Sunday,
November 30, 2008
Happy 61st birthday to my favorite girl...
(shown flashing cows on Maui)
Saturday,
November 29, 2008
— Roger Carr of University City
suggesting the best idea to cope with SD’s budget deficit
Friday,
November 28, 2008
Last Monday evening (at a special meeting at the Balboa Park Club) the City Council closed public testimony on the Mills Act, but they have yet to decide on new fees for those who have nominations waiting to be heard and on imposing a threshold limiting the number of new agreement incentives to $100K per year. If you read the story in the Union-Tribune you didn’t find any facts that showed the real benefits of the program such as the higher revenue that it generates through increased property taxes. You also didn’t read any insight as to why this revenue generating program is being changed now when the city is in such dire straits. At Monday’s meeting SOHO’s executive director Bruce Coons asked the audience to stand if they favored saving the Mills Act. Virtually the entire audience of 200 rose to their feet.
The council did vote to remove the word “substantial” when describing the obligations of property owners to re-invest the Mills Act tax incentives. A majority also agreed to establish a low income fund to help those below the median income to pay the new staff processing fees proposed by the Mayor. The matter will be continued again on Tuesday afternoon, December 2nd at City Hall. The current council, with four members termed out of office (including Toni Atkins in District 3) will make the Mills Act changes one of its last votes.
Council President Scott Peters attempted to get a vote on the matter by limiting the time for public testimony. In some cases he allowed speakers only 30 seconds. He explained that this was to help him juggle the speakers, council deliberations and a strict 9pm closing time. This council session was a rare opportunity for the public to attend a meeting after normal business hours. Those who wanted to address changes in the Mills Act faced a shrinking time clock as their planned presentations were shattered into mere sound-bytes. Sadly, some council members seemed to lose interest and preferred to check their cell phones and computers during the Beat-the-Clock testimony.
Tuesday’s council meeting attendance is important for retaining provisions of this program. Community presence in the chamber is powerful and shows the council that the public is watching how they vote on issues. If you could not make it to the Monday meeting, please attend Tuesday’s hearing. Be sure to fill out a speaker slip to show your opposition to the Mayor's proposal.
Our neighborhood's historicity aided in the American Planners Association (APA) announcement in October of 2007 that Hillcrest was chosen one of the ten great neighborhoods in the nation. (This was the first time the APA honored any communities.)
Thursday,
November 27, 2008
— University
Heights’ Ernestine Bonn (aka “Ernie the Great”)
November 26, 2008
Next step for local preservationists will be Tuesday, December 2nd
City Council has closed public testimony on the Mills Act, but has yet to decide on new fees for those who have nominations waiting to be heard and on imposing a threshold limiting the number of new agreement incentives to $100,000 per year.
The council did vote to remove the word “substantial” when describing the obligations of property owners to re-invest the Mills Act tax incentives. A majority also agreed to establish a low income fund to help those below the Average Median Income to pay the new staff processing fees that are also being proposed as part of the Mayor’s desired changes. The matter will be continued again on Tuesday, December 2 at City Hall.
Attendance this council meeting is important for retaining provisions of this program. Community presence in the chamber is powerful and shows the council that the public is watching how they vote on issues. If you could not make it to Monday night’s meeting at the Balboa Park Club, please attend the this hearing on December 2 (202 C Street, 12th floor). Be sure to fill out a speaker slip to show your opposition to the Mayor’s proposal (no public testimony will be allowed). Pick the slip that says “oppose” in big letters if you are against the staff recommendations to the Mayor’s proposal.
Thanks
for your involvement to help save our neighborhood’s character!
November 25, 2008
— Donna Frye re: the City
Council’s rejection of the Mayor’s cuts to libraries, rec centers
November 24, 2008
Have you started shopping for Thanksgiving?
The economy’s in a slump, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great Thanksgiving dinner. Epicurious offers suggestions to create a three-course meal with fixings, including stuffing, soup and pie, all for under $80. How about cheaper? $16? We’ll make a sweet potato pie.
Forget something? Never fear... Hillcrest’s Whole Foods Market will be open from 8am-4pm on Turkey Day for all those last minute items like cranberries, butter or whipping cream. You can even pick up a whole dinner to share. Pick up your bakery goods early from Bread & Cie.
Several Hillcrest
restaurants including Cafe Eleven, Crest Cafe,
Urban Mo’s & City Deli are serving turkey, too! Gobble gobble...
November 23, 2008
— Ramona resident Peter Jorgenson
re: the defeat of Proposition A
November 22, 2008
— Susan Seefeldt in today’s letters to editor of the the U-T
