To the Editor:
The strength of a community is measured by how its leaders respond when the most vulnerable residents state their needs. In Encinitas, that measure is currently falling short.
Recent actions by our City Council regarding the appointment of Steve Houbeck to the Urban Forest Advisory Committee (UFAC) raise a fundamental question: What do residents do when their local government turns a deaf ear to their concerns?
Mr. Houbeck’s appointment is problematic on two fronts. First, he possesses no documented history of advocacy for our urban canopy. More concerning, however, is his ample, well-documented history of public misconduct.
Social media posts from Mr. Houbeck have targeted SDUHSD Superintendent Dr. Staffieri, EUSD Superintendent Andre Grey, the Black Student Union leaders of Canyon Crest Academy, and EUSD Trustee Marlon Taylor. These are not merely “differing opinions”; they are targeted attacks against those fostering inclusion in our schools.
For five consecutive City Council meetings, members of the Encinitas West African Dance community and their supporters have appeared in force to share their pain and demand Mr. Houbeck’s removal. They have rightly pointed out that this appointment — and the council’s subsequent silence — violates the Title VI resolution adopted by the city in August 2019, which commits Encinitas to an equitable environment free from discrimination.
Despite these persistent pleas, the City Council has retreated behind a wall of silence. It has not returned emails, nor has it addressed these concerns during public comment. This dismissive attitude suggests that the Council no longer feels accountable to the very residents it represents.
At the March 26 UFAC meeting, Mr. Houbeck attempted to frame his actions as a “learning opportunity” caused by “brevity” and “confusion.” This is a hollow and inflammatory justification. Public service is a privilege, not a right. It requires a baseline of respect for all community members.
When a city official with a history of attacking Black community leaders is appointed to represent the public interest, trust is eroded. When the City Council refuses to acknowledge the harm caused, it validates that erosion.
The Coast News recently reported on a disturbing incident in which an 11-year-old Black student was verbally and physically assaulted by her peers in Carlsbad. Such hateful behavior does not emerge from a vacuum; it is modeled.
If our City Council does not hold Mr. Houbeck accountable, the message is crystal clear: Privileged individuals can target marginalized groups with impunity, regardless of the long-term psychological damage caused.
Encinitas deserves a government that stands by its own resolutions against discrimination. Until then, we will continue to show up, speak out, and demand the accountability we were promised.
Theresa Beauchamp
Encinitas