DOGS!

nctimes.com: ENCINITAS: Off-leash dog hours debated before commissioners

"We feel we have lost our park to the dogs," said Cathy Andrews, who also lives in Quail Gardens. "It is perceived as a dog park, and once the dogs started coming there, we were outnumbered."

Tim Baird spoke in favor of extending off leash hours to Hawk View Park.
"I believe the city should use the criteria it has already used (when it originally decided to allow off-leash hours at some parks). Is there something unique to this park? No. Quail Gardens is on a big street and has parking. The design of the park separates the dogs from the playground and the lawn is under-utilized for sports ... These are the criteria that should be used to determine whether a neighborhood park should be used, not on who brings the largest pitch forks and yells the loudest."

*blogger's note-Did Tim just move here or something? Don't mock our large pitch forks, it's an Encinitas tradition.

The City Council is scheduled to consider Wednesday whether to expand off-leash hours from 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 8 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at Orpheus, Sun Vista and Viewpoint Parks.

An unholy alliance forged in Encinitas

Another op-ed about the most boring issue Encinitas has ever faced, the Chamber of Commerce drama.

nctimes.com: BATRA: Reps not doing the right thing

What's even more puzzling is Maggie Houlihan, who requested an independent third party audit from the chamber, chose to pay them even though they failed to provide the required audit, and maintain a commercial insurance policy indemnifying the city, as required by their contract. What compelled her to continue paying a vendor that failed to meet basic obligations it was contracted to meet?

See also Leucadia Blog: Kydd Wants Bailout for Encinitas Chamber of Commerce

Read past blog post about the chamber, click here

Local dogs to be unleashed?

nctimes.com: ENCINITAS: Dog politics to dominate City Hall meetings next week

Excerpts:

On Tuesday, the city's Parks and Recreation Commission will consider whether to allow off-leash dogs at Hawk View Park on Heron Avenue and Glen Park on Orinda Drive.
That meeting, which begins at 4 p.m. at City Hall, is expected to become intense because homeowners near the two parks are divided over the issue, residents and city officials said Friday.

If the commission decides to support off-leash hours at the two parks, it will probably recommend that the hours be identical to what exists at the three city parks where off-leash dogs currently are allowed, Commissioner Doug Long said Friday.
Those three parks --- Orpheus Park in Leucadia, Sun Vista Park in Olivenhain and Viewpoint Park on D Street near City Hall ---- now allow dogs to run leash-free from 6 to 7:30 a.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
However, those off-leash hours may change.

On Wednesday, the City Council will consider whether to expand them and allow off-leash dogs from 6 to 9 a.m. and from 3 to 8 p.m. on those days as well as on Sundays.
Debate over whether to give dogs more freedom in city parks jumped into the public spotlight last summer when sheriff's deputies ticketed 18 people with off-leash dogs at Viewpoint, Orpheus and Hawk View parks. The tickets were issued about a half hour after the nighttime off-leash hours ended at Viewpoint and Orpheus parks.
People who got the $445 tickets, as well as other off-leash dog supporters, have lobbied fiercely since to get the city to increase its off-leash periods. The city's mayor said Friday that she believes the new expanded-hours proposal meets those requests.

Blogger's note-
People in Encinitas are very passionate about their dogs. There are many pet stores and veterinarians located in Encinitas that are major contributors to our local economy.

Titan, 2nd place Howl 'O Ween costume contest winner 2009.

"Biggest thing ever" in Oceanside today

The proposed Swamis 2010 ASP (Associated Surfing Professionals) women's longboard surf contest has been described as "the biggest thing to ever come to Encinitas". This weekend the ASP is holding a men's and women's longboard contest at Oceanside Pier. The finals start Sunday morning at 8 am. It is without a doubt, the biggest thing to ever happen to Oceanside.

Follow the action on the PLA website (Professional Longboard Association) click here. Or visit in person and gasp at the large crowds that these longboard surf contest draw. The absolute hugeness of it all may blow your mind.

Hidden camera footage of a Encinitas city council backroom deal

Genuine Traditions

Dan D. changed the "Holiday" Parade back to the "Christmas" Parade because of local tradition. No contests at Swami's is also a local tradition and should be respected.

N. Glasgow

See Also:
Dalager on Breaking Tradition
Dalager on Tradition

Parks and Rec: Sister City

Artist by Artist

more info click here

Swamis Not Reservable

Swamis systematically being shut off

In this photo: lobster boat and a diverse crowd of surfers. Soon there will be no boat and only 4 people in the water surfing for points and money. Yay!
Map via the North County Times website.
Lobster fisherman are being banned from the Swamis kelp forest. For now you can still spear white seabass. Soon the waves at Swamis will be controlled by private interest groups half the year. What is happening to Swamis???
Read the nctimes.com story: TASK FORCE RECOMMENDS CLOSING KELP BEDS

Nov 30th-An Evening to Benefit the Employees of Calypso

At the Belly Up in Solana Beach! More details here.

Jerome Stocks throws the best internet hissy fit in forever

Encinitas former mayor and current city councilman Jerome Stocks is one of the bloggers over at SD Rostra. His latest post is a classic hissy fit of epic proportions. He completely wigs out over a mailer he received from The Young Republicans asking for money for their Christmas party, which was signed by Joe Sheffo who ran for Encinitas city council against Stocks in 2008. *whew*

Read Jerome's blog post, GO POUND SAND

SD Rostra then let Joe Sheffo respond with this tightly written post, SHEFFO RESPONDS TO STOCKS

Surprised

This email from Linda Benson has been circulating all day. It addresses the rumor that she had decided to do the right thing and stop pursuing the controversial Swamis contest:

Dear All,

I've just been contacted by Tanya Mannes the Union Tribune writer of yesterday's article on the contest. She wanted to confirm if I had, indeed, decided to not go forward with the event. I was surprised. In the comment section, Gary Baum's communication to the Club membership was quoted stating that due to the split in the community over the contest, I had decided to withdraw.

What I agreed to last night talking to Gary was that it was probably in the best interest of the Club for Dan Dalager and I not to attend Tuesday evening. The Club is not a public forum and the opposition was rallying people to attend. The City Council is the place for such a public forum. I stated last night that I had not yet made any decision about the event.

Gary and I have just spoken and he will clarify to the members that a decision has not been made to withdraw from pursuing the event. He had a different impression of our conversation.

I just wanted you to know that I haven't made a decision about the event. If I do, I certainly will let people know in my own way.

Linda

Dan had been quoted as saying people shouldn’t mount opposition to a project “before they have any idea what the facts are.”

What facts are we missing? We won't know if Dan and Linda do not show up to tell us.

This meeting would have been the perfect time to explain to the opposition what it is they misunderstand. Now, the opposition will only grow as it is looking like Linda does not want to publicly address questions about this contest. Dan certainly knows that a council meeting will be a place where Linda will not have to answer questions from the public. Dan and Linda should reconsider.

Send Dan an email at ddalager@ci.encinitas.ca.usand ask him to fill you in on the important facts to consider.

Dalager to address small tribe Tues 7pm

SWAMIS MEETING - Regarding the Proposed Contest At Swamis - This Tuesday Night (tomorrow) Nov 10th 7pm above Pillbox. Solana Beach Rec Center. Encinitas city councilman Dan Dalager and contest organizer Linda Benson will be there to pitch their case for the privatization of a public resource to the Swamis Surfing Association.

“We’re talking about public resources,” Dalager said. “Are we going to have a system of law, or are we going to have little local tribes that decide what everybody can do?”

Leucadia Blog: Holy Moly

Holy Moly

Dalager was quoted in the UT about the Swamis contest.

“We’re talking about public resources,” Dalager said. “Are we going to have a system of law, or are we going to have little local tribes that decide what everybody can do?”

Dan is the guy who condones subversion of the law, backroom deals, and enjoys doing favors at city hall for his bros. Dan has endorsed the idea of commanding his sheriffs to not enforce laws that he personally doesn't like. He has told friends of mine how to violate building codes and not get caught. General plan laws and municipal code laws don't apply to Danny's tribe of supporters. Public records laws and open government laws are something for him to literally laugh about.

Recommendation for Dan
Instead of doing personal favors for your bros, correct/set up city policies to the benefit of everyone.

Dan has done favors for my friends when they ran into issues at city hall. Instead of fixing the structural problem so the rest of us wouldn't have to deal with the same crap, Dan provides personal favors. Expectations come with the favors.

Side Notes on the Contest
If the city wants 1, 2, 3 + contests at Swamis the city should make that as a policy decision and then the city should take competitive proposals for the contest slots.

I consider Linda a budding Dalager bro. She supported Dalager in his last election and never answered questions about why she was supporting him or her interest in being involved. Both Linda and I (a former Dalager supporter) are partially responsible for the current way in which issues are handled at city hall.

See Also:
No Word from Dalager
It is all on Dalager Now
Dalager, Developers, and Campaign Supporters

LKP CRC Food Drive

Leucadia Kids for Peace

Sponsors a

Non Perishable Food Drive

Benefitting the

Community Resource Center (CRC) in Encinitas

Saturday, November 21 from 2:00 – 4:00

Moonlight Beach Park
Encinitas

Please bring non perishable food items to the park on this date! The Leucadia Kids for Peace group will transport the items to the CRC. The CRC is open that afternoon and awaiting our delivery. Let’s help them stock their pantry for the holidays! Here is a list of ‘High Needs Items’.

CLICK FOR MORE INFO

For sale to the highest bidder

Beautiful point break for rent. Have the waves all to yourself and your gang. Cash prizes and t-shirts too!

See Also: Online discussion with Linda and Cori, the contest promoters.

Encinitas Subculture

The youtube video with over 28,000 views has been removed due to fear.

Strange headline concerning Encinitas...somehow

It reads, Encinitas man not picked for role as next "Bachelor"

It did not know that not getting picked for something was news. Gosh!

Sweep it under the rug

Read the Tanya Mannes story on SignOnSanDiego: Chamber to be repaid for Visitors Center work

Excerpts:

The City Council voted 3-2 on Monday, with Councilman Jerome Stocks and Councilwoman Teresa Barth dissenting, to pay the chamber what was owed.

Stocks dissented because he didn't think a subcommittee was needed. He also said the chamber should stop relying on city funding and that it should be an independent business advocacy group.

Barth said she voted no because she wanted the subcommittee to investigate the claims of wrongdoing in the financial review. “It bothers me a lot that we're just going to try to sweep this under the rug,” she said.

Stray observations:

Another bad vote from the people's mayor, Maggie Houlihan.
Why can't the Visitor's Center be moved into the spectacular and popular downtown Encinitas library?
It's good to be a lawyer in this town, everybody is always suing each other.