During my six years as mayor of Encinitas, each December I have reflected on the successes and challenges of the previous year. This will be my last as I will become your state senator and Tony Kranz will become the next mayor of Encinitas.
(Copyright Catherine Blakespear)
We have achieved a lot together! I look forward to seeing what future leaders will bring to our beloved city.
Our successes in Encinitas have been because of the projects we have built and the community character we have preserved.
Encinitas’ progress in infrastructure and housing has been impressive:
1. Get it right with the state housing law. After 35 years, Encinitas is finally complying with state housing laws that require all cities to make room for new affordable housing for people with lower incomes. Cities with diverse incomes create a more vibrant and just society. Preserving the character of our community depends on the wide variety of people who can call our city home.
It was not easy to lead the city through this housing element process. I hope that the community’s desire for housing that can accommodate a variety of people in different life cycles will continue to grow.
2) Leadership is needed to recreate public spaces. We have become a more accessible place for cycling and living. I began my service on the city’s Transit Commission, where I saw our potential for significant improvements to our road network.
Highlights of these investments to recreate public space include the Coastal Rail Trail in Cardiff, physically protected bike lanes on Highway 101, new beach dunes, the transformative Leucadia Streetscape project, including the new crossing for to pedestrians in El Portal, in addition to roundabouts, greens. bike lanes, trail connections in Olivenhain and many other projects. The many bike and pedestrian improvements around San Elijo Lagoon and our Solana Beach border that were built by SANDAG and Caltrans are equally transformative.
The transportation improvements that have blossomed in Encinitas undoubtedly benefit families, commuters, outdoor enthusiasts and everyone who lives, works or plays here.
3) Give voice to the value of inclusion and diversity. During my term as mayor, we began flying the Pride flag every June, formed an Equity Committee, passed more affordable housing than any previous city council, supported women’s right to choose Encinitas, we made our city services more accessible to Spanish speakers, opened a safe parking program to help those sleeping in cars get back into housing, supported artists who had a home in the city to showcase its talent in Pacific View, required safe storage for gun owners, among many other justice-based actions.
Embracing our fellow humans and their many life experiences is at the core of being an Encinita, a Californian, and an American. We took this challenge seriously and with joy!
4) Environmental leadership. We didn’t just talk about fighting climate change. Encinitas defaulted to 100% renewable energy; wrote an enforceable Gold Star Climate Action Plan; waste and plastics were drastically reduced in all the events organized in the city; they were the first to adopt green waste composting; converted an underused council car park into an electric vehicle charging station and, as mentioned, built new infrastructure to help people get around without a car.
5) I am happy that I helped appoint great candidates that the voters then chose. One of the most rewarding aspects of my job has been “building the bench,” with dynamic and diverse future leaders. Joe Mosca was the first openly LGBTQ member of our city’s City Council, filling the City Council seat I vacated when I was elected mayor.
We’ve also had an impressive history of female leadership in Encinitas: of a total of 19 mayors since the city’s incorporation in 1986, 12 have been women! Tasha Boerner Horvath ran for city council, and is now our beloved and successful Assemblywoman.
Councilor and passionate cycling advocate Jody Hubbard was elected but resigned shortly before tragically dying of cancer less than two years into her term. Her capable successor, Joy Lyndes, has proven to be a solid leader, and the voters have just elected her. Finally, I am proud to nominate the remarkable Kellie Shay Hinze, who was resoundingly elected by the voters (and who recently welcomed a lovely baby into the City Hall family).
Our new Mayor Tony Kranz preceded me in local office and we have developed a deep and true friendship over our many years in office together. His government draws on a deep knowledge and insight into our city’s roots, and is committed to the continuity of the past, present and future. I am confident in handing over to Mayor Kranz and optimistic about what Encinitas will achieve under his leadership.
6) Pacific View was saved and art center construction is underway!
It really does take a village! It is no exaggeration to say that our entire community pitched in to revive Pacific View, our mid-century modern elementary school that closed in 2003. I am very pleased that before I left office we committed $7 million to get this historic bluff. active in the city and open to the public. After waiting for local nonprofits or other philanthropists to update this site, it became clear that the city needed to act, and the work has now begun.
It has been the honor of my entire life to have served you as mayor of the city where my great-grandparents took root a century ago. I look forward to working hard as a California State Senator!
