Coalition of Escondido Mobile/Manufactured Home Voters Activates

At the Escondido Downtown Street Faire on October 17, the Coalition of Escondido Mobile/Manufactured Home Voters was giving away free T-shirts to anyone who was willing to wear them for an hour or two. "Had enough?" was printed on the front, and the names of three city-council candidates endorsed by the coalition were on the back.

Larry Steneck, president of the coalition, said he supports these candidates — Tom D’Agosta, Richard Barron, and Jim Crone — because they have promised not to raise taxes. “Our current council will probably raise taxes after the election,” he said. “A few years ago, Escondido had financial reserves in excess of $30 million, now we're broke. Who do you think will pay for this incompetence? We [taxpayers] will with new taxes.”

Steneck said he is very concerned about the financial stability of the city and how the city council performs as stewards of the finances. He cites the “$25 million hotel giveaway," "the $60 million police headquarters debacle," and the $45 million expense proposed for a minor-league ballpark as reasons why current councilmembers must go.

On the coalition website, Steneck accuses Escondido officials of catering to special interests and not being responsive to all citizens. He urges mobile/manufactured homeowners to get involved in the upcoming election on November 2.

“We [mobile/manufactured homeowners] will not be treated as second-class citizens any longer…. We are tired of being pushed around. We will identify candidates that will listen to us and then we will support them vigorously.”