2007/08 "Holiday Lights" on Ocean Avenue
View of "Holiday Lights" on Ocean Av. from San Carlos St. to Junipero Av.
View of Ocean Av. MediansCOMMENTS:
• For context, during the 2004/05 Holiday Season, the Ocean Avenue median lights were left up beyond the second Wednesday in January; at that time, J.S. Holliday communicated to the City Council that the City has had a law since 1995 requiring lights on trees in the public right-of-way be removed by the second Wednesday in January. Mayor Sue McCloud and City Administrator Rich Guillen made the decision to keep the holiday lights up beyond the second Wednesday in January. Later, in February 2005, the holiday lights were finally removed.
• In the Carmel Residents Association Newsletter of February 2005, the Editorial, “A community conversation is needed for issues such as twinkle lights” took issue with the 2004/05 "Holiday Lights." Some of the reasons cited included, as follows:
“Carmel has always been known and admired for its serene natural beauty. At night, starlight, moonlight and lights from within buildings predominate rather than bright, glaring street lights or twinkling lights.”
“People make jokes about touristy towns such as Solvang or Poulsbo, Washington, using words like kitschy, cutesy or Disneylandish. Could the proliferation of twinkling lights move Carmel in this direction?”
(Source: http://www.carmelresidents.org/News0502.html)
• In 2006/07, electrical upgrades and low-voltage flood-type lights were installed in the Ocean Avenue medians simultaneously with the re-landscaping of the Ocean Avenue medians from Junipero Av. to Monte Verde St. without a public hearing and in violation of the Municipal Code. By early 2007, there were approximately 80 low-voltage flood-type lights installed and on from dusk to dawn.
QUESTIONS:
• Who was involved in the selection of the 2007/08 “Holiday Lights” display? What criteria did those involved use to lead to the present display of “Holiday Lights.”
• Do the “Holiday Lights” for the 2007/08 Holiday Season respect the traditions of Carmel-by-the-Sea or are the 2007/08 “Holiday Lights” “Disneylandish?”
4 comments:
The lights are certainly not "Carmel" but at night they are kind of fun. The plastic that becomes obvious in daylight however is pretty ugly and does little but detract from Carmel's ambience and reputation. Rumor has it that the mayor had the last word on picking the lights and likes them very much so we are stuck with the ugliness for as long as she remains micromanaging the city. The escalation in lights does look like another step in the mayor's and city council's moves to gradually make Carmel over in the image of Solvang and similar places. What is beyond argument however is that the lights are a violation of the Municipal Code. Of course violating our Municipal Code hasn't stopped McCloud in the past and presumably won't in the future whenever she decides it is in her way.
This ostentatious and pretentious display of Christmas lighting is akin to an insecure individual screaming balderdash at the top of her lungs in the public square.
M.D. you have it so right. The lighting is tawdry. Carmel-by-the-Sea has joined the tacky tourist towns.
carmel by-the-sea is totally candyland. it's so touristy now that any flavor it might have once had left with those that can no longer afford to live there.
i give it props for holding out on the Gap, but I'm certain it won't be long till they're right next to Sharper Image.
the kitschy christmas is living proof. next thing you know, they'll be painting dogs - uh, oh... nevermind.
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