One year in, this council has created flashes of progress – but also contradiction, hostility, and a growing chorus of residents who feel unheard. Even the council’s most loyal supporters call it a mixed bag. Leadership matters – and many Encinitans are asking whether the mayor and this council are up to the task.
Mayor Ehlers set the tone when earlier in the year when he frustratedly scolded his three new council members, declaring “I think you guys don’t know what you’re dealing with, and that worries me.”
😀 What’s Working🌳 Environment WinsBoosted habitat stewardship sites and contract with San Diego Botanic Garden; passed local REACH codes to support Climate Action Plan; funded native plant demo garden at Leucadia Oaks Park; and advanced the park on L-7 parcel on Quail Gardens Drive (TBD if this will be a win for the environment or more paving for parking?) 🚔 🚒 Public Safety Boost Added two traffic cops and moved forward on plans for new fire station in Olivenhain. 🛑 ICE Response Took action with resolution – Know Your Rights campaign, FOIA requests, Safe Zone exploration and writing feds to get MOU in place. 😐Meh…🏗️ Overdevelopment Promises BrokenApproved every development project, including the largest in city history – while spending taxpayer dollars chasing legal relief on Clark Avenue development. So much winning. 🙄 🏠 Homeless Action Plan Mixed Council promised a balanced approach in the Homeless Action Plan – enforcement and help. So far, they’ve increased enforcement through targeted municipal code updates, increased patrolling and increased staff, but removed the Safe Parking Program – the one safe harbor for the unhoused in our city. Actions speak louder than words. 🪧Vanity Project (L-7 Park Design) Approved Voted for $870k in design alone. Sounds like it will result in a $5-6 million fancy park, contrary to donor Johnson’s wishes. 🏘️ Housing Affordability Missing Inaction Despite being part of the council’s annual goals, housing affordability has not appeared on any meeting agenda. 🤮WTF! Do Better!🚗 Safe Streets? Only for CarsRipped out Santa Fe Drive safety features ($2M), ignoring “Improve Don’t Remove” voices; removed bike-lane bollards on Leucadia Blvd; deferred grant for a 101 crossing near Solana Beach to avoid lane diet; appointed 1 climate denier and 1 car lover to Mobility & Traffic Safety Commission; and skipped declaring a safety emergency – during a year with four ped/cycling deaths. All bad? Well, no; the council is moving forward with La Costa Pedestrian Path. ⚖️ Councilmember Shaffer, Macho Man Shaffer threatened rifles to “defend” private land and called our state a domestic enemy. He made ageist remarks to the Senior Commission. He said he only ran for council to undo what the last council did, and won’t run again. And he’s going to court-ordered anger management courses after picking a fight with an Encinitas resident over parking. Thug leadership. 🪓 O’Hara’s Aggression Rewarded Deputy Mayor O’Hara repeatedly berated city staff, Councilmember Lyndes, commissioners, residents – anyone he saw as the opposition. The Mayor Ehlers signaled approval, bestowing him with the deputy mayor title. So much for NPP “independence” and governing for all residents. |
We encourage our Encinitas councilmembers to apply themselves and bring their grades up in 2026! |