Lots packed in my latest eNewsletter! From Goats in Tierrasanta to celebrating Allied Garden's 50th to another unfortunate case of vandalized cars - lots going on with this eNewsletter full of information to keep you informed.

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Car Vandalism in our Midst

In the past week or two, there have been approximately 60+ cases of cars being vandalized in the communities of Allied Gardens, San Carlos and Del Cerro. The crimes have occurred to cars parked on public streets in front of homes. Virtually all have been breaking out the driver's side window and/or the rear window. The police are recommending that you park cars in the driveway.

This vandalism is happening late at night or very early in the morning. The police are asking that we all keep an eye out for vehicles driving slowly at night through our neighborhood and if you see anything suspicious call

531-2000 and if you see vandalism taking place, please call 911 immediately.

This vandalism is deplorable and a repeat of a similar pattern we experienced about a year ago. We can catch the perpetrators but we all need to work together. At the present time, the police do not have any solid leads and are asking for our assistance in keeping an extra keen eye out.

You can also subscribe at no charge to eWatch, a free email based service that sends you an email each day if any crime occurs within a certain proximity to an address in the City that you provide.  This is a service I introduced last year and has proven very popular.  The email contains a link which draws a map with recent crimes plotted on the map.  It's hosted by the San Diego Police Department and can be reached by clicking on this link, eWatch.SanDiego.gov

Goats may be newest City workers

I couldn't help but laugh when I first heard the idea. Using goats to clear brush in San Diego? Rural areas yes, but in the City? The Mayor mentioned it as an idea at a City Council meeting a few months ago. We joked, we laughed and then we decided to take a closer look.

Goats roaming the hills of Tierrasanta? In our neighborhoods? After hearing the pros and cons, and being mindful of the fires and all the brush we need to thin throughout the City with our 1,700 miles of canyon rims, it didn't take long to be convinced. And the best part: it's a one-week pilot project, it's guaranteed to work and best of all it doesn't cost us a penny. On Friday, Mayor Dick Murphy and I officially launched the pilot program. We had the honor, I suppose you could call it an honor, of releasing 38 ravenous goats into the open space brush. The 39th had just given birth of twins an hour earlier.  We were quite pleased to learn the goats were named Kid Murphy and Kid Madaffer! 

George Gonzales, who owns Ranchito Tivo Boer Goats, warned us that the goats were hungry and it would be a stampede. George is here from Chino on his own dime and even paid for liability insurance in favor of the City as we test out this program. Kudos to City employee and Tierrasanta Open Space Inspector Jan Eby for doing all the leg work to make it happen.

The October fire showed the importance of thinning brush in open spaces near homes. Brush, which fuels fires, traditionally is cleared by crews with chainsaws and hand tools. Early estimates show that the goats can thin brush for less than half the normal cost. In addition, there is no need to pay to haul away the cut vegetation since the goats eat it. It won't work everywhere in our City - but it does in many areas and can serve as an excellent additional tool to help prevent fires. It is nice to know that in a fast-paced, high-tech world there is still a place for low tech solutions.

SpringFest in Allied Gardens next Saturday!

Saturday, April 24th is a very important day for Allied Gardens. That's the day the annual SpringFest takes place that features a parade, booths, activities, food and fun. This year is special because SpringFest kicks off the 50th anniversary celebration of Allied Gardens. The community is celebrating its history with a variety of events and activities. It's amazing to see photos of how far Allied Gardens has come over the years. From once being on the outskirts of San Diego, it is now nestled in the heart of our City as a wonderful neighborhood. Mim Dornbirer and John Peterson deserve much credit for capably organizing the 50th anniversary celebration activities.

Be sure and stop on by the Allied Gardens Recreation Center. Booths (food, crafts and community organizations) open at 10am and the Parade begins at 11am. At 12 noon all original Allied Gardens residents are being asked to assemble for a huge group photo. There will also be an antique car show, an art show and much more. It's a great event that has something for everyone!

Affordable Housing

Recently a constituent asked if I would include information about low income and affordable housing or what I call "workforce housing" in my eNewsletter. I'm happy to oblige. Within District 7 we have seen built a number of workforce housing projects and have several large projects such as the Crossroads Redevelopment Area that will build affordable housing. Here is a brief overview:

For years District 7 has supported military housing enhancements which not only achieves affordable housing goals but supports our troops. An example is the Orchid Award winning 412-unit Chollas Navy housing area integrated into the Chollas Lake recreation area and into the revitalized College Grove Shopping complex. In addition, Tierrasanta is host to one of the largest Navy housing complexes in the world with over 2,000 units of affordable housing.

District 7 supports student housing in the College Community Redevelopment at San Diego State University will not only achieve affordable housing goals but supports the upward mobility of our young citizens --- which are key to maintaining a strong economy, paying taxes, and keeping future government programs (such as affordable housing assistance) healthy. Soon new student housing will break ground at SDSU and this will also help in reducing the number of mini-dorms that have proliferated in recent years.

We also work on housing revitalization programs using the financing power of redevelopment to initiate interior and exterior structure improvements to area median income (AMI) qualified owners. Both the City Heights and the new Crossroads Redevelopment Project Areas have aggressive programs.

Currently in the Crossroads redevelopment area, we have heard of a number of potential projects that will provide new workforce housing. These projects will provide brand new homes for people who need them most and currently have very limited options due to the incredible escalation of housing prices we have witnessed in San Diego. This is housing for our teachers, our police officers, our fire fighters, our waiters and waitresses, the people who cut our hair, etc., etc.

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down in Rolando

For 15 years the abandoned gas station stood out as an eye sore. And for 15 years residents had to put up with an empty building, a fenced in lot, trash, graffiti and the nuisance of it all. That is until now. Rolando community leaders asked for my help in removing the gas station at the intersection of El Cajon Boulevard and Filipo Street. With the Crossroads Redevelopment area picking up momentum and the many improvements to the area, I promised to tear it down - and on March 19th that is exactly what we did. Residents like Rolando Community Council President Doris Perry watched as the contractor demolished the building and removed the debris. Fortunately we were able to rush the project so that it was completed well before the 8th Annual Rolando Street Fair that took place Sunday, March 28th. As usual, it was a great event with plenty of food, crafts, rides and live music. The best part is that all the money raised goes to Rolando community projects and organizations.

El Cerrito and College Park Home Tour

There are some picturesque neighborhoods in the district including El Cerrito and College Park. They are near the College Area south of San Diego State University and bordered by El Cajon Boulevard. Seven homes will be on display when the College Neighborhoods Foundation (CNF) holds its annual home tour. The homes were built in the 20s, 30s 40s and 50s and one was built last year. The tours take place on Saturday, May 1st.  For more information, click on this link or call 619-265-8545.

Wonderful Cause

There are many wonderful non-profit organizations that deserve our support. Let me tell you about one that I have worked with over the years called Alpha Project. The Alpha Project helps others help themselves. The result of this successful partnership has been improved services for District 7 residents and the City of San Diego. The list of projects is long. For example, the City of San Diego contracts with the Alpha Project to run the Neil Good Day Center on 17th Street. They helped District 7 residents by helping Cedar fire victims, tearing down an abandoned crack house, clearing trash and drug paraphernalia from a makeshift homeless campsite, tearing down a neighborhood eyesore that was in violation of code compliance. Also, they helped by painting an elderly resident's house, cleaning up Mission Trails Regional Park, picking up trash and clearing shopping carts and debris out of a stream.

Bob McElroy founded the Alpha Project in 1986 with the goal of empowering individuals, families and communities by providing work, recovery and support services to people who are motivated to change their lives and achieve self-sufficiency.

I'm very pleased that Bob and the Alpha Project will be recognized at the April 19th City Council meeting. Councilmembers Ralph Inzunza, Charles Lewis and Brian Maienschein are joining me in recognizing this fine organization. To find out more about the Alpha Project, visit their web site at http://www.alphaproject.org

Helping Deserving Homeowners

Rebuilding Together has repaired and remodeled several homes of deserving homeowners in District Seven over the past four years. Volunteers work side by side in transforming homes in need of repair. Two homes in the City Heights area were made over when Rebuilding Together held their annual work project this past weekend. It's a wonderful program and I encourage you experience it for yourself. Another way you can help is by ordering Papa John's pizzas. Through April 19th they will donate a portion of the proceeds to Rebuilding Together. For more information on next year's event, please contact Rebuilding Together San Diego at 619-280-0251.

Is Your Child's Car Seat Safe?

Did you know that more than 95 percent of the child car seats checked are being used incorrectly! My office joined forces with the San Diego Police Department, the San Carlos Area Council and the Lake Murray Kiwanis Club recently and conducted checks of children car seats. You can have your car seat checked at the City's Navajo Community Relations Office. It is by appointment only so please call 619-287-7787 to schedule a time.

Impressions of China

Many people had read or heard I was in China during the end of March and were curious to know more. The World Trade Center of San Diego organized a China Familiarization Tour and my wife Sally and I were part of a large group of business and community leaders that participated. We attended as private citizens and paid for our trip. It was a whirlwind tour of four cities that showcased their commerce, tourism, culture, architecture and much more. We visited Beijing, The Forbidden City, The Great Wall, Tian An Men Square, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai and much more.

It was an incredible experience to witness their fast paced economy and see first hand the changes taking place as they witness the wonders and opportunities of capitalism. We also made a couple of presentations on behalf of our City in both Beijing and Shanghai.

There is an outstanding article by Dean Calbreath in Sunday's Union Tribune that told even more of what we experienced with the changes happening in China. You can see the article by clicking on this link.

And there was another article in the U-T about China you can view by clicking this link
 

City Budget Forum on May 26th - Mark Your Calendars

One of the single most important issues we're facing is the City's FY '05 budget. Probably one of the more difficult City budgets in decades, we're talking about a serious projected shortfall of $24 to over $100 million dollars. The factor that will have one of the greatest impacts - the amount the State will withhold from the City - is unknown at this time. Estimates place the figure anywhere from $15 to $30 million. True to form, for the past 11 years, the state has stolen each year from our City millions that we have traditionally received just to balance their budgets while cities like San Diego have taken the brunt of their thievery. A ballot measure to correct this, designed to protect local government revenues from being stolen is slated for the November election - more on that in a future column. On top of all the serious fiscal issues facing the City is the most serious under funding of the City's pension fund and the important need to correct the situation.

We need your input as critical decisions are made. The City cannot operate in a business as usual style and the FY '05 Budget will reflect that. On Wednesday, May 26th we'll have a Community Forum for District Seven residents. Our new City Manager Lamont Ewell will present the proposed budget. It is an excellent opportunity for you to weigh in with your suggestions and have your questions answered by our City Manager. It will take place at the Aztec Athletic Center Auditorium on the San Diego State University Campus. My office along with the SDSU Foundation is hosting this event from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. If you would like to attend or need more information, please contact my office at (619) 236-6677.