Ponto one step closer for $3.7 million
What do you think the beach will be like once they build 3 huge hotels (664 rooms + 126 time-share units) + 128 condos?
The Ponto ship has already sailed, making it more important that other potential open space is pursued and used for public open space that everyone - - locals included - - can use, not just hotels for rich tourists.
The City has to develop revenue streams other than developers, TOT (hotel tax), and car dealerships. I applaud Farrah Douglas for doing research and standing up against plans to put a car dealership in a residential neighborhood.
I'm not anti-business. Focusing too much on only a few kinds businesses is blinding us to other opportunities and problems. Let's take a wider view before it's too late.
We have dozens of acres of empty retail space which is generating no sales tax. This is not just a symptom of the current economic downturn: Carlsbad has had the worst occupancy rate in the county for a long time, both in percentage and amount of office space sitting empty.
If you agree with me and the 3976 people who voted for me, help us get the message across to City Council:
Carlsbad needs OPEN SPACE not more empty office space and luxury resort hotels.
Carlsbad has much to offer businesses of all sizes; it will take different skills and outreach to make our town successfully filled-out than it took to reach build-out.
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