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Encinitas residents and performers urge removal of UFAC member after social‑media racial slur
Summary
Multiple public commenters at the March 26 Urban Forest Advisory Committee meeting said a committee member ppeared to have posted a racial slur on social media, called the subsequent apology insufficient, and asked the committee to urge the city council to agendize removal.
Multiple community members used the Urban Forest Advisory Committee—orum on March 26 to demand action after a committee member ppeared to post a racial slur on social media before joining the panel.
At the start of oral communications, Monette Marino, who teaches West African percussion in Encinitas, told the committee that when a city official dehumanizes a group it signals that the group nd its traditions are unwelcome. "Racism is not a difference of opinion. It is a disqualifier for public service," Marino said, and urged the committee to remove the appointee.
Theresa Beauchamp, a longtime member of the Encinitas West African dance and drum community, said a post‑hoc apology did not restore public trust and formally asked the committee to urge the City Council to place removal of the appointee on a regular council meeting agenda. Beauchamp cited the committee iscussion of local civil‑rights obligations as framed by city resolution 2019‑74 and what she described as Title 6 requirements.
Bob Ayers, an Encinitas resident, said the social‑media post had repeatedly offended community members and that he found a recent apology insincere. "You in that post a month and a half ago criticized the student black unions ... Your post offended ... ethnic dancers," Ayers said, calling on the committee and city council to speak out.
Earlier in the public‑comment period, the person identified as the first speaker acknowledged posting the item before joining UFAC, said the brevity of the post had caused confusion, described his volunteer work with people with intellectual disabilities and said his intent was never to degrade community members; he expressed regret for any harm caused.
The chair responded from the dais that committee members do not have authority to remove appointees: "It is not up to this committee to determine who serves here, but it is within our abilities to reach out to the council and the mayor, and I will do so on this committee's behalf," the chair said.
What happens next: Public speakers asked the committee to urge that the City Council agendize removal. The committee did not take a removal vote; the chair said staff or the chair would contact council and the mayor to relay the concerns raised at public comment.
