Now that the vote on Measure A is over, virtually evenly split, what we can all agree on is that we are all neighbors, love Carlsbad and want the best for our city.
High voter turnout, and at times overzealous passion on both sides, demonstrated how much we all care.
That is why Carlsbad is Carlsbad.
Carlsbad has a rich history of citizen involvement. The citizens of Carlsbad have made Carlsbad, not the politicians.
Using the initiative process and pressure they saved Hosp. grove, demanded open space and forced the city to come up with the growth management plan.
Citizen input during the review process of has shaped Carlsbad and created a better quality of life for all.
What happens now? What do we do to make sure the high expectations of the citizens on both sides of the issue are met?
Many citizens who supported prop A argued that something else worse could go in.
News flash: now is the time for the City Council to regain the trust of the citizens and earn their salaries by ensuring that does not happen.
It would be a sad statement that a Los Angeles developer motivated by profit, which is not a bad thing, had more concern for Carlsbad than the City Council can demonstrate by holding the development of this area to a higher standard compatible with the desires of the citizens.
The ultimate abrogation of the City Council’s duty would be to rubber stamp again this project or any other project that is brought before them to replace it.
I have heard politicians claim they cannot control what goes in? Really, then what do they do if not set zoning standards and restrictions.
The council needs to strongly negotiate on behalf of the citizens and not just accept whatever comes in front of them.
The council should be a stronger advocate for the quality of life in Carlsbad than any developer.
The citizens have higher expectations for their city and city council.
Additionally the citizens have handed the council and cities throughout California a strong bargaining chip.
At this point, do you think a developer wants to go up against the citizens of Carlsbad with a project that has not been reviewed, approved and meets the highest standards?
Developers have been put on notice: Bring your best, be ready to answer questions and give more to Carlsbad than millions in political advertising.
Finally the citizens should continue to be engaged in the review process for it is their watchfulness and passion that have made Carlsbad a jewel.
Geoffrey Bell is a Carlsbad resident.
7 comments
The people of Carlsbad have proved to me that facts and intelligence can count for more than money and propaganda. Dr. Bell, you put it well. All of you who commented, your remarks demonstrate his points. I am so lucky to live here, thank you all.
Time for change, need strong candidates for November, two council seats up and think we need to Recall Hall, can’t have him in office for the next two and half years. His insincere apology the other day was not adequate. He needs to go. I don’t know if any of you took the phone survey by Caruso when this whole issue started, but one of the questions was if the measure passed would I blame the mayor and council and be apt to vote against them, I answered you better believe it. That tells you a lot about the involvement of the council on this deal. Let’s do what is right and show the mayor and council what we do with city officials who betray the citizens trust. Recall Hall and throw the council out!
Since the Measure A debacle, my neighbors and I are energized and engaged in fixing our local government, sadly something I admit I was not involved in more, other than only for election voting. Measure A was the catalyst and I am committed to help fix this incompetent and/or corrupt system we have.
There continues to be healthy chatter regarding the overhaul of city government, however something that seems to be escaping scrutiny, and must not, is the Lagoon Foundation’s obvious charter violation by backing this dangerous Measure A. It is unfathomable to me that the foundation that is chartered and entrusted by our citizens to protect our precious lagoon had so recklessly abandoned it’s long term protection and committed gross dereliction of their duty of enforcing it’s charter.
In Fact, the paid CEO of this foundation was actively campaigning for Measure A! Again – incompetence and or/corruption? I say corruption due to the donations and ties with Caruso. Heck, if we cannot trust the actual foundation chartered with protecting our lagoon from mall developers, but instead visibly campaign for A, then we should just pave over it now and save us the trouble of additional fights in the future! The Carlsbad citizens should know the atrocious facts about this and also fight to protect our lagoon by demanding we replace the foundation leadership just as we are fighting to do the same with our city!
Not so sure about the “evenly split”. The vote over Prop D vs Prop E was MUCH closer. This was pretty decisive considering the amount of money Caruso put into it to deceive people.
If all we did was stop Caruso, then we failed. Caruso was NOT the problem; he was a symptom. We need new voices in City Hall. We need people who respect opinions that differ from their own. We need to get the money out of the system because money corrupts. We have sat back for too long and passively allowed this to happen right before our eyes. NO MORE! Time for change. Time for people to get involved. Time to let Hall and his buddies know that WE are watching, looking over their shoulders, turning over every stone and shining a light down every dark alley. In other words, “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore!”
It goes without saying that the Carlsbad City Council “should be a stronger advocate for the quality of life in Carlsbad than any developer.” The reality is; they are not. They were not during Bud Lewis’ reign nor will they be during his crony Matt Hall’s reign. Unless we replace the Mayor and City Council, Carlsbad will continue to be more about pro-development and creating a higher tax base than it will be about improving the quality of life for it’s long time/full time residents. Everyone was so focused on the Mega Mall, but what about the mega housing developments that are currently being built and the many more that are in the pipeline? Nothing will change unless the residents force change. No on Prop A will hopefully be just the beginning. If Carlsbad wants to remain Carlsbad than the citizens need to make that happen. That means replacing the existing Administration.
The Council is not really representative of its citizens as the recent negative votes on A showed. They are the product of an at large system which allows them to claim they represent everybody when in fact they represent nobody in particular . They have become too beholden to such groups as developers and high end political donors from outside the City.. A districting system would remove some of the advantages of incumbency and force candidates to actually seek out what their respective districts wants from them to win a majority vote. At present, candidates with the highest vote totals win but they are far under 50 percent. The City is no longer a cozy village but a mature entity that needs a more responsive political structure.
The second thing the Council needs to do is buy up the land on which the Caruso Mall was to be built. They have the funds in the City reserves even after plundering them to build a 40 million plus golf course. It would win them support of voters and recognize the fact that the City residents want less not more development. As an example of the frustrations of residents, after saving water by giving up lawns and reducing usage, the city went ahead and approved new developments of nearly a thousand homes, which shifted the saved water to new users and did nothing to ease the drought conditions we are facing.
Come on Council, you’re bright enough and surely don’t think people are just emotional fools who believe in lies when they oppose your actions. Act smart, act now.
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