by The Editors on April 24, 2009
At City Council last Tuesday night April 21, 2009 we got so caught up in the Stallga Norte Park spectacle that we forgot about the State of the Carlsbad Economy presented by City Finance Director Lisa Irvine. Though we took notes, we never wrote anything up. Luckily, the City of Carlsbad did it for us in a release sent out yesterday.
The city has developed a number of strategies for managing its budget that allow the city to adapt to the changing economy while minimizing effects on city services. In January 2009, to maintain a balanced budget, the City Council reduced total general fund revenue by $4.6 million, and reduced general fund expenditures by $5.3 million. Based on projected revenues, the city will likely make additional reductions in the fiscal year 2009-2010 budget, which goes into effect July 1.
The most interesting bits were about how much our City depends on Car Country Carlsbad and how poorly they are doing. There was also mention of how poorly Plaza Camino Real is doing compared to The Forum and Carlsbad Premium Outlets, but we already knew that.
For the rest of the details (minus any snide comments from us) follow the jump.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on April 22, 2009
We’ve been meaning to get out to Legoland, we really have, but the $63 entrance price has been what we like to call “cost prohibitive.” While we’re sure we wouldn’t hesitate to spend the money while on vacation, we never seem to be able to empty our wallets so close to home.
That all changes on May 2, 2009 from 1 – 9 PM as Legoland and the Carlsbad Education Foundation present “Celebrate Carlsbad Day” at the theme park with $15 tickets.
Specially-priced $15 “Celebrate Carlsbad Day” tickets include admission to LEGOLAND with park hours extended until 9:00 p.m. Admission also includes a special fireworks display at 8:00 p.m. . . LEGOLAND will donate the proceeds from the event to the Carlsbad Educational Foundation in support of new district-wide music and hands-on science programs as well as educational innovation. The Foundation has set a goal to raise $100,000 in ticket sales and has established expanded opportunities for corporate sponsors to partner for this special event.
So it’s kind of like donating money to Kids Are Worth A Million and getting 8 hours at Legoland thrown in for free. Now we have no excuse. And neither do you.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on April 21, 2009
Tonight, April 21, 2009, with a standing-room only crowd (most wearing bright yellow “Alga Norte Now” stickers) and even more out in the hall pressing posters up against the glass, the Carlsbad City Council voted 3-2 to push off the decision to begin construction on the Alga Norte Park by what could be another year.
The council was faced with 26 public comments in favor of the Alga Norte Park and five options presented by City staff:
1. Continue the project hold.
2. Build the park as designed
3. Rough Grade the site
4. Build just the aquatic center
5. Build everything but the aquatic center
When the discussions were over Mayor Bud Lewis, along with Councilmen Matt Hall, and Mark Packard voted in favor of the “rough grade” (option 3) on the Alga Norte Park property, while Ann Kulchin and Keith Blackburn voted against the motion.
Leave it to the convoluted workings of city politics to have the no votes be in support of building the park. “I am going to vote no on that because I think we have studied it to death,” Ann Kulchin said. “I think the time to build it is now.”
And for once we agreed with her.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on April 21, 2009
Kevin Kinnear will host blues/slide guitarist and Robert Johnson historian Scott Ainslie for acoustic blues and slide guitar workshop at Carlsbadistan’s Epic Guitars this Sunday April 26, 2009.
The workshop is for people who have heard the keening of the slide, but haven’t yet made that sound themselves: beginning, intermediate, and even some advanced players have profited from the techniques that will be presented. Epic Guitars and Kevin Kinnear are committed to linking up professionals and local players. This is a part of Epic’s mission, and my own. Bring a slide that fits snugly on your little finger (ceramic, brass or glass) and a sound recording device, if you like. $35 at the door. Reservations encouraged. Space will be limited at some point.
The workshop begins at 1 PM and tickets are limited so be sure and make reservations now. Epic Guitars 2656 State St. in the heart of Carlsbadistan.
by The Editors on April 21, 2009
Singer/songwriters Jason Reeves, Brendan James and Amber Rubarth will be kicking of their Vespa Experience Tour on April 30, 2009 with a show at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbadistan, according to a story in Paste Magazine.
The three singer/songwriters are headed up the California Coast, from Carlsbad to San Fransisco, on their scooters to raise awareness about Global Warming (even if I thought all Californians were pretty aware at this point). With just their instruments and some camping gear, the musicians have partnered with Greenpeace in order to “inspire young people to consider their impact on their environment.”
Unfortunately, Amber Rubath will not be at the Carlsbadistan show, but Jason and Brendan are definitely worth checking out. For more information check out their Myspace page. Or click here for tickets for the April 30 2009 show at 7 PM.
[Link: Paste Magazine]
by The Editors on April 20, 2009
Today at approximately 4 PM a small plane missed the runway on a landing attempt and crashed on airport property according to a story in the North County Times.
There were no fatalities in the crash, Carlsbad police Lt. Neal Gallucci said. . . Gallucci said the plane missed the runway, but landed on airport property about 4 p.m. . . .One person was taken to a hospital, but no information was available about injuries that person may have suffered, he said.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune the Cessna 152 (which is registered to a Vista man) had engine trouble shortly after take off and the pilot immediately turned back and tried to land from the west. He did not make it to the runway.
The pilot’s name, age and the extent of his injuries were unavailable last night. Paramedics pulled him from the single-engine aircraft and took him to a hospital. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
[Link: North County Times and San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on April 20, 2009
The owners of the Carlsbad-based restaurant chain Pizza Port have reportedly purchased a building at 1956 Bacon St. in San Diego for $1.6 million, according to a story on Costar.com.
The buyers will occupy the building, which was constructed in 1989 in the Point Loma submarket. It was vacant at the time of purchase. Pizza Port has other locations in Solana Beach, San Celemente and Carlsbad.
Looks like the world is getting another Pizza Port. There can never be too many of those.
[Link: Costar.com]
by The Editors on April 20, 2009
Things have apparently gotten so bad in the Carlsbadistan real estate game that local Realtors are turning to Catholic mythology for help the sell slow moving properties, according to a story in the LA Times.
Allen Meredith and Ronnie Wilson (pictured right) with the Richard Realty Group prepare to bury a statuette of St. Joseph in the yard of a house they have listed in Carlsbad, CA. . . Real estate agents are snapping up “St. Joseph Home Selling Kits” for would-be clients — in both English and Spanish-language editions. Ronnie Wilson, an agent in Carlsbad, Calif., includes the figurine in her regular marketing kit, along with “For Sale” signs and online advertisements.
Apparently, burying a statuette of St. Joseph “the patron saint of home and employment” will work wonders. Then again, most Realtors would probably take a dump in the middle of the front lawn at midnight if they thought it would help. Wonder if anyone’s tried that yet?
[Link: LA Times]
by The Editors on April 20, 2009
Tomorrow evening (April 21, 2009) is officially “Pack The City Council Chambers” night as City Council will be reconsidered something they’ve reconsidered several times already: the fate of the Alga Norte Park something we like to call it the Alga Norte Skatepark. (AB#19.780)
City Councilman Keith Blackburn is so interested in all of us attending that he’s reportedly calling 40,000 people, according to a story in the The Times.
For about $2,000, Blackburn has taken the unprecedented step of hiring a company that operates an electronic “phone tree” to reach as many of Carlsbad’s 40,000 households as possible today with a 30-second, recorded message from the councilman. . .Blackburn is urging residents to show up at a council meeting, set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, at which the proposed park will be discussed.
The fact that the citizens have to show up to remind the City Council that we need a new swim complex and skateboard park is crazy in our opinion, but looks like we’re all going to have to go anyway as it apparently is the only way members of the City Council ever hear anything.
Building parks should be the one thing that the City Council does on their own, but apparently, they need our help. Be there Tuesday evening at 6 PM.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on April 20, 2009
Carlsbad Optometrist Howard Levy, 56, and his OffAxis bandmates have been getting a lot of press lately after the group was quoted in a story about how the economy is pushing people to spend a little more time doing the things they love. For Levy that means rocking out.
“But the music is totally a stress buster,” he said. “It’s the passion of our souls to play music, create music, bond with all these people and take our mind off our daily routines.” . . . He joined OffAxis, a group of opticians, optometrists and others in the eye-care industry who play classic rock tunes such as Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and the Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There” for fun and charity. The band’s name, a play on words that only an optometrist would get, refers to a common visual distortion known as an astigmatism.
OffAxis is world famous and we’ve never heard of them. Funny how that happens to us all the time.
[Link: The Times and Calgary Herald]
At City Council last Tuesday night April 21, 2009 we got so caught up in the Stallga Norte Park spectacle that we forgot about the State of the Carlsbad Economy presented by City Finance Director Lisa Irvine. Though we took notes, we never wrote anything up. Luckily, the City of Carlsbad did it for us in a release sent out yesterday.
RSS Feed-Posts