and the young man.

I backpedaled my feet until I was 10 yards away where I was greeted by my neighbors who were now coming out of their respective apartments.
They asked "what happened?!!" Not really sure how to articulate what just went down, I gave them a shrug like Michael Jordan did vs. Portland in the '92 finals and sat back with them to watch the rest of the the arrest.

No cops harmed, suspect was detained and I learned that with enough fear in me, I can moonwalk.

Moral of the story: if you hear a chopper outside, lock your door and stay inside."

Additional moral to the story: sometimes the paddy wagons leave behind souvenirs.

We here at the Leucadia Blog are sure glad they didn't sic the K-9's.

Stay safe Leucadia!!!

You totally can't cross the train tracks in Leucadia Bro

You can't do this. NO NO NO

San Clemente has two pedestrian only crossings.

READ the Encinitas Advocate story: Citations on rise for pedestrians crossing tracks illegally in Encinitas

*this post has been updated with photos on 5-19-15

Leucadia Parking Job Award Winner

I read on the Internet that Roundabouts are super confusing and difficult and will destroy Leucadia

Leucadia Streetscape that will never happen is scheduled for year 2018 (but won't happen) : Encinitas Advocate

Active Landslide Area!! Use at Your Own Risk!!!

A Leucadia skater bombs the Beacon's trail while the City and the California Coastal Commission argue over how to stabilize it.

Creative Beach Parking

Ca$h Mob and Silent Auction @ the Duck

Tonight on Wednesday April 1st at 7 PM Ruthless Hippies & Bfd Shows are hosting a “cash mob” and silent auction at Ducky Waddle’s Emporium (414 N Coast hwy 101).

The idea is to fill the store with as much business as possible in one evening. The Duck, like most brick and mortar book stores these days, is struggling to keep its doors open.

In the face of lean economic times, owner Jerry Waddle’s space has become more vital to the local artistic community than ever. He has recently hosted art shows, poetry events, mini-music festivals, flea markets, all ages rock concerts, book signings, lectures, writing work shops and seminars.

In addition to the amazing wealth of books, art and cultural artifacts always on sale at the Duck, there will be a silent auction with pieces donated by some insanely talented artists who live locally and are known globally. Bid on pieces by Scrojo, Ale Garza, Scott Saw, Vanessa Lemen, Jim Babwe and more! In the theme of April Fools, Scrojo’s piece will be a “faux original” Leonardo DaVinci and Jim Babwe has donated a “faux original” Thomas Kinkade.

The auction will stay open into the following evening when Joyce Rooks performs an intimate concert as part of Taste of Leucadia (April 2nd) starting at 5:30 PM. See more info on Taste of Leucadia right here!

So come meet your fellow Duck Patrons. Enjoy music by DJ Mancat. Buy something nice and take the opportunity to bid on some great pieces of art.

The Duck also accepts donations of used books, records, art, tapes & DVD’s and will purchase or do consignment on certain valuable items.

Please invite your friends on this Facebook event page!

Also keep an eye out for an upcoming Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for Ducky Waddle’s to sustain this space that truly keeps Leucadia funky!

Spock Block

March 26 (Nimoy's birthday) to April 1, the area between Vulcan Avenue and Cornish Drive and between D and E streets will temporarily be called Spock Block.

um...Jasper St & HWY101 might need a pedestrian crossing...