In Washington D.C.

I’m sending this eNewsletter from Washington D.C. where I’ve been meeting this week with federal officials on several important issues for San Diego and the State in my capacity as 2nd Vice President for the League of California Cities.  The National League of Cities is holding their annual conference here advocating on behalf of all cities.  The proposed federal budget threatens CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funding which has been so important to revitalizing our older neighborhoods in San Diego.  In my own City Council district over the last several years, I have leveraged CDBG monies to create many new projects that instill economic development for the region.  CDBG funds have been used to build libraries, parks and roads not to mention other projects that will reap returns back into the community for many years to come.

Another area of major concern is the City of San Diego being removed from UASI (Urban Area Security Initiative) funding from the Department of Homeland Security.  We are not alone here as the DHS also removed the City of Sacramento.  How the Feds can remove San Diego – a major border City and home to the largest naval base in the world – and Sacramento, our state’s capitol is beyond logic.  Needless to say, our local Congressional delegation is not happy about this and my colleagues including Council President Scott Peters, Mayor Jerry Sanders and I are doing what we can to make our case heard here in the nation’s capitol.  Yesterday I met with Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Barbara Boxer along with several other members of Congress advocating on behalf of San Diego and our state.  Today I am meeting with congressional members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss reforms to the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  Local governments are threatened financially and one of the areas this has impacted San Diego is with our utilities undergrounding program.  Some of our neighborhoods have been undergrounded – but not completely due to the Telecomm Act of 1996.  Where SDG&E and the cable companies have placed their utilities underground, in some areas, the phone company has refused, leaving their unsightly wires and cut-in-half telephone poles above ground.

Fiscal Priorities

There is no question that it will be another difficult year and I am disappointed that the City does not have its 2003 audit completed. The City’s Independent Auditors say it will be later this spring. Once the audits are complete we can get on track in remedying the city’s finances. 

I have a long list of budget priorities for the upcoming fiscal year including: 1) fully funding the City’s pension obligations 2) restoring the City’s credit rating in order to leverage City dollars 3) fully funding state and federal compliance orders of water and sewer infrastructures 4) funding to keep recreation centers open longer and 5) year-round pool hours and continued funding to replace fire truck and police fleet vehicles.  To see a complete list of my priorities and that of my City Council colleagues, please click here on this link.

The Paseo and San Diego State University

The news coming off Montezuma Mesa has not been very good as of late with more and more people expressing concern over the long-planned Paseo project.  Folks in the College Area have been working on the Paseo project for nearly 18 years and last year President Weber halted the project over a dispute on who should build it: the University or the SDSU Foundation.  In response to President Weber’s actions, numerous community organizations withdrew their support of the Paseo.  The Paseo is a spectacular mixed-use project that will provide relief for traffic and housing issues affecting the community.  With planned and desperately needed housing for over 1,300 students, 1,900 parking spaces, retail space, movie theaters, religious space, services and office space for the University, this is a project designed by the SDSU Foundation with the community’s interests taken into consideration.  With the Paseo project, students won’t need to leave campus.  And residents will have new amenities conveniently nearby.

As I mentioned, the dispute is really an internal one – between the SDSU Foundation and the President Weber of the University.  In an attempt to resolve differences, the President and I formed a Task Force last year to look at options to move forward.  The conclusions were simple: the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Diego announced it would proceed forward and issue an RFP (request for proposals) to find a new builder for the Paseo.  The RFP will preserve what the community and Foundation designed over the past 18 years and it will offer the University to participate as well, should it desire.  As you’ll see from the articles below, things aren’t going too well right now at SDSU.

Several recent articles about the Paseo have made the local media.  SDSU’s Daily Aztec wrote an investigatory piece reaffirming what I and the community have been saying for many months now – and I understand more articles are on the way.  See these article links:

The Daily Aztec, March 9, 2006

Union Tribune, March 7, 2006  

The Daily Aztec, March 7, 2006

 

New Park and Road for a Deserving Community

I share the community’s excitement about building a much needed park in Fox Canyon as well as completing the long planned Ontario Road connection.  In fact, back in 2000 when I first looked at connecting Ontario Road to help with traffic and to reduce crime, I broached the idea to the community of building a neighborhood park adjacent to the new road.  With the strong support of residents, my staff and I went to work along with an incredible City Park and Recreation staff both in acquiring land and initiating design.  The road came first, the park followed.

In previous eNewsletters, I have described our success in securing a $2.3 million state grant that has made the dream of building the park possible.  One of my goals in creating the Crossroads Redevelopment Area was to help provide funding for public infrastructure needs, such as the needed road connection in this long forgotten area of our City.  We were set – funding for the road through Crossroads and funding for the park thanks to a state grant. 

As everyone who lives in Fox Canyon and Chollas Creek knows, there is no place for children to play except parking lots. And there is no road connecting the neighborhoods.  It is at the bottom of a canyon that severely limits access to the area.  As a recent major fire on Altadena Avenue amply demonstrated, there is a real need for this “paper street” to actually exist.  In an emergency, response vehicles need a way in and trapped residents need a way out.  There is a strong consensus in the community – especially from those who actually live in the area – to move forward on creating a park and building this long planned road. I have received a petition with over 400 signatures supporting the connection of the road adjacent to the park.  Sadly, there are a few people who don’t like the idea of the road – but they do want an isolated park without adequate fire and police access and with out any parking.  In order to create community consensus, I committed to creating a task force that met to discuss the merits of the road connection and try to work things out.  The task force includes neighborhood residents and community leaders. It seems just about every project these days has people who are against something no matter what. The Fox Canyon Park project is no exception. While I respect the opponent's opinion, I support the greater community in what they envision for their own neighborhood and their efforts to create it.

Many organizations have stepped forward in their support. They include San Diego Coastkeeper, The Surfrider Foundation, The American Lung Association, The American Heart Association, Tobacco Free Communities Coalition, La Jolla Shores Association, California League of Cities San Diego Division, and Friends of Lake Murray. The next step is for the issue to be heard at the City Council’s Natural Resources and Culture (NR&C) Committee and after that brought forward to the full City Council.  I will keep you posted.  See more on this below in my “From the In-Box” section.

For more than a decade the corner of Navajo Road and Cowles Mountain Boulevard in San Carlos stood vacant and abandoned. The once gas station and never-to-be 7-Eleven sat vacant for what seemed an eternity.  The property became host to a coffee hut and dry cleaning business for a short while – but finally this community eyesore will be torn down and a mixed use project called Vizcaya will begin construction this summer. 

It will include office space, services and amenities and 18 high-end residential units built in a Tuscany style. Change sometimes takes some getting used to and it will definitely be a change for the community. I support this use at this site: higher density in a small area along a major thoroughfare.

Our panel of experts gave excellent presentations at our recent District 7 forum on disaster preparedness. Police Chief William Lansdowne, Fire Chief Jeff Bowman, Barbara Ayers, program manager for the City’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the former director of the City’s Office of Homeland Security August Ghio and Jeff Wiemann, CEO of the local American Red Cross chapter gave sobering statistics and vital information on what to expect during a disaster and how best to be prepared. 

I was pleased to introduce a dozen or more of my fellow CERT volunteers who attended. They are ordinary citizens who have completed special training in order to help their community when a disaster strikes. As our speakers pointed out, major disasters could result in residents being without City services for three or more days. I encourage you to consider taking CERT training.  For more information, visit the web site at http://www.sandiego.gov/fireandems/cert/index.shtml. 

City TV24 taped the forum and is showing it over the next few months.

 

Chollas Parkway

Our goal was to see an immediate improvement with this cleanup.  It paves the way for the removal of some vacant businesses that a property owner plans to complete by this spring.  Of course the long term solution will be to completely revitalize the area in ways that best fit the needs of the community. More on that in a future issue.

The City of San Diego relies on the expertise of citizens who serve on the City’s Boards and Commissions. These unpaid positions are a way for people to donate their time and talent in a significant way. The types of boards and commissions are as varied as the people who serve. There are a few that currently have openings or will soon: Citizens Equal Opportunity Commission, Civil Service Commission, Local Enforcement Agency Hearing Panel, Funds Commission, Housing Commission, Planning Commission, City Public Utilities Advisory Commission, Qualcomm Stadium Advisory Board, Balboa Park Committee, Board of Building Appeals & Advisors, Historical Resources Board, International Affairs Board, Board of Library Commissioners, Mission Bay Park Committee, Old Town San Diego Planned District, Park and Recreation Board, Sustainable Energy Advisory Board and La Jolla Shores Planned District. To find out more about the Boards and Commissions, please click here http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/boards-commissions/.  If you would like to be considered for nomination, please send me your bio and a brief letter of interest via email or mail, which are listed at the end of this newsletter.
 

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From the In-Box

I receive many emails daily commenting on every conceivable topic. Some focus on what’s happening in our City, or issues of the day, or projects and events in the District, or comments about the latest eNewsletter.  And some just defy description (or don’t fit into any category).  Many of the emails are from writers commenting on an issue (which I appreciate very much) and don’t need a response and others we follow-up to address a particular issue or constituent concern.  Usually I receive upwards of 50 to 100 emails or more each day.  I thought it might be useful to share a sampling of what the residents of San Diego are thinking --- and sending me.  I will also share my thoughts in response.

Please do not waste money on a new main library.  We need to improve the branch libraries!!!!!!!!!!!
J.
 
In San Diego, we are focused on building a library system – that is both branches and the main library – and I strongly support both.

Right now we are under construction on four branch libraries – 3 completely new branches: Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Branch on Aero Drive, North University Community at I-805 & Nobel and Logan Heights Branch on 28th Street.  The Otay Mesa-Nestor Branch will soon reopen after an extensive remodeling project and the expansion of the La Jolla/Riford Brach Library was completed in 2004.  Late last year we opened the beautiful new College-Rolando Branch which joined both the new Mission Valley Branch and Point Loma/Hervey Branch as the newest additions to our library system. Other branches are in designnow including San Carlos, North Park, Mission Hills and soon Ocean Beach.  There are other branch libraries on our list we look forward to starting on once the City gets back into the bonding business.

We are fortunate that the main library downtown will be funded through several sources that would not be available for branches in any event.  Funding sources include a $20 million state library grant and $80 million from downtown redevelopment tax increment funds.  Funding plans for the main library include reliance on the generosity of the philanthropic community and other donations to help make San Diego’s main library a reality.
 

I was simply outraged when I read about your support of the measure to ban smoking from public beaches and parks. This is discrimination as well as tyranny of the majority. If you want to prevent smokers from flicking their cigarettes on the ground and creating a lot of litter, why don't you try providing more ashtrays instead of taking away our rights? Banning smoking from bars, restaurants, and numerous enclosed events is enough. Non-smokers will not die from second-hand smoke unless they are consistently exposed to it, not by simply passing by a lit cigarette. Beaches and parks are open, public spaces. What right to do you have to deny us the right to smoke?
Jane

I'm glad you have introduced a bill to ban smoking on our beaches and parks.  I feel this ban is long overdue.  I whole-heartedly support this bill and feel irresponsible smokers who litter the beaches with their cigarette butts should be cited and held responsible for the damage they do the beaches and marine life.  If there is anything I can do to help this cause, please let me know.
JB

Both of these letters share strong opinions about my announced new law in San Diego to ban smoking in our parks and at the beach.  The bottom line is simple.  When it comes to litter, the irresponsible smokers have ruined it for the smokers who don’t litter.  How many times have you stopped at an intersection only to see our streets littered with cigarette butts thanks to inconsiderate and trashy people?  Have you ever been to the beach and wherever you walk in the sand all you see are cigarette butts?  Or how about along our boardwalk or in the grass – they are everywhere!  All this litter from smokers on top of the State of California declaring second hand smoke to be a health hazard.  That threw it over the top for me.  The reaction from the public on the ban has been 10 to 1 in support.  I’ll be sure and let folks know when it’s time to tell my colleagues on the City Council how you feel about things regarding this new law.

As the result of citizen requests, I promised increased traffic enforcement in Del Cerro.  The San Diego Police Department continues to monitor vehicle speed on Madra Avenue and adjacent streets.   The motorcycle officers, those primarily responsible for traffic/speed enforcement, are continuing to work this area in an effort to slow down speeders. The vast majority of speeders live in the immediate area and unlike what we commonly hear; they are not students speeding to and from Patrick Henry High School.  Please be careful, drive safely and remember the residential speed limit is 25 MPH.  The following is an example of an email report from the City’s Neighborhood eWatch system – if you aren’t on it, it’s free and more information on hoe to sign up is near the end of the newsletter.

Incident Type           Date             Time      Location
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITATIONS            02/21/2006          1818      6000  NAVAJO CITATIONS            02/21/2006          1035      DWANE/ MADRA
CITATIONS            02/21/2006          1055      CRYSTALAIRE
CITATIONS            02/21/2006          1115      5800  MADRA
CITATIONS            02/21/2006          1000      5800  MADRA
CITATIONS            02/21/2006          1015      5800  MADRA
CITATIONS            02/18/2006          2000      CAM RICO
CITATIONS            02/17/2006          0740      5600  MADRA
CITATIONS            02/17/2006          0840      DEL CERRO

From time to time I include a few community events taking place throughout the District. Here are a few you may be interested in:

March 25 – The Darnall Community Council is holding a neighborhood clean-up to remove trash and debris along the road and hillside on College Avenue between University Avenue and Streamview Drive. The organizers are looking for volunteers to help clean up and donated supplies for the event.  For more information, please call Anna Orzel-Arnita at (619) 583-2772 or email to darnall.community@hotmail.com

March 26 – The 10th annual Rolando Street Fair takes place on Sunday, March 26 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. It takes place on El Cajon Boulevard at Rolando Boulevard and features great food, crafts, a kid zone and live music including Rockola, Len Rainey & the Midnight Players, Theo & the Zydeco Patrol, Songbird, Pride of Polynesia and Bayou Brothers. For more information contact Doris Perry at (619) 583-7321.

April 1 – Free class on backyard composting from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. at the San Diego Zoo located at Balboa Park at 2920 Zoo Drive. Learn from the experts how to turn your garbage into gold for your garden! You'll discover the different methods of backyard composting, how composting conditions the soil for healthy plants, and how you can save money and water. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Cindy Davenport at (760) 436-7986 ext. 216.

April 4 – A guided tour of the Old Mission Dam in Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) will take place from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m.  Learn about the history of the dam, the ecology of the park and the wildlife that live there. Meet at the Old Mission Dam parking lot in MTRP located at One Father Juniper Serra Trail between Mission Gorge Road and Santee. For more information, call the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center at (619) 668-3275 or visit their web site at www.mtrp.org.

April 29 – The 7th annual SpringFest and Parade takes place on Saturday, April 29th from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and the parade begins at 11:00 a.m. at the Allied Gardens Recreation Center located at 5155 Greenbrier Avenue.  The festivities include a pancake breakfast, retail and craft booths, classic car show, art show, live entertainment, refreshments and activities for the family. For more information, visit the website at www.navajoevents.com.

April 29 – From 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. the City of San Diego’s Environmental Services Department will hold an Auto Product Recycling Event.  City of San Diego residents are encouraged to bring their used or leftover auto products for disposal and recycling at the Metropolitan Wastewater Operations Center located in Kearny Mesa at 5571 Topaz Way at the corner of Kearny Villa Road and Topaz Way. Only used motor oil, oil filters, contaminated oil, antifreeze and auto batteries are accepted. The service is free to City of San Diego residents and there is a 10 gallon limit. For more information, visit their web site at www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/autoproducts.shtml

I wish I could include every single community event but unfortunately I have to limit it to a few each issue.  We welcome submissions.  For upcoming events you would like to see in the next eNewsletter, please email information to lwebb@sandiego.gov.

Thanks for reading the eNewsletter. 
Regards,

Jim 

 

Neighborhood E-Watch Keeps You Informed

The City of San Diego's Neighborhood eWatch provides information about crime incidents in the City of San Diego to the public for free via the Internet and is updated every 24 hours. I introduced this popular service last year and encourage you to use it. The web site address is: http://ewatch.sandiego.gov.

Thanks for reading the eNewsletter.

In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to send me your thoughts on issues by sending email to jmadaffer@sandiego.gov and please forward this email to your friends who might enjoy reading it. They can always visit JimMadaffer.com/email to sign up themselves.

I welcome hearing from you at any time and rely on your opinion.

Regards,

Jim

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