Editorial: Del Mar Deserves Better

Why is our City Council representative appointment to SANDAG important? First, it is well to understand SANDAG’S vital role in the region. It is composed of reps from all of the city and county jurisdictions in the region (with the larger ones having weighting  capability). This is where key county-wide strategic decisions are made. Many of these decisions have local impact for Del Mar such as transportation, housing, sea level rise, bluff and beach erosion. And very importantly the train tunnel decision coming up.

Over the years Del Mar has achieved out-sized influence in this regional forum largely from the respect our Council rep earns in working with other jurisdictions. Building relationships, forging alliances, working cooperatively, supporting political campaigns, all add up to voting support we need for key Del Mar issues. When it comes time to vote on issees important to Del Mar, our efforts to play team ball pay off with needed votes. Failure to do so leaves us with one vote and no supporters.

In the near term future there will be some key decisions affecting Del Mar which will be taken at this regional forum. We need to take a hard-nosed look at our current Council make-up and decide who is most likely to earn voting support for Del Mar’s vital interests. Gaasterland clearly has lost support from other SANDAG board members. We can’t afford to treat this appointment frivolously or let egos get in the way. There is too much at stake