The Problem Isn't That We Didn't Speak Up

I've been re-listening to the forum videos and one of the things that kindof pops out is the incumbents surprise that the candidates are criticizing the Poway Road Specific Plan. I heard John Mullin (and other candidates) state that there were many meetings over several years, and then ask why we didn't speak up back then.  Well, Mr Mullin, and Mr Grosch and Mr Vaus, we DID speak up then. We filled out sticky papers with our concerns and posted them along with many others, but when they staff compiled them into a report, our concerns weren't addressed.  By the time the final PRSP meetings were held, the developers were attending the meetings and those were the voices that were listened to, not ours.  The plan was changed to accommodate them, not us.

The problem is not that we don't speak up. The problem is that we are not listened to. Let me give another example. At the August 21, 2018 council meeting, newly appointed councilmember Caylin Frank proposed that the City buy the Metate parcel from the developer and make it into a park.  Four speakers addressed the council in opposition to this plan which they viewed as bailing out the developer. No speakers spoke in favor of the proposal. The council did not listen to the speakers. Without even taking a vote, Mayor Vaus decided to follow through with Caylin Frank's proposal and have the staff look into buying the site from the developer who tried to get it rezoned.

On September 19, 2018, a closed session was held between the city and the developer for property negotiations.  There has been no known purchase agreed upon, but there has been no notice that negotiations are closed either.

In addition to the speakers who were in opposition, I wrote a letter  to the council and submitted it before the August 21, 2018 meeting. My letter was also in opposition to the City's purchase of the Metate parcel from the developer. In my letter I asked the Council to address 4 issues related to the Metate parcel- 1) why wasn't the larger part of the Metate parcel deeded to the city after the lot split 2) why weren't the open space easements properly recorded and what does the City need to do to get them properly recorded on both Metate parcels 3) why doesn't the City's GIS site show that these parcels are part of the South Poway Cornerstone? and 4) how is it that the developer said he talked to the City and that the City told him there were no constraints to development when there is a long written history of constraints?  

It has been almost 8 weeks since I sent that letter. I have heard nothing back from the city manager, any member of the city staff or any council member. It isn't that people do not speak up about issues. Some people do speak up, but they are ignored.

I've heard the incumbent council members claiming they are the most accessible council ever.  They are all up for having a chat over a cup of coffee. I've had chats over coffee with council members. They smile and look concerned and DO NOTHING.  One of the reasons I formed the South Poway Votes facebook group is because I hoped our voices might be heard if we were "out there" in a more public way.  Maybe we will be heard if together we were a little louder.  But, instead of listening to us, or even acknowledging our concerns, they councilmebers responded by becoming  more entrenched, combative and defensive.  Reports came back to me that councilmembers were warning people to stay away from SPV, and not to associate with me.  All of the  incumbent candidates were invited to answer SPVs weekly questionnaire. All declined to participate, except John Mullin who answered one question and then dropped out. Yet, every  Councilmember candidate answered GVCA's  questionnaire.  Why do the incumbents want to answer our queries in private, but they are willing to answer GVCA's in public?

I want to take the moment to thank those candidates who were willing to answer SPV candidate questions. Thank you for acknowledging that our input and concerns are legitimate and that those of us who live in South Poway are an important and valid part of this community.  Hopefully, if you are elected, you will not forget this.

Oh, and to the incumbents who are still boasting about your accessibility and responsiveness, I'm still waiting for a response to my letter.

Who Caylin Frank Represents

On June 19th, Mayor Steve Vaus and Councilmembers Barry Leonard, John Mullin and Dave Grosch appointed Caylin Frank to fill the vacant council seat. There are a couple of reasons why the Council ignored 15 other applicants and chose Mrs Frank, who lived in Poway for less than 3 months on the day she was appointed.  One reason is because Mayor Steve Vaus and the other councilmembers really don't want an honest-to-goodness district 4 resident to get on the Poway Council.   Caylin Frank's appointment, gives her an incumbency advantage that could help her get elected in the November election and edge out any of the long term activists in south Poway in 2020, when district 4 finally will get to choose their own district representative.

But there are other reasons the Vaus and his agreeable councilmembers chose Caylin Frank. She has political connections. Caylin's mother is Christy Guerin, former mayor of Encinitas, and later, aide to Brian Bilbray. Kristin Gaspar, who also began as a Encinitas councilmember and after only 2 years in office became a county supervisor has been stumping for Caylin before she was even selected in fill the vacant seat.  Another big supporter in Tony Krvaric, who sees Kaylin as a rising star in his party. By rising star, I think he means that with enough money from developers, he might get her to higher office pretty quickly, just like Kristin Gaspar.

Caylin has other politically connected friends, and they just threw a big fundraiser for her on Wednesday, September 26th at the Waterfront Bistro, on Kettner Blvd., in San Diego.

The Waterfront Bistro was probably a lot more convenient location to hold the fundraiser than say, a Poway location, because Caylin's friends are not from Poway. Steve Vaus is listed as a member of the host committee, but most of the others are aides to Kristin Gaspar, or political consultants with downtown offices. Many have current or previous experience working for San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Some belong to a chamber of commerce group called San Diego Young Leaders and others belong to the Lincoln Cub, a conservative political group that supports increased development.  Some names, like Gaspar aide Dustin Steiner have popped up in news articles defending Frank's appointment in Poway. Frank has her supporters, they just are not Poway people.

Brian Pepin, the event chair (yeah, that is what is says) does live in Poway, although he is a fairly new resident, having moved here shortly before the Metate petition hit the ground. If you don't remember Brian Pepin's name, let me refresh your memory. Brian Pepin was the consultant for the Sacramento developers who wanted to rezone the Metate property so that 50 houses could be built there. Brian was on the scene when an NBC news crew covered the Metate neighborhood's reaction to the proposal for rezoning the parcel.  He got in his talking points: 

 "This is part of the beauty of Poway."The developer says the project is a reasonable proposal that would blend with the community.
"This wouldn't affect the hillside at all. It's a modest- sized parcel. We're not talking about 1,000 homes, we're talking about up to 50 on this corner lot,” Brian Pepin said.
Pepin is working with the land's owner on the housing development initiative. He also lives in Poway.
"Right now, someone could come in here and build a very large project here. We think the proposal that we're bringing to the voters allows people to have a say in what happens here."

Pepin also wrote a letter to the editor that was published in the Chieftain:

Better future for PowayAs San Diego County’s housing crisis continues to drive middle class families out of the region into neighboring states, a Poway property owner is proposing to build 50 single-family homes in south Poway at prices starting below the median home price of $734,000.
His proposal is straightforward: The current signature-gathering effort will allow Poway residents to vote on a 7.7-acre privately-owned piece of land in south Poway on the corner of Metate Lane and Montauk Street. The lot could presently be developed with a large home, church or a number of other additional uses.
The owner of the parcel has proposed up to 50 single-family homes that will match the character and zoning of the surrounding neighborhood. Poway law requires that the property owner go to the voters with his request to change the zoning to match the adjacent neighborhood (from “rural residential” to “residential single-family”). The owner, Kraig Clark, is following the city’s rules and gathering signatures in order to give Poway residents a voice in this November’s election. His partner, Todd Lutes, has reached out to nearby residents and community groups and plans to hold a town hall meeting this summer.
Unfortunately, in today’s world of fast-moving social media, there have been a number of rumors and misrepresentations about the proposal that aren’t true: it won’t remove any hiking trails and it sits on a mostly flat lot with no soil problems.
Instead, this proposal will provide an answer for couples hoping to raise a family in Poway and others who want an opportunity to call this wonderful town their home.
A website with more information on the proposal can be found at www.abetterpoway.com.
Brian Pepin

Poway(Editor’s note: Pepin is a political consultant working for the landowner.)

It was no rumor that the Metate parcel had soil problems. Plenty of city documents identified the problems. Half of the parcel was also part of the South Poway Cornerstone, an area of important protected biological resources that is part of Poway's sub area habitat plan.

Thankfully, the people of Poway refused to sign the petition to rezone Metate. The developer and Brian Pepin could not get enough signatures to get the measure on the ballot, even with signature gatherers who lied and impersonated city employees.

The story doesn't end here. The Sacramento investors bought the parcel at about 10 times what the previous owner paid for it. It is unlikely that they can sell it for anywhere near what they paid for it.
But, don't worry, new city council appointee Caylin Frank had a plan to help them out. On August 21st, Caylin Frank proposed that Poway buy the Metate parcel from the developer, and perhaps make a park there. Caylin proposed this solution without talking to anyone who lives near the Metate parcel or  anyone who was involved in the No on Metate Rezone effort.  At the August 21 council meeting, several members of the public spoke in opposition to buying the parcel and bailing out the developer. At least one other person (me) sent a letter in opposition to buying the parcel. Nevertheless the council decided to meet with the developer and make an offer anyway.

At the last council meeting on September 18, 2018, the council met in closed session to negotiate a price for the Metate property.

The council and the negotiating parties (did they come or did they have someone represent them?) did not come to an agreement. We do not know any details.  

What we do know is the Caylin Frank is not representing us, the people of Poway. She is pretty much ignoring that we even exist. The people she is beholden to are people like Brian Pepin and the downtown consultant and the political machine that got Kristin Gaspar elected.  If we want to have control of our future, we need to start making OUR voices heard. Choose wisely this November.