Former Director’s Osuna Poll Highlights Bias, Faulty Methodology
A former RSFA Board member recently circulated a poll asking readers to weigh in on the future of Osuna Ranch. It raises serious concerns about its methodology and implications for Rancho Santa Fe’s historic legacy.
This poll was not commissioned, authorized, or sanctioned by the Rancho Santa Fe Association Board. In fact, a proposal for an official advisory vote on Osuna Ranch was rejected by the Board in April 2024. Nevertheless, the email poll was distributed to an unverified list that included individuals who are not members of the Covenant, or have moved — calling into question its legitimacy, transparency, and fairness.
Unlike past professional Association surveys, this poll raises both methodological and ethical red flags. It fails to collect basic demographic data — such as Covenant membership, age, RSFA club affiliation, or prior participation in Osuna events — making it impossible to determine whether respondents represent our community or to analyze results meaningfully. Moreover, the poll lacks confidentiality: its author can see who replied, potentially exerting social pressure and affecting respondents’ feedback. Most troubling, the poll was written by an advocate for selling Osuna Ranch. Its language is overtly biased, repeatedly framing the sale of all or part of the Ranch as the practical and superior option, while minimizing the value of preserving it for community use. Contrary to the author’s claims, Osuna Ranch consistently operates at a profit, generating $176,000 in net income this year.
The Osuna Committee did not request $3 million in upgrades, and the Association’s estimate was not based on competitive bidding. A recent survey of Osuna boarders revealed high satisfaction with the equestrian facilities and a strong preference for maintaining the stable’s historic character.
The poll’s “Leave Osuna As Is” option failed to mention the robust slate of educational and community programs proposed in the Osuna Committee’s 2024 Master Plan for Osuna Ranch and presented at RSFA Board meetings. Rowe School educators and Scout leaders view Osuna’s natural resources, historic character, and gated safety as ideal for history field trips, environmental science, and outdoor learning. Its open spaces also support hiking, picnicking, and informal gatherings — uses prioritized in RSFA’s 2022 Community Survey. Preserved open space and historically-significant properties help sustain RSF’s prized rural character, enhancing quality of life and boosting all Covenant home values.
Osuna’s future should not be shaped by informal, biased polling that sidesteps professional standards. Such efforts undermine the work of Osuna Committee members, community volunteers, horse boarders, and Association staff who strive to preserve and improve this treasured asset. Decisions about Covenant property should be made democratically and transparently, with respect for Osuna’s full community potential and historic significance. Anything less risks deepening Covenant divisions, eroding trust, and compromising Rancho Santa Fe’s enduring legacy. – Ilia Christy
