Comments on: Fire Chief Muir appointed to vacant council seat

By: stevemeiche

stevemeiche — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:26:56 +0000

CORRUPTION AT CITY HALL
ENCINITAS CITIZEN PROTEST

City Officials Continue to Commit Ethical Violations and Must Be Held Accountable
Concerned community members to hold a press conference at City Hall
505 S. Vulcan, Encinitas, CA 92024
Wednesday, November 9, at 5 p.m. just before the regular City Council meeting.
Citizens against Corruption, Cronyism and Conflict of Interest.
ENCINITAS- Encinitas citizens will rally against the City Council’s appointment of Mark Muir as council replacement for the late Maggie Houlihan. Group leaders point to instances of political favoritism, cronyism, conflict of interest and ethical policy violations.
The present City Council majority is ignoring over 12,488 constituents of Maggie Houlihan and placing a political crony of Stocks, Bond, and Gaspar on the City Council.
Citizens will protest at City Hall.
Encinitas citizens are in the midst of a revolt against the corruption at City Hall and will protest to let the City Council know that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Evidence shows that Council appointment Mark Muir, acted in complete disregard of City Policies over a 12- year span and misused public time to achieve personal gain.
The Protest will culminate in a press conference at City Hall. Citizens will demand that Muir step down and that the Council appoint another candidate.

By: Ernestodse

Ernestodse — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:55:18 +0000

To: All Encinitas Concerned Citizens
Monday, November 7, 2011
CITY HALL CONTINUES TO IGNORE OUR VOICE
ENCINITAS CITIZENS PROTEST
Encinitas citizens gather to hold elected officials accountable for engaging in blatant cronyism, ignoring conflicts of interest, and condoning politically corrupt practices.
Concerned Encinitas citizens to hold press conference at City Hall
505 S. Vulcan, Encinitas, CA 92024
Wednesday, November 9, 2011, at 5:15 p.m.
before the regular City Council meeting.
On November 9, at 5:55 pm, the Encinitas City Council plans to swear in Mark Muir into the seat formerly occupied by Maggie Houlihan. The decision to appoint Mr. Muir was made by the Council majority —Bond, Stocks, Gaspar— in complete disregard for the concerns and wishes expressed by many of the citizens at the City Council meeting of November 2, 2011.
Earlier, at their September 26 (non-televised) Special Meeting, the Council had viewed an eloquent and hopeful videotape of Maggie Houlihan — taped in her last weeks. Her desire was to seek out someone to step into her shoes, to fulfill the last months of her term of office and to keep true to her campaign promises. She endorsed Lisa Shaffer. As a popular candidate who was the runner-up in the last election, Tony Kranz also had a justifiable claim to the seat. Either Lisa Shaffer or Tony Kranz should have been appointed to serve the remainder of councilperson Houlihan’s term of office. Instead, the majority appointed their employee, their election campaigner and sitting Encinitas Fire Chief, Mr. Muir.
Why was Mark Muir chosen? Could it be because each of the majority members owed him favors? Mr. Muir worked on several of their campaigns in the likely expectation of paybacks. This was not democracy in action, this was political quid pro quo. There is a word for this: Cronyism!
Mr. Muir funneled endorsements and support through Political Action Committees directly linked to him. Muir founded and led both ECHO (Encinitas Coalition of Home Owners) and Golden State Firefighters (GSF) which repeatedly endorsed campaigns of Stocks and Bond and paid for deceiving trash mailers. The International Association of Firefighters described GSF as a “San Diego-based political organization” that circulated “cynical and deceptive” slate mailers. One of these mailers endorsed Stocks and Bond and included a message and picture of the PAC’s leader, “Mark Muir, Fire Division Chief and Chairman of Golden State Firefighters.” He organized and established these PACs while employed by the City and benefitting from promotions culminating in his ascension to the well-paid post of Fire Chief for the City of Encinitas. The term for this is: Conflict of Interest!
Mr. Muir’s political activity of more than a decade was also a direct violation of City Policy. Egregiously, he campaigned using his city email address from the City Hall during normal business hours. This is a clear violation of City policy and common standards of ethics.
This was brought to the attention of the Council prior to the appointment. The Council majority proceeded with the appointment without asking Muir to confirm or deny the allegations. The accurate characterization of this conduct is: Corruption!
Mr. Muir’s new council vote delivers a 4-to-1 super-majority, and the pro-development majority can rest easy knowing that their developer-funded plans for Encinitas can avoid public vote. Our current General Plan requires “voter approval” for increases in zoning density unless the Council approves the change by a vote of 4 or more. With Mr. Muir’s vote replacing Maggie Houlihan’s, this 4-to-1 majority is all but assured.
The negative impacts on our community character and vision for Encinitas are numerous. Among these, we count:
• A super-majority will enable the Council to approve rezoning and up-zoning without voter approval (for example, reconsidering and approving the conversion of the Ecke property from agricultural-zoned —“in perpetuity”— to residential-zoned land).
• A super-majority would be able to push through the replacement of our well-written, original General Plan and approve the controversial redevelopment of the El Camino Real corridor without a vote of the residents. The proposed plan extends from the recently City-approved Walmart in the north to Encinitas Blvd in the south. Current proposals would allow four-story or higher multi-use buildings, causing increased traffic congestion, crowding, and a decrease in neighboring New Encinitas residential property values.
• A super-majority would allow immediate obliteration of sunsets by 90-foot tall field-lights for neighbors of the Hall Sports Park (aka Hall “Community” Park)
• A super-majority would effectively enable the Council to approve spot up-zoning of any parcel, irrespective of neighbors’ concerns, whenever a deep-pocket developer asks for it.
Mr. Muir’s appointment means that the 12,488 voters who elected Maggie Houlihan in 2008 will no longer be adequately represented on the Council. A chance to vote again in November 2012 is upcoming, but unless we show the council majority that we do not believe this appointment is fair, democratic, and morally supportable, they will be emboldened to further abuse our rights and continue to marginalize our participation in the democratic process. Don’t let them ignore you.
Please come to protest the swearing-in of Mark Muir on Nov 9.
Attend the public protest and press conference in front of City Hall at 5:15 pm, before the Council meeting, and attend the protest during the Council meeting thereafter, at 5:55 pm.
Don’t let them ignore you!

By: Freeta

Freeta — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:48:19 +0000

Mr. Muir’s new council vote delivers a 4-to-1 super-majority, and the pro-development majority can rest easy knowing that their developer-funded plans for Encinitas can avoid public vote. Our current General Plan requires “voter approval” for increases in zoning density unless the Council approves the change by a vote of 4 or more. With Mr. Muir’s vote replacing Maggie Houlihan’s, this 4-to-1 majority is all but assured.
The negative impacts on our community character and vision for Encinitas are numerous. Among these, we count:
• A super-majority will enable the Council to approve rezoning and up-zoning without voter approval (for example, reconsidering and approving the conversion of the Ecke property from agricultural-zoned —“in perpetuity”— to residential-zoned land).
• A super-majority would be able to push through the replacement of our well-written, original General Plan and approve the controversial redevelopment of the El Camino Real corridor without a vote of the residents. The proposed plan extends from the recently City-approved Walmart in the north to Encinitas Blvd in the south. Current proposals would allow four-story or higher multi-use buildings, causing increased traffic congestion, crowding, and a decrease in neighboring New Encinitas residential property values.
• A super-majority would allow immediate obliteration of sunsets by 90-foot tall field-lights for neighbors of the Hall Sports Park (aka Hall “Community” Park)
• A super-majority would effectively enable the Council to approve spot up-zoning of any parcel, irrespective of neighbors’ concerns, whenever a deep-pocket developer asks for it.
Mr. Muir’s appointment means that the 12,488 voters who elected Maggie Houlihan in 2008 will no longer be adequately represented on the Council. A chance to vote again in November 2012 is upcoming, but unless we show the council majority that we do not believe this appointment is fair, democratic, and morally supportable, they will be emboldened to further abuse our rights and continue to marginalize our participation in the democratic process. Don’t let them ignore you.
Please come to protest the swearing-in of Mark Muir on Nov 9.
Attend the public protest and press conference in front of City Hall at 5:15 pm, before the Council meeting, and attend the protest during the Council meeting thereafter, at 5:55 pm.
Don’t let them ignore you!

By: encinitasyouneedus

encinitasyouneedus — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 01:38:35 +0000

Last year’s Mayor Selection = http://www.youtube.com/user/encinitasyouneedus
Also included Kristin Gaspar’s 1st action as a councilwoman ignoring collaboration or consensus in favor of majority’s rule. (Consensus – Ur Doin It Wrong)

By: encinitasyouneedus

encinitasyouneedus — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:55:49 +0000

There is absolutely something we can do right now. We have just a few weeks to rouse our friends and neighbors to protest for our Mayor in Exile Teresa Barth. The Mayor position in Encinitas is a powerfully important position, despite the ton of lies, myths and misinformation Stocks, Bond, Gaspar claim. The Mayor has tremendous control over the agenda, assigning board positions, regular meeting with council commissions, other city mayors, regional and state organizations. The City Manager and staff work closely with the mayor.
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 year’s mayor appointment voices. http://www.youtube.com/user/encinitasyouneedus?feature=mhum#p/u/41/TpnJDtyYU9E
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, December 13, 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. Let’s fill all the public seating at these next 3 meetings.
Don’t ever count the people out. Screw us – We reproduce.

By: Lady Bella

Lady Bella — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 17:52:00 +0000

Kristin has tried to justify her vote on the Eninitas Patch comments by posting a handpicked voting record. This voting record is not relevant in the least to what she and Stocks and Bond did by appointing Muir to a council seat that had been occupied by Maggie, who was voted in with the most votes, even more than Kristin received in more contested campaigns, because of her integrity and position on the issues. Maggie left us with no ambiguity as to who she wanted to fulfill her oath of office and push her agenda. Stocks, Bond and Gaspar took no time in crushing Maggie’s last wish, panting and drooling to the dias to appoint a bought and paid for crony while chastizing the people who came to participate. Of all the morally repugnate actions the majority has taken over the past 10 years, this has to be the lowest. I have lost all respect for Gaspar now, Stocks and Bond I lost respect for 8 years ago.

By: TheWayItIs

TheWayItIs — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:14:45 +0000

This illegal appointment represents everything that is wrong in Encinitas City Council. Obviously, Gaspar, Bond and Stocks appear to have violated the Brown Act since they had an agreement that they would select the same person. The appointment of a former campaign manager and current fire chief gives a strong impression of quid pro quo, and is unacceptable even by the City’s own policies.

This Council (except Barth) flagrantly breaks its own rules and State and Federal Laws, yet they strike out against citizen participants who want to be involved in government by contributing to discussions out of a love for this City. These citizens are rewarded by insults from Jerome Stocks and Jim Bond, and attorney Glenn Sabine, who has his own set of ethics issues and failures in performance.

The men on the Council were always insulting towards Maggie Houlihan and Teresa Barth, who were and are heads and shoulders above Bond and Stocks in terms of intellect and the respect that they have earned from Encinitas citizens. These people in charge only want to keep control because of numerous financial rewards from their various special interests, which up to this point, have been able to buy them elections.

By: Conflict2

Conflict2 — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 05:40:03 +0000

Speaking of conflict of interest, why doesn’t someone do something about the Encinitas City Attorney who lives with Financial Director Jennifer Smith, who in in charge of vendor contracts like for legal services, for example? One comfort was that with all of the hinting at inappropriate behavior, Glenn was silent at last night’s meeting. Why don’t 1 or both leave their 6-figure jobs if it is really love, so that Encinitas can have people work their based on qualifications?

By: YESSS!

YESSS! — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 05:09:22 +0000

GO WEHTAHNAH!!!!

By: Wehtahnah Tucker

Wehtahnah Tucker — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:03:09 +0000

@ Calling Potsblack: This reporter DID identify both Ehlers and Meiche accurately. This reporter does not have the capacity to "omit" "facts" that are unknown or are in reality not facts at all. Alleging that Meiche "blames" Muir for something is editorializing rather than reporting. I suggest you stick to your job and this reporter will stick to hers. Should you have constructive criticism in the future, please forward it to the Editor.