by The Editors on December 12, 2009
by The Editors on December 11, 2009
On his blog Aguanomics Economist and Wantrup Fellow at UC Berkeley David Zetland, PhD has an interesting take on the Poseidon Resources desalination plant.
While he points out that there are many people who worry about Poseidon’s track record, or the fact that they’re asking for $550 million in tax-favored public bonds, or that the $700 million plant will cost tax payer more than the “promised price” what has Zetland most worried is the Carlsbad Municipal Water District.
Although these things concern me,** I worry more about Poseidon’s partner, Carlsbad MWD, which has the dubious honor of being the least-competent manager of wastewater in the State. . . .With partners like that, I wonder if Poseidon is really facing a worthy contractual partner that can push back when/if push comes to shove. (This is especially relevant given Poseidon’s friendly relations with local politicians.)
Zetland summarizes by saying: “If Poseidon screws up, will Carlsbad MWD be competent enough to catch them or make sure they pay?” And that is one of the best questions we heard so far.
[Link: Aguanomics]
by The Editors on December 11, 2009
Three enviornmental groups who wanted the California Coastal Commission to revoke a development permit they’d given for Poseidon Resources’ Desalination Plant were denied on Thursday, December 10, 2009, according to a story on KPBS.
The 9-to-3 vote to deny the revocation request came after two hours of testimony at the Coastal Commission meeting in San Francisco. . . “The grounds for revocation are narrow and the Commission cannot reconsider a permit if new information has surfaced after the permit has been issued, no matter how compelling that information may be,” Coastal Commission Deputy Director Alison Detmer told commissioners during the meeting.
Poseidon Resources is obviously happy and the Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Coastkeeper and the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation have simply filed another revocation request.
[Link: KPBS]
by The Editors on December 11, 2009
by The Editors on December 10, 2009
by The Editors on December 10, 2009
North County’s local talents are holding an Old-Fashioned Christmas concert on Friday, December 18, 2009 at the Carlsbad Women’s Club. The concert and sing-a-long is to benefit Casa De Amparo, Oceanside’s child development center and shelter.
Enjoy your favorite Christmas and Chanukah songs featuring North County’s local singers and musicians Joni Harris, Bill Ims, Carolyn Mickelson, Eliane Weidauer, Vicki Hamilton, and Dmitriy Demidov. Join them for a sing-a-long opportunity and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies.
Old-Fashioned Christmas at The Carlsbad Women’s Club, 7 PM Friday 18, 2009, 3320 Monroe St.,
by The Editors on December 9, 2009
by The Editors on December 8, 2009
Proving that they occasionally spend money on the right projects, the City of Carlsbadistan City Council on December 8, 2009 approved a grant program that will help businesses in The Village upgrade their store fronts.
City staff estimate that, depending on the amounts of the individual grants, the initial allocation of $300,000 will pay for 16 or 17 façade improvements in the downtown Village area, which encompasses some 200 acres in central Carlsbad. Based on the success of the initial allocation, the program could be expanded in the future. . . Funding for the program will come from the Village Redevelopment Operations Fund, which must be used for improvements within the redevelopment area. Only businesses located with the boundaries of the Village area are eligible for the grants.
If only we had a store with a front in The Village. . . For more information on the grants contact the Carlsbad Redevelopment Agency at 760-434-2810 or visit their web site at www.carlsbadca.gov/redevelopment.
Follow the jump for the entire release.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 8, 2009
We knew the acting talent at New Village Arts Theatre ran deep, but we didn’t know how deep. Thanks to a Lillian Cox story in The Coast News, we now know a lot more about the Kurner family.
Kristianne Kurner is executive artistic director of the award-winning New Village Arts Theatre. She founded the theater in 2001 with former husband Francis Gercke who is currently associate artistic director of the Cygnet Theatre in San Diego. Kristianne also teaches the “Study of Filmed Plays” and runs the Actors Academy at MiraCosta College. . . Kristianne’s mother, Laura Kurner, also an actor, manages the new Art Foundry. It is a complex of artist studios with public access in the New Village Arts Theater building, which is owned by the city of Carlsbad. . . Kristianne’s son Jonah Gercke, 11, has already made a name for himself, garnering rave reviews for his performance in “Distracted” at MiraCosta College, a role Kristianne explains he was cast in on his own merit.
Yeah, there’s a lot more, but you should probably read it yourself.
[Link: The Coast News]
by The Editors on December 8, 2009