February 2010

The Riehl World: Friends Of Aviara Off Target

by Richard J. Riehl on February 11, 2010

FriendsofaviaraFrom the urgency of its actions, you’d think the Friends of Aviara had just discovered a Super Walmart was about to open its doors on the shores of the Batiquitos Lagoon.

The La Costa neighborhood group is suing Carlsbad’s City Council for approving a planning document that would bring affordable senior housing to their backyard. The lawsuit is a pre-emptive strike on a proposal the City Council has never discussed, much less approved.

What the council did approve at its Dec. 22 meeting was a revision of the city’s general plan that references Pontebello, a proposed project that would add 76 low- and moderate-income units to its housing plan, helping the city meet the state’s affordable housing law.

Senior Planner Scott Donnell explained that if the city failed to obtain state certification for its housing plan it could lose millions in future state and county government grants. Carlsbad would also be exposed to lawsuits halting development until the state steps in to mandate the number and locations of affordable housing units.

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Coastal Commission Rejects Revoke Request

by The Editors on February 10, 2010

In a meeting today the Coast Law Group requested that the California Coastal Commission revoke a Poseidon Resources building permit because the company failed to correctly represent the greenhouse gas emissions from their desalination plant. The Coastal Commission rejected the request, according to a Bradley Fikes story in the North County Times.

Poseidon said it had not misled the commission, and that there was no reason to revoke the permit.

Apparently, the Coastal Commission takes Poseidon at their word. So there.

[Link: North County TImes]

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Joe’s Jeans Coming To Carlsbadistan

by The Editors on February 9, 2010

Joesjeanslookbook-ComingsoonJoe’s Jeans, Inc. has just signed nine leases for new company stores in the Premium Outlet Stores malls around the country. One of them will be opening here in Carlsbadistan, soon, according to a story on CNN/Money.

Marc Crossman, President and CEO, commented, “Pursuing Company owned outlet stores allows us to control our off-price distribution in a Joe’s branded environment thereby maintaining our brand identity and integrity. Accordingly, we are pleased to partner with Premium Outlets®, the outlet division of Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG), which owns and operates the most productive outlet centers in the country.” Crossman continued, “It is important to note that opening outlet stores is just one component of our retail strategy. In the coming months, we expect to have additional announcements concerning our full-price retail store openings.”

Not a bad addition to the shopping zone.

[Link: CNN/Money]

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Aptera Founders No Longer Employees

by The Editors on February 6, 2010

Aptera-Typ-1-300X180In November Aptera Motors founder Steve Fambro told Popular Mechanics that contrary to rumors he was not ousted from the company, he was simply on vacation until the end of the year. Well, the end of the year is over and now according to Venturebeat.com Fambro and his partner Chris Anthony are no longer employees of the Carlsbadistan based electric car manufacturer.

While Fambro and Anthony have retained their seats on the Carlsbad, Calif. company’s board of directors, they have little say in day-to-day decision making, even though it was their original vision. These responsibilities have fallen to Aptera’s new CEO Paul Wilbur — one of the main sources of conflict with the original leadership team (though it remains uncertain why the rift occurred).

They certainly dragged that exit out as long and as corporately correct as they could, didn’t they?

[Link: Venture Beat, Autoblog, and Carlsbadistan]

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Carlsbadistan’s Reckless Lexus

by The Editors on February 4, 2010

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On the morning of February 4, 2010 at approximately 3 AM a Lexus driving northbound on Garfield slammed into this Isuzu Rodeo in the 3400 block (and knocked it up almost completely off the street and onto the grass). The Lexus then left the scene. Nice, huh?

A couple things: If you know someone with a Lexus who oddly enough damaged the entire right side of their car recently (or you just noticed that your Lexus is damaged). Please call the Carlsbadistan Police Department and let them know. Secondly, if you’re going to drink, don’t drive. And if you’re going to drink and drive please do it somewhere else. Garfield has had enough wrecked cars lately thanks to your stupidity.

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Upper Deck Sued By Major League Baseball

by The Editors on February 2, 2010

UpperdeckOn January 18, 2010 we mentioned that Carlsbadistan based trading card company Upper Deck was being sued by Konami Digital Entertainment for “counterfeiting” Yu-Ge-Oh! cards (which it settled for “mulit-millions” of dollars according to the NY Post). Now we learn that Major League Baseball also has some issues with the company, according to The Canadian Press.

Major League Baseball Properties Inc. filed a trademark lawsuit seeking unspecified damages against The Upper Deck Co. Inc. on Monday in federal court in Manhattan. . . The lawsuit said Upper Deck is continuing to sell baseball cards featuring professional baseball players even though the company is no longer licensed to show MLB trademarks. Major League Baseball Properties began this year to license only The Topps Co. Inc. in a bid to increase its revenues from the cards.

Hypothetically speaking, if you can cut out a few licensing fees and trading cards probably get very profitable.

[Link: Canadian Press]

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Carlsbad iPhone Developer Up For Award

by The Editors on February 1, 2010

Appyent LogoAppy Entertainment, our favorite Carlsbadistan based iPhone applications developer has been nominated for an “Achievement in Art and for Audio Achievement” award from the Independent Games Festival for their game Zombie Pizza.

“Recognition by the Independent Games Festival is a significant achievement for our young company,” said Appy CEO Chris Ulm. “Zombie Pizza was one of only two games to secure multiple nominations, and was chosen from a record field of 170 entrants. We are especially pleased given that these awards recognize excellence not only in iPhone design, but actually encompass all hand-held systems, including the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP.”

Congrats to the guys. If they don’t win this, something is wrong with the voting system. Follow the jump for all the details.
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