On April 11, at a special meeting, originally designated as a closed session, Muir made a motion that the image in tribute to Maggie Houlihan, which had been covered, on the back of the Arts Alive Banners, could be displayed, and that Encinitas sign code should be reviewed and reevaluated. Stocks seconded that motion, making an ILLEGAL condition that current sign law would be effectively suspended pending revision of Encinitas Municipal Code with respect to signs in the public right of way. When law is being updated, current law should remain in effect. To suspend EMC mandates two readings, just as is required for any new or revised ordinance. Encinitas City Attorney Glenn Sabine didn’t address this impropriety at the April 11 meeting, nor did his partner, Randal Morrison, who was paid to give the August 22 sign law report.

Timing was vital on August 22, as the Leucaida Artwalk was scheduled four days later, on Sunday. Art supporters were unable to display banners for that event. Although a representative from DEMA and Danny Salzhandler, for the Artists Colony, spoke on behalf of lifting the ban, no one from Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Association, recent “sponsor” of Artwalk, spoke supporting installation of these distinctive Leucadia banners!

This lack of support by the Leucadia 101 Merchants Association has something to do with the fact that the association is heavily subsidized through the City, directly, and through funds received through the Sunday Farmers Markets, as arranged by Peder Norby. The Lecuadia 101 Merchants seem reluctant to “bite the hand that fees them.” Only about 7% of their income is derived through membership dues, according to their financials, which can be accessed, as they are a non-profit.

It’s a shame that the ban on banners could not be immediately lifted, and that the sponsor of the artwalk for the last couple of years, didn’t think it was important enough to come to the August 22 Council Meeting to advocate for the artists, and ALL of our freedom of speech.