Encinitas residents urge council to review committee appointee’s social-media posts

During oral communications, Rachel Leshaw and Diane Pennala, leaders with Encinitas West African Dance, urged the council to agendize a review of statements and social-media posts by Stephen/Steve Halback and raised concerns about the impact of those posts on their community.

"Mr. Halback is very comfortable saying offensive things on social media," Rachel Leshaw told the council, describing posts that labeled people as a "left-wing radical group," referenced "Marxists," and included a caption asking, "don't these people have jobs?" She said a February 13 post targeted her community with a racially offensive caption, and she asked the council to place a conduct review on a future agenda.

Diane Pennala said the issue was bipartisan and urged the council to hold appointees to higher accountability standards. Both speakers said they had raised the matter at several prior meetings without resolution.

Mayor Eilers ruled that the remarks were permissible during oral communications but said he would refer the matter to the city attorney and the city manager for a future briefing. He also noted staff is working on adding a code of conduct to council procedures and asked staff to prepare a briefing on the complaint and potential next steps.

Council did not take formal disciplinary action at the meeting. The referral asks staff and the city attorney to prepare information for a future public meeting on options, including the city's code of conduct procedures.