Letters to the Editor

Wake Up, Oceanside

By Rob Schupp, Carlsbad



Friday, Aug. 3, 2007 | Re: Goat Hill. I understand NIMBYism. We live in paradise. Change and development threatens it. But change and growth can also enhance our paradise.

Oceanside has an incredible opportunity to use the Chargers as the catalyst for positive change.

Today the stretch of Oceanside Boulevard from the coast to Rancho del Oro is hardly paradise. Poorly planned strip malls, low-intensity and somewhat dilapidated industrial areas, and a very nice mobile home park typify this valley's underutilization. At the risk of sounding insensitive to property rights, much of it could be considered blight and perhaps the entire stretch from Coast Highway to El Camino Real could be part of a redevelopment zone.

With the Chargers as the anchor, I can see Oceanside Boulevard become the new millenium's version of a mini-Mission Valley: an environmentally-sensitive collection of homes, retail and office that take advantage of its location at I-5 and along the new Sprinter light rail. By masterplanning the entire valley, mistakes made in Mission Valley can be avoided.

Wake up Oceanside. Establish a vision. Exploit the incredible power of the NFL to help you get there.




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1. The Roaming Gnome wrote on August 3, 2007 1:20 AM:
"Oceanside, for various reasons, has always been the most depressed area of North County valuewise. I think the Chargers and related redevelopment would definitely be a boost for the City and set them in the right direction for the century. The questions is whether the local politicos have the vision to get it done."

2. Billy! Bob!! Henry!!! wrote on August 3, 2007 1:59 AM:
"Yes O-side-wake up and get scammed for a billion big ones fom the Spanos crime family. Never ceases to amaze me who the minority always wants to raise taxes for th emajority to fund their pet projects."

3. Ray wrote on August 3, 2007 3:35 AM:
"I think it would be great for the Chargers to go to Oside. Anything to get them out of San Diego is ok in my book. Knock down the Murf and put up a Walmart superstore."

4. DC wrote on August 3, 2007 5:04 AM:
"It’s amazing that Oceanside is not seizing the opportunity to bring the NFL to its community, especially with San Diego and National City out of the picture and Chula Vista looking bad after the repeated Bayfront gaffes. Oceanside needs to proactively work with the Chargers to shape the stadium project so it benefits the community and local taxpayers. The Chargers are offering to pay 100% of the costs and all they ask for is the land to build a whole new community, not just a stadium. Most of the cities around the nation would salivate for a team so willing to make a deal, much less an NFL team."

5. Negotiator wrote on August 4, 2007 1:08 AM:
"People in San Diego, PLEASE REALIZE, "Rob Shupp" present or former rep. for a PROPAGANDA FIRM only represents Arrogant, profiteering Developers!' How does "the stretch of Oceanside Boulevard from the coast to Rancho del Oro..poorly planned strip malls, low-intensity and 'somewhat' dilapidated industrial areas, and a very nice mobile home park typify this valley's underutilization," 'benfit' from a stadium for the Chargers? Yes, developers & PR henchmen are "insensitive to property rights," especially those that.."could be considered BLIGHT,"(no 'definition') who "Use 'Redevelopment' to Receive nearly all the General Fund Property Taxes (instead go to the Redevelopment Agency-to leverage more Free Money, more Free Land), who then FLEECE San Diego, and Now Oceanside of all "public" (was private before eminent domained) Assets in Lands (Real Estate), Future Bond Debt (for generations-as not One Single Redevelopment Bond in CA has been Paid Off-no not even Horton)& incite density with NO INFRASTRUCURE!"

6. Billy Bob Henry wrote on August 4, 2007 2:45 AM:
"DC-what does O-side that stand for-tax payers or free corporate welfare give aways?The Chargers will NOT benefit ANY COMMUNITY-so please stop with that nonsense....The Chargers are NOT paying 100% of costs if the want FREE LAND-what part of 100% do you not understand?? If I want to build a home on the Mission Beach boarwalk, and ask the City to give me a lot for free to build on-am I paying 100% of costs???? No, I am not-so why do you make the assinine claim that the Chargers are paying 100% when they want billions in free land and tax abatment?"

7. Amazing wrote on August 4, 2007 4:04 AM:
"It's amazing how condescending your comments are about Oceanside. We have beautiful homes and neighborhoods off of Oceanside Boulevard and indeed throughout the city. I for one don't appreciate your efforts to ruin my quality of life nor that of thousands of my neighbors. Right now there is an Oceanside Boulevard Vision Committee and the consensus at the last public meeting was No Chargers. This is the public speaking who live here. I agree the Boulevard area can be rejeuvenated- but you don't do that at the cost of destroying our neighborhoods."

8. Amazing wrote on August 4, 2007 11:56 AM:
"This is interesting to read these blogs. Apparently they haven't read the middle of the story that says stadiums don't make money for host cities. Re-read the article again guys. This will NEVER benefit my community, only the Spanos's wallet."

9. Christopher Hall wrote on August 5, 2007 8:33 AM:
"People -- think about it: if a huge non-profit organization wanted to land in Oceanside, they'd go through the planning, development and real estate channels until they came out with a facility upon a site that was publicly approved and privately financed (mostly), with the strong possibility that the city may have incentivized the move and provided some kind of public financial support like it does for so many other businesses. The output of the non-profit would be a public benefit, and the company leaders would not profit off these services, although they could make salaries in the quarter million dollar range, with regular staff paid wages between $24k-$72k annually. NOW look at the deal the Chargers want: they want your land to provide for their own personal business venture that profits them and their starting players enormously. And they want it all for 8 games annually."

10. Bud wrote on August 5, 2007 5:08 PM:
"Oceanside, don't get suckered into financing this money pit of a team. They'll knock your city to its knees, financially, then move on to the next. If they want land they can pay for it like everyone else. Don't let your 'leaders' give away your parkland for the 'benefits' of a major sports team. The only benefits will go directly into their pockets."

11. Amazing wrote on August 6, 2007 7:23 AM:
"At least some people read the story and realize that NFL teams make tons of money for the team owners and no benefits go to the city. The original writer needs to relax in Carlsbad by the Sea, read the latest transportation articles and realize that if the Chargers came to Oceanside, he would never get out of Carlsbad. Studies now show that I-5 will get widened, if at all, by 2020 with a ten year window of construction...don't think the Chargers will wait that long do you?"

12. Do the math... wrote on August 10, 2007 9:40 AM:
"Yep, if you can find a calculator, turn it on and add $790 million to $165 million and divide that by 150,000 (residents) and then (still there?) divide that by 30 years, at interest at 9% and what do you get? YOUR SHARE of the debt and you owe it in cash. Up front. Got money? If not, it's back to school for you! There's still time. It's second grade math and I know you can do it, so try again. After that, explain how this is such a great idea!"

13. Joe Bedoe wrote on August 11, 2007 9:59 PM:
"The Oceanside Chargers: Just Do It! All the negative publicity, is from Chula Vista/Tj. It's going to happen! I've owned a home in oceanside, since the only pretty thing were cops on the corners dressed as hookers. Goat Hill Area Is Ugly. The image of Oceanside has changed for the better, this will put it over the top. For all you people stuck in the past, my vote is for the CHARGERS. Smiles to all, we live in southern California. Stadium or no Stadium, traffic will always be there. Thank You For Your Time"


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