Kori Jensen cleared by D.A. on house in North Oceanside

Last Friday the District Attorney’s office announced it was not pursuing criminal charges against Oceanside councilwoman Kori Jensen regarding her residency. There were enough questions over Jensen’s primary residence that the city attorney referred the matter to the D.A. shortly after her appointment in January.

Jensen seemed relieved over the good news by writing in a statement, “I’m grateful that we can finally put this to bed and move forward with the business of Oceanside.”

But days after the announcement, two of the three councilmen who made the appointment in the first place now say they have lost faith in Kori Jensen.

“Although the District Attorney’s office has chosen not to prosecute Ms. Jensen, the inconsistencies surrounding her primary residence have not been clarified,” councilmember Ryan Keim said via email on Monday. “The lack of transparency regarding Ms. Jensen’s residence is very concerning and has become a distraction from the critical issues facing our city. In the best interest of the residents of Oceanside, I strongly urge Ms. Jensen to reconsider her future on the City Council.”

One person who spoke with Keim on Monday said that Keim told him he no longer could trust Jensen.

Oceanside mayor-turned-councilman Peter Weiss articulated a sort of buyer’s remorse over Jensen. “If you are aware of how you go about changing past decisions, please let me know. I made a decision based on the information at that time. Unfortunately, concerns and allegations were raised after that decision was made. Those issues are a distraction to the important issues the city faces as is the recall effort.”

Oceanside locals who are unhappy with Jensen have been walking door to door collecting recall petition signatures from residents of District 1. That district has some 22,000 voters who live in that northwest quadrant of the city which is bordered by Camp Pendleton, the coast, and Oceanside Boulevard. They have been seen collecting petition signatures at the weekly farmers market, at Buddy Todd Park, and in front of Walmart and Frazier Farms. They need to get 4,844 signatures or 20 percent of all the registered voters in District 1 to get the recall on the ballot. They have until September 10.

Weiss said via email the D.A. announcement does not clear Jensen from misrepresentations she made to both the public and to him personally. “Just because there is insufficient evidence to prosecute, [that] does not determine innocence. My main concern though, is the inconsistency in statements that have been made publicly and to me privately by Ms. Jensen.”

“It’s surprising to me that Peter Weiss would say that since we never speak to each other in public or private,” Jensen said by phone Monday evening. “I’ve proven where I live. The D.A. has a timeline of my life for the last 20 years and if Mr. Keim isn’t satisfied with that evidence, then I don’t what to say to him.” Jensen says she will remain on the city council. “I have no intention of stepping down. I have a ton of support and I’m very confident going forward that I can make good decisions for District 1 and I look forward to working for my community.”

The issue started over the home Jensen owns at 815 North Pacific Street which she claimed was her primary residence. County records show that she listed a Carlsbad address as her primary address. In personal bankruptcy proceedings from May 4, 2020, Jensen said in court that her Carlsbad property was her primary address. She maintained a license with the city of Oceanside which showed 815 North Pacific Street was an un-hosted short-term rental. Jensen subsequently listed that address as her personal residence on her application for city council appointment.

Some of those collecting signatures have noted that Jensen, a real estate agent and drug and alcohol counselor, owes more than $51,000 in delinquent property taxes on her North Pacific house.

News that Weiss and Keim have abandoned Jensen was met with skepticism by two who support the recall. They fear that if she were to step down, the council would simply appoint another person who may not represent the voters of District 1. They say that the only right thing to do is what should have happened last January which is to hold an election or leave the seat vacant until November 2022.

Christopher Rodriguez voted for Jensen’s appointment. Mayor Esther Sanchez was hoping for a special election to fill the empty seat which was created when she became mayor.

One citizen who spoke before a city council meeting in March said that if Jensen would simply show a photo ID at that meeting to either the city attorney or the city clerk proving that she lived at 815 North Pacific Street, the whole recall affair would evaporate. Jensen did not. After the meeting she did tell the city clerk that the city’s human resource department had proof of her residency at 815 North Pacific Street. After a public records request, that department provided no proof that Jensen had provided photo ID proof that 815 North Pacific Street was her personal residence.