Residents urge Escondido council to prioritize Measure I oversight and preserve Center for the Arts

Several residents used the public-comment period to urge the Escondido City Council to prioritize Measure I oversight, preserve and program the Center for the Arts, and engage local arts leaders in future planning.

Leila Sackville told the council she is “grateful for each of you who step forward to serve our beautiful community of Escondido” and urged members to use Measure I revenue to support priorities including appointing “the best people to serve on the Measure I Oversight Committee,” exploring “the future possibilities for the Center for the Arts,” and supporting unhoused neighbors. “This year brings important decisions that will shape the future of our city,” Sackville said.

Juliana Carson, a choreographer and filmmaker who said she has lived in multiple U.S. cities and recently returned to Escondido, spoke in support of keeping the Center for the Arts operational. Carson said she saw performances at the center as a child and urged council support for expanded educational programming and community engagement with the facility. “This is an incredible facility you guys have here,” she said, and offered to meet with council members and staff to discuss ideas.

During council reports, Deputy Mayor Consuelo Martinez encouraged attendance at the San Diego Latino Film Festival’s North County events and said community volunteer cleanups are listed at volunteer.Escondido.org. A council member gave a special thank-you to Lovesco for participating in a recent cleanup effort.

No formal votes or staff directions on Measure I oversight or the arts center were recorded during the meeting; the comments were entered as public input for council consideration.