Fact Checking

While most fact check sites have some sort of bias, often expressed by checking more facts of one side versus the other, the following are generally a good source of info:  

The Cabinet of the United States

In order of succession to the Presidency*:

1. Vice President of the United States
2. (not cabinet post) Speaker of the House of Representatives
3. (not cabinet post) President pro tempore of the Senate
4. Department of State
5. Department of the Treasury 
6. Department of Defense
7. Department of Justice
8. Department of the Interior
9. Department of Agriculture
10. Department of Commerce
11. Department of Labor
12. Department of Health and Human Services
13. Department of Housing and Urban Development
14. Department of Transportation
15. Department of Energy
16. Department of Education
17. Department of Veterans Affairs
18. Department of Homeland Security

The following positions have the status of Cabinet-rank, but not officially in the Cabinet:

• White House Chief of Staff
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Office of Management & Budget
• United States Trade Representative
• United States Mission to the United Nations
• Council of Economic Advisers
• Small Business Administration

* to be eligible for the Presidency, must be natural-born citizen

News Sources - Some Good, Some Bad

It's hard work to be informed. If you see a 'news' article on social media, be sure to check the source before sharing. Use this great resource to see if the site is known to spread conspiracy theories and/or fake news:

False, Misleading, Clickbait-y, and/or Satirical “News” Sources  © 2016  by Melissa Zimdars

Below are some suggestions for news sources (ordered alphabetically), though bear in mind many have a bias - they reportedly share the truth, but may frame it in a way to influence you to react one way or the other.

Aggregate different sides:

• AllSides
• The Week

'Mainstream' sources:

• Al Jazeera
• The Atlantic
• BBC
• The Boston Globe
• The Christian Science Monitor
• The Economist
• Forbes
• National Public Radio
• The New York Times
• The Wall Street Journal
• The Washington Post

Primarily Independent News Sources:

• The Center for Public Integrity
• FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting)
• The Nation
• Political Wire
• ProPublica
• The Real News Network
• Reveal (from The Center for Investigative Reporting)
• Watchdog.org
• Truthout
• World Press
• WorldNews Network

Trump Promises for First 100 Days

Donald Trump’s Contract with the American Voter

What follows is my 100-day action plan to Make America Great Again.

It is a contract between myself and the American voter — and begins with restoring honesty and accountability, and bringing change to Washington.

On the first day of my term of office, my administration will immediately pursue the following:

Six measures to clean up the corruption and special interest collusion in Washington, DC:

★ FIRST, propose a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress.

★ SECOND, a hiring freeze on all federal employees to reduce the federal workforce through attrition (exempting military, public safety, and public health).

★ THIRD, a requirement that for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated.

★ FOURTH, a five-year ban on White House and Congressional officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government service.

★ FIFTH, a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government.

★ SIXTH, a complete ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for American elections.

Seven actions to protect American workers:

★ FIRST, I will announce my intention to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205.

★ SECOND, I will announce our withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

★ THIRD, I will direct the Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator.

★ FOURTH, I will direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately.

★ FIFTH, I will lift the restrictions on the production of $50 trillion dollars’ worth of job-producing American energy reserves, including shale, oil, natural gas and clean coal.

★ SIXTH, lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward.

★ SEVENTH, cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs and use the money to fix America’s water and environmental infrastructure.

Five actions to restore security and the constitutional rule of law:

★ FIRST, cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama.

★ SECOND, begin the process of selecting a replacement for Justice Scalia from one of the 20 judges on my list, who will uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution.

★ THIRD, cancel all federal funding to sanctuary cities.

★ FOURTH, begin removing the more than two million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won’t take them back.

★ FIFTH, suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur. All vetting of people coming into our country will be considered “extreme vetting.”

Middle Class Tax Relief and Simplification Act

An economic plan designed to grow the economy 4% per year and create at least 25 million new jobs through massive tax reduction and simplification, in combination with trade reform, regulatory relief and lifting the restrictions on American energy. The largest tax reductions are for the middle class. A middle-class family with two children will get a 35% tax cut. The current number of brackets will be reduced from seven to three, and tax forms will likewise be greatly simplified. The business rate will be lowered from 35% to 15%, and the trillions of dollars of American corporate money overseas can now be brought back at a 10% rate.

End the Offshoring Act

Establishes tariffs to discourage companies from laying off their workers in order to relocate in other countries and ship their products back to the U.S. tax-free.

American Energy and Infrastructure Act

Leverages public-private partnerships, and private investments through tax incentives, to spur $1 trillion in infrastructure investment over ten years. It is revenue neutral.

School Choice and Education Opportunity Act

Redirects education dollars to give parents the right to send their kid to the public, private, charter, magnet, religious or home school of their choice. Ends Common Core and brings education supervision to local communities. It expands vocational and technical education, and makes two- and four year college more affordable.

Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act

Fully repeals Obamacare and replaces it with Health Savings Accounts, the ability to purchase health insurance across state lines and lets states manage Medicaid funds. Reforms will also include cutting the red tape at the FDA: there are over 4,000 drugs awaiting approval, and we especially want to speed the approval of life-saving medications.

Affordable Childcare and Eldercare Act

Allows Americans to deduct childcare and eldercare from their taxes, incentivizes employers to provide on-site childcare services and creates tax-free dependent care savings accounts for both young and elderly dependents, with matching contributions for low-income families.

End Illegal Immigration Act

Fully-funds the construction of a wall on our southern border with the full understanding that the country of Mexico will be reimbursing the United States for the full cost of such wall; establishes a two-year mandatory minimum federal prison sentence for illegally re-entering the U.S. after a previous deportation, and a five-year mandatory minimum federal prison sentence for illegally re-entering for those with felony convictions, multiple misdemeanor convictions or two or more prior deportations; also reforms visa rules to enhance penalties for overstaying and to ensure open jobs are offered to American workers first.

Restoring Community Safety Act

Reduces surging crime, drugs and violence by creating a task force on violent crime and increasing funding for programs that train and assist local police; increases resources for federal law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors to dismantle criminal gangs and put violent offenders behind bars.

Restoring National Security Act

Rebuilds our military by eliminating the defense sequester and expanding military investment; provides veterans with the ability to receive public VA treatment or attend the private doctor of their choice; protects our vital infrastructure from cyber-attack; establishes new screening procedures for immigration to ensure those who are admitted to our country support our people and our values.

Clean Up Corruption in Washington Act

Enacts new ethics reforms to drain the swamp and reduce the corrupting influence of special interests on our politics.

On November 8th, Americans will be voting for this 100-day plan to restore prosperity to our economy, security to our communities and honesty to our government.

This is my pledge to you.

And if we follow these steps, we will once more have a government of, by and for the people.

* According to speech in Gettysburg on October 23, 2016. Also at donaldjtrump.com/contract

post script: Here is the link of accomplishments at https://www.donaldjtrump.com/100

Grant Hauber: Chamber of Secrets is Open

So, Trump supporters, what gives? You think we are whining? You think we are being 'sore losers'? What you are witnessing is the backlash against the ugliest use of divisiveness in the history of this country, short of the civil war. We are railing against racism, xenophobia, sexism, and the other horrors stoked by your candidate.

You think that is bollocks? Just look what has been unleashed in the first 24 hours after the election: swastikas, anti-semitic messages, a white guy telling an Asian woman, "we won, now leave my country", "white power" chants, assaults on Muslims, taunts against anyone not white, the KKK organizing a celebration rally. FFS, tell me there is not something wrong with that! Tell me the perpetrators of those acts were not emboldened by Trump. Also please tell me whether or not you support this? Or are you going to turn a blind eye on this, like when you voted?

Sorry, you cannot just select the "drain the swamp" meme, or cut taxes theme, you get the whole frickin' package when you vote for someone like Trump. And those of us protesting, posting these messages, and, yes, crying or even hiding out of fear are NOT FRICKING WHINING. We are scared to death for our country, for our communities, for our neighbors, for our friends, for our families - particularly those who fall into categories who seem to not be in favor in the Trump camp.

We do not want to see 50 years of civil rights progress thrown out in space of a few days. We are comforting our children of all ages who, for lack of a better description, saw "evil" win. You can talk all of these horrible things, lie, and still win. They are shattered. So people are trying to let you guys know we will not stand for this. This is beyond the electoral process. There is 50% (perhaps more) of the country that is not with you on this. So you don't get carte blanche.

The best way to get the things you want out of this election is to speak up and stand with your fellow citizens in denouncing the hate. Show you are with your countrymen. Show you believe in the laws and policies that gave people the right to vote, to marry, to work, to get paid for it, to not have to walk down the street in fear.

We need to see it, right now, from everyone who believes in these rights, before shit gets out of control.

Statue of Liberty

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

• Emma Lazarus’ sonnet, New Colossus

Debra Hager: Fighting for What is Right

If anything good came out of this, its that I feel angry now. Whereas before if I was speaking with someone who would throw in subtle (or not so subtle) barbs and negatives about president Obama or our country, I would bite my tongue because I wanted to be polite and keep things cordial. I will not do this anymore. If I disagree with someone's snide comments, or racist jokes, or whatever, I am going to call them out on it. I am going to speak up. I am going to take a stand.  I have less time on this earth left than I did yesterday and the day before and I am not going down without fighting for what is right, and true, and good.

As Hillary said in her concession speech yesterday "Never stop believing that fighting for what is right is worth it.   It is."

Tuesday night, I watched a woman who devoted her ENTIRE life to working for the less fortunate and making the world better, go down because of hatred, ignorance, racism,  dogmatically positioned thinking, and a man who has never done a thing in his life to help anyone else out except himself.

Hatred, racism, ignorance is not the country I know, or was brought up in, or that the rest of the world views us as. I will fight for what I know is right. Always.

Robert Reich: Why We Need a New Democratic Party

Read article here

Ron Pitts: My Struggle

My struggle is this: A long time ago, this election became no longer a political choice but a moral one. Everyone who voted for Trump is not racist, but everyone who voted for Trump had to decide that racism, bigotry and misogyny was not a dealbreaker. So how do I allow friends to stand up and tell their peers that misogyny, racism, and xenophobia are ok? They are not.

Everything about my life tells me to listen, accept, and invite other people to engage and exchange ideas. Also, everything about my own moral compass tells me to stand up against hatred, and bigotry and say it’s unacceptable. I know where my responsibility lies. What do I say? When, if ever, do I say it? I figured it out over this cycle.

When peoples words shift to misogyny, and the defense of such it becomes even more personal to me. I have daughters, And truthfully they don't feel safe in this country right now, as I they now understand that vast swathes of it have no interest in protecting their body or their dignity. A 9 year old looked at me in the eye about a month ago and tells me he’s thrilled with Trump (in front of the girls). I know that means that means that their existence matters less to him than whatever it is he thinks Trump represents. I can love him just as I love everyone, and I know he doesn’t wish them personal harm, but my heart is broken knowing their life doesn’t matter to him.

I'm fond (for the wrong reasons) of a post and old friend did, in it he says he is proud that he didn't unfriend anyone during this election, but then has posted stuff defending Trump mocking the disabled, that's something they will have to live with not me.

IF we believe we are a Christian Nation, we certainly aren't there if we cloak our hatred for other groups, in Bible verses. The Evangelicals support for Trump will be an indictment against its validity as a Christian Nation for years to come. And is a piss poor example.

Anyway, now you know where I stand.

Brigid Parsons: Time to Stop Being Complacent

Yes, there is a small percentage of people who are raging racists, sexist, bigots and just plain stupid. Donald Trump has given them a very big voice. But I HAVE to believe that most of the people that voted for him are just feeling completely powerless/voiceless because of the way Congress has been inept for the past way-too-many years. 'Elitists' cannot put them all in a 'basket of deplorables', the 'others', because we all do have to work together, dissolve barriers instead of building them. It would be too easy, and accomplish nothing, to just point and say 'ew'. My greatest fear is not his policies, most crazy ones will probably be reigned in a bit to just distasteful. Mostly, it's that he has given that small percentage permission to spew vile hatred, intimidate, promote violence toward society's most vulnerable. I will be looking for a way to expend efforts to help.

Love, compassion and truth must win out, time to stop being complacent.

San Diego 2016

I live in North County San Diego, and here is what is on the ballot:

• County Board of Education (5th District)
  • Mark Wyland
  • *won*Rick Shea (incumbent)
• Tri-City Healthcare Board of Directors (vote for 4)
  • *won*Larry Schallock (incumbent), Clinic Pharmacist
  • *won*Rosemarie Reno (incumbent), Registered Nurse
  • Donna Rencsak, Marriage and Family Therapist
  • *won*Julie Nygaard (incumbent)
  • Dan Hughes, Business Owner
  • Marggie Castellano, Film/TV Producer
  • Frank Gould, retired Marine, Judicial Officer
  • *won* Leigh Anne Grass, Registered Nurse
  • Ramona Finnila (incumbent)

• *passed*Measure A: San Diego County Road Repair, Transit, Traffic Relief, Safety and Water Quality Measure
• Measure B: Ordinance Amending the County General Plan, County Zonig Map and County Code, and Adopting the Lilac Hills Ranch Specific Plan

• City Council (vote for 2)
  • Lorraine M Wood (incumbent)
  • *won*Cori Schumacher, Non-Profit Executive Director
  • Brandon Rowley - no statement in sample ballot
  • Bill Fowler, Business Technology Consultant
  • Ann Tanner, Community Volunteer, former School Board President
  • Melanie Burkholder, Dr of Philosophy, Private Practice Owner
  • *won*Keith Blackburn (incumbent), retired police
  • link to report of Second Candidate Foru
  •  
• *passed*Measure O: Replace Fire Station 2
• *passed*Measure MM: MiraCosta College Job Training, College Transfer, Veteran Support Measure

California 2016

State Assembly (76th District)

• Thomas Krouse (Republican)
• *won* Rocky Chavez (Republican, incumbent)

Propositions

• *passed* Proposition 51: School Bonds. Funding for K-12 School and Community College Facilities.
• *passed* Proposition 52: Medi-Cal Hospital Fee Program.
• Proposition 53: Revenue Bonds. Statewide Voter Approval.
• *passed* Proposition 54: Legislature. Legislation and Proceedings.
• *passed* Proposition 55: Tax Extension to Fund Education and Healthcare.
• *passed* Proposition 56: Cigarette Tax to Fund Healthcare, Tobacco Use Prevention, Research, and Law Enforcement.
• *passed* Proposition 57: Criminal Sentences. Parole, Juvenile Criminal Proceedings and Sentencing.
• *passed* Proposition 58: English Proficiency. Multilingual Education.
• *passed* Proposition 59: Corporations. Political Spending. Federal Constitutional Protections.
• Proposition 60: Adult Films, Condoms, Health Requirements.
• Proposition 61: State Prescription Drug Purchases. Pricing Standards.
• Proposition 62: Death Penalty.
• *passed* Proposition 63: Firearms. Ammunition Sales.
• *passed* Proposition 64: Marijuana Legalization.
• Proposition 65: Carryout Bags. Charges.
• Proposition 66: Death Penalty. Procedures.
• *passed* Proposition 67: Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags.

What Donald Trump Owns

• The Trump Organization was founded in 1923 by Elizabeth and Fred Trump as Elizabeth Trump & Son
• Donald Trump started working there in 1968, given control in 1971
• 515 subsidiaries and entities with 264 of them bearing Trump's name and another 54 including his initials

Holdings

• real estate including
  • Trump Intl Hotel & Tower Chicago, IL - license
  • Mar-a-lago Club, FL - own
  • Trump Grand Sunny Isles, FL - license
  • Trump Towers Sunny Isles, FL - license
  • Trump Hollywood, FL - license
  • Trump Plaza New Jersey, NJ - license, cancelled?
  • Trump Intl Hotel Las Vegas, NV - joint venture with Phil Ruffin
  • The Estates at Trump National, CA
  • 610 Park Avenue, NY - development fees
  • Trump Intl Hotel & Tower New York, NY - development fees
  • Trump Palace, NY - license
  • Trump Parc, NY - own 19 units
  • Trump Parc East, NY - license
  • Trump Park Avenue, NY - own 23 units, license
  • Trump Park Residences Yorktown, NY - license
  • Trump Place, NY
  • Trump Plaza New Rochelle, NY - license
  • Trump Soho New York, NY - partnership with Bayrock Group
  • Trump Tower at City Center Westchester, NY - license
  • Trump Tower New York, NY - own
  • Trump World Tower, NY - own
  • Trump Parc Stamford, CT - license
  • Trump Intl Hotel & Tower Waikiki Beach Walk, HI - license
  • international propoerties
    • Trump Towers Istanbul, Turkey
    • Trump Ocean Club, Panama
    • Trump World, South Korea
    • Trump Intl Hotel & Tower Totonto, Canada
    • Trump Tower at Century City Makati, Philippines
    • Trump Tower Mumbai, India
    • Trump Towers Pune, India
    • Trump Tower Punta del Este, Uruguay
    • Trump Intl Hotel & Tower Vancouver, Canada
  • commercial properties
    • 1290 Sixth Avenue, NY - 30 % stake
    • 555 California Street, CA - 30 % stake
    • 40 Wall Street, NY - own
    • Trump Tower Rio de Janiero, Brazil
  • Beverly Hills estate - own
  • 2 Palm Beach homes - own
  • Seven Springs estate, NY - own
• Vornado Realty Trust portfolio - stakeholder
• Trump Vineyard Estates, VA - unclear
• Central Park Carousel, NYC - management
• Wollman Rink, NYC - management
• Trump Golf
  • 17 courses
• Trump International Realty - residential brokerage
• Trump Model Management
• Trump Productions
  • The Apprentice, TV show
  • Celebrity Apprentice, TV show
  • Pageant Place, TV show
  • The Ultimate Merger, TV show
  • Miss Universe Pageant
  • Miss USA Pageant
  • Miss Teen USA Pageant
• Books
• Donald J Trump Collection - clothing, eyewear, accessories
• Trump Home - Furniture, bedding, lighting, mirrors, chandeliers
• Trump Natural Spring Water
• Success by Trump - fragrance
• Sentient Jets - jet time sharing
• as developer, but not owner
  • Riverside South, NY
• Parker Adnan - 17.2% stake
• Restaurants in Trump Tower: Trump Buffet, Trump Catering, Trump Ice Cream Parlor, and Trump Bar

Defunct

• a number of real estate projects
• Trump Entertainment Resorts
• Trump Entrepreneur Initiative aka Trump University
• Trump Ice
• Trump Financial - mortgage firm
• Trump Sales and Leasing - residential sales
• GoTrump.com - a former online travel search engine
• Select By Trump - a line of coffee drinks
• Trump Drinks - an energy drink for the Israeli and Palestinian markets
• Donald Trump The Fragrance
• Trump Magazine
• Trump Chocolate
•  Trump Institute
• Trump: The Game - 1989 board game with a 2004 re-release version tied to The Apprentice
• Donald Trump's Real Estate Tycoon - a business simulation game
• Trump Shuttle,
• Trump Mortgage
• Trump Vodka
• Trump Steakhouse
• Trump Steaks

Investopedia Wikipedia

Measure A

San Diego County Road Repair, Transit, Traffic Relief, Safety and Water Quality Measure

*PASSED*

Official Summary

Shall an ordinance be adopted to: repair roads, deteriorating bridges; relieve congestion; provide every community funds for pothole/street repairs; expand public transit, including improved services for seniors, disabled, students, veterans; reduce polluted runoff; preserve open space to protect water quality/reduce wildfires by enacting, with independent oversight/audits, a 40-year, half-cent local sales tax ($308 million annually) that Sacramento cannot take away?

• San Diego Registrar Summary
• full text
• Ballotpedia

Notes

• 2/3 approval needed to pass
• placed on ballot by SANDAG
• overseen by ITOC
  • 1% admin fee
  • increase sales tax by 0.5% for 40 years
    • statewide base sales tax rate is 7.5%
    • San Diego County is 8% (more in El Cajon, Vista, La Mesa, National City)
    • Exceptions to tax:
      • Sales of tangible personal property to operators of aircraft to be used or consumed principally outside the County
      • Sales of property to be used outside the County that is shipped to a point outside of the County
      • The sale of tangible personal property if the seller is obligated to furnish the property for a fixed price pursuant to a contract entered into prior to the operative date of this Ordinance.
      • A lease of tangible personal property that is a continuing sale of such property, for any period of time for which the lessor is obligated to lease the property for an amount fixed by the lease prior to the operative date of this Ordinance.
      • If the purchaser is obligated to purchase the property for a fixed price pursuant to a contract entered into prior to the operative date of this Ordinance.
      • bonds would be issued payable from the sales tax proceeds
      • requires local agencies to match funding
      • ask SANDAG to use "best efforts" to complete Priority Corridor programs within 15 years: SR78 (HOV), I-5 (HOV, COASTER double tracking, add Fairgrounds Station), SR52 (HOV), Sorrento Valley Station relocation, new Purple Trolley Line, more Orange and Green and Blue Trolleys, SR 67 (widening), I-8 ("improvements"), SR94/125 (missing connectors), express service San Ysidro-Downtown-Old Town-Kearny Mesa and Iris Station-Otay Mesa
      • "goal" of 80%-100% local workers on capital projects
      • monies used for (min % of net revenue listed):
        • Local Infrastructure Projects (24 %):transit operations/management, transit youth passes, transit incentives for developers, natural habitat development/maintenance, build/maintain local roads, traffic light synchronization, sidewalks, bike paths, beach sand replenishment, greenhouse gas reduction plans, and prepare/implement watershed management plans.
        • Regional Corridors Projects: Transit Services - Capital (26.8 %): new and expanded transit services
        • Regional Corridors Projects: HOV Lanes (1o.8 %)
        • Regional Corridors Projects: Highways and Connectors (3.4 %)
        • Active Transportation Projects (3 %): bikeway facilities and connectivity improvements, pedestrian and walkable community projects, bicycle and pedestrian safety projects and programs, pedestrian grade separation projects, and traffic calming projects
        • Open Space Funding (11.1 %): implementation of the regional share of habitat conservation plans, including acquiring, managing, and monitoring conservation lands
        • Transit Operator Funding: New Transit Services (4.92 %): funding for the region’s transit operators for operation of new, expanded, or enhanced services
        • Transit Operator Funding: Advanced Transit Services (2.53 %)
        • Transit Operator Funding: Enhanced Local Bus Services (1.95 %)
        • Transit Operator Funding: Enhanced Trolley Services (1.95 %)
        • Transit Operator Funding: Enhanced COASTER and SPRINTER Services (0.55 %) - 6 additional one-way weekday trips on COASTER, "increased frequency and longer hours"
        • Grants Program: Rail/Road Grade Separation (5 %)
        • Grants Program: Arterial Traffic Signal Synchronization (1 %)
        • Grants Program: Specialized Transportation Projects (3 %): for projects and programs specifically designed to address the needs of transportation disadvantaged populations (seniors, students, disabled, low-income, veterans)

Measure A Debate

Measure B

Ordinance Amending the County General Plan, County Zoning Map and County Code, and Adopting the Lilac Hills Ranch Specific Plan

*Failed*

Official Summary

Shall this Initiative be adopted for the purpose of amending the County General Plan, Zoning Ordinance and Code of Regulatory Ordinances and approving the Lilac Hills Ranch Specific Plan (“Plan”)? The Plan provides for the development of a 608-acre master-planned community including 1,746 dwelling units, three commercial centers, a public park, 10 private parks and 16 miles of trails. The project site is generally located north of Escondido and east of I-15 in the unincorporated area of North San Diego County.

• San Diego Registrar Summary
• full text - this is 654 pages long!!!!
• Ballotpedia

Notes

• located east of I-15, north of the Welk Resort (Valley Center/Bonsall), 608 acres
• Lilac Hills Ranch website
• Land Use:
  • Current: Much of the project site is currently used for agricultural operations, and the surrounding area has low-density residential uses. Under the current General Plan designation, up to 110 homes could be developed on the project site; no commercial uses are allowed.
  • Desired: a new community including 1,746 dwelling units (903 single family detached units, 164 single-family attached units, 211 mixed-use units, 468 single-family detached senior citizen units), 3.3 acre Senior Community Center, a 200-room group care living facility, a 10-acre site for institutional uses, such as a house of worship, and three commercial mixed-use centers totaling 90,000 square feet of space. Also 25.6 acres of parks, including a 13.5-acre public park, 10 private parks, and 16 miles of trails, approx 104.1 acres of biological open space, 20.3 acres of common area open space for community gardens, 23.8 acres active agriculture.
• The measure requires recreational facilities, a potential school site, an internal private road system, storm drain system, underground utilities, water lines, a site for a water reclamation facility and related distribution system, detention basins and wet weather storage ponds.
  • sites for school and water treatment will be provided.
  • the school would not be built, the land is available for a school to be built
  • it is not clear whether the water treatment facility would be provided by Lilac Hills or fall to the local civic entities ($26-28 Million)
• Lilac Hills Ranch was thoroughly reviewed for over three years by the County’s Planning Department, including two comprehensive Environmental Impact Reports.
• self-labeled as "a sustainable, smart growth community"
  • dual water pipes ("purple"), drought tolerant plants, pervious surfaces, pre-wired for solar and electric car charging stations
  • lists NGSI (88k residential) as rating system and not the industry-standard USGBC's LEED (255k residential, 380k total projects) which is mentioned in the existing County of San Diego General Plan, does not mention what level of NGSI certification will be pursued (bronze, silver, gold, emerald)
• The plan requires that the following improvements be provided: parks and recreational facilities, an opportunity for a school, an internal private road system, storm drain facilities, and underground utility lines. The LHR-SP also requires a looped portable water system, water lines, plus a site for a water reclamation facility and its related distribution system, detention basins and wet weather storage ponds as determined necessary by the Valley Center Municipal Water District.
  • not sure if this is being provided by developer, sounds like developer expects this all to be provided by public funds
• creates exception to fire protection travel time policy, which was approved by Deer Springs Fire Protection District
• The LHR-SP would implement one of the options for wastewater treatment as approved by the Valley Center Municipal Water District
• Amendments to the County General Plan
  • changing the project site’s land use designation from semi-rural to village;
  • exempting the project from the leapfrog development restrictions;
  • exempting the project from policies to protect agriculture and to maintain the existing rural life style;
  • exempting the project from the usual methodology for determining the maximum amount of time allowed for the fire agency to get to the project site and applying a separate methodology for the project.

Measure O

Replace Fire Station 2

*PASSED*

Official Summary

Do the voters of the City of Carlsbad approve spending existing city funds from various sources, including the General Fund, in an amount to exceed $1 million to construct a replacement Fire Station 2 located at the intersection of El Camino Real and Arenal Road for an estimated cost range of $7 million up to $10.5 million?

• San Diego Registrar text
• City of Carlsbad Info Page
• Ballotpedia

Notes

• authorizes spending up to $10.5 Million
• the city already has money available
• Prop H (1982) required that if more than $1 Million was to be used for city property, it needs to go to a vote
• existing Fire Station 2 was built in 1969, no longer meets the City’s service requirements due to limited storage, outdated construction and a lack of compliance with the Essential Facilities Act in the uniform building code