See more of our coverage in your search results.

A yearslong housing battle between a posh Southern California city and a developer has now dragged state Attorney General Rob Bonta into the fray — over campaign contributions allegedly tied to the developer.

Del Mar City councilmembers voted this month to ask the San Diego County district attorney and US Attorney Adam Gordon to investigate Bonta and businessman Mark Arabo, who sits on the board of the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

The request centers on campaign contributions made by people connected to Arabo and the long-running dispute over a housing development in the coastal city north of San Diego.

The vote seemed to have been triggered by a letter submitted by resident Debrah Barnes, Voice of San Diego reported, which highlighted her concern with potential conflicts of interest around Seaside Ridge, a proposed housing project.

The 259-unit project was first proposed in 2022 but continues to be rejected by the city council, even as recently as this May. The city said the application is missing materials, which owner Carol Lazier insists she doesn’t need to file.

Currently, Seaside and Del Mar are in a legal battle over the issue.

The housing dispute has coincided with the state government’s push to speed up the building of affordable housing. Bonta stepped in and told Del Mar last December it had to give Lazier a straightforward process, and then in March claimed that the city was violating state housing law.

The letter by Barnes notes other factors may be in play behind Bonta’s push around the project. Real estate agent Brian Guiltinan, part of Seaside’s team, donated to Bonta’s reelection campaign four times in June 2024, totaling $18,200.

“The issue is not whether misconduct occurred,” Barnes wrote in the letter. “The issue is whether the public can have confidence that decisions regarding Seaside Ridge have been made free of undisclosed influence and without preferential access.”

Arabo’s role in the dispute centers on his opposition to an affordable housing project at the Del Mar Fairgrounds — while simultaneously expressing support for Seaside at board meetings.

City officials pointed out that Arabo, who donated the same amount to Bonta, hired Guiltinan as an agent when purchasing a home in 2024.

The fairgrounds project is tied to Seaside because if the affordable housing plan fails to materialize, the city would have to turn to the Seaside project instead

City officials pointed out that Arabo, who donated the same amount to Bonta, hired Guiltinan as an agent when purchasing a home in 2024.

“Simply put, Ms. Lazier’s Seaside Ridge project stands to benefit if affordable housing is not timely developed at the Fairgrounds,” city officials claimed.

But Arabo denied the allegations in a letter to the city, saying he was unaware of Guiltinan’s connection to Seaside and never discussed the project privately.

He also said he has “zero interest” in whatever happens to the project.

Attorneys for Seaside Ridge also blasted the letter by Barnes.

California’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.