You’re a citizen, an advocate for democracy with this first step, paying attention.
General Plan Update - Just a Reminder
"General plans are often called a city’s constitution…a statement of who we are and what we value as a community.
The State of California requires all cities to adopt a general plan that includes required elements – Land Use, Housing, Circulation, Resource Management, Noise and Public Safety. The city also included an optional element – Recreation and Public Health is also proposed. The plan also states community goals for how the city should grow (or not grow) in the future.
There’s not been a comprehensive review and update of the General Plan since it was written over 25 years ago. A variety of state laws, court rulings and new issues such as sustainability and climate change have made it difficult to simply “tweak” sections and maintain internally consistent policies throughout the plan."
When the question and answer session opened, a resident stood up and said he makes $25,000 a year at Scripps and felt he doesn't make enough money to continue living here in the new city of Encinitas. "Are we outpricing ourselves out of living here?" he asked on the discussion of new developments planned for the city.
"I think this is a potential problem, he added. "The character of he community comes from those non-classical types of people who live here. I want to keep these people here."
Another resident agreed, explaining that she had spent the last several weeks apartment hunting for a friend. "A two-bedroom apartment costs from at least $600 to $1,000," she said. "People who are just starting out are being forced to move to San Marcos because they can't find reasonable housing here."Twenty-four years later it seems that particular strategy, if it was one, worked. Wish we had the figures on the numbers of people who were forced to move due to an inflated housing bubble, rising costs, upzoning or low paying jobs, especially for young people starting out.
A couple of years ago the city website had a demographics section for visitors to see Encinitas at a Glance. (Click to make larger) Activists have asked (with little success all year) where the city statistics come from and have gotten a mix of answers when the question is addressed - creating an almost continuous cycle of number crunching challenges. Density, density, density - building height and El Camino Real being unacceptable for more density seem to be the constant themes despite affordable housing being the ostensible theme.
The original community group would have understood the line I read this week.
"The economy’s only valid purpose is to serve life," David Korten Yes! Magazine.
Conversely, one from the ERAC gang was quoted as saying, "The General Plan purpose is to drive profits."
What is the overall mission? These two statements couldn't be more opposite. What is community character without talk of the diversity of populations, incomes and outlooks? Where do the teachers, bank clerks, dental hygienists, nurses, tree trimmers, Scripps worker and line cooks live?
You can see in the chart above that the glut of jobs available are low wage jobs. How many of in this labor force can even live in this city? Everywhere I go I ask the food server, grocery clerk and store clerk, "Do you live in Encinitas?" Very few answer yes.
The city worker jobs aren't even listed. How many of those are in the range of former fire chief Muir, Patrick Murphy or other Department Heads? Truth is, most Encinitas city staff can't afford to live in Encinitas. And given how out of date, one can only surmise from published facts nationwide, the numbers of low income, unemployed, underemployed and falling incomes for the middle class mean more Encinitas jobs and homes and travel requirements are under deep stress. The anticipated stress in the next twenty-four years with climate change, overwhelmed resources and economic decline haven't even been touched!
Yet, the city council and the workshops focused on density and building height. Why can't we challenge the city council majority, city staff, ERAC, GPAC, Encinitas Right to Vote group and all City Council Candidates regarding our mismatched labor market and housing market. We can ask, as some have been doing continuously, for the most current and accurate population statistics, housing statistics and labor statistics.
A city of millionaires is not what most Encinitas voters want. You don't have to be a liberal to know that outcome is a dead community.
Dedicated to Labor Day weekend. It used to celebrate so much more than meat on a grill and sales. Something vital is missing.
