A divided Escondido City Council has approved the 510-unit Palomar Heights project, a development that will replace the former Palomar Hospital campus with a mix of housing types and commercial uses advocates say will spur revitalization of the city’s downtown corridor.
The project was approved last week on a 3-2 vote, with council members Mike Morasco, Tina Inscoe and Joe Garcia in favor, and Mayor Paul McNamara and Councilwoman Consuelo Martinez voting no.
By the same margin, the council voted to exempt the project from a requirement to join the city’s Community Facilities District, a mechanism established by the council last year to recover the costs of providing city services to new developments.
Women, People of Color Usher New Political Era in San Diego
By Marielena Castellanos
It’s a new day for women and people of color in San Diego politics, as newcomers step into elected positions throughout the County.
Jill Galvez, who has lived in Northwest Chula Vista for more than 26 years was recently elected to the Chula Vista City Council to represent Council District 2, which has some of the City’s oldest neighborhoods including the historic downtown Chula Vista and the Bayfront.
Galvez commented on why she decided to run for office, “Chula Vista is the best place on earth to live, raise a family and retire. I am determined to work hard for our community to make good things happen and make our neighborhoods proud.”
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Candidates for city offices in Escondido may have to work harder to raise campaign cash in future elections, after the City Council decided to slash limits on political contributions by as much as 75 percent.
Currently, donors can contribute up to $4,300 per election to a candidate for city offices such as city council, mayor and treasurer. But after the new limits take effect in mid-December, the limit will be $1,000 for district races for city council seats, and $1,750 for mayoral and treasurer races. The new limits will be in force for the next municipal election in 2022.
For the record:
12:24 PM, Nov. 09, 2020This story has been corrected to reflect that Poway’s campaign contribution limit is $250
Escondido council swears in two new members, one incumbent [The San Diego Union-Tribune]
A church pastor and a businesswoman took the oath of office on Wednesday as the two newest members of the Escondido City Council, along with incumbent councilman Mike Morasco, who easily won his re-election bid in November.
The addition of Joe Garcia and Tina Inscoe to the council marks the first time the panel has had a full complement of five members since the death of Councilman John Masson in March.
Also sworn in Wednesday was city Treasurer Doug Shultz, the incumbent, who ran unopposed for a new four-year term.
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A church pastor and a businesswoman took the oath of office on Wednesday as the two newest members of the Escondido City Council, along with incumbent councilman Mike Morasco, who easily won his re-election bid in November.
The addition of Joe Garcia and Tina Inscoe to the council marks the first time the panel has had a full complement of five members since the death of Councilman John Masson in March.
Also sworn in Wednesday was city Treasurer Doug Shultz, the incumbent, who ran unopposed for a new four-year term.
Councilwoman Olga Diaz joined her colleagues in voting to certify the results of the Nov. 3 election before stepping down from her seat. Diaz, who had served on the council for the past 12 years, opted not to run for another term.