Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Happy Chanukah! Happy Kwanzaa!  Happy New Year! December is a special month and 2007 is rapidly coming to a close.  During this time of festivity and celebration I want to extend my best wishes to you. May you and your family and friends have a wonderful celebration and enjoy the very best health, happiness and joy. We are so fortunate to have so many freedoms and opportunities and blessings. Once again my desire is to be reminded of that each day in 2008. 





I also want to express my appreciation and gratitude for your support.  It is an honor to be elected by the people and to serve you and I thank you for your ideas, suggestions, questions and support.

Congratulations to the San Diego Chargers for winning the AFC West Championship yesterday!  Even though the Patriot’s seem to be unstoppable, I maintain the Chargers could be the ones to end their incredible winning streak during post-season play in a few weeks!

Christmas Tree Safety
 

The winter holiday season should be a joyous time of year. However, certain types of fires and injuries are associated with holiday decorating.

In 2000-2004, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 300 home structure fires that began with Christmas trees.  Click here to read more.

Recycle Your Christmas Tree

Please help the environment by recycling your cut Christmas tree. City of San Diego residents are encouraged to place their trees at the curb on their regular greenery collection day.  If you live in the City in an area that does not have greenery curbside pickup, the City of San Diego wants to make it easier for you by offering 16 drop off sites. There are several sites in each district and they will be open for nearly one month.

The following are drop off locations in District 7:

• Miramar Landfill Greenery – 5180 Convoy Street
• San Diego State University – Parking Lot D off of Alvarado Road
• Tierrasanta – DePortola Middle School located at 11010 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.

The City’s annual Christmas tree recycling program runs from December 26 through January 23, 2008. This important program is now in its 34th year. For more details including a complete list of all 16 drop off sites, please click this link:

http://wwwstage.sannet.gov/environmental-services/recycling/christmas.shtml





 

AEDs, Border Crossings and the High Cost of Housing

What do these three topics have in common?  All are important regional issues that we’re formulating measures to address.  They are priorities I have been involved with for some time and we’re working on how best to address these issues. To give you a brief overview, let me provide a few highlights.

Using High Tech to Save Lives

In October 1999, a friend of mine participated in a 10K race and collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest.  Two respiratory clinicians immediately initiated CPR before transporting him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.  Ron McElliott was 56 years old.  Sadly, if an automated external defibrillator or AED had been available, most likely Ron would be alive today.

Following Ron’s tragic death I set out to make AEDs as readily available as fire extinguishers.  Working with Karen McElliott, Ron’s widow, and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, I helped launch San Diego Project Heart Beat in October 2001 and it has saved lives ever since. The initial goal of the program was to place at least 250 AED units throughout the county by Super Bowl Sunday of January 2003. Instead, that goal was exceeded by nearly 550 AED units!

Currently we have installed over 4,000 units in San Diego County and have saved the lives of 45 people who likely would have died without an AED. 

Early on we discovered that building owners and others were concerned about liability issues.  They wanted to make sure they wouldn’t be sued if something went wrong in using an AED.  Working with then Assemblymember Juan Vargas, I sponsored AB-2041 – the AED Good Samaritan Law - to provide the legal coverage for building owners and others concerned with potential liability. 

The time has come to require them in new buildings. I recently proposed new municipal code language that will require AEDs to be installed in new construction in San Diego.  The draft municipal code language will be applicable to all new buildings over three stories or over 10,000 square feet including office and commercial buildings, medical, dental and out-patient clinics, hotels, motels, restaurants, and common areas of residential condominiums and apartments. 

I foresee a time when AEDs will become mandatory in all buildings where the public gathers.  The reason is simple:  AEDs save lives.  In today’s modern world, we would never build a new building without a fire extinguisher or a fire sprinkler system.  Nor should they be built without life-saving AEDs.

For more information about AEDs, visit www.sdprojectheartbeat.com.

Why we need a Third Border Crossing

A recent study by the San Diego Association of Governments or SANDAG concluded that border wait times are having a significant economic impact on our region and it is only going to get worse.  The lost economic benefit to the San Diego-Baja California region in personal travel and freight movements exceeds $5.1 Billion in lost output and 51,500 lost jobs in 2007. 

Limited by only two border crossings in the San Diego area, San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, the region is in desperate need of a third border crossing.  The proposed Otay Mesa East-Otay II Port of Entry border crossing which would be near the intersection of Highway 905 and the soon-to-be dedicated Highway 125 via a new Highway 11, the Otay II border crossing is envisioned as a smart border crossing using the latest technology and a FasTrak type approach to help guarantee quicker border crossing times.

The idea behind the plan is simple: goods movement is a critical factor for the commerce in the San Diego region especially with all the maquiladoras south of the border.  Moving these goods from Mexico into the United States for distribution has been a big problem with border wait times at the Otay Mesa crossing sometimes in excess of eight hours. These border wait times at Otay Mesa add to our air pollution problems not to mention the economic impacts as shown in the study. 

It is envisioned that this border crossing, unlike the free crossings at San Ysidro and Otay Mesa will be a FasTrak type of crossing where trucks and vehicles will pay a fee in order to help offset the costs of this facility and equipment.  The new border crossing will not cost tax payer dollars but instead will be funded entirely by user fees.  Funding will come from the toll for the new Highway 11 and a fee for those trucks and commerce that need quicker access into the United States.

I will continue working with Councilmember Ben Hueso who represents the area on the City Council and also serves with me on the SANDAG Transportation Committee.  There will certainly be more about this in the months ahead as we do what we can to reduce border wait times at the San Ysidro border as well as make improvements by building a new smart border crossing at Otay Mesa.

The High Cost of Housing

I recently spoke on a panel discussion at a housing summit sponsored by the California Latino Legislative Caucus.  Legislative leaders including members of the California State Assembly and California State Senate were in attendance from throughout the state.  Their concerns are simple:  the price of housing in California is too high – way too high for most people to afford.  Statisticians were there to point out that as the Latino population continues to grow in our state, home ownership for this demographic segment will continue to become more elusive. 

Even more telling is a simple fact that tells the story of why home ownership is so difficult for many in our state.  According to the California Association of Realtors, the median-priced home in the state is $589,000.  Here in San Diego, it’s $595,000.  These prices compare to a national median of $240,000, according to the National Association of Home Builders.  The state’s median income of roughly $64,000 would have to more than double for a family to afford the state’s median-priced home.  Not surprisingly, say the national homebuilders, 23 of the top 25 least affordable housing markets are located in California.  In most areas of California, fewer than 10% of the homes available are affordable to median-income households. 

Speaking at this meeting as both the Chair of the San Diego City Council’s Land Use and Housing Committee and as President of the League of California Cities, I outlined an eight-point plan that cities should follow to help produce more housing and to make housing more affordable: 

1. Plan for more compact development that includes housing and jobs in one place.  Striving to reduce the dependency on the automobile is key.
2. Take advantage of existing transportation infrastructure and encourage more infill development.  As part of this, encourage higher density zoning and discourage low density zoning.  Reduce onerous parking requirements.  Too often land is wasted for parking when it could be used for housing.
3. Provide greater development certainty – more up-front land-use planning that streamlines the development process
4. Better jobs/ housing balance.  Encourage housing infill in commercial areas to reduce automobile trips
5. Encourage more mixed-use planning – create sustainable communities and neighborhoods to help reduce the dependency on the automobile
6. Encourage more mixed-income housing areas – provide more work-force housing (housing for police, fire, healthcare professionals, teachers and more).  Interestingly enough, there was opposition this week at City Council on simply following a state law which requires local government to provide a density bonus for more affordable housing production.  No wonder housing prices are so high.
7. Produce more transit oriented development – direct development to existing transportation centers that help reduced dependency on the automobile
8. Responsible infrastructure investment – there is simply not enough investment in our infrastructure at both the local and state levels.  Proposition 1B ($20 billion in transportation projects statewide) barely scratched the surface in terms of what is needed to begin addressing our transportation infrastructure backlog.

The people of San Diego need to ask themselves a question: do we want to work toward more sustainable development?  If so, we must work together to address the points outlined above.

In The Years Ahead

I want to share what I believe are some of the many priorities for our neighborhoods and communities in Council District 7 for the months and years ahead.  It seems every accomplishment leads to more things to do. That holds true for this list as well --- it is certainly not a complete list.  Whoever succeeds me as City Councilmember for District 7 can use this list as a starting point for work that needs to be done.

The Paseo – This project has been 19 years in the making and had the wholehearted support of the community, the City and San Diego State University until SDSU pulled the plug.  It would provide shopping and housing for over 1,500 SDSU students. We are all painfully aware of the problems that mini-dorms create in this area so it is high time for SDSU to do the right thing. They should step aside and allow this project to proceed. The first thing on the to-do list is for the City to issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and for SDSU to work with the City’s Redevelopment Agency to revive the project.  Let the private-sector bid on a truly competitive project – one that would include both housing and retail amenities that would encourage more students to live on campus and reduce dependency on automobiles and the creation of more mini-dorms.

Grantville Master Plan – The Grantville Redevelopment Area is a viable means of providing major community infrastructure improvements without raising taxes.  It is not about the threat of using eminent domain to take away homes as some alarmists would have you believe. In fact, there is not one home located within the Grantville redevelopment area.  It is an incredible opportunity to reinvest property taxes that are already being paid in that area right back into that same area.  It will be a boost for businesses and the customers they serve.  It is the only viable means of providing traffic improvements on heavily used streets such as Mission Gorge Road and Alvarado Road address flooding problems along Alvarado Creek and the San Diego River as well as provide a new recreation center and a new Allied Gardens Branch Library.  It would fund additional parks, a San Diego River Park, and hiking trails.  The first thing on the to do list is hold community meetings to draft an update to the Navajo Community Plan for the Grantville area. That process is now underway.

Crossroads Redevelopment Area -
 

Already the Crossroads Redevelopment Area is providing much needed improvements and we need to keep up the momentum.  There is incredible opportunity for new housing and retail for the surrounding neighborhoods of University Avenue, El Cajon Boulevard and other major thoroughfares. The first thing on the to-do list is to continue supporting the goals of the Crossroads Redevelopment Area.  Attracting a viable redevelopment project at 54th & University is the next step, and we are working with the anchor property owner, Sears to do just that.

Landscaped Medians –

We’ve installed new landscaped medians in many communities throughout District 7 and they truly make a difference in improving traffic safety and neighborhood aesthetics.  The design and installation of center island landscaped medians on Lake Shore Drive between Jackson Drive and La Mesa city limits, Jackson Drive east to La Mesa city limits, Cowles Mountain Boulevard from Navajo Road north and Golfcrest Drive from Navajo Road to Mission Gorge Road needs to occur.  First thing on the to do list is to identify funding and initiate design for this project.

San Carlos Library –

Already much work has been done in planning for a new San Carlos Branch Library including a design that incorporates suggestions from the community. Construction can proceed once the City Council can issue bonds to complete the next phase of our branch library improvement program.  The first thing on the to-do list is to issue bonds to fund construction.

Expand Mission Trails Regional Park – The City has acquired some land in the East Elliott area near the Santee city limits and we need to continue acquiring acreage in order to preserve open space and expand the park.  The first thing on the to do list is to continue purchasing land at fair market value.

I will briefly list additional projects that should be on the to do list for the next Councilmember.  They are:

• Engineering study to enhance University Avenue business corridor
• Continue to implement a City Heights park system
• Finalize design for the Wightman Street Park
• Create a Visionary Plan for Fox Canyon neighborhood
• Resurface Auburn Drive (cement street) in Fox Canyon
• Combat mini dorm problems and provide additional solutions
• Secure funding for additional street lights in the College Grove Area
• Finalize the creation of the Youth Endowment Fund for Tierrasanta
• Replace Fire Station #39 in Tierrasanta with a new facility near Serra High School
• Build new restrooms for Chollas Lake Recreation Fields
• Build more joint-use fields in neighborhoods south of I-8
• Create incentives for more “green” roofs in San Diego

As I mentioned, this is an overview and not a complete detailed list.  I invite you to call me or email me with your suggestions, comments and additions to the list of things to do for our neighborhoods. My office number is (619) 236-6677 and email is JMadaffer@sandiego.gov.

City Sues SDSU

As you know, the City of San Diego is bringing a second lawsuit against San Diego State University for the university's failure to reach agreement for their fair share of traffic mitigation as part of their Master Plan Update.
 


For more than three years City staff and I have been attempting to work out a viable plan that would allow us to initially support the SDSU Master Plan in 2005 and most recently the SDSU Master Plan Update during 2007. Unfortunately we were not able to reach a solution in 2005 and the City, along with the Del Cerro Action Council and Alvarado Hospital, sued SDSU. 
 
In April of 2006, the State Supreme Court effectively ruled in favor of the City of San Diego and its residents in the case of the City of Marina v. CSU Monterey Bay.  The decision required the California State University (CSU) system to rescind the SDSU Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and directed them to pay their fair share of the costs of mitigations for off-site impacts resulting from any university development.  It also required the CSU system to seek funding for its fair share amount from the state legislature.
 
SDSU revamped their Master Plan and began negotiations with The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), CalTrans, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), and the City of San Diego.  After months of negotiations, SDSU was unable to reach an understanding with any of the four entities.
 
As an example, the City estimated the mitigation costs for SDSU surrounding the campus would require approximately $21 million.  SDSU estimated their fair share was only $6.1 million.  Despite several proposals by the City, SDSU would not move from the $6.1 million estimate.  
 
On November 19, 2007, despite letters from SANDAG, MTS, CalTrans and the City of San Diego expressing their major concerns over the inability to reach an understanding for SDSU's fair share and a letter from State Senator Christine Kehoe urging the CSU Board of Trustees to reach an agreement before approving the SDSU Master Plan Update, the CSU Board unanimously approved the plan without a single question or concern.  Needless to say, I was appalled at CSU’s lack of sensitivity to the surrounding neighborhoods of SDSU.
 
SDSU left the City of San Diego with no option other than to file a lawsuit against CSU to require the university to quit acting like the "Big Gorilla" and actually pay their fare share of mitigation costs for community impacts – just like any other developer would be required to do.
 
Seeking relief in the courts is the least the City of San Diego can do for the residents who reside in and around SDSU.  The CSU Board of Trustees gave SDSU approval to increase student enrollment from 25,000 to 35,000 full time students over the next two decades.  This translates to more than 40,000 students and 1,000 additional staff and faculty at a university that is already in a deficit situation regarding their contributions to traffic issues and other neighborhood concerns such as mini-dorms.
 
CSU’s action is most unfortunate given my appreciation for SDSU and all they do as an institution for higher learning.  As a lifetime member of the alumni association, I am disgusted more isn’t being done now to build more student housing for the deficit that already exists not to mention the projected enrollment increases this latest master plan will provide.  Furthermore I continue to express my anger over SDSU stopping the Paseo project.  The Paseo alone would provide housing for well over 1,200 students and possibly more.  I haven’t given up on that one.  I can assure you that the City and I will continue pressing SDSU to reach viable solutions that will benefit the residents in and around SDSU.  

 



Mini Dorms Update

And speaking of SDSU, I remain totally committed to solving the mini dorm problem with local policies and ordinances.  I brought this issue to the forefront with a town hall meeting in September of 2006 after our frustrations with the growing mini-dorm problem has reached a tipping point.  As expected, the message from the community was loud and clear:  We want our single family neighborhoods back.

Since then we have held numerous committee meetings at the Land Use & and Housing Committee that I chair and I’ve been working with the community, the Mayor, my fellow Councilmembers and others to address problems created by mini dorms.  To date we have implemented the following:

• The Administrative Citation Program was first piloted in the College Area and it proved to be a success so the program is now in effect Citywide
• We now have a Residential High Occupancy Permit in place adopted at the November 19, 2007 City Council meeting
• Neighborhood Code Enforcement has been upgraded in the College Area including one person solely assigned to the College Area and paid for by San Diego State University 
• The Good Neighbor Program operated by volunteer SDSU students has a very high success rate by making visits to student residences that have been called into the SDSU police for having loud parties 
• SDSU can now issue academic sanctions for those students who are found to contribute to neighborhood problems 

Next will be a viable Rooming House Ordinance which is something for which I have advocated after hearing about similar ordinances in Lompoc, California and San Luis Obispo, California  

The popular thing for me to have done at the November 19, 2007 City Council meeting would have been to passively support the flawed Rooming House Ordinance as it was proposed.  Clearly a vocal group of residents impacted by the mini dorms believed I should vote to accept it. In good conscious I could not do that.  My responsibility and duty as a Councilmember is to make certain any ordinance we approve is clear, effective, legal and defensible. 

Through action by the Land Use & Housing Committee (LU&H) followed by the City Council, staff was directed to craft viable legislation.  At the public Housing Forum held in Council Chambers this past May, the City Attorney painted a glowing picture of how he was going to save everyone’s neighborhood and craft legislation to eliminate mini dorms.  I was concerned about his rosier-than-reality promise.

Through the LU&H Committee and later by the City Council, the City Attorney’s office was asked to craft legislation in keeping with the Lompoc, California ordinance that received approval and endorsement from the State Attorney General.  Instead of following this direction, the City Attorney’s office chose to craft a new law they called “groundbreaking legislation” and based it on two unpublished cases.

At the evening City Council meeting, my fellow Councilmembers and I had many questions for the City Attorney’s office.

Furthermore, none of my questions were satisfactorily answered which caused me even greater concern.

Legislation is generally crafted by staff in cooperation the departments that are impacted by such legislation.  The City Attorney’s office provided no such cooperation and did not allow for comments and suggestions.  Unfortunately this made it virtually impossible to provide the City Council with a viable ordinance.

I make no bones about it - I am disgusted with the manner in which my office and, for that matter the entire City Council, has been served by the City Attorney’s office.  What with shoddy legal work and countless cases lost in the courtroom, I do not want to approve a flawed ordinance on blind faith that results in a legal challenge that could have been avoided.  My constituents deserve better.  As I said previously, I want to make sure the law will withstand the test of any legal challenges that are sure to come.

The City Council intends to have the final version of the ordinance on the agenda early next year. Furthermore, I plan to have community members meet with the City Attorney’s office and Development Services Department prior to the revised ordinance being heard at Council. I want to assure residents of the College Area that I  understand your passion on this matter and your commitment and desire to be able to reclaim your neighborhoods.  Rest assured, there will be a strong Rooming House Ordinance that I believe will withstand a legal test.
 

Affordable Housing Project

December 5th was a banner day for District 7 when we celebrated the grand opening of the first new affordable housing project in City Heights. What makes it remarkable is that private development and the Redevelopment Agency worked to improve an inner-city community by taking a blighted and vacant lot and transforming it something new and much needed by the neighborhood. 

Auburn Park is a 69-unit multi-family affordable housing development this is comprised of 2 three-story buildings and 1 four-story building.  All of the units are designated as affordable units.  Thanks to a creative design team and a helpful neighborhood groups such as Fox Canyon Neighborhood Association, the site plan is genius.  The apartments have been placed along the street to promote pedestrian activity which allows for a tremendous amount of open space for such a small development.  It is also the first project in the City Heights Redevelopment Area to provide a privately constructed and maintained park that is publicly accessible. That is beneficial in this park-deficient area. The park includes an educational gazebo as well as the re-vegetation and restoration of the Auburn Branch of Chollas Creek.  I again thank Jose Lopez and the entire Fox Canyon Neighborhood Association for the determination to see this project to fruition despite attempts by some to keep this project from being built.

Affirmed Housing Group and their president, Jim Silverwood, deserve much credit for their commitment to housing affordability.  I thank them for their dedication to the City Heights community for their vision and dedication in seeing this project to completion.





Tip of the Hat

A tip of the hat to Mrs. Lydia Sutherlin, Hancock Elementary School librarian, for teaching students about the importance of water conversation. She made a display of the winning posters from the annual Water Conservation Poster Contest.

The poster contest is open to all first through sixth grade students in the City of San Diego and began in 2000.  As you can see by the photos, has become very popular and successful.  Each year the contest selects three posters from each grade as the final winners.  Congratulations to Mrs. Sutherlin and to all the students who participated.  Keep up the good work.

Volunteer Coaches Needed

The Winter Youth Basketball League for boys and girls ages 5-14 years at the Allied Gardens Recreation Center is looking for volunteer coaches.  The league season begins January 5, 2008.  For more information, contact the Allied Gardens Recreation Center at (619) 235-1129 or visit the City of San Diego’s web site at  www.sandiego.gov
 

Leadership Roles for 2008

I wanted let you know about leadership roles I’ll assume next year.  I’m pleased that the City Council elected me to serve as Council President Pro Tem for 2008.  My other leadership roles include serving as Chair of the Rules, Open Government and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. The Rules, Open Government and Intergovernmental Relations Committee considers issues related to Permanent Rules of Council, City Charter, Intergovernmental Relations, Brown Act, Public Records Act, Community Right to Know, Accuracy of Government Information, Citizen's Right to Privacy, Consumer Protection, Efficiency and Effectiveness of Government Services, Nominations, Airports, Port District, and Interagency/Bi-national and Agreements.

I will also serve as Vice Chair of the Land Use and Housing Committee, Vice Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Fire Prevention and Recovery and as member of the Budget and Finance Committee.  I will also continue serving as Chair of the Mission Trails Regional Park Task Force.

It is an honor to be selected by my fellow Councilmembers for these leadership roles and it is also an honor and commitment to serve the residents of District 7.  I appreciate the opportunities to serve.  I am further honored to be the first Councilmember to have served 8 years consecutively as the chair of a City Council committee.

I also continue to enjoy my role as President for the League of California Cities where I’m involved in issues that matter to all Cities throughout the State – and ultimately to us back here in San Diego. 

I continue to serve as Chair of SANDAG’s Transportation Committee and as a member of the SANDAG Board of Directors along with Mayor Sanders.
 

From The In Box

From time to time in my eNewsletter I enjoy sharing with you various emails I have received at City Hall. Here are a few on various topics:

To: Council Rep Jim Madaffer
I was elated to read, in the SD Tribune Our Region today, that the council has filed a lawsuit against SDSU ( Big Gorilla). Thanks you for your vote. See my attached email to DR Weber and Trustees.

A.S.

Dear Councilman Madaffer,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support of Toilet-to-Tap and your veto of Sanders on this issue.  The recycled water from this source will be cleaner than what we get from the Colorado River, plus it will be OURS!  Please keep advocating for this, and I will support you 100%.  I love San Diego, own several properties here, and do not want to sell out and leave to seek another, less desirable environment with a reliable water source.   I will support you in your future political endeavors based on your enlightened support of this vital measure.   

J. F.

Dear Councilman Madaffer:

I want to complement the City Council for overturning Mayor Sanders veto of the City’s use of treated water as a source of potable water. This shows the Council’s foresight of our City’s future and makes a serious an attempt to address the concerns of water use/availability and its impact on  the environment in our state. In spite of its up-front costs for us, this will be seen in the future as one of the most important acts the City Council has done.

Keep up the good work and thank you.

B. F.
 

Happenings in the District

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

December 26 – The City of San Diego’s Christmas tree recycling program begins and runs through January 23.  Please see the story above and for more information visit the City of San Diego’s web site at http://wwwstage.sannet.gov/environmental-services/recycling/christmas.shtml

Make a Difference

It is very easy to make a big difference this holiday season for the 15,000 homeless men, women and children in San Diego County.  There are many ways that you can help and one idea is by supporting the Alpha Project.  You can donate blankets, especially now during the cold winter months when blankets are in high demand. You can donate your vehicle and receive a tax deduction. And you can contribute financially. 

I’ve worked with Bob McElroy and his staff for a number of years and I heartily support what the Alpha Project does. It is remarkable what they accomplish with such a small staff and low overhead.  To help the homeless through Alpha Project programs or to find out more about their mission, please click here.

Reverse 911 - Register Your Cell Phone Too

City of San Diego residents can register their cellular phones to receive emergency alerts – such as an evacuation notice – from the city's Reverse 911 system. Go to www.sandiego.gov/ohs/reverse911/index.shtml. Residents will need to provide their cell phone number, home address and e-mail address.

The County of San Diego also offers an outstanding webpage on disaster preparedness.  You can visit that page here:  www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes/ready/

You can sign up for the County’s Reverse 911 system by visiting this link.  I would suggest you register for both the City’s and the County’s system.

www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes/ready/signup.html

Dial 511 For Traffic Updates

Did you know that you can now dial 511 for Roadside Assistance on our roads and highways?  If you get stranded in a non-emergency situation, you may use your cell phone to dial 511 to be connected to the Call Box Answer Center for assistance. To find out more about this, visit SANDAG's 511 web site at http://www.511sd.com/