EDITORIAL: Vote ‘no’ on county Measure B

North Coast Current

October 20, 2016

San Diego County residents will vote Nov. 8 on a landmark proposal that could change the face of rural inland communities in favor of big development, using the initiative process to push a single builder’s vision.

ENCINITAS: Builders’ use of ballot measures topic of July 14 talk

July 13, 2016

ENCINITAS — Regional activists Diane Nygaard and Mark Jackson are slated to speak July 14 at 6 p.m. about the recent trend of developers using the initiative process to get major projects approved. The event, sponsored by North County Climate Change Alliance and Save Our San Diego Countryside, will...

Coast not quite clear post-election

Lauren J. Mapp

April 29, 2016

Measure A — the special election in Carlsbad to vote on the development of a mall at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon — was defeated at the polls earlier this year, but the idea of development at the site remains a subject of controversy and inspiration in North County. Cori Schumacher — a local surfer, environ...

Caruso concedes as Measure A defeat grows more certain

North Coast Current

March 1, 2016

Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso conceded defeat of Carlsbad's Measure A on Monday as the latest tally of votes continued to confirm the initiative’s demise.

Carlsbad Measure A still headed toward defeat as of Friday

North Coast Current

February 26, 2016

An updated tally from the county registrar of voters shows Carlsbad’s Measure A still headed toward defeat as of 3:08 p.m. Friday.

Carlsbad Measure A ‘no’ vote still slightly ahead in tally update

North Coast Current

February 25, 2016

Measure A — an initiative that would open the door to construction of a luxury mall and related open-space preservation along Agua Hedionda Lagoon — was still facing defeat by a slim margin as of 3:04 p.m. Thursday, according to the latest tally of votes.

Carlsbad Measure A headed for narrow defeat in preliminary tally

North Coast Current

February 24, 2016

A citizen-led effort to block a proposed shopping mall and open-space project along Carlsbad’s Agua Hedionda Lagoon appeared successful by a razor-thin margin.

EDITORIAL: Vote ‘no’ on Carlsbad Measure A

North Coast Current

February 19, 2016

When the Carlsbad City Council and developer Caruso Affiliated used the initiative process to push for a shopping mall in 2015, they touted it as “open space the right way” through a measure they had no intention of ever seeing on a ballot. Now — as it should be — residents have the opportunity...

COMMENTARY: Finding story of Nemo highlights concerns over Caruso plan

Richard Riehl

February 18, 2016

A billionaire Los Angeles developer came to town planning to transform one of Carlsbad’s three lagoons into a magnet for tourist dollars. After winning the approval of local officials, he encountered a group of protesters bent on preserving the lagoon the right way. No, that’s not the story of...

Carlsbad Strawberry Fields measure to be debated on KOCT

North Coast Current

January 4, 2016

Carlsbad’s Measure A, an upcoming special election on the fate of proposed Strawberry Fields development, is the topic of a special Journalist Roundtable on Jan. 7 on KOCT, Oceanside’s community television station. The broadcast begins at about 7 p.m. following an hourlong general Journalist Roundtable...

COMMENTARY: What do Carlsbad leaders have to fear from referendum?

Richard Riehl

September 13, 2015

Caruso Affiliated’s latest glossy mailer features the smiling faces of the five City Council members who voted unanimously to approve the developer’s plan to build a Strawberry Fields mall. Directly below the beaming politicians is the plea, “Don’t let outside interests end the Strawberry Fields...

Point of View: Call ‘85/15’ what it is, and let Carlsbad vote on it

Roman S. Koenig

September 6, 2015

There is no such thing as a shopping mall in harmony with nature. No matter what slick pseudo-campaign advertising tells you, such development is not in harmony with its environment. Yet that’s what the proponents of Carlsbad’s so-called “85/15 Plan” for the Agua Hedionda Lagoon area want you to ...