Housing and homelessness issues dominate Encinitas mayoral candidates’ forum

Encinitas could do a much better job of both managing its homeless population and increasing its affordable housing options, two political newcomers seeking the mayoral spot said at an online candidate forum. last week.

Community volunteer Michael “Myekah” Blobe and small business owner Cindy Cremona both said they would bring new approaches to dealing with these two controversial topics, and they argued that a third candidate in the race, the Councilman Tony Kranz, is not responsive to the needs of residents.

“In my opinion, Mr. Kranz is pro-Sacramento, I’m pro-local control,” Cremona said in describing his stance on housing development issues.

Blobe said he felt compelled to show up “because there are a lot of issues that I’m very concerned about that the city hasn’t paid attention to.”

Meanwhile, Kranz said his years on the board gave him the experience to know what was actually possible and what wasn’t.

“In 10 years, I’ve learned a lot about housing, building affordable housing and upholding the law,” he said, adding that the proposals he had just heard from other candidates would not work. not.

The fourth and final contestant in the race, community advocate Jeff Morris, was unable to participate, the League of Women Voters North County San Diego event moderator said. Incumbent Mayor Catherine Blakespear is not seeking re-election because she is running for a state Senate seat.

Event moderator Roni Seay mostly asked about homelessness or housing development because “that seems to be the main concern of residents,” or at least it was among people who submitted questions as required 24 hours in advance, she said.

Cremona, who has worked with a group of residents who opposed the controversial 200-unit Clark Avenue Apartment proposal, said as mayor she would require such projects to set aside 50% of their units for low-income housing, instead of the 20 percent the city now needs.

Regarding homelessness issues, Cremona said the city needs to do a better job of keeping residents safe, enforcing its vagrancy rules and getting other North County cities to share the burden. She also said she feels the city’s overnight parking lot for homeless people who are temporarily living in their vehicles is a “band aid” that serves very few people in need.

On the issue of affordable housing, Blobe said the city should increase the affordable portion from 30% to 50% of a proposed development, but stressed that the city’s first priority should be to preserve low-cost housing stock. income she already has.

Encinitas must “crack down on enforcement” when it comes to homeless people who exhibit violent behavior and it must require homeless people to attend mental health and/or addiction programs in order to receive hotel vouchers or park in the overnight lot, he said.

Kranz said if elected mayor, he will begin work by reviewing the city’s existing action plan for homelessness and hosting a community summit to “look at what’s working and what’s not working.” . One thing, he said, that definitely works is overnight parking for the homeless. He noted that Vista was now considering creating one and said, “I expect it to spread more in North County.”

On the issue of the percentage of affordable housing, Kranz said Cremona’s 50% proposal, which was backed by the city’s planning commission, was not recommended by the city’s housing consultants, and officials of State Housing, who were threatening to sue the city, opposed the proposal.

On Tuesday, the League of Women Voters will moderate debates in Zoom format for the two City Council races. The two candidates for the District 3 spot will go first from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The four candidates for the District 4 spot will be immediately after from 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. District 3 primarily covers the Cardiff area, while District 4 covers Olivenhain. and parts of New Encinitas. For information on how to submit questions and/or join the meeting, visit the league’s website at: https://my.lwv.org/california/north-county-san-diego.