Protecting Del Mar’s long term interests often requires our Council to make difficult decisions in present time that will benefit us in the future. This is often difficult to accomplish for short term political reasons, but
MoreSandpiper Editorials
No, we do not yet have masked federal agents storming Del Mar neighborhoods. But we are affected in profound ways by the federal violence perpetrated in Minneapolis, LA, Portland, Chicago, Washington and other targeted Blue cities.
MoreWhy 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
MoreWe have all chosen to live here because Del Mar is a truly special community. We are well known for our commitment to environmental protection and our careful attention to our built environment. But what truly
MoreAre you frustrated by not being able to take action against the raging authoritarianism of the Trump regime? There is one bold step you can take to counter Trump’s plan to steal the next two elections–cast
MoreThe Sandpiper has often been critical of actions taken by the Del Mar City Council, but if we take a longer perspective, current and past councils have made several important and impactful decisions. Here is a
MoreIn the past twelve months 127 local newspapers in the U.S. have shuttered, averaging about 2.5 closures per week. The consequences are profound, particularly in terms of civic engagement and weakened government accountability. Not so
MoreAs we celebrate the 4th of July and consider all the challenges facing us in Del Mar, in California, and in the United States, let’s reflect on what true patriotism means. Patriotism can be thought
MoreThe problems Council Members Quirk and Gaasterland seem to have understanding the ethical boundaries suggests our community should have a conversation about what ethical standards we expect from our elected officials. We asked our AI
MoreWe have a gigantic dilemma looming in our near future that will test whether this current group of Council members can learn from recent history how to lead. It involves housing on the North Bluff (the
MoreRecently overheard comment from a local resident: “It doesn’t matter how crazy Trump is; It won’t impact us here in Del Mar.” Think again. Medical care impact Medicaid and Medicare are threatened. Hospitals are struggling
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
MoreMost elected positions are set up in a way that rewards short term accomplishments. Long term goals often are achieved (or not) long after decision makers have left office. So it is with our City Council
MoreDel Mar is a wonderful place to live. We have great beaches, great views of the ocean, lots of open space, and a carefully preserved environment that attracts many visitors and new residents. So how do
MoreWe can all love the tax on the ballot, called Measure M. It will help us pay for beaches, lifeguards, parks, streets, and other community services we provide. The best part of this tax is that
MoreWith three candidates for three council seats, Del Mar will have one new council member (John Spelich), and two second term members (Tracy Martinez and Dan Quirk) each with four years of experience. Terry Gaasterland is
MoreFeeling the heat in Del Mar? July 22, 2024, was the hottest day on record, according to a NASA analysis of global daily temperature data. July 21 and 23 of this year also exceeded the previous
MoreIt’s summertime and the living is easy (we wish). School is out, the fair has started, July 4th is just around the corner, it’s time to relax and enjoy the warm weather and sunshine. The election
MoreDel Mar faces a critical juncture soon, when the nomination period for three City Council seats opens in mid-July. John Spelich and Michael Minter have said they will run; it’s too early to tell who else
MoreIt is truly unfortunate that our City Council had to resort again to the only disciplinary measure available, censuring Member Dan Quirk for the second time in five months. The report by an independent investigator was
MoreDel Mar made the national news earlier this year, for better or worse. The February 14th edition of Fortune Magazine had an article by Alena Botros with the catchy title of “The comfort of 4,000 people
MoreWhat qualifies as a Del Mar non-profit organization and why does it matter? This question came before the City Council at its January 22nd meeting, but resolution was deferred for further review by a council subcommittee
MoreDel Mar needs a vigorous foreign policy. Many of our most difficult challenges and important decision options are made outside of the borders of our city. Our city operates as one cog in a very
MoreDel Mar, our home: a bit of history. Each era has its own particular set of problems and priorities that require strong clear leadership. In the 1970s intelligent residents with varying opinions, who appreciated our unique
MoreThere was once a time, before COVID, when City Advisory Committees met monthly, set their own agendas, had robust discussions that sometimes veered off topic, and often ran overtime. It was fun and productive, and the
MoreWe live in a time when key decisions affecting our quality of life in Del Mar are increasingly made not by our City Council, but by more distant state or regional entities: the State Legislature, State
MoreWhat’s missing in Del Mar? Young families. New generations of university professors and students. Diversity on many fronts: economic, racial, age and more. It wasn’t always so. In key respects, we are less diverse today
MoreThere was a time when Del Mar gained regional respect for environmental policies, beginning with the adoption of our groundbreaking Community Plan in 1976 and the more recent unanimous passage of our Climate Action Plan in
MoreSince incorporating in 1959, Del Mar has depended on citizen participation and volunteerism. In fact, we expect it. We have always been fortunate to have an outsized share of expertise in many areas – science, medicine,
MoreBurning fossil fuels for energy generation or transportation is killing our planet as we know it. Climate change experts agree that we must act now to decarbonize both sources of pollution poison. Del Mar has made
MoreSince its inception, the mission of the Sandpiper has been to defend our unique Community Plan, that has guided city policies and procedures since its adoption in 1976. Protecting our distinctive environment and maintaining our community
MoreThe City of Del Mar historically has made good use of its talented citizenry by including them on their advisory committees and listening to their input. The longstanding Lagoon Committee, the Finance Committee, the Parks and
MorePeriodically we remind ourselves and new readers about the Sandpiper story, why and how it was created and what we are trying to accomplish. So here’s the story as we know it. More than two
MoreKudos to Dwight Worden and Terry Gaasterland for running City Council campaigns observing both the letter and the spirit of the city Code of Ethics. They both demonstrated how to focus on issues even though not
MoreCity Council campaigns in recent years have sometimes produced negative, unfair, and unethical practices that many in our community find objectionable. One of the worst consequences of such conduct is the reluctance of some promising potential
MoreAs our three Council candidates rev up their campaigns for two seats, we should be thinking about issues and leadership capabilities. Leadership in government and politics requires a very different blend of skills than in
MoreDel Mar is a different place than in 1976 when the Community Plan was finalized and approved by voters. But the city retains its distinctive character that sets us apart from our neighbors because of the
MoreAlthough City Council elections will not occur until November, there are important races affecting Del Mar on the June 7 Primary Ballot. The Sandpiper has studied the various races and calls out the following of
MoreClimate change is accelerating faster than predicted, and meaningful action cannot be delayed any longer without dire consequences. Two recent publications, one international (Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and one local
MoreAs we watch the City Council in action, we’re struck with how important it is to have “adults in the room” when key decisions are made – and how much we lose or put at risk
MoreNY Times columnist David Brooks recently wrote a pessimistic piece about our country”s “long term loss of solidarity, rise in estrangement and hostility…society that is dissolving from the bottom up…Americans have been acting in fewer pro-social
MoreDaniel Patrick Moynihan famously said, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” This statement, made in the 1980s when Moynihan was the U.S. Senator from New York, is as relevant
MoreIt’s 2041. Global warming has accelerated faster than predicted, and the economy is in freefall. Our children ask, “what were our parents thinking in 2021 when they had a chance to take meaningful action and punted.
MoreMonday, October 4th was a day of striking dissonance. Ardem Patapoutian, PhD, a Del Mar resident and Scripps Research Professor, received the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology. His recognition continues the rich scientific legacy of
MoreThe machinery of government is intricate and complicated. In today’s political climate, successful election campaigns are too often driven by simplistic, sharp-line-in-the sand messaging, but governing is different. City Council members are responsible for a plateful
MoreThere is little doubt that Del Mar is a very special community in many ways, but after you have been here for a while you realize there is a secret sauce that is vital in concocting
MoreWe in San Diego County are one of the fortunate California counties to have a water reserve. Of the 57 others, 41 are living with water restrictions due to the ongoing drought affecting California and much
MoreLong-term problems require long-term perspectives. Those of us with a 10-year perspective may not be concerned about the existential threat of sea-level rise, but our children and grandchildren will have to deal with the consequences of
MoreOur long struggle to resolve the perilous balance of the train tracks and the eroding beach front bluffs is coming close to a breaking point. For decades leaders have avoided seriously addressing this very dangerous public
MoreElectric vehicles (EVs) have been around for over a decade, but they still represent less than 3% of registered vehicles in California. Governor Newsom has announced that 100% of light duty vehicles will be zero emission
MoreAs hope rises that we can see the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to be reminded that we have another challenge to deal with as soon as possible. As with the pandemic, changes in
MoreYear 2021 promises to be a very active year in Del Mar and well beyond. Many of our challenges, not unique to our small corner of earth, are often intertwined with much larger issues and jurisdictions.
MoreThe Wetlands Restoration Story
RECENTLY, DEL MAR has enjoyed a front row seat to watch a major wetlands restoration taking place by the San Dieguito River and Lagoon in the Fairgrounds’ South Lot. The story of how
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