2009
Uptown Partnership makes the news
“Everyday I get up and click over to the U-T and see another article about fraud, waste and abuse. What a JOKE, 12 years of spending 60% on salaries and overhead to repaint 50 parking spots, throw up a few signs, and redo a crosswalk for a developer friend of theirs! When will the fleecing stop? Once we are in total anarchy is my guess.
Common courtesy and common sense have been long replaced by common criminals masquerading as city and community leaders. We need to start throwing these people in prison for fraud, because that’s exactly what this kind of BS is. I’ll bet the market price of what they have accomplished is 5% of what it has cost us.
The terrorist won’t destory us, we’ll have done it ourselves long before they get here.”
— TheNextMayor commenting on today’s front page of the U-T’s Our San Diego section
The article is enlightening, but the comments tell the deeper story.
“I like Leo Wilson’s idea best. It would be a step in the right direction if they can eliminate a layer of bureaucracy and use the funds that have gone for administration and consultants to help pay off bonds for building multi-level parking structures.” — from OldSteer> Share your thoughts on this article with our councilman this Saturday afternoon at Bread & Cie
2009
2009
Help plant trees in the park this Thursday at 11am
There is not a more fitting day to celebrate Balboa Park than Arbor Day. And there is no better way to engage future park supporters than to plant trees that will mature as they do.
This Thursday morning (April 23rd) beginning at 11am, Friends of Balboa Park will celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees along Balboa Drive just north of the Laurel street entrance to Balboa Park. Students from Roosevelt Middle School and the garden club of San Diego High School will be on hand to help Friends’ volunteers plant trees. A mixed oak grove of 20 Engelman Oaks, Island Oaks and Western Redbuds are planned for the site just west of the Lawn Bowling Green.
Balboa Park Nursery Supervisor Mike Rasmusson will be on hand to illuminate the importance of greening the park to the school children for their future. Horticulture groups and individuals who have made significant contributions to Balboa Park will be honored, and City Councilmember Todd Gloria of District Three will speak about progress being made on park sustainability.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend. Or just take a stroll around the beautiful grounds of this urban oasis. Once over 1,400 acres...it’s since been whittled down to just 1,000 now, but we’re lucky ducks to have such a jewel in our big back yard. Enjoy Balboa Park often.
2009
2009
FYI, tokers: 4/20 is National Pot Smokers Day...as Bill Maher & guests discuss Obama’s little weed joke
2009
Will SD pay attention to this LA judge?
Local preservationist Ron May sent a great news link to HillQuest last week. In case you missed...here it is again.
> A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge last Tuesday tossed out portions of a city law approved last year that allows developers to build taller buildings in exchange for setting aside some units for affordable housing. Judge Thomas McKnew’s ruling throws scores of proposed developments into doubt because it prohibits the Planning Department from processing any project applications in which density would be
greater than what is
authorized by state law. The ruling also might affect projects that already have been approved and are under construction, said Jan Chatten-Brown, a lawyer for the Environment and Housing Coalition, which brought suit against the city. “This ruling will force the developers and the city to go back to the drawing board,” she said. City officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
The ordinance was passed in 2008 following approval of state Senate Bill 1818, which required local governments to allow developers to build denser projects if they include affordable housing. But the lawsuit said that the city's law went far beyond the state mandate, in some cases allowing 3 times more density than what was intended.
A group of Los Angeles homeowners associations and other residents filed suit over the ordinance last year after the president of the city’s Planning Commission sent them an e-mail informing them it would be vulnerable to a legal challenge. The opponents of the law claimed that it was hurting local communities by increasing traffic and creating parking shortages.
They also claimed that far from leading to more affordable housing, the law paradoxically was reducing the supply because developers would raze existing apartments for low- and moderate-income residents and replace them with condos, mostly selling at market prices.
2009
2009
EarthFair is this Sunday
The weather is going to be perfect for the 20th annual EarthFair event in the heart of Balboa Park. This is the world’s largest free environmental fair and Earth Day Celebration — all produced by volunteers. Walk, take a bike or public transportation. Off-site lots and free shuttles will also be available for the approximately 70,000 visitors from 10am-5pm.
EarthFair features over 400 exhibitors, special theme areas, food pavilion, a special Kids’ Activity Area, three entertainment venues, the Children’s Earth Parade, the eARTh Gallery art show and a Cleaner Car Concourse.
