This page tracks the public record of two connected failures: newly appointed Urban Forest Advisory Committee member Steven Houbeck’s racist Facebook post, and the Encinitas City Council’s refusal to publicly acknowledge all the residents who came forward to condemn it.
After a Black History Month performance by the Encinitas West African Dance and Drum Community at a local school, Houbeck described the performers on Facebook as “blacks banging drums dressed in tribal gear,” reducing them to crude stereotypes and treating African cultural expression as something primitive and disposable.
Residents then appeared at several meetings in a row to demand accountability and ask that Houbeck be removed from UFAC. They spoke clearly, repeatedly, and on the record. The council, despite having every opportunity to respond, has offered no response.
This timeline documents that sequence in full:
February 11, 2026
Steven Houbeck is chosen by the city council to fill out the term of a member who resigned from the Urban Forest Advisory Committee.
February 13, 2026
Houbeck authors a racially insensitive social media post about a Black History Month commemoration at a local school:
February 18, 2026
Residents appeared before the city council and demanded the removal of new UFAC Committee Member Steven Houbeck over a Facebook post about a Black History Month event — calling it “racially charged,” “reductive,” and damaging to community trust. No public acknowledgement by the council; no action taken.
March 11, 2026
Residents, including the founder of the West African Dance Community, called for the removal of a newly installed city committee member after his racially bigoted social media post. No public acknowledgement by the council; no action taken.
March 18, 2026
Residents from the Encinitas West African Dance Community returned for the third straight meeting, demanding the city agendize a review of committee member Steve Houbeck’s racist Facebook post. “ You are sick of hearing from us, just as we are sick of saying this, but we are not going away.” No public response from the council, no action taken.
March 25, 2026
Public speakers again urged the city to remove Houbeck from UFAC. Encinitas Action reported that the council had now heard these demands in person at four consecutive public meetings, but had yet to acknowledge any of them.
March 26, 2026
At the Urban Forest Advisory Committee meeting, Houbeck said his Facebook post criticizing the West African dance presentation during a school assembly celebrating Black History Month “may have conveyed a wrong impression” and pivoted to his past work with individuals on the autistic spectrum saying that he recognized the importance of music and dance. Public speakers rejected that response as inadequate. UFAC Chair Brad Lefkowits said he could “reach out to the council and the mayor on the committee’s behalf and have a discussion with them,” which marks the first time speakers’ concerns have been recognized from an Encinitas dais.
“Racism is not a difference of opinion. It is a disqualifier for public service.”
Encinitas Resident Monette Marino
April 8, 2026
Several more community members asked the council to agendize Houbeck’s fitness to serve on the UFAC committee, again to deafening silence from the dais.
As of April 9, 2026
The City of Encinitas continued to list Steven Houbeck as a member of the Urban Forest Advisory Committee, serving a partial term from March 1, 2026 to March 1, 2027.
Related coverage
Week 4: City council’s deaf ears on racism — Encinitas Action’s March 30, 2026 recap documenting that council had heard calls for Houbeck’s removal at four consecutive public meetings.
Urban Forest Advisory Committee page — City of Encinitas page listing Steven Houbeck as serving on UFAC through March 1, 2027.
Coast News Letter to the Editor: Encinitas Refuses to Remove Advisory Member over Racist Comment