by The Editors on May 12, 2009
On Saturday when the Four Seasons said it had “no intention to voluntarily relinquish its role as manager” of the Four Season Aviara they weren’t kidding.
The company that manages the hotel has reportedly erected barricades to keep the resort owners’ new management team off the property, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
William Brewer, an attorney for Broadreach, yesterday said the company was forced to delay its move to install a new management firm, New Jersey-based Dolce Hotels and Resorts, because Four Seasons erected barricades and checkpoints at the entrances to the 329-room resort to thwart the move. . . . Both sides were in federal court yesterday. Four Seasons was seeking an order to require Broadreach to continue its employment until issues are resolved in arbitration. Broadreach was seeking an order to allow it to take possession of the resort. . . Oral arguments on the motions are scheduled May 27.
Vacations in the danger zone.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on May 12, 2009
It’s turning into a pretty bad week for proposed desalination plant builders Poseidon Resources.
First, the California Coastal Commission is “rethinking their permit” after Executive Director Peter Douglas noticed that “information Poseidon provided that panel was inconsistent with information it provided the commission last year,” and that these changes could result in a larger fish kill, according to a Michael Burge story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Then, experts quoted in a New York Times story claim that it will be very difficult if not impossible for Poseidon Resources to get financing for their Carlsbadistan project if stalled desal projects in Australia, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia are any indicator. While Poseidon says they could get financing in place in “six weeks.” Tom Pankratz, director of the International Desalination Association, said such a deal would fly in the face of an international trend of stalled projects.”
Pankratz noted that larger desalination projects in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Australia have been left flailing for financial partners at crucial junctures. He doubted Poseidon’s reality would be different. . . “Right now, financing is difficult for any large project, and desalination plants are no exception,” Pankratz said. “For them to say six weeks in this financial climate, that sounds optimistic to me.”
The project goes up for a vote at the San Diego Regional water board “at 9 a.m. Wednesday at 9174 Sky Park Ct. in San Diego,” according to the North County Times.
[Links: San Diego Union-Tribune and The New York Times and North County TImes]
by The Editors on May 11, 2009
This afternoon we got an email from Tony Pistillo, the director of public relations at the Four Season’s. It contained a statement that was released on May 9, 2009 regarding the battle for Avaria. Here it is:
Four Seasons announced today that it has no intention to voluntarily relinquish its role as manager of Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad CA. Four Seasons has managed the Resort since 1997.
Very recently, a dispute arose with regard to the 2009 operating budget for the Resort and the Owner’s obligation to provide working capital necessary to fund debt service. That dispute is currently the subject of an arbitration proceeding, which Four Seasons fully respects and will abide by. Four Seasons has fulfilled all of its obligations under the relevant management agreements. Four Seasons intends to vigorously defend its rights in the arbitration process currently underway.
Four Seasons will also seek substantial damages from the Owner (which is beneficially owned Broadreach Capital Partners and asset-managed by Maritz, Wolff & Co.) and its counsel for their conduct in damaging the operation and reputation of the Resort and of Four Seasons.
Without knowing any of the back story we’ll just say it looks like this might get a little more involved before everything is settled.
by The Editors on May 11, 2009
Paula Abdul is now claiming that even though she was quoted in Ladies Home Journal saying that she spent last Thanksgiving at the La Costa Resort and Spa kicking her drug habit she was in Carlsbad to hike, bike, do yoga, and hit the spa and not, we repeat, not to kick her habit, according to a story in the E Online.
“It was very stressful for me to hear that and to be quoted saying something I never said,” Paula said on WKQI’s Mojo in the Morning radio show today. “I’ve never checked into a rehab clinic. I’ve never been addicted or abused drugs, and I’ve never been addicted or abused alcohol. I’ve never even been drunk in my life.”
Hey, Paula can visit Carlsbad any time she wants, but if she’s never abused drugs how does she explain this.
[Link: LA Times and E Online]
by The Editors on May 11, 2009
A “showdown” was scheduled for today at 1 PM in a dispute between BRCP HEF Hotel Tenant LLC, the owner of the Four Seasons Resort Aviara and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the Toronto-based company that manages The Four Seasons Aviara, according to a story in the North County Times.
The struggle dates to Friday, March 27, when the hotel’s owner attempted to extricate itself from a contract with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, a Toronto-based company that manages Aviara and dozens of other luxury resorts around the world. . . But instead of waiting for an arbitration panel’s directions, representatives of BRCP HEF Hotel Tenant LLC, the Delaware company that owns the resort, entered the hotel around 1 a.m. the following Sunday, picked the locks in a manager’s office and posted private security guards outside, according to legal documents that Four Seasons filed in San Diego federal court Monday morning.
Last week BRCP HEF Hotel Tenant reportedly named the New Jersey company Dolce Hotels and Resorts as the new managers of the resort property. Wonder how long it will take them to get all the signs, letterhead, menus, plastic cups, and keys swapped out with the new name? Whatever that will be.
[Link: North County Times and San Diego Union Tribune]
by Richard J. Riehl on May 8, 2009
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I heard Keith Blackburn’s robo-call to action. While other North County cities struggle with budget cuts threatening vital services, Carlsbad’s rookie city councilman was asking for our help to keep his campaign promise to bring a second swimming pool to the city. I wondered if he’d been inspired by Congressman Bilbray’s recent onslaught of irritating electronic invitations to his “teletown meetings.” Was this just the beginning of year-round campaigning by our local politicos?
Although I didn’t attend the council meeting, I did watch the videotape of it several days later on the city’s Web site. To my surprise, I found myself in total agreement with Blackburn’s argument in favor of starting work now on the Alga Norte Park and Aquatic Center. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 8, 2009
In a City of Carlsbad press release the City says that the new NRG Power Plant proposed for land behind the Encina Power Station is “inconsistent with the coastal act.”
A 1990 Coastal Commission report concludes that a second power plant in coastal Carlsbad would harm the environment and is inconsistent with the Coastal Act. . . The report concluded that a power plant on the coastal Carlsbad site would have significant impacts on visual resources, marine biology and air quality. CEC staff evaluating the current power plant proposal were unaware of the Coastal Commission’s previous finding.
Then again, that was way, way back in 1990. Follow the jump for the rest of the release. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 6, 2009
We would like to apologize for our site being down for the past two days. Our hosting service, MediaTemple.net apparently had some growing pains and it looks like they had to rebuild every site on their servers by hand (that’s the only reason we can figure that it would take them so long). Here’s what they had to say about it:
In an attempt to get our customers back online as soon as we can, we’ve restored your server content from our emergency backups. These backups may have been made up to several weeks ago and may not contain the most up-to-date content from your sites and email. This is only temporary. Once our system engineers have restored the previous storage segment, we will merge this data back into your service.
Thanks for sticking with us, and again, we’re sorry the site has been down for so long. We’re all hoping things will be back in order soon.
The Editors
by The Editors on May 2, 2009
Celebrate Carlsbad Day today at Legoland (aka the most affordable day of the year at Legoland) raised $106,650 for The Carlsbad Education Foundation’s Kids Are Worth A Million and the telecast hasn’t even aired yet. Legoland kicked in an amazingly generous $75,000.
“We at LEGOLAND California believe strongly in imagination, creativity and the value of education,” said Peter Ronchetti, General Manager of the family theme park. “It is refreshing to see our North County neighbors come together to support these values.” . . . “In this time of financial crisis it is so important to have the support of our community. It is exciting to see everyone come together to rally around education,” said Lisa Posard, President of the Carlsbad Education Foundation. “We are so thankful to LEGOLAND for hosting this event and for its generous donation – the Park has always been such a good neighbor to the Carlsbad Education Foundation.”
Follow the jump for all the details.
[click to continue…]
On Saturday when the Four Seasons said it had “no intention to voluntarily relinquish its role as manager” of the Four Season Aviara they weren’t kidding.
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