From 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.
Mayor Bud Lewis and the rest of the Carlsbadistan City Council (Ann Kulchin, Keith Blackburn, Matt Hall, and Mark Packard) wish you and your’s a most wonderfully happy elfing holidays from the world’s best City.
Is Carlsbad city councilman Mark Packard really more interested in political grandstanding than public safety?
As a member of the North County Transit District board, he cast the only “no” vote to fund a study to install a federally required safety system on our local commuter trains. He said he did so because the feds weren’t funding it. Upon hearing from their attorney that failure to comply with the law would mean there’d be no commuter rail service here after 2015, the eight other members of the board voted to fund the study.
On his Web site’s home page, San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn explains his personal political philosophy about government and public debt. Quoting himself first, then Lincoln and Jefferson, he congratulates himself for having the honor of serving as an “elected guardian of our County.”
In law, a guardian is defined as someone assigned by the court to be responsible for the care and management of the person or property of a minor or of someone of unsound mind. The word is also sometimes used to describe a defender of public morals.
Maybe that explains Horn’s crusade against teens checking out R-rated DVDs from their public libraries, medical marijuana, and allowing disabled persons to ride publicly subsidized buses to visit casinos.
Assuming most elected officials are in favor of democracy and opposed to public debt, what sets Horn apart is that he evidently thinks of his constituents as either children or incompetents. [click to continue…]
Power of Vision, a community group who is opposed to the NRG’s plans for a new power plant on the grounds of the Encina Power Station, has announced they are actively collection the ugliest photos they can find of the power plant.
We are so concerned about the visual impacts we are sponsoring an “Ugly Picture” campaign. Send us your photos of the power plant site. Send us the worst of what you see everyday as you look out your windows, walk on the beach or drive by. Send us the worst of what you see out surfing, catching a beautiful sunset or cruising Highway 101. Send us the worst of what will happen if we have TWO power plants in North County on the beach. These pictures will then be submitted to the California Energy Commission as visual proof of the toll this plant already takes on our coast. We need to let the CEC know that the region will not tolerate additional blight on the coast.
Images can be emailed to powerofvision@roadrunner.com or mailed to Power of Vision, 300 Carlsbad Village Drive Suite 108A-64, Carlsbad, CA 92008 by January 15, 2010. Please include a brief description of where the photo was taken and the date.
Maybe we should send them our blog header. . .
According to a report releassd on November 4, 2009 by the consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch, the cost of water fromPoseidon’s proposed Carlsbadistan desalination plant could cost three times as much as the company has projected.
“Poseidon claims that their Carlsbad desalination water will come at ‘no expense to the region’s taxpayers,’ yet they are counting on Metropolitan Water District ratepayers and taxpayers to underwrite the project,” said Renee Maas, water program organizer for Food & Water Watch. “Policymakers should learn from Poseidon’s failed Tampa Bay facility and only use public funds for effective and responsible projects.”
According to James Fryer, the author of the new report even if things go well costs could still reach $1910 per acre-foot which is twice the $950 claimed by Poseidon.
Cost over-runs and bankruptcy marked Poseidon’s previous foray into the desalination business. The Tampa Bay plant opened over a year behind schedule, and then required immediate rehabilitation. As a result, he project ran 44 percent over projected capital cost and has never produced the 25 MGD originally promised by Poseidon.
Who poses the greater threat to the safety of Carlsbad residents, drivers using cell phones while weaving their way at high speed down El Camino Real, or a bunch of guys standing around on the sidewalk hoping to be offered a job by the multitaskers whizzing by?
The sting operation they launched last month to catch violators of the city’s anti-solicitation ordinance indicates city police seem to think the guys on the sidewalk are more dangerous. According to police Capt. Neil Galucci, the bust is “almost like a prostitution citation,” because it requires that the perpetrator enter into a hiring agreement. Police approach the day laborers in unmarked cars and civilian clothes, pretending to offer them work. If they fall for the scam, the undercover cops drive their victims a few blocks away and cite them for being tricked into violating the law. Those suspected of being in the country illegally are turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol. [click to continue…]
Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings at a single bound. I thought of my favorite superhero when I read the qualifications required of the ideal candidate for a position recently posted on the Internet.
The successful applicant, according to the job description, must be a “proactive visible leader, with a collaborative, engaging management style,” and should have “the right blend of skills to navigate these challenging times and build a bridge to the future.” He/she must have “highly developed communication skills, effective interpersonal skills balanced by a sense of humor,” and the ability to be “politically astute, but apolitical.” [click to continue…]
Carlsbadistan’sPower of Vision, “a coalition of opponents” to the proposed NRG West power plant, held another press conference yesterday to remind everyone that building another power plant in Carlsbadistan is a very bad idea. They were joined yesterday by two congressional candidates.
Francine Busby and Solana Beach Councilmember Dave Roberts, both of whom are running for Congress in the 50th District, also announced their opposition to the project at today’s event. Roberts’ opposition was previously lodged as part of the Solana Beach Council. . . Elected officials of the cities of Vista, Solana Beach and Del Mar have written letters to the City of Carlsbad citing opposition to the proposed 540-megawatt power plant due to its significant regional impacts to the environment, coastal resources and the region’s visual resources.
We know there are a lot of details involved, but we just think a beautiful coastal lagoon is a seriously silly place for another power plant (or desalination plant). So more power to the Power of Vision. Follow the jump for the full release. [click to continue…]
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.
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From 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.
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