So another short-form rent review board hearing (for Ponderosa Mobilehome Park) another grant of a rent increase. This time only one resident spoke. Another speaker spoke of a class action suit against the park owner that may (I’m totally guessing here) have something to do with an electrical fire that took place in the park over the July 4th weekend. Our favorite City Councilwoman, Olga Diaz did give the representative of the park owner a bit of a scolding.

This representative stated that the park owners were essentially subsidizing the residents by charging much less ground rent than the market would bear. Olga pointed out that the rent-controlled residents owned their mobile homes, were responsible for maintaining their homes, and so also had property rights that needed to be protected. Olga stated that suggesting such subsidization was insulting to the mobile home owners.

On a more positive note, the Council appointed Olga Diaz to be their voting delegate to the League of California Cities conference in San Jose on September 16-18 in San Jose.

And, the Council approved the improvements to Daley Ranch—so the old ranch house will be restored, and there will be real restrooms on the property. That reminds me of my first trip to London. We were in Liverpool Street Station, buying subway (tube) passes, when I asked the ticket clerk where I could find a restroom. “Well, mum,” he replied, “you can rest anywhere you wish, but if you are in need of a toilet, it’s down one floor.”

As they traditionally do, the fireworks of the meeting occurred at its finale. Sam Abed began the display with a recital of Michael Guerrero’s (the president of the Escondido Police Officers Association [POA],) response to Mayor Pfeiler’s accusation that Council Members Abed, Diaz, and Waldron were conspiring with the POA to sabotage Mayor Pfeiler’s (and Councilman Daniel’s?) budget. Mr. Guerrero pretty much said that anything Mayor Pfieler said about such a coalition was nonsense.

Marie Waldron was absent.

Then Olga Diaz also spent some time stating her disappointment in the Mayor’s accusation. As the negotiations with the POA were complete, she and all the other Council Members were given the freedom to meet with the POA.

Mayor Pfeiler did not respond to either Abed or Diaz. One wonders what occurred during closed session where once again C.W. Clarke was trying to sell his hotel deal.

Margaret McCown Liles