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Why does Carlsbad need Alga Norte Park?
The population of Carlsbad has doubled since 1990, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Completing the park is among the City Council's top 12 goals of 2007-2008, selected from a list of several dozen.
In addition to recreation, public parks address concern for physical fitness and help prevent obesity and type II diabetes.
- Aquatic Center: First of all, pools save lives through swim lessons. The demand for swim lessons in Carlsbad is 2-4 capacity, resulting in kids who can't swim, kids who can't swim well, and families who have to drive to other cities for lessons. Having strong or even competent swimmers requires pools and instructors. Secondly, pools can be used by residents of all ages. Third, sports such as competitive swimming, water polo, diving, and synchro have long waiting lists due to lack of pool time. The current pool does not have the capacity to host large swim meets.
- Skatepark: Let's not be like other North County cities who tore down skateparks, promising new ones which haven't materialized.
- Ballfields and Basketball half-courts: Sports and physical activity are positive for health, self-esteem, and relationships.
- Dog park, Tot lot, and Picnic area: These park elements will round out the park and appeal to many families.
- Community events: The summer concert series continues to grow in popularity. Other festivals proposed but lack a site.
- Tournaments, swim meets, and other sports events: A commitment to youth and adult sports is part of Carlsbad's image.
Didn't the council already approve Alga Norte?
In July, many Carlsbad families hoped that the City Council would vote to advertise the project for bids, now that the redesign has been completed. However, they voted 4-1 to wait and reconsider in mid-October. They want to see the effects of the state budget on Carlsbad as well as city sales tax income figures in late September.
That's something you can influence by shopping in Carlsbad, especially now that it's time to do back-to-school shopping!
Let your City Council know how you feel and join me at City Hall when they vote again in October.
During the campaign, let the candidates know your views and find out theirs.
On November 4th, when you cast your ballot, vote for the two candidates you think City Council needs most.
Please see my page all about the Alga Norte Park for detailed information and history.
When will the Council vote on Alga Norte?
In July, the Council said they would revisit the project in mid-October. However, it's nowhere on the agenda that I can find.
It looks like the Council won't be voting on Alga Norte again until AFTER the November 4 election, due to the tardy state budget.
If Alga Norte is a priority for you and your family, it's even more urgent now for you to find out how strong the candidates' support for Alga Norte really is. In July and August, building Alga Norte was not a priority for the other 4 challengers. I've been accused of being a "crusader" for it and for "hammering away" about it but at least all the candidates finally had to listen to their future bosses (you voters) and are now on record as supporting Alga Norte. I am not satisfied with what they mean by support, however.
All support is not created equal. Find out when push comes to shove, will they support it, as an essential responsibility to the community? Or do they view public swimming pools and swim lessons as "recreational", as we've heard on the Council before?
Plans to build the park in phases often include "fine print" that the most expensive elements (AKA the pools) will be the final phase, doing absolutely NOTHING to get kids off the swimming lesson wait lists for who knows how many more years.
Whoever you elect must have the courage and will to be responsible. Allowing developers to build all these houses means the community has to provide for the families who come to live in the homes. Learning to swim isn't just a fun, childhood activity, it's a matter of life-and-death. It's just as important a responsibility as providing good schools, safe streets, and clean water.
Why do you want to expand the city smoking ban?
I'd like to see the city smoking ban expanded to cover shopping areas and attractions such as Legoland.
It would be better for:
...children, who should be free from second-hand smoke. It also makes sense to protect children from addictive behavior we strongly hope they won't adopt. "People may doubt what you say but they always believe what you do." Children are more likely to smoke the more they are exposed to it, even when told it's a bad habit. The most effective deterrent is education and a smoke-free environment.
...everyone's health and safety.
...the environment. Cigarette butts are the most frequently discarded trash in public, often washing down to the beach and ocean, causing litter, water pollution, and killing birds and marine life. Check out my links page for the Surfrider Foundation page for more info.
...Carlsbad businesses. The prospect of running the ever-present smoking gauntlet at the malls discourages potential shoppers.
Restaurant business improved after smoking was banned because more people felt comfortable eating out
Further suggestions:
...Enforce the expansion same way as current ban
...Enlist the American Lung Association, the Cancer Society, etc in smoking prevention, cessation, and education
...Enlist the police and public in compliance, enforcement, and zero tolerance of smoking especially at youth events through police visibility or presence of a community service officer, particularly at the beginning of the events.
Why should the city care about plastic bags?
The thing about disposable plastic bags is that people dispose of them.....often improperly.
Many end up on Carlsbad parking lots, in our streets, on our beaches, and tragically in the Pacific Ocean.
There is momentum locally, nationally, and worldwide to dramatically reduce the use of disposable plastic bags.
I propose that city benchmarks would be a good first step.
On my Links page, go to the Surfrider Foundation website for more information.
What is a carbon neutral campaign? Why?
"Carbon neutral" simply means minimizing waste and use, promoting recycling, finding creative use for new cleaner "greener" technology.
Carlsbad has about 100,000 people now. I think this website, email, and other digital and online methods are the best way to really discuss the issues rather than printing up a bunch of flyers and signs that will ultimately end up in the landfill.
I'd like to meet and listen to as many people as possible but I'll do it at events where I (and hopefully others) are actually doing something to improve our community. In other words, I won't be hosting tea parties which would result in the guests wasting gas to drive to it, using a bunch of disposable paper and plastic products, sitting around talking about Carlsbad, then driving home again.
I firmly believe my point of view and energy will resonate with Carlsbad residents without creating more pollution.
How would municipal WiFi help in a disaster?
Here's the incident that sold me on them as public safety tools:
Last summer (8-1-07) a bridge in Minneapolis collapsed during rush hour. People were killed and injured and missing. Their local WiFi system was as an alternate path for electronic communication and information for city personnel. In order for those in charge at the Command Post to make decisions, they had to be able to see multiple perspectives in real-time of a huge site so cameras were rigged up and the feed coordinated for the Command Post through the muni WiFi. Because the bridge collapse impacted traffic, the Dept. of Transportation used the system to update the community, as did the Red Cross about blood donation sites, as did hospitals. It was also used to relay information to the local and national news outlets. The bridge rebuild was estimated at 18-24 months and the muni WiFi was considered a viable way to monitor and coordinate that long-term project as well as keep the public up-to-date.
Municipal WiFi can have the capacity to coordinate multiple agencies and groups, to handle complex inter-relating real-time data in a variety of formats, and to provide mobile service. I have no ties of any kind to related companies; I just think it's a powerful tool that could help us handle evacuations, epidemics, and other emergencies and disasters.
Why do you want to ban leaf blowers?
My website is CleanCarlsbad.com for a reason!
Leaf blowers:
...create noise pollution at decibel levels from 75-90 dBA. According to OSHA, you should wear hearing protection for noises over 85 dBA. Their noise is universally disturbing to people, pets, and wildlife.
...create significant air pollution, even in compliance with the 2007 California pollution law. For example, you'd have to drive your car several hundred miles to generate the carbon monoxide that a leaf blower generates in an afternoon.
...create water pollution since they blow debris into the storm drains and down to the ocean.
...sabotage yard waste recycling.
...use gasoline - - they are not carbon-neutral - - to do a job that can be done almost silently with a rake and/or broom.
...are not "green".
...pose health risks to users, including hearing loss and deafness.
...are banned in Del Mar and many other cities for the above reasons. Some states are considering state-wide bans.
Why should bullying be an issue for City Council?
Bullying, including cyberbullying, is on the rise, sometimes tragically ending in murder and suicide. This problem is becoming too big for parents and schools for a variety of reasons. It has become a public safety issue for children in North County. Inter-school bullying poses jurisdictional challenges for districts (stalling investigations) so Carlsbad and other North County communities should join together to provide a reporting system, resources, education, and guided access to the police and legal system.
How would your "cBad4Good" idea work?
The purpose is to create win/win situations without red tape or overhead. It's not barter. It's not a co-op. It's Carlsbad coming together to solve problems and create opportunities for all generations.
For example, students of public schools, private schools, charter schools, or homeschools at the high school level usually do some sort of community service and/or internship in a local business. Some students are exploring careers that interest them and others are simply willing to help where needed.
Retirees often have vast amounts of knowledge, practical skills, and business experience as well as a desire to help the community. They know that continuing to challenge themselves mentally and physically has many benefits.
Successful merchants want their fellow entrepreneurs to succeed and are usually more than happy to give advice.
Struggling and new business owners who are overwhelmed with unexpected challenges and expenses may find themselves unable to solve a problem, make an upgrade, or hire a consultant for advice.
Perhaps a new merchant posts a cBad4Good listing asking for a consult with an experienced merchant. That merchant visits and starts with advice that will be relatively quick to implement (for example coupons, updated window display, sturdier shelves, better lighting, a website) . Together they figure out which upgrades the owner will do alone and which to list on cBad4Good for help. Maybe a high school woodshop student and a retired carpenter would like to collaborate on the shelves, an artist might offer input on the window display, an electrician around the corner might offer a discount to update the lights and someone remodeling might have some acceptable fixtures to donate if someone will pick them up, or a high school student who is an aspiring website designer might offer to help create a site for the business.
Many people want to help their neighbors but don't have the time to take on a scheduled volunteer job or are reluctant to sign up with an organization.
Many small businesses could survive if they had a just little help now and then. Hopefully they would go on to help others thrive.
cBad4Good could be used for other purposes too such as outreach to home-bound seniors, the chronically ill, and those recovering from illness and injury.
Are you really 18? Who are you?
I recently turned 19.
I'm a college junior at Cal State San Marcos. (How? I started college at 15. I earned two Associate's degrees at 18, the first in Arts and Sciences and the second in Liberal Arts, as well as a certificate in American Indian Studies at 17.)
Honors student (Phi Theta Kappa, Dean's List), athlete (year-round competitive swimmer since age 5), artist (traditional and digital), activist (autism), community volunteer and organizer of youth volunteers.
I've lived in North County since 1997, two in Encinitas, nine in Carlsbad.
Any other qualifications?
2006 San Diego County Champion for Student Fitness Award. The county selects one recipient per year for health-enhancing volunteer work with youth.
Featured in San Diego Family magazine article about the contribution of fitness and sports toward academic success
Featured in People magazine article promoting swimming (photos taken at Carlsbad Swim Complex on Monroe Street!)
2007 Palomar College Scholar / Athlete Award
Jenna Druck Leadership Award and other awards for academics, athletics, art, and volunteer work
I've personally raised thousands of dollars for local charities and organized teams of youth athlete volunteers as well.
Many hands-on volunteer experiences as well including renovating a homeless shelter and assisting at schools and athletic events for the disabled and various ages and experience levels.
What personal qualities would you bring to City Council?
It's awkward singing my own praises but I've been described by my professors, mentors, and coaches as a quick study, someone dedicated to fairness, honesty, and thorough research of the issues, respectful, with a sense of duty and commitment.
The words "moxie" and "spirited" comes up frequently! I tend to think outside the box, to challenge conventions, and to never apologize for moving beyond the status quo when I find it stagnant or inefficient. Impartial research, critical thinking, and unbiased decisions can contribute to fresh approaches within any public or private organization.
I'm beholden to no special interests. I have no political or business baggage, no entangling alliances to stifle clear thinking.
I've listened to the frustrations of Carlsbad's families, parents so busy raising their kids that they can't always come to City Council meetings and voice their concerns and needs about swim lessons and the skatepark, seniors on fixed incomes who can't afford to drive to another city for aqua therapy, young people who shop online because of crowds of smokers outside the mall and everywhere on the sidewalks in shopping centers.
Yes, I'm an unconventional choice for Carlsbad City Council but I'm not an unknown quantity. Only you know which two candidates resonate with your views, values, and vision of the future.
Clean ocean.
Clean beaches.
Clean air.
Clean streets.
Clean parks.
Clean government.
www.CleanCarlsbad.com
Thank you,
Evan
Where can I send a donation to help?
Actually, I'm not accepting campaign donations from anyone.
I'm running my campaign the same way I would run my time in office:
- free from special interests
- free from conflict-of-interest
- transparently, with no money changing hands that could raise any doubt
- reconnecting people to government, which belongs to them
Thank you,
Evan
You won't take donations...How can I help?
Just tell or email people in Carlsbad that I'm running for City Council, how my campaign is different, and to visit this website.
You can let them know I will not be asking them for money!
It's www.CleanCarlsbad.com
Thanks in advance for your help!
I appreciate that people want to write checks to help. Can I ask you to all write letters instead?! If you feel strongly about Alga Norte Park, please write an email to City Council and share your views. (Go to my Links page to get to City Council's email.)
Take the money you wanted to donate to my campaign and spend it in Carlsbad with a local merchant. Take a Carlsbad firefighter, police officer, teacher, or paramedic to lunch. In Carlsbad, of course. Donate some supplies to a school in Carlsbad or make a donation to the Carlsbad Public Library. Write City Council an email and offer to buy a tree for the new Alga Norte Park!
I know that in the very recent past local candidates ran much less pricy campaigns and I firmly believe we can--and must--return to those levels. Why should we waste money, resources, time, and compromise the public trust when we have the technology to conduct what I call "lean and green" campaigns? Using websites, email, personal contact, and public forums is modern, environmentally aware, economically prudent, ethically transparent, interactive and accountable. What can you say about glossy mailers, door hangers, and plastic roadside signs? They're one-way communication, often tossed straight into the trash or blowing around unread as litter, headed for the landfill before the New Year. When will those corroplast signs biodegrade? What do they contribute to our community? The word that most people use for them: "eyesore".
If you run across Carlsbad residents who want to vote but are not yet registered, please refer them to my website's Links to Websites page so they can register with the San Diego Registrar of Voters.
Free hand-painted one-of-a-kind art signs (on cardboard) for your yard by local artist Bryan Snyder are available, as well as free t-shirts, stickers, and canvas tote bags. See the t-shirt and sign tab on the Home Page for details. Limited supply - - act now!
Would you come speak to our group?
Thanks, please email me the details. I'm confident I'll be able to meet with many people between now and November 4. Thanks in advance for understanding that my college class schedule is already fixed for the semester. I'll see you at public events too.
Do you have info for the media?
Yes, thanks, on the Press Release page here on CleanCarlsbad.com
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