Stress in Encinitas

I think most people in Encinitas feel their city government took a wrong turn somewhere. The best explanations I have heard for this are the city charter provision for a weak mayor/strong city manager form of government; the city manager’s deaf ear to the wishes of the majority; the gradual replacement of community activists on the City Council by representatives of special interests (mostly developers); and council members allowing the city manager to persuade them that his goals were their goals.

The city’s wrong turn was made official at a three-day conference at Mira Costa College in May of 1991. Until that time the city’s top two formal priorities had been beach restoration and park acquisition, buoyed by the 56% and 72% voter approval rates for two park initiatives. Despite the clearly expressed wishes of the people, every member of the City Council ignored the voters and elected to go along with the city manager’s priorities.

Raising tax revenues was the No. 1 priority. Building a $12-million city hall with an ocean view was No. 2. No. 3 was non-controversial (routes to schools). No. 4 was to hire a consultant to justify hiring more and higher-paid bureaucrats. No. 5 was redevelopment (again for the purpose of raising tax revenue). No. 6, and last, was to “complete” the existing parks program. Parkland acquisition was dropped from second place to off the list.

The new priorities list was never submitted to a vote of the people. This was not some fine tuning of a budget. This is government in the attack mode. Every member of the council deserves to be judged harshly for adopting such a pro-government/anti-voter agenda.

I am frustrated that there is only one incumbent, Gail Hano, to vote against.

DAN WALSH, Leucadia