Yes on Solana Beach Proposition B

In only what could be described as a complete failure of leadership for the statists on the Solana Beach City Council, our City is having a Special Election this Tuesday.  We will be voting on a ballot proposition to permit Solana Beach citizens to use a City-owned community center.

Some background first.  The Fletcher Cove Community Center sits on a one-acre parcel, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  It was a World War Two Army barracks which philanthropists moved to the present location after the war.  Countless clubs and groups have met there for decades.  Naturally, time and the seaside location required a renovation to the community center; the City Council would not allocate the $300,000 required to renovate it.

Philanthropists raised private money for the renovation and reduced the financial commitment from taxpayers funds to under $100,000.  The community center was renovated in 2011.  A group of citizens thought it might be nice for weddings, bar mitzvahs, quinceañileras, etc.  They hoped to use it on weekend nights until 10PM and serve beer and wine if they so desired.  Some prohibitionist citizens protested the use of alcohol and the City Council decided to restrict access to the Center.

Over 2000 citizens signed a petition for consistent access and presented it to the Solana Beach City Council.  Rather than initiate a pilot program, with consistent access to the citizens, the Council dug in and dared the group to put it on the ballot.  The result?  A special election will be held this Tuesday with a cost of $200,000.  That’s right- $200,000.

The City Council is costing the taxpayers the same amount of money which philanthropists donated to renovate the community center.  You really can’t make this stuff up.

In other news, the Solana Beach City Council will be considering the regulation and use of electronic cigarettes Wednesday night; the day after the election.

This Council restricts the size of the home you want to build, how you choose to use your business property, what sort of container you can put your customers’ products in, and whether your customers can smoke or not on your patio.  It’s gotta make you wonder if these five people think they should be controlling every single part of your personal lives.

This election is a over an arcane use policy and shows how extreme and out-of-touch this City Council is.  Whether the community center stays open until 10 PM or not, this Council needs to change in November.