On February 7, SANDAG released a 269-page Value Analysis Study Report (“VA Report”) for the LOSSAN Rail Realignment Project that contains a wealth of details about 16 identified “alternative concepts,” including discussion of construction impacts, ecological and community effects, maintainability, resilience and reliability. Representatives from eight entities, including the cities of Del Mar, Solana Beach, San Diego, Encinitas and Carlsbad, the 22nd District Agricultural Association (Fairgrounds), NCTD, and CalTrans were participants in the VA Study, and “experts representing a range of technical topics including…tunneling, civil engineering, and constructability were also part of the VA Team,” according to the Report.
More
March News Update
March 13, 2025
On March 10, Mayor Terry Gaasterland flouted direction she had been given at the Feb. 18 Council meeting to abstain from voting to appoint a candidate for the District 3 seat to the Air Pollution Control District board
March 13, 2025
Negotiations between the City of Del Mar and the Fairgrounds (22nd DAA) for affordable housing on Fairgrounds property have resumed based on a vote on Tuesday, March 11, by the 22nd DAA Board. At its February meeting, the
March 10, 2025
Dan Quirk’s latest e-blast to Del Mar voters attacks City Manager Ashley Jones personally. We who care about Del Mar need to stand up for Ashley. Here’s why: Ashley is the best city manager Del Mar has ever
MoreIf you care about your health and those of your family and friends, pay attention to what is happening in Washington, DC right now, where Presidential orders are threatening to decimate the medical research critical to our health and well-being.
More
In just a single month, 2025 has become the second most destructive fire year in California history. It’s been almost two months since the devastating wildfires broke out in and around Los Angeles. In that time, we have experienced devastating
More
Independent journalist Gardiner Harris takes a serious look at the stark dark underbelly of our healthcare system in his book No More Tears, the dark secrets of Johnson & Johnson to be published in April. Johnson & Johnson, recently paid
MoreThe good news this winter is that COVID cases are well below the expected number. The bad news is that cases of the flu are much higher than expected. The most recent data for San Diego County had 82 weekly
More
Meet Rami, short for Ramen Noodle, an 11-year old ShihPoo whose family includes Henry Wong, Barbara Aufiero, and their son, Harrison, who occasionally visits from Ann Arbor. We recently moved to Del Mar from Little Rock when Henry, a dermatologist/scientist
More
Living on this nature preserve that is Crest Canyon since 2004, my husband Lee and I have been greeted by quail, red fox, coyotes, rabbits, rats, squirrels, skunks, rattlesnakes, and beautiful birds including a hawk sitting on our bench and
More
“Many of the contemporary social issues that most vex and engage us can be addressed through arts experiences. Interaction through music, dance, food, theater can give ‘voice’ to distinctive traditions and imaginations, building respect and affection for our diversity. “I
More
Raised in Syracuse NY, Jeff Midland has been a local for over 20 years. In the restaurant business since 1999, Jeff heard that Sbicca might be for sale and met with founder Dan Sbicca. Jeff, his wife Josephine and Executive
More
2025 is off to a great start for DMF. We’ve already hosted a DMF Talk with Sudeepto Roy who shared an update on the rapidly changing innovation and consequences of AI, a Valentine’s Meet & Greet at Shore’s Park for
MoreCongratulations Veda! In partnership with the Del Mar Historical Society, DMCC honored recent SDSU student Veda Browning-Schmigel with the Gordon Clanton Memorial Award. The $1,000 scholarship was established in 2021 with the proceeds of the Clanton Memorial Fund, established by
MoreMarch 2025
Volume 29, Number 2
Print Edition
Join Our Email List
Sign up to receive updates and breaking news from Sandpiper in your inbox.
Since 1997, The Sandpiper has been published and distributed for free by community volunteers, so we depend on your support. Our mission is to inform and engage local residents on issues and activities that are important to the community. And we are committed to preserving Del Mar’s unique community character. We hope you will consider making a gift to support the Del Mar Community Alliance and The Sandpiper. Thank you!
$100 – $499 (Friend of The Sandpiper)
$500 – $999 (Publisher’s Circle)
$1,000 – $2,499 (John Kerridge Circle)
$2,500 – $4,999 (Chuck Newton Circle)
$5,000+(Founders’ Circle)
All gifts of any size are welcome!
By Check (payable to Del Mar Community Alliance), mailed to DMCA, 1155 Camino Del Mar #436, Del Mar, CA 92014
DMCA is a 501(c)(4) not-for-profit corporation; donations are not tax-deductible.
In Brief
Mayoral “Betrayal” Pauses Fairgrounds Housing Talks
Based on a January media interview by Mayor Terry Gaasterland that appeared to support a Fairgrounds alignment for rail relocation, the 22nd DAA Board of Directors voted 5-3 on February 11 to temporarily discontinue affordable housing discussions with the City of Del Mar. 22nd DAA Director Michael Gelfand said his motion was based on statements by the Mayor that “blatantly contradicted” a joint resolution agreed to earlier by the cities of Del Mar, Solana Beach, and the 22nd DAA concern rail realignment. “This is not retaliation. This is a response to a betrayal,” he said. Gelfand’s successful motion discontinues discussions under an Exclusive Negotiating Rights Agreement to locate up to 61 affordable housing units on the Fairgrounds, “until such time as the Board can consider this item again at our March 2025 meeting.” Gaasterland essentially doubled down on her media comment, telling the 22nd DAA Board, “I truly believe that pushing for Alignment A” [the Fairgrounds alignment] “ is what may well have now given birth to this yellow alignment,” an apparent reference to one of the 16 alternatives listed in the Value Analysis Study Report released by SANDAG in February. However, none of the 22nd DAA directors indicated any support for her assertion that her push for Alignment A had produced a positive result from the Fairgrounds’ perspective, and as Director Arabo succinctly stated, “We had a deal. Del Mar broke the deal. I hope we can fix it.”
Editors’ note: Editorial Board member Don Mosier serves on the 22nd DAA Board of Directors. He does not participate in writing or editing any Sandpiper articles relating to affordable housing on the Fairgrounds, or potential Fairgrounds rail alignments.
End of an era: Jenn Powers and Greg Glassman (2nd and 3rd from left) on the closing night of Zel’s. Del Martians filled the beloved restaurant to say farewell (and wish Jenn a happy birthday). Photo: Betty Wheeler.
Quirk Misconduct Reaffirmed
On Feb. 3, the City Council voted to adopt a statement reaffirming the final investigative report concerning Councilmember Dan Quirk dated Feb. 16, 2024. That investigative report led to a 4-0 Council vote on April 15, 2024, to censure Quirk.
During Jan. 2025, the Council held four closed sessions with an agenda item for “significant exposure to litigation” related to “misinformation distributed publicly by Councilmember Dan Quirk related to prior City Council investigation pertaining to him.” Quirk left the Feb. 3 meeting when this item was taken up. Mayor Gaasterland, who voted for the Quirk censure in April 2024, unsuccessfully sought a delay, stating that it was late (it was approx. 9:12 pm), and she was “exhausted.” Councilmember Spelich quickly moved to approve the item, seconded by Deputy Mayor Martinez. When the clerk called the roll, Spelich and Martinez voted yes; Gaasterland responded, “I really think this needs discussion. I absolutely cannot vote; we didn’t discuss; so I am going to recuse myself and abstain.” Gaasterland then walked out of the room, before the conclusion of the meeting. The Sandpiper’s report on the April 15,2024 censure, which included findings of violations of the Brown Act, City Council Policies, Del Mar Municipal Code, and related misconduct, is here: bit.ly/quirk-censure.
Undergrounding on Stratford Ct. Photo: Julie Maxey-Allison
Top L-R: Camino Books coming to Del Mar Plaza; progress at Hillstone Restaurant continues; renovations in progress; and upcoming on Camino Del Mar.
Bottom: Valley Farm Market construction continues. Photos: Julie Maxey-Allison