Housing element

Noted the October 14 court deadline to fix the zoning code and criticized the council for not placing the item on the agenda.

Praised the council's reversal of homeless encampment tolerance and defended spending on litigation against state housing mandates.

Called the lobbying contracts unnecessary at $150,000/year versus a $45,000 League of California Cities alternative, questioned the federal firm's qualifications, and demanded an end to housing element litigation and disclosure of legal costs.

Celebrated the housing element's approval as help for affordability, then begged the council to oppose new offshore oil drilling, citing the prior spill's $4 million cleanup and Sable Oil's Santa Barbara activity.

Hoped the housing element passes with the site included, preferring low-to-medium density residential over a 24-hour trucking warehouse.

Urged passage of the housing element to stop fines and restore SB 2 funds, and criticized rejection of the $825,000 Friends of the Library donation and infrastructure cuts.

Thanked the council for the walkthroughs and asked for medium-density housing with Talbert/Gothard access and noise protections.

Praised the council's safety record, endorsed the Newport MOU and budget, and urged passage of the housing element.

Thanked the council for site walkthroughs and supported adding the industrial warehouse property to the housing element for residential use.

Representing the Kennedy Commission, opposed the current draft as not yet substantially compliant and detailed years of litigation costs including a $3.5 million attorney fee award.

Reluctantly urged passage of the housing element while criticizing RHNA numbers and affordable housing economics.

A frequent high-density critic said the legal fight has run its course and urged finishing the housing element, while backing a future local-control initiative.

Warned the city is in a penalty phase that could end in receivership, tallied the fines, and urged a yes vote to stop the bleeding.

Said noncompliance has been expensive and losing, and every litigation dollar is one not spent on streets, parks and libraries.

Mocked the casino-ad idea, urged cutting lawsuit losses, marked Pride Month, and asked the library surfboards be removed.

Said the city had a compliant housing element in 2021 before the current council refused to submit it, costing hundreds of thousands in fines and lost funds.

Shared the story of a city employee named Slater who can't afford to live in the city his parents' street is named after, and urged full speed ahead on the housing element.

Urged the council not to reopen coastal oil pipelines, citing the 2021 spill, and criticized spending on failed housing element lawsuits.

Urged the city to stop spending on the voting-districts lawsuit and to certify its housing element to restore state grant funding.