Our family has lived in this community long before it was officially named Encinitas. Unfortunately, we’ve seen our local political discourse become increasingly strident and combative, which might explain the recent derogatory letter about mayoral candidate Rimga Viskanta.
The letter writers are neither city attorneys nor state housing representatives, yet they pass along questionable suppositions and unfounded claims.
Isn’t it time for a fresh approach to city governance, rather than just continuing to fight the state and blaming previous council members for whatever makes you unhappy?
Candidate Viskanta is a proven civic leader who has delivered positive change for our school districts as president of both the SDUHSD and EUSD boards of trustees.
As we all remember, before she became president of the SDUHSD board, the district had cycled through six superintendents in seven years; meetings were unruly and fractious; personnel were disrespected and unappreciated.
Today, school board meetings are productive and courteous, with a record of accomplished goals and an emphasis on fiscal responsibility — something our current City Council could learn from.
Which brings up the question of “local control,” a campaign promise that proved illusory. Current Mayor Bruce Ehlers, Councilmember Luke Shaffer and Deputy Mayor Jim O’Hara sold constituents a platform of “local control.”
After two years, what have we learned about local control? Where is the plan, and how do they intend to implement it? This council has approved every new massive “stack and pack” development that has come before it. (Note: City councils don’t halt Planning Commission-approved housing projects.)
Many of us also remember Mayor Ehlers’ battle against the state several years ago, when he was on the Planning Commission. The city lost that housing fight and spent more than $3 million on the lawsuit. Today, he plans to confront the state about the Santa Fe Drive project. The state gave our city more than $3 million in grant money to rework Santa Fe Drive with bike lanes, etc.
If the mayor and council decide to tear it all apart, the state will likely demand that Encinitas refund the grant money.
When choosing a new mayor, let’s look for someone with a record of civic success, fiscal responsibility and competency, not someone who looks for lawsuits.
Nancy Hardwick
Encinitas
