The Coast News Group
Community Commentary

It’s a matter of trust — Vote yes on A

For me Prop A is simple. Voting yes gives Encinitas citizens the right to vote on land use changes and holds the city council accountable. These are good things. 

By opposing Prop A, the Encinitas City Council has shown it doesn’t trust citizens with the right to vote. Today council members are on mailers that appear to me funded by parties standing to profit by controlling land use.

The facts are, the council sided with the building industry to keep power out of the hands of the people and in the hands of special interests. Their vision is to up-zone commercial properties for residential use, give away local control and allow four to five stories throughout the city. If the council doesn’t trust you, should you trust them? History says no.

Consider having to trust in the incestuous relationships between elected officials and developers in our small town. In 2010 a mayor failed to disclose discounts and a $100,000 loan from people with land use issues and pled guilty to the district attorney. In 2012, a mayor that received 60 percent of his campaign contributions from developers was caught on video violating city election ordinances. If we couldn’t trust yesterday’s mayor how can we trust tomorrow’s?

In March the Council overturned the rulings of the Planning Commission and sided with the developer to increase densities in Olivenhain that residents say threaten safety. Ask these residents if they trust City Council — they filed a suit to protect themselves.

Should we ignore the relationship between Councilmember Kristin Gaspar’s husband and developer David Meyer? The two were involved with a group that sent mailers out during the last election period that favorably profiled pro-development candidates. Should insiders have power at City Hall when you don’t?

Then there is the issue of pensions and the question: If the city is sacrificing our small town character and quality of life to pay for pension debt?

We should question Deputy Mayor Lisa Shaffer’s claims that she wants to limit density. In his editorial, Councilmember Tony Kranz claimed Prop A would impact the 101 specific plan, ignoring that residents were prevented from voting on the 101 plan and failing to mention the up-zoning negatively changed the neighborhood with the proliferation of bars and crime. Do you think these residents wish they had a vote?

And what happened to the promise of transparency at City Hall? Under Mayor Teresa Barth, City Manager Gus Vina signed a contract with an Orange County developer law firm to review the initiative prior to being directed to do so by the Council. Now the special interests the Council has sided with are using the firm’s claims to defeat the right to vote. Just who’s running City Hall?

The Founding Fathers of America wanted the people to control the government. Please join me in voting yes on A and holding the Council accountable. It’s a matter of trust — We the people have earned it, City Hall hasn’t.

Andrew Audet is an Encinitas resident.

 

12 comments

Keep North County Small June 27, 2013 at 4:15 pm

I can care less about the character of both of these morons. What I do care about is keeping the size of North County small, safe and not over developed. Plan an simply Prop A will allow that to happen by allowing the residence to vote on incoming development and not allowing only the few council members to decide the fate of many hard working North County Residents.
p.s. this does not only affect Encinitas, the surrounding beautiful beach communities are affected as well.

Joe June 17, 2013 at 10:02 am

Xavier doesn’t realize he is doing more to get yes on A votes. A bunch of statements in BOLD type about issues not pertaining to Prop A only makes you look like a, well, Jerome Stocks.

Xavier Watson June 16, 2013 at 9:07 pm

Again, nice try changing the topic, but Audet is a lawbreaker — that’s a fact.

So trust who you want, ALL 5 council members who rarely agree on anything or the lawbreaker Audet. The messenger’s credibility does matter and neither Audet, Jim Kydd or his newspaper have any credibility.

The fact remains that Prop A is BAD for Encinitas, so if you know the FACTS, you are already voting No. If you don’t, go to http://www.EncinitasHOPE.com and you’ll also be…Voting No on Prop A.

I Want to Love Encinitas June 16, 2013 at 11:52 pm

Why would anyone go to the so-called HOPE site? Unlike the city website or Encinitas Right to Vote site, they omit the ballot statement arguments they don’t like and list a bunch of supposed supporters whose names they use illegally. No truthful or even useful information may be found there, Xavier Jerome Stocks Watson.

I Want to Love Encinitas June 16, 2013 at 1:02 am

Xavier Jerome Stocks, just the fact that you are No on A has been invaluable to the Yes cause. Your name is such mud, even the No fliers don’t list you as a supporter.

Your comments belie the fact that you have no real arguments with which to counter Audet’s article. His personal filings have nothing to do with how citizens of Encinitas live, but the things he reveals do. Encinitans are very much affected by the shenanigans of the Council and their cronies and he lays out with complete logic why we should neither trust them, nor listen to their push for folks to vote No.

Yes on A, all the way!

Xavier Watson June 15, 2013 at 11:20 pm

Seriously, that’s the best you have. While I have no idea how to verify your claim, it is a fact that Audet/Bonde/Sodomka all broke the law and it wasn’t by being late on a form by a few days which is all your unverified claim could be. Audet, in particular, is the one throwing the “trust” stone, while he is a verified and adjudicated lawbreaker who paid significant fines for his violations. He didn’t miss filing some form by a few days, he was caught not filing forms at all, including defying an order by the California Fair Political Practices Commission to “immediately” file. The record shows he did not file them for 17 months even after the demand to do so and only after he was exposed at a City Council for his wrongdoing after making his usual “trust” speech. Mr. Audet has earned no trust by this community and lacks credibility. If he is voting for A, I’m definitely voting No on Prop A.

MeForWe June 17, 2013 at 10:27 am

Audet paid no fines; what are you talking about, Jerome/Xavier/Andreen?

You sound so well-informed. What was the amount that Audet paid to the FPPC/State in fines?

Yes on Prop A June 15, 2013 at 10:52 am

Flash News: Both groups opposing PROP A were late in their 460s. Are we to trust these groups?
Also the North County Tax Payer for Responsible Government, the group that supported Muir, Stocks, and Forrester for election, did not file a 2,500 contribution report for their help to the No on Prop A campaign.

Tit for tat! Those who leave in glass houses should not throw stones!

Xavier Watson June 14, 2013 at 9:14 pm

So did Audet/Bonde/Sodomka get caught or not breaking campaign laws? Try as you might, they are lawbreakers and not worthy of the public’s trust. This is the plain unadulterated truth and a matter of public record. I can send you the court case if necessary to illuminate things.

Yes on Prop A June 14, 2013 at 9:04 pm

Thank you Andrew! Great read.
Xavier, you sound like a future sore loser. Stay in Oceanside!
Vote Yes on PROP A. Don’t let Xavier/Andreen and his developer cabal get your town down. REALLY Protect Encinitas Now.

Xavier Watson June 14, 2013 at 8:53 pm

Is this the same Andrew Audet that was caught red-handed violating California election laws and paid out over $15,000 in fines for his violations, along with two other law breakers and Prop A supporters, Bob Bonde and Gerald Sodomka? Sorry, but I don’t think that I’ll be listening to and voting with these lawbreakers. I’m voting NO on Prop A as I’d rather trust someone that I get to vote for or against every few years to represent me, rather that than an unelected, unaccountable cabal. Vote No on A.

I Want to Love Encinitas June 17, 2013 at 10:23 am

Nice characterization of the electorate, Jerome. A “cabal”? How about sore loser?? That would be you, Xavier Jerome Stocks Watson.

Comments are closed.