encinitasaction
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Encinitas Beauties in the Grape Day Parade
Exactly a century ago, an octet of proud young Encinitans traveled to Escondido to show their Grape Day Parade celebrants how we roll on the coast. Proudly displaying the Encinitas flag is 16-year-old Irene Rupe, who was last seen in Encinitas Time Machine hot-rodding her jalopy on Ponto Beach in the late ‘40s. Thanks to…
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Understanding the Point in Time Count
Originally posted on our social media on May 30, 2025. The Point in Time Count by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) is in, and our Homeless Action Plan (HAP) is working!
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Planning Commission Work Plan, Budget & Fees, Panhandling, and Another Monologue
Council is in the home stretch before their summer recess. Here’s what happened at their meetings last Wednesday. 📋Planning Commission Workplan — Code Rewrites In, Affordability Out: Council approved the Planning Commission’s workplan—with two big edits: Deputy Mayor Lyndes was the only “no” vote, warning that ignoring affordable housing could backfire. Mayor Ehlers argued housing…
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Homeless Action Plan Update, June 4, 2025 Meeting
In this week’s special council meeting, the city’s Homeless Action Plan (HAP)was discussed. Ultimately the council voted unanimously to keep the HAP—with sharper tools, stricter enforcement, and a side of neighborly love. Will it deliver? Stay tuned.
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Benefits of Public Transit
Did you know that you can travel (almost) anywhere using NTC? This transit system connects to the Amtrak and many other local transit services to make transportation in our community easy, accessible, and sustainable! Plus, you can take it straight to a San Diego Padres game
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Budgets, Santa Fe Drive project, fast-tracking Fire Station 6, and another DOGE attempt – Encinitas Style!
What a Council meeting! Here is this week’s Council Meeting recap in case you missed it. 💰 FY25-26 City Budget Introduction: How is budget planning going? First, the City Manager Jennifer Campbell praised Staff for presenting a balanced budget. City is in a stronger financial position than expected because $5 million additional revenue will result from…
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Moment of Nostalgia: Encinitas A&W
Several classic landmarks from Encinitas past are missed, but none more so than the A&W Drive In on the southeast corner of Coast Highway 101 and Encinitas Blvd. (formerly San Marcos Rd., but that’s another story). Located on a small hill that was flattened to create Moonlight Plaza where Leucadia Pizzeria now stands, in the ‘60s and…
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Budget Battles, Bike Lane Drama, Permit Parking & the Never-Ending Roundabout Rumble
We listened to all 8 hours of the Council Meetings this week, so you don’t have to! (If you fell asleep, we forgive you!) Our big takeaways: Budget Planning: How should the City prioritize public safety, infrastructure, and services when there’s more money—but not enough for everything? Sharrow Debate: Cyclists can legally ride these roads.…
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Dr. Timothy Leary at La Paloma
On August 18, 1979, counterculture icon and psychedelics advocate Dr. Timothy Leary gave a fascinating illustrated lecture at La Paloma Theatre. He introduced his “Global Runway” theory to illustrate how humans are destined to emigrate and populate other planets. The illustration projected on La Paloma’s screen showed the planet Earth circled by an arrow, starting…
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Success! The City Council Supports the CRC!
In April, the Encinitas City Council finally and officially showed support for the Community Resource Center (CRC), rather than blaming them for attracting unruly unhoused people to Encinitas. In a unanimous 4-0 vote, they approved the CRC’s $30,000 grant application without the restrictions that were previously proposed. An enthusiastic crowd of Encinitans stood and waved signs when CRC supporters spoke, vigorously…
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City Council Meeting Recap: Strong Support for the CRC
The City Council unanimously supports CRC! At Wednesday’s meeting, the Encinitas City Council finally and officially showed support for the Community Resource Center (CRC), rather than blaming them for attracting unruly unhoused people to Encinitas. In a unanimous 4-0 vote, they approved the CRC’s $30,000 grant application without the restrictions that were previously proposed.
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Budget Game, Mayor’s “Vision”, Arbor Day, and Sugarsweet Farm
💰 $8.5M Up for Grabs – Who Gets It?: At the first FY25-26 budget workshop, City staff reported our finances are in good shape with higher revenue than forecasted. With $8.5 million of unallocated general funds to spend, Mayor Ehlers laid out his spending priorities: The Hygeia roundabout? Snubbed again. Councilmembers Shaffer and O’Hara recommended a…
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Once Upon a Time, gas was 26 cents a gallon
On November 16, 1961, our cozy coastal village of 3000 folks took a Mercury rocketship into the future when the Vulcan Square Shopping Center opened between D and E Streets above Vulcan Avenue. With Kennedy-era bravado, the Coast Dispatch reported that “Area residents are shaking their heads in wonder to see what was a tree shaded hillside…
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City Council Meeting Recap: March 19, 2025
Celebrating Local Legends: Encinitas honored outgoing Commissioners and gave a shoutout to Round Table Pizza for 50 years of serving the community! In public comment period, CRC CEO John Van Cleef pushed back against claims that the CRC attracts unhoused individuals, citing hard facts to debunk that myth. The City’s political consultant briefed the council…
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City Council Meeting Recap: Homelessness, Safety, and Speed
More Pickleball “Noise”: During Oral Communications, Bobby Riggs’ neighbors complained about pickleball noise, booze-fueled parties, and parking chaos and demanded action. HUD Grants – Homeless Outreach Under Fire: Council unanimously agreed to accept the draft Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) plan and make it available for public comment between March 14 and April 12 and then…
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Council Meeting Recap: Budget Surplus, Active Transportation Award, New Park, Wildfire Prep & Housing Reform Aspirations
Award for Active Transportation: The San Diego chapter of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) awarded the city for their active transportation project work. Thanks to all the city staff and previous council members who supported active transportation improvements over the last decade. City Budget: Pretty Good! At a Special Meeting, the City Council heard…
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Golden Lotus Temple
This majestic Golden Lotus Temple once graced the bluff top at the Self-Realization Fellowship Encinitas Hermitage and Meditation Gardens {also known as Swami’s). Built in 1938 by SRF founder Paramahansa Yogananda, it collapsed due to bluff erosion in 1942 – one of the earliest casualties of a natural process that plagues our city to this…
