Two challengers in the Encinitas mayoral race tried to argue that City Hall was not responsive enough to residents during a June 23 debate held at American Legion Post 416, while the Board member Tony Kranz defended recent board decisions.
The winner of the mayoral race will replace Catherine Blakespear, who is running for State Senate District 38. A fourth candidate who filed for mayor, Leucadia resident Cindy Cremona, did not participate in last week’s debate. She said in a statement that the event was “premature”, given the recent primary in June and the fact that more candidates could still run before the August 12 deadline.
Throughout the hour-long event, candidates Michael Blobe and Jeff Morris answered questions submitted by the public as they explained how they wanted to break with the city’s current course on issues such as homelessness, public safety and housing.
“That’s why I’m showing up,” said Morris, a former stockbroker and entrepreneur who owned a cosmetics marketing and custom furniture business. “You can all find your voice and take back control of your city.”
One of the questions, written on index cards and read by moderator Neil Hokanson, was about the Goodson project. The proposed project, which would add 250 units to Olivenhain, has been the latest point of contention between residents who feel it is unsuitable for the community and town leaders who have waning influence over new developments due to the state housing laws.
Encinitas residents opposed to the project, including grassroots group Encinitas Residents for Responsible Development, said they were concerned about fire safety and traffic congestion issues caused by the project.
“I would have gone back to the state and said it was my responsibility to keep everyone safe,” said Blobe, who works in the restaurant industry.
“Local control is essential,” Morris added.
Kranz said the mayor and council have handled it as best they can given state law that allows some projects to be “as of right,” which limits local oversight in the interest of streamlining construction that could ease the statewide housing crisis. The city also recently settled a lawsuit filed by developer Randy Goodson after the city rejected his plans.
According to a revised proposal by Goodson, the project will have 250 units, including 50 affordable units, compared to the original design of 277 units with 41 affordable units.
“We’re going to do our best to champion projects that make sense to our community,” Kranz said.
When it comes to public safety, both Blobe and Morris agreed that the city should sever ties with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department and create its own police force.
“It might suit the city better,” Blobe said.
Kranz said severing ties with the sheriff’s department would be prohibitively expensive, in part because of the retirement costs the city would face.
“I think our sheriff’s deputies are doing a great job,” he said.
Blobe and Morris also expressed opposition to the city’s approach to homelessness. Blobe said there should be more focus on addressing mental health issues, and Morris said he was opposed to the use of hotel rooms for housing the homeless.
“Encinitas doesn’t need to be the beacon for all homelessness,” Morris said.
Kranz stressed the need to coordinate with the county on several strategies to address homelessness, including housing.
“This is a social problem that affects every city in the country,” Kranz said. “We need to continue to focus on implementing our homelessness action plan and continue to work with the county because the county has the health and services agency, the city of Encinitas n don’t have any.”
The mayor of Encinitas serves a two-year term and functions as a “weak mayor”, in which the mayor essentially serves as a member of the general council and has no executive power. The election is November 8.
3:44 p.m. June 28, 2022: Updated with comment from mayoral candidate Cindy Cremona.
3:44 p.m. June 28, 2022: Updated with comment from mayoral candidate Cindy Cremona.
