Encinitas’ years-long battle with the state over housing mandates is likely to ratchet up again next year.
Our Tigist Layne reports that Encinitas voters elected at least two new leaders who are ready to challenge state housing laws: incoming mayor and now-Councilmember Bruce Ehlers and District 1 Councilmember Luke Shaffer.
Meanwhile, District 2 contender Jim O’Hara, who has maintained a lead over challenger Destiny Preston, has said he’s frustrated with the city’s state housing mandates and wants to pursue “a give and take” approach with the state.
Some history: Many Encinitas officials have long opposed new development and city leaders for years tried to bypass a state law that allows developers to build larger projects if they include affordable housing. Encinitas was also years behind the deadline to approve its state-required housing plan, known as a housing element. After lawsuits and legal threats from the state, the city started to change its approach. Outgoing Mayor Tony Kranz declared that it was “a waste of time and money” to continue to fight the state. Now the city’s posture appears poised to change again.
Another ‘Doomsday’ Fish Washes Up on San Diego Coast
Another omen of bad tidings rose from the deep and washed ashore in Encinitas recently — just what we need after an election!
The oarfish, a so-called harbinger of doom, was spotted by a student at the University of California-San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography last week. These fish dwell in dark and lightless depths of over 3,000 feet, which is why not much is known about them. (See some pictures here.)
But their appearances on beaches across the world can coincide with earthquakes.
Seventeenth century Japanese legend considered oarfish servants of the sea god, Ryūjin, believing that spotting these fish in shallow waters meant an earthquake was nigh.
It’s not all legend. About a dozen oarfish washed onto the Japanese coastline in the year before the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami. Before August, when the first oarfish was spotted off the San Diego coast, scientists said that an oarfish hadn’t been spotted in California since 2013.
Ben Frable, who manages Scripps’ marine vertebrae collection, said changes in ocean conditions linked to broader climatic shifts like El Niño to La Niña might have something to do with it. Or there may be increased numbers of this fish offshore.
The coastline has also been choked with red tide of late, a massive algal bloom, which could also be a factor.
So, no word yet on the earthquake thing.
In Other News
- Several families being evicted from a trailer park so the property can be turned into one that serves homeless families say they’re having trouble finding affordable, alternative places to live. About 30 families have 60 days to locate new rentals but report they can’t find comparable prices to the $1,000 per-month RV park. (Union-Tribune)
- Another attempt by the region’s transportation planning agency to pass a half-cent sales tax that supports roads and public transit failed this November’s election, opponents declared. The results stood at 51.1 percent against and 48.9 percent for Measure G with around 77,000 ballots left to process. (Times of San Diego)
- A major renovation at Petco Park’s Western Metal Supply Co Building, erected in 1909, is underway and will grow the team’s store by 1,000-square feet, add restrooms and an exterior deck in the left corner of the playing field. (NBC 7)
- San Diego’s regional transportation planners have renewed their interest in building a trolley link to San Diego International Airport. The proposed new route could bump up frequency of this particular rail line from a rain every 20 minutes, to one every 10, planners say. (Fox 5)
- Police say the dramatic downtown shooting that left two dead and a police officer injured was not random, but stemmed from a dispute between a married couple and another man alleged to be having an affair with the now-deceased woman. (NBC 7)
- A weather system from Alaska is headed toward California and expected to bring cooler temps, breezy westerly winds and some light rain and possible snow to San Diego over the next two days. (Fox 5)
The Morning Report was written by Lisa Halverstadt and MacKenzie Elmer. It was edited by Andrea Lopez-Villafaña.