Below-grade tracks

Scant mention was made of below-grade rail tracks during a recent workshop by Flower Capital electeds. This would help to eliminate some of the fatalities that continue to occur and also the need for several over and underpasses to get from the west side to the east of the tracks or visa versa. “Can happen” instead of “can’t happen” should be the attitude of the electeds, but you gotta badger reps in the nation’s capital. Even if the project cost more than $20 million, that’s chump change in Washington — it deals in billions. Solbeach’s below-grade tracks and train station cost $20 million, took a mere 18 months to accomplish, came in ahead of schedule, was achieved on budget and there have been no fatalities since.

Record hotel biz

Visitors to North County communities helped to keep the economy stable according to a recent tourist tracking report by Smith Travel Research based in Nashville, Tenn. It noted hotel related bizness reached record highs in 2007 and was doing great this year. Tourism also helped to maintain employment levels and in some instances was responsible for creating new jobs. There's a good reason coastal communities are placing a high priority on sandy beaches. These are a major reason tourists come to coast communities.

Same song

A recent goal-setting session came up with these concerns: more affordable housing, better public education, less reliance on oil, more recycling and better jobs. Sound like the same ole saw? That workshop was held in Honolulu.

Bizness expo

Del Mar Regional Chamber is preparing for its annual bizness expo to be held in the Mission Tower building at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on April 23. Event is free and will have lotsa local commercial participation.

Financial Centre

With a half-dozen savings and financial institutions in or adjacent to Solana Beach Towne Centre, it’s fast becoming the financial square in the area. At last count there is a Wells Fargo bank inside Vons, Mission Federal Credit Union, 1st Pacific Bank (formerly the Landmark Bank), Temecula Valley Bank, Union Bank of California and nearby is Washington Mutual. Why would you go anywhere else to stash your cash?

Property Owners Protection Act

Perhaps the most important measures in the June election will be Propositions 98 and 99 that have to do with eminent domain, or the taking of homeowners’ property to hand over to a developer or someone else on the basis that it will create more tax revenue. Acquiring property for schools, roads and other reasons that will benefit everyone is already allowed, but the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled it’s OK to confiscate personal property and turn it over to someone else unless it is specifically prohibited by state stature, which would be Propositions 98 and 99 if they are adopted.

Arsonists strike again

Arsonists believed to be linked to the radical Earth Liberation Front have destroyed luxury homes in the state of Washington that were valued at more than $7 million. This action is similar to fires that occurred locally in Escondido, Carmel Valley and University City within the past decade. In each case, the multimillion-dollar structures were either nearly finished or completed. The Escondido fire loss was estimated at more than $6.6 million. Damage to the Hilton Garden in Carmel Valley was pegged at more than $14 million.

Parking dilemma

Escondido electeds are spending sleepless nights pondering whether overnight parking in residential areas is a problem and if it is, how to deal with it. The Flower Capital issues RV parking permits to folks in the affected areas and tickets others.

Bunny egg hunts

Easter or spring egg hunts — whichever is politically correct at this time — will begin at 10 a.m. March 24 at Ecke Sports Park on Saxony Road in the Flower Capital. Times will vary according to the age of the egg hunters. Also scheduled on the same day is a family activity in San Marcos that starts with a breakfast at The Williams Barn in Walnut Grove off Sycamore followed by the hunt for eggs. Some synthetic eggs will be redeemable for prizes.

Canyon Crest Academy headliner

San Diego TV news anchor Carol LeBeau will emcee a Canyon Crest Academy fundraiser March 29 at Rancho Santa Fe Inn. The ever-popular Mar Dels will provide the music.

One liners

Solbeach has received an Award of Excellence from California Park & Recreation Society for development of Fletcher Cove Park ... Like other cities, Vallejo in Central California is struggling to avoid bankruptcy ... Doug Manchester, who opened the Grand Del Mar in Carmel Valley and won a $1 million settlement from O’side when he couldn’t obtain a permit to build a resort complex, has announced plans to start a community bank in La Jolla ... Harbor City electeds have decided now is not the time to raise council salaries ... Kenneth Noah who was superintendent of Gresham Barlow School District in Gresham, Ore., will succeed retiring San Dieguito Union High School District Superintendent Peggy Lynch on July 1 ... The proposed Gregory Canyon landfill near Pala has been requested to jump through additional hoops before it receives a permit to proceed with its construction plan.



Hasta la Vista