Walkable downtown Del Mar

The “community conversations” about how to revitalize our downtown have revitalized my vision of how we could realize the “pedestrian orientation” called for in our Community Plan.

Process, process, process

Watching the Del Mar City Council stumble clumsily toward decisions about downtown re(sic)vitalization, it seems they have a bit of amnesia about how the community has evolved over the years. We did not achieve our status as one of the most admired cities in California by “fast tracking” our decision-making processes.

BUD’S CORNER: Competence and accountability

Two of the best reasons to approve the sale of the fairgrounds to the city of Del Mar are to achieve competence and accountability. The current governing structure of the fairgrounds is a board that has neither. Members of the fair board are appointed by the governor (both parties) primarily to reward them for making large political donations.

BUD’S CORNER: City staffers deserve better

It is painful to hear voices challenging the pay and benefits of Del Mar city employees. A favorite narrative of the chattering class these days is that all local government employees are being paid too well and their pensions are draining public resources.

Bud’s Corner – Broadway in Del Mar

Just spent a week in New York and was flabbergasted to see that Mayor Bloomberg has succeeded in closing a huge section of Broadway to car traffic. That’s right, I said “Broadway,” right in the middle of Times Square. Instead of fighting our way through jammed sidewalks, we strolled down the middle of the street, saw people sitting at small tables with umbrellas and realized cars were deferring to pedestrian traffic.

Bud’s Corner: A win-win for local businesses

By Bud Emerson

Many good things are underway to revitalize our downtown. But we worry about the growing business failure trend.

Bud’s Corner: Small cities and parklands

By Bud Emerson
A recent road trip through central and northern California, Oregon, Washington, west of the Sierras and east of the Cascades, and on into British Columbia opened my eyes to the incredible beauty of the West Coast. We avoided interstate highways as much as possible, concentrating on federal/state/local parklands and small cities.

Bud’s Corner: Roundabouts all around–but not in Del Mar

By Bud Emersen
Del Mar Resident
Seems like the Del Mar 2000 Plan for downtown revitalization is serving as a great model for a great number of places. Roundabouts slow drivers down so they can enjoy the community instead of speeding past pedestrian-friendly and business-friendly zones. Narrowed streets create more parking and pedestrian spaces.

Bud’s Corner: Time for a political divorce

By Bud Emerson,/i>