by The Editors on May 15, 2014
Sunrise at Ponto Beach.
With the sun rising behind the smokey skies of Carlsbad and many roads still closed, we rolled out for a quick tour of the area most affected by the May 14, 2014 Poinsettia Fire. As we moved east on Poinsettia from Aviara we were amazed by two things. One, it could have been so much worse, and two, what a great job firefighters did containing the fire and protecting and saving hundreds of homes. (Click here for a map of Fire zone).
The fire, which reportedly started near Alga Norte Park, jumped from open space to open space seemingly right over neighborhoods driven west by high winds. First, on the Northeast side of Poinsettia and El Camino Real, then across El Camino Real down to Cassia and again over Poinsettia to the open space just west of Aviara Park to the Southwest of Palomar Airport Road and Camino Vida Robles to Paseo Del Lago where the only commercial building burned.
That Carlsbad only lost eight homes, one condo complex, and one commercial building is a testament to the skills of the crews fighting the fire. In location after location that we visited we saw where the fire had come right up to the side and backyards of dozens of homes, condos, and apartments, yet they were all untouched by the flames. Sure, the cars and the ground were covered in ash, but the fires were stopped short of damaging more buildings. And for that, we are grateful.
We just hope the fire fighters can do the same for our neighbors in San Marcos. Their Cocos Fire seems to be growing as the day goes on.
For more images from the Poinsettia Fire burn zone follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by Richard J. Riehl on February 9, 2012
Wouldn’t it be nice if grocery stores and gas stations would sign pledges to stop taxing us with higher prices until they cut their business expenses an equal amount? They could protect their profits by eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in their operations. We customers could help them find the waste to prove they don’t have a revenue problem, they have a spending problem.
Sound familiar? That’s the thinking behind a local political activist group that’s asking state office holders and candidates to sign its Promise to California Taxpayers pledge. Signers must promise to vote against all tax increases, amendments to Proposition 13 and increased taxpayer contributions to public employee pension plans.
I was disappointed to learn that Carlsbad City Council member and candidate for the 76th District seat in the California Assembly, Farrah Douglas, was one of the first five signers.
Follow the jump for the rest. [click to continue…]
by Richard J. Riehl on May 25, 2011
A week after Carlsbad’s City Council voted unanimously to amend a policy governing grants to agencies for special events of citywide interest, Oceanside’s council wrangled over what to do about rent control. Carlsbad’s council meeting was, as usual, polite. Quite a contrast to the shouting match that erupted on the dais in Oceanside, where one council member, after being repeatedly interrupted by another, demanded of the mayor, presiding over the verbal slugfest, “Will you shut her up?” A recess allowed the city leaders to retreat to their opposite corners.
The difference between the behaviors of the two groups reflects more than just the gravity of the issue being discussed. Yes, deciding how to spend $50,000 of earned interest on a $1 million savings account for city enrichment activities is a bit less contentious than deciding whether to end rent control for nearly 2,600 low-income residents of mobile-home parks. But a closer look at the civil discussion among Carlsbad’s council members offers clues about how more contentious issues may be debated in future meetings and what the talking points of new and incumbent city council candidates will be in the next election. [click to continue…]
by Richard J. Riehl on August 13, 2010
Why does mayoral candidate Matt Hall continue to mislead Carlsbad voters about a measure on the November ballot?
His website was revised a day after my July 30 Carlsbadistan column criticized him for wrongly claiming the city charter amendment up for a vote would create a two-tiered pension plan for city employees. He now says he “successfully persuaded” his fellow council members to adopt the plan last spring, continuing to imply it covered all new city employees. He failed to point out that only police and firefighter benefits were affected.
The charter amendment would require a vote of the people for future pension benefit increases for safety employees. The council would retain the right to reduce them. Hall says he supports “fair” and “balanced” public employee pensions. He doesn’t explain why he should only be trusted to cut them.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 6, 2010
Carlsbad City Council candidate Jon Wantz announced today that he is endorsing councilman Keith Blackburn in his campaign for Mayor of Carlsbad.
“Councilman Blackburn’s vision is a long needed solution to what Carlsbad and its residents deserve,” Wantz said. “His stance on projects such as Alga Norte Park, Westfield Shopping Plaza, and Car Country Carlsbad are in line with mine. His proven leadership skills and commitment to a transparent local government were also factors.”
We’re actually looking forward to this election season. . .
[Link: Give It A Chance]
by The Editors on February 19, 2010
Keith Blackburn, the former Carlsbad Police officer and current Carlsbadistan City Councilman has announced that he will be running for Mayor according to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times.
As he announced his mayoral bid Thursday, Blackburn said his candidacy would focus on economic development, open space land purchases and the long-discussed Alga Norte park project. . . He also said that he wants to purchase open space land for preservation now while local real estate prices are more affordable and he wants to get the swim complex planned for the future Alga Norte park open as soon as possible, even if it means dipping into the city’s substantial reserves to cover its daily operations expenses. . . “We can run that pool for 10 years … before we have to tap into our general fund,” he said.
If he promises to get the Alga Norte skateboard park and pool running ASAP, then he has our vote for certain.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on February 12, 2010
Jon Wantz, 28, of Carlsbadistan is running for City Council in the next election and The Coast News was good enough to profile him today.
“I think people are ready to see something a little different,” Wantz said. . . As Wantz gets his campaign off the ground, he’s focusing on two main issues to improve the city: creating an open and responsive local government and increasing occupancy rate in a city that has nearly reached build-out of the general plan. . . Wantz said he advocates for a more responsive government after having witnessed the current council feign interest in what residents want without following through. He specifically points to the Alga Norte Park project — which many residents asked for and have still not received — as a prime example of unresponsive representation.
Yes, Carlsbadistan could use a little more of what Jon Wantz is talking about.
[Link: The Coast News]
by The Editors on October 2, 2009
Seems like we (and TK Arnold) were just talking about this the other day, and now the City of Carlsbadistan has announced that the City Council will consider updated plans and specifications for the construction of the Alga Norte Community Park at its Tuesday, October 6, 2009, meeting. They will also authorize the City Clerk to advertise for bids for the grading of the park site which is apparently the first step in building the 32-acre project on Alicante Road and Poinsettia Lane.
Follow the jump for the entire press release. Sounds a lot like good news to us.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on September 30, 2009
In his latest column for the North County Times, TK Arnold suggests that since the City of Carlsbadistan appears to be “dragging its feet” when it comes to grading the 32-arce Alga Norte Park and Aquatic Center, that it might be a good idea to go the privatized route and ask Legoland to include a “competition sized pool” in their proposed 5.5 acre water park.
Wouldn’t it be grand if a spectacular competition-size pool was added to the mix? . . The Carlsbad City Council could put into action its long-professed affinity for government partnerships with the private sector, maybe even contracting with Legoland to operate the pool. Legoland could then play host to swim and water polo tournaments that draw thousands of visitors —- further justification for the hotel the park wants to build.
This may be one of the most ridiculous suggestions we’ve heard in a while. Aside from the fact that Legoland already has a large enough footprint in our city, do we really want our local swimming complex controlled by a New York City based private equity fund (Blackstone Group)? Do the children of Carlsbadistan need to be constantly bombarded with Lego advertising each and every time they go swimming? If you’re still wondering, the answer to both rhetorical questions is: No!
What the City of Carlsbadistan needs is a proper swimming pool (and skateboard park). The City has the money and several mandates from its citizens. The discussion does not need more ridiculous clutter. It needs clear and concise messaging. We can do it in four words: get those tractors rolling.
It really is that simple.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on May 20, 2009
Last night at the Carlsbadistan City Council meeting the gang reviewed “a preliminary capital improvement program budget of $68.8 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1.” The capital improvements include the following:
- Agua Hedionda Channel
- El Camino Real Widening – Tamarack to Chestnut
- El Camino Real Medians
- Vista/Carlsbad Interceptor and Agua Hedionda Lift Station Replacement
- Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
- Hydroelectric Pressure Reducing Station at Maerkle Reservoir
- Pavement Management
- Concrete Repair – curbs, gutters, and sidewalks
And absolutely no skateboard parks. Follow the jump for the entire press release.
[click to continue…]
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The Riehl World: Say It Ain’t So, Farrah
by Richard J. Riehl on February 9, 2012
Sound familiar? That’s the thinking behind a local political activist group that’s asking state office holders and candidates to sign its Promise to California Taxpayers pledge. Signers must promise to vote against all tax increases, amendments to Proposition 13 and increased taxpayer contributions to public employee pension plans.
I was disappointed to learn that Carlsbad City Council member and candidate for the 76th District seat in the California Assembly, Farrah Douglas, was one of the first five signers.
Follow the jump for the rest. [click to continue…]
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