City Council Welcomes Homeless to Encinitas

“Let them ride bikes,” said Mayor Catherine Blakespear. “When we transition homeless people sleeping in their cars in the Leichtag lot to real homes, we can get them out of their cars and onto bikes.”

“Income inequality in Encinitas is a huge issue,” said Councilwoman Jody Hubbard. “By welcoming homeless people to Encinitas, we will add more low-income residents to the mix. That will help create a better balance between the high and low ends of the income spectrum.”

“The Encinitas population is too homogenous,” said Deputy Mayor Kellie Shay Hinze. “By inviting more homeless people to our city, we’ll increase diversity. Many homeless people are capable and colorful. Their presence will be a great benefit for our community.”

“Before I state my position on the Leichtag Commons homeless parking lot, let me suck up to everybody who has participated,” said Councilman Joe Mosca. “Thank you to the Leichtag and JFS people. Thank you to my council colleagues. Thank you to the city staff for your important work. Thank you to members of the public who attended Wednesday night or contacted me by email or phone. And that means opponents as well as proponents.

“Rather than repeating for this post everything I said at the meeting and going on ad infinitum,” Mosca continued, “let me simply state my conclusion: I do believe that it’s an important step that will make a difference in helping those who are living on our streets, which is why I support this program. And that applies even though the program is for people living in their cars anywhere in North County.”

“Well, I was the odd man out again,” said Councilman Tony Kranz. “I like the idea of providing overnight parking for the homeless but not at Leichtag. Maybe my position will help me get reelected in November.”

Those Were the Days, My Friend, We Thought They’d Never End

Once upon a time in Southern California, there was small beach town on the northern San Diego County coast. It had been named Encinitas for the scrub oaks found in the local chaparral.

The town straddled the Pacific Coast Highway, which was the only coastal route between San Diego and everything north of it. Most people drove through Encinitas on their way somewhere else. There was a lot of traffic on PCH, enough to support many gas stations, motels and other roadside businesses in town.

The Southern California population exploded, but Encinitas stayed pretty much the same. Regional population growth and federal funding spawned the freeway. Interstate 5 opened through Encinitas in mid-1966. Traffic on PCH all but died. Many motels, gas stations and other traffic-dependent businesses died too. PCH through Encinitas became a ghost road. Just about all the traffic was local. That was wonderful.

The revival of PCH through town was very slow. The transition took at least 10 years, probably closer to 15 or 20.

Fed up with careless county control, Encinitas incorporated as a city in 1986. Local control was seen as a good thing, which it was for a while.

But then suburbia invaded Encinitas, and with it came disingenuous politicians on the City Council. They seemed OK as candidates, but they betrayed their constituents when elected. Development ran rampant, and the small beach town vibe dissolved as many good people moved away, seeking refuge elsewhere.

To newcomers, Encinitas still seemed like a great place. But oldtimers knew it was a sad shadow of its former self.

Esos Fueron Los Días, Amigo Mío, Pensamos Que Nunca Terminarían

Érase una vez en el sur de California, había un pequeño pueblo de playa en la costa norte del condado de San Diego. Había sido nombrado Encinitas por los robles de matorral encontrados en el chaparral local.

La ciudad se extiende a ambos lados de la Pacific Coast Highway, que era la única ruta costera entre San Diego y todo al norte de la misma. La mayoría de las personas condujeron a través de Encinitas en su camino a otro lugar. Había mucho tráfico en PCH, suficiente para soportar muchas estaciones de servicio, moteles y otros negocios en la carretera en la ciudad.

La población del sur de California explotó, pero Encinitas se mantuvo prácticamente igual. El crecimiento de la población regional y los fondos federales generaron la autopista. La Interestatal 5 se abrió a través de Encinitas a mediados de 1966. El tráfico en PCH casi murió. Muchos moteles, estaciones de servicio y otros negocios dependientes del tráfico también murieron. PCH a través de Encinitas se convirtió en un camino fantasma. Casi todo el tráfico era local. Eso fue maravilloso.

El renacimiento de PCH en la ciudad fue muy lento. La transición tomó al menos 10 años, probablemente más cerca de 15 o 20.

Harto del control descuidado del condado, Encinitas se incorporó como ciudad en 1986. El control local fue visto como algo bueno, lo que fue por un tiempo.

Pero luego los suburbios invadieron Encinitas, y con él llegaron políticos falsos en el Ayuntamiento. Parecían estar bien como candidatos, pero traicionaron a sus electores cuando fueron elegidos. El desarrollo fue desenfrenado, y el ambiente de un pequeño pueblo de playa se disolvió cuando muchas personas buenas se mudaron, buscando refugio en otro lugar.

Para los recién llegados, Encinitas todavía parecía un gran lugar. Pero los veteranos sabían que era una sombra triste de su antiguo yo.