A prolonged housing conflict in an upscale Southern California city has attracted the attention of state Attorney General Rob Bonta over allegations related to campaign funding tied to a developer.
This month, the Del Mar City Council members decided to request an investigation by both the San Diego County District Attorney and U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon regarding Mark Arabo, a businessman also on the board of the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
The inquiry focuses on campaign contributions from those involved in the ongoing housing development dispute in Arabo and the coastal city of San Diego.
The council’s vote seems to have been influenced by a letter from resident Debra Burns, who raised concerns about possible conflicts of interest regarding the proposed Seaside Ridge housing project, as outlined by a local news outlet.
This project, consisting of 259 units, was first proposed in 2022 and has faced rejection from the city council, most recently in May, when the council cited missing documentation. However, the project owner, Carol Lazier, contends that the documentation is unnecessary.
Del Mar and Seaside are currently entangled in legal disputes regarding this matter.
This housing controversy aligns with the state government’s initiative to expedite affordable housing construction. Bonta previously interjected in the situation, telling Del Mar that it needed to simplify the process for Lazier. In March, the state asserted that Del Mar was not adhering to housing laws.
Burns’ letter hints at other reasons behind Bonta’s actions regarding the project. Notably, realtor Brian Giltinan, who is part of Seaside’s team, contributed $18,200 to Bonta’s re-election campaign in June 2024.
In her letter, Burns questioned the transparency of the decision-making process: “The issue is not whether there was any wrongdoing. The question is whether the public can be confident that decisions regarding Seaside Ridge were made without private influence or preferential access.”
Arabo’s involvement has been characterized by his opposition to affordable housing at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, even as he supports the Seaside project.
City officials noted that Arabo, who has also donated a similar sum to Bonta, employed Giltinan for his home purchase in 2024.
The housing project is closely associated with Seaside as the city may need to turn to it if the affordable housing plan fails to materialize.
City officials argued, “Simply put, Ms. Lazier’s Seaside Ridge project could potentially benefit from the timely development of affordable housing on the fairgrounds.”
However, Arabo has denied the allegations, stating that he was unaware of Giltinan’s connection to Seaside and had never discussed the project directly.
He also claimed he has “zero interest” in the project’s outcomes.
Attorneys for Seaside Ridge criticized Burns’ letter, asserting that it improperly leveraged public authority to intimidate parties involved in the conflict based on questionable claims.
They added that the city’s narrative implies that mere communication with public officials is inherently suspicious.
Contact has been made with Bonta’s office for further comments.
City officials clarified that they do not accuse anyone of wrongdoing; rather, they are merely forwarding residents’ concerns to the appropriate authorities.
It remains uncertain whether the county attorney’s office or federal prosecutors will pursue this matter, and inquiries have been directed to both entities regarding Del Mar’s request.
