Lisa wrote on Oct 21, 2007 12:14 AM:Waldron, Gallo, Daniels and Abed are a bunch of clowns. Months ago many residents were pointing out the fact that (once again) the city council was trying to write an ordinance without any studies. The council clowns balked at the point. Now, they are having to back peddle and do what they should have done in the first place. Not that the study will do much good. Why? One reason is because the council is trying to model this ordinance off of two cities that have had their laws in place for more than 40 years. It's like comparing apples to oranges. The council's claim that the ordinance "it's about quality of life" and "property values" is just a bunch of political double-speak - council members are once again talking out of the sides of their mouths. Instead of wasting money on this ordinance, why doesn't the city council fix our roads - they are a mess - full of potholes and uneven pavement. Our roads look like manure - spend the money to fix the roads - that would definately help our city Look better. But, the clowns in office, well...they are not much good for anything other than a laugh. I mean...you gotta laugh to keep from crying. As long as these four are in office, the city will continue to fall apart. Please join me in voting for ANYONE other than Ed Gallo & Sam Abed in the 2008 elections. Our city desperately needs some positive and intelligent leadership!!!

I agree with Lisa wrote on Oct 21, 2007 6:26 AM:This is not the first time these three have go forward with their plan before looking at the cost or even having a plan. Now they will WASTE tax dollars on a plan. Should this not have been done prior to now. We all know that since the three ... did not get their rental ban ordinance passed they are attacking the Latino community once again in a different way. Unfortunately with this they are attacking me. I own a three cars one my husband drives, one I drive, one my teenage daughter drives, we have a one car garage and room in our driveway for one car! According to Waldron, Abed and Gallo I deserve to have my car cited and perhaps towed but we will not know what that will be until they spend another million dollars on the plan and lets not forget the enforcement. I agree with Escondido Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler, "the only member of the council opposed to the parking restrictions, said her colleagues are planning to use the Escondido restrictions to fight illegal immigration, despite what they say. "I think they're trying to address the same old problem with a different solution," said Pfeiler" We need to elect city officials who are really concerned about our city not their own vendetta and agenda. This will be impossible to enforce and will prove itself to be a huge hassle for everyone involved. Sounds like we only have one sane person in office in Escondido.

whatever Lisa... wrote on Oct 21, 2007 6:29 AM:I for one would be happy to see this ordinance. It doesn't affect me because I live in an HOA where we cannot park on the street. Our neighborhood always looks very nice. I have driven through the other neighborhoods in Escondido and it looks terrible with cars packed onto the street. I applaud the "four clowns" for trying to clean this city up. I love the outskirts of Escondido but the central part of town is nasty and something needs to be done to save it. I don't understand people like Lisa..why wouldn't they want to clean up their neighborhood? I don't get it..

Stalling wrote on Oct 21, 2007 6:32 AM:The Parking Ordinance will not work because staff refuses to draft the ordinance.

Pablo wrote on Oct 21, 2007 7:04 AM:After reviewing a Escondido�s Circulation Element Map and Circulation/Transportation, Circulation Policy D2.1 (a) (b) (c) (d) and D4.4, it is apparent some streets are incorrectly being used for long-term parking and not the stated intended purpose, which is, moving vehicle traffic efficiently and safely. No parking should be allowed on those streets. ... Priority streets where the curbs should be painted red immediately are: Juniper north of 17th 17th east of Juniper Washington from Juniper east to El Norte Mission from Ash to Rose Lincoln from Ash to Rose Grand from Ash to Midway Escondido Blvd between Mission and El Norte Rock Springs between Seven Oaks and Washington Fig between El Norte and Grand Non-enforcement for decades of the existing Circulation Plan Policy serves only to provide on-street parking for excess tenants in overcrowded housing units. Non-enforcement further creates unsafe road conditions and endangers both pedestrians and motorists. If no parking at any time signs were placed on any residential portion of all Prime Arterial, Major Road or Collector classified streets, the new parking ordinance could be pretty simple and would be less likely to be challenged. In any event, when the new ordinance is finalized it should be clear that no parking permits will be issued for parking on any Prime Arterial, Major Road or Collector classified streets within the city of Escondido.

to Lisa wrote on Oct 21, 2007 8:14 AM:would you care to tell us where you are really coming from on your points of view because other than, being racial, your statements don't hold water.

Nick wrote on Oct 21, 2007 8:20 AM:How about you guys start by getting rid of everyone in this Country ILEGALLY from Escondio. That is the first step. I'm pretty sure you would be amazed at how many cars will disappear from the streets? The traffic will greatly improve and your schools wouldn't be overflowing. Escondido used to be a nice place to live. I grew up there and I remember. It's not to late.

Alfred wrote on Oct 21, 2007 8:30 AM:Why would we join you Lisa? Seems like all you do is complain and chide our city council. Haven't heard your solution to the obvious illegal immigrant problem we have here in our city. I am already noticing a difference on my street. Maybe you would be better off running for office in Mexico, not here!

BH wrote on Oct 21, 2007 8:42 AM:Lisa, This issue is not about coinditions of our streets, But if you look at other cities in our area the conditions of our streets are better than most. I have had my doubts about the city council. My issue is that they are timid in their resolve on these important issues. If we let these issues continue.... the city of escondido will become a welfare city and then you will have a reason to compain about conditions. I have lived in this city for 18 years and I have seen progress.. growth. But this issue and the releated causes will destroy this city if it is not dealt with now.

Dan wrote on Oct 21, 2007 8:51 AM:Lisa, why don't you run for office and clean up Escondido if you disapprove of Waldron, Gallo, Daniels, and Abed?

Ken wrote on Oct 21, 2007 9:19 AM:I don't believe that Lisa (above) really knows what she is talking about. It is the Mayor that she should be concerned with. The Mayor seems to be only concerned with the Latino vote and not the citizens of Escondido. I hope that the "No Parking" ordnance does get put into place, for their are multiple families now living in a SINGLE family residence. Which by the way, creates the over crowding of cars on the streets of Escondido. It takes a lot of courage to stand up for the citizens instead of being pressured by the various groups and citizens like Lisa, that are truly not doing the right thing. Keep up the great work Waldron, Gallo, Daniels and Abed.

Kimmie wrote on Oct 21, 2007 9:19 AM:Menlo Park certainly has the best on street parking restrictions. Each household gets to purchase up 100 overnight parking permits each year for guests and any dwelling unit that was not required by the city to provide off street parking per the city's off street parking rules gets to purchase up to two yearly permits to make sure every household meets the minimum required by the city rules. That is very reasonable and has been upheld in court. If a study now shows Escondido homeowners now require more off street parking than the city required developers to provide for each dwelling unit and that would be allowed under the Menlo Park plan, then it stands to reason that the off street parking spaces the city study says is now required should be increased for all new building permits. And if existing residents can not legally accommodate their vehicles on their own property than they should be required to purchase permits for each vehicle they find necessary to park on the street in front of their house.

Longtime Escondido Resident wrote on Oct 21, 2007 9:31 AM:I couldn't disagree more with Lisa who probably is not a property owner or has many cars in the street herself. I applaud these 4 council members for trying to fix a major problem in this town and seeing how others have done it. A big thank you to them for protecting our property values.

Anon wrote on Oct 21, 2007 9:34 AM:I used to think the Mayor was just a provincial, but now I'm starting to wonder what really motivates her. She should want to lift up all neighborhoods in our pitiful old city, not further ghettoize them. Everybody--everybody--who lives here deserves better. You do not help anyone by encouraging tenement living. She is determined to force the Esco flats down for what she condescendingly perceives to be the needs of illegals and social service dependents. There is something gravely wrong with her vision for these people, all the rest of us, and our city in general. As touched on in the article, cold weather cities have parking restrictions due to snow removal. People cope. We're smart enough to cope here, too. And actually, all street sweeping should be during the night with no cars in the way.

The Flip side wrote on Oct 21, 2007 10:17 AM:I lived in Pasadena in compliance with the parking ordinance for over 10 years. The ordinance actually helped those who did not have driveways or garages, especially from Thanksgiving to New Year's when large RVs, travel trailers and cars from out of state would camp out to "reserve" their space for a short walk to the parade route. In addition, it really helped slow down car thefts and break-ins targeting cars parked on the street. Police were able to find stolen and abandoned cars left parked streetside faster, too. Finally, the street cleaning operations kept debris, trash and junk from collecting along the curb next to parked cars instead of washing into the storm sewer system and clogging it or flooding streets during the rainy season.

Check Points wrote on Oct 21, 2007 10:57 AM:This is a manifestation that begins when a city allows too many multiple-family dwellings and apartment complexes, combined with wholesale unchecked illegal immigration that makes it so easy for them to blend in and double-up in residences not designed for double & triple occupancy. Now, throw in the mass accumulation of cars that typically follows (these people need transportation too), not to mention the additional manifestation of the unregistered/unlicensed/uninsured beaters clogging up the streets. Drive down any one of those neighborhoods after about 6pm, and see the blight for yourself. It's a total eyesore for the City of Escondido. This is why there should be way more support behind the roadside checkpoint initiative. If all of the pro-Latino pundants can get over the perceived discrimination issue, and the city allows a stepped up frequency of roadside checkpoints, that effort alone will make significant strides in filtering out car clutter in that community. Just picture it like a big dragnet, weeding out all the beaters that don't belong on public roads in the first place! Unlicensed/unregistered/uninsured vehicles have no place here because they violate all covenants of the state vehicle code, which knows no ethnic boundaries.

Go council! wrote on Oct 21, 2007 11:23 AM:I'd love for this ordinance to be passed! Some idiot parks in front of my house every night and walks away, doesn't live anywhere near here. I can't even put my trash cans out because of all the cars on my street. Neighbors use the garage as a storage unit for junk and park 3-7 cars on the street nightly! And this isn't just one neighbor, it's all of them. We all have 2 car garages, too.

Dennis wrote on Oct 21, 2007 12:43 PM:Some people lose site of what's important. Trying to say it's an ILLEAGLE'S promblem is a loss of site. It's illeagle to park that many car's in front of One house. That's pertty much standard in the UNITED STATES of AMERCIA, where we look for any-thing "ILLEAGLE" and then enforce the LAWS "LEAGAL CITZENS" say, So good for City Hall for doing it's job So I can stop crying and calling Police that will never come to help on that call till now they could not. KEEP VOTING Escondido and "ILLEGAL" anything! will be cleaned up

Jaime wrote on Oct 21, 2007 1:13 PM:My house has twenty people living in it. We need some place to park! Be careful lest you trample on my rights!!!

Pablo is right wrote on Oct 21, 2007 1:24 PM:How come the North County Times is ignoring the fact that Escondido is not enforcing it's own General Plan? If the City tried violating the density or use elements it would be reported. Why is Escondido allowing cars to park where the General Plan says they should not? Why doesn't the local newspaper do a story on the subject?

Dennis wrote on Oct 21, 2007 2:21 PM:Hey Jaime, boarding house's need a Permit to opearte and it's the City's Right to charge you! Pluse you and your people are breaking the LAW! You dont have that Right and if you say it's your extended family you need to bring things up to Code for those RIGHTS and your neighbor has RIGHTS, I have RIGHTS and who is Right come VOTING DAY Sir! the people. So get those 20 people Registerded, if they cann't who's Right's?

Bubbles wrote on Oct 21, 2007 2:46 PM:Jon Brindle is quoted as saying, "Walker will tell us how many cars can be accommodated on streets, garages and driveways, and how that matches up with the demand." Perhaps Jon Brindle is missing the point. For the most part the residents of Escondido don't want cars accommodated, parked, on the street just because there may be demand. They want peoples vehicles parked in the off street space that was provided for that purpose. That would eliminate demand. They want the street in front of their homes for the use of themselves if necessary and their guests if necessary. What they don't want is the street in front of their home being used to accommodate vehicles overflowing from overcrowded apartment house lots and overcrowded single family homes with multiple groups in them. Sounds like Stalling has a point.

Watchdog wrote on Oct 21, 2007 3:15 PM:When was the public noticed City Council meeting where public input was taken concerning hiring Walker Parking Consultants? Was their any discussion, which council person made the motion to hire this firm for this purpose, who seconded it, what was the vote?

Escondido Girl wrote on Oct 21, 2007 3:53 PM:How about instead of worrying about the issues with parking and cars and focus on the real problem. Why are loan companies now approving loans for more then one family for a clearly listed single family dwelling. This whole issue has nothing to do with attaking illigal immigrants, and I'm so tired of every issue put in the papers being accussed of an attack on them. How about this city is full of issues that affect everyone and there is every race involved in it.

The Professor wrote on Oct 21, 2007 4:48 PM:Sorry Dennis, but you really shouldn't flaunt your 7th grade education by writing comments with multiple spelling errors.

Pablo wrote on Oct 21, 2007 4:52 PM:Why is the City hiring a firm to tell them, "how many cars can be accommodated on streets, garages and driveways, and how that matches up with the demand." We all know current demand is caused by overcrowded residential rental housing. We want that stopped. I thought that the council majority didn't want cars accommodated on streets unless they had guest permits or had permits because code required off street parking space was not required by the city at the time the property was developed. They even went so far as to allow each single family residence one permit to accommodate any hardship that they might have. It appears someone is trying to cloud the issue and stall the process here.

Anon wrote on Oct 21, 2007 7:39 PM:I agree, Pablo. Parking demand is not about how many vehicles can be parked at a single family residence, it's about how many should be parked at a single family residence so it's still legally conforming to being a single family residence. I just do not understand who would be against efforts to make Escondido a better looking, more pleasant place to live for everyone--unless it's people who do not live here but are profiting from the blight. What is in it for anyone to oppose making this city more sightly? I don't get it. And I don't get why the people here who do care have put up with it for so long. Can residents sue the city for not stopping single family homes from being used as boarding house businesses? If I opened a bed and breakfast, I bet I'd have to get a permit--or try to. Or if I tried to legally change my house into a boarding house, I wonder what kind of reaction I'd get from this city.

Bella wrote on Oct 21, 2007 9:59 PM:I'm glad to finally hear more on this ordinance, I thought it was another one of the councils fly by night ideas, that get thrown by the wayside. I hope this ordinance gets put into place and soon. I am so sick of these overcrowded rentals that provide NO off street parking for their multiple tenants. I am sick of their junky cars being parked in front of my house trashing up it's appearance. I am sick of not getting the street in front of my home cleaned because of these piles parked there. They really need to start forcing these slumlords to provide off street parking or get fined, and if they have too many cars per apt. or home, then maybe they shouldnt rent to a family of 20. I'm sick of looking at all of our streets being trashed up by these vehicles. The permit idea stinks, if you give each residence a 1 year permit and 100 overnight guest permits, why bother with the ordinance at all, it wont even be worth it. Just get this junk off the streets please.

To Anon wrote on Oct 21, 2007 10:04 PM:Unfortunately, you would probably get very little slack from the city regarding this. They are not and basically cannot enforce the single family home code. There are several halfway homes in our residential neighborhoods clearly full of people who are not family, and these places dont even require a license to run. Here's another issue our wonderful city could take a look at changing, but will they, no!

From Lisa wrote on Oct 21, 2007 10:32 PM: To: "Whatever Lisa"...my neighborhood is just fine. I don't need enforcement in my neighborhood. P.S. Good for you...glad this wouldn't �affect� you...because this is ALL ABOUT YOU! To: "to Lisa"...go back and re-read my post (it's the first post) and then get back to me with your well thought-out comments. To: "Alfred"...I don't complain, I cite facts (well the �clown� comment, that�s my personal take on the council four). FYI...Escondido is not the only city, nor is the USA the only country to suffer the affects of illegal immigrants...have you ever heard of France, Austria or the Netherlands. I strongly recommend that you read the following story: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/10/07/news/nation/14_16_4610_6_07.txt. (P.S. look to your federal representatives for solutions). If you are noticing a difference on your street it�s probably because of the street sweeping ordinance (which seems fair & seems to be working). But it appears that you are admitting that you think the ordinance was written to fight illegal immigrants car population, versus actually a �street sweeping� ordinance�if the ordinance really is a thinly veiled attempt to address the illegal immigrants�well that would be a deceptive ordinance. And finally�your �running for office in Mexico� comment�well, that�s just stupid! To: �BH��the city should have acted a long time ago and not have let it get to this point. Gallo is in his 7th year on council, Abed is approaching 4 years, Waldron is in her what 3rd term�so, tell us�how did it get to this point? Yeah, there has been "growth" but, I wouldn't necessarily call it "progress". Our infrastructure has been extremely stressed because of the "growth" (check out the high schools & our roads). To: �Ken��What are you talking about��the Latino vote�? If there was such a strong Latino voting population do you really think Waldron & Daniels would be in office? Ohhh�hahaha�that�s a good one! You crack me up!! To: �Longtime Escondido Resident��you shall stand corrected. I am a property owner and my family has three cars (one of which is a classic car) and we have one motorcycle (can you say tax revenue?). All vehicles are �legal� & currently operational. Unlike you, I will NOT applaud the council�they are the ones that have been IGNORING the problem and only the last two/three years (just in time for elections) have they started to acknowledge the problems & the over-crowding & the code violations. News Flash: the Illegals are NOT the only ones guilty of these issues/problems! The problem with the councils' �addressing of the issues� is their lack of study and lack of enforceable ordinances (& alot of times lack of real thought)! And still�every year�all city employees & city council gets a pay raise. DISGUSTING!!!

Dear NCT wrote on Oct 21, 2007 11:24 PM:From Lisa - you posted my comments of 10:32pm, however the transfer there appears to have been a problem with identify punctuation. It's unfortunate that it was posted as it is. I'll watch my punctuation marks, next time...but, thanks for posting it.

to the three stooges wrote on Oct 22, 2007 2:42 AM:stop wasting our tax dollars and your personal hate towards minorities. and why should i pay to park in front of my own house?

To "to the three stooges" wrote on Oct 22, 2007 8:01 AM:You should pay to park in front of your house because you don't own the street! You own your house, park in your garage or in your driveway!

Chubton wrote on Oct 22, 2007 11:28 AM:Those of you who are criticizing Lisa (Ken, Alfred, et al.) need to read Lisa’s post. She, like you, very much wants to improve her city. She is skeptical of the decisions made by your City Council. They are again showing their naivety by making an emotional decision before doing their homework.

AGAIN wrote on Oct 22, 2007 2:18 PM:the NTC's doesn't post comments SUPPORTING our city council

Santa Ana wrote on Oct 22, 2007 2:24 PM:The City of Santa Ana in Orange does not have a city wide ban on street parking but it does have a neighborhood one, and its all the time not just at night. The city provides each home owner in that neighborhood two permits per house and a stack of guest permits. Anyone can call the local police number to have them come out and give tickets. Also our area was old, and there were no garages, just carriage houses that would hold 1 small car. I believe newer developments got 1 permit but had 2 car garages. Many families have 3-5 cars and the limit works for everyone that I know of. As kids grow up they get cars. In my family of 5 we had 5 cars one for each of us, We did have to park 3 in the driveway. This is not an immigration issue rather a density and zoning issue. It sounds like Escondido did not require enough off street parking. I belive that new apartments should have 2 parking spots per unit for 1 or 2 bedroom units and 3 for anything with 3 or more bedrooms.

Santa Ana wrote on Oct 22, 2007 6:27 PM:What Escondido should strive to be. Not.

AResident wrote on Oct 23, 2007 2:46 PM:The city should make the Landlords of Homes and apartments responsible for monitoring the number of people living on the property. Typically a landlord doesn't care as long as they get their rent. The other thing that should be manditory is that a renter is checked to see if he is a child molester or felon.

Dennis wrote on Oct 23, 2007 8:44 PM:Thank you Professer for en-lighting me on my muitple spelling. When you get your Badge for the spelling Police or the Spelling CODE ENFORCMENT Police I guess I'll comply then. As long as my RIGHTS arn't infringed on, or if I was Profiled, I thank NCT for printing what I have to sayIt's from my heart no my Head, So thanks!!

Randy wrote on Oct 24, 2007 5:26 AM:If Escondido burns to the ground, will enforcement of the new parking ordinance be rendered moot?

LANDLORDS REVISITED wrote on Oct 24, 2007 2:07 PM:The trouble with the landlord bill that failed is that it, supposedly, "targeted" illegals. God, I wish SOMEBODY with connections to the city council would forward this (not new) idea to them! to wit: have EVERYBODY who applies for an apartment sign a permission for the landlord to run a special check on their Social Security number. This is done as automatically as part of the mortgage lending process. Extending it to the rental community would be no great challenge. There are companies who do these special checks, for a fee, which could be collected in advance, from applicant, and returned/deducted from rent, IF they pass. EVERYBODY must comply - ergo no discrimination issues.