Saturday,
May 9,
2009
2009
— Reader’s Dorian
Hargrove reporting on the Uptown Partnership (and Meter Mythbusters)
Friday,
May 8,
2009
2009
— Reader’s Dorian
Hargrove reporting on this past Tuesday’s Uptown Planners meeting
Thursday,
May 7,
2009
2009
FREE preview of Men’s Chorus “Blonde Ambition” concert
This Sunday the San Diego Mens' Chorus will present a free sneek preview of their latest presentation “Blonde Ambition” as a special Mother’s Day treat. The concert will take place at 5pm Sunday evening, May 10th, in the parish
hall of All Saints’
Episcopal Church. The San Diego Men’s Chorus wondered “...do blondes REALLY have more fun?” and they’ve put together their sassiest, sauciest, show ever with music by the most notorious blondes in history — from Mozart to Madonna, and all the divas in between...featuring songs written or made famous by Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Dolly Parton, Olivia Newton-John, Justin Timberlake and the Dixie Chicks. Don’t miss this special performance of their 24th annual spring preview show. The acoustics are terrific in the parish hall, and every seat is fabulous! This concert is free and open to the public. For more details, call SDMC at (877) 296-SONG or the church at (619) 298-7729.
Wednesday,
May 6,
2009
2009
Want to learn lawn bowling?
This Saturday from 9:30am-4pm the San Diego Lawn Bowling Club will host an open house with hands-on opportunities for guests to learn how to play a centuries-old sport that today is played in more than 40 countries. SDLBC is holding the open house as part of a statewide “California Lawn Bowls Day” celebration, a salute to the state’s 59 lawn bowling facilities that have received special recognition from Governor Schwarzenegger. These courts are northeast of the Balboa Drive & Laurel Street intersection in Balboa Park.
Tuesday,
May 5,
2009
2009
The Uptown Planners met tonight at Joyce Beers Community Center as a consultant for SANDAG presented a proposed Mid-City Rapid Bus Project, specifically the portion that would affect Park Boulevard between El Cajon Boulevard & University Avenue.
The idea would place dedicated bus lanes and new rapid bus transit stations in the middle of Park Boulevard resulting in a loss of 35 parking spaces at three locations where diagonal parking will be converted to parallel parking along Park Boulevard. An additional 23 spaces will be provided along side streets with placement of new (or tighter) diagonal parking and the removal of one bus stop. The planning group voiced concern at the proposal, but will wait for the project to return with modlifications before making their recommendation.
The mayor’s Parking Meter Utilization Improvement Plan was presented by the City of SD’s Mike Vogel. The Planners overwhelmingly rejected the proposal by 10-3 with the chair Leo Wilson abstaining. Then a motion was made to abolish the Uptown Community Parking District. The 6-6 tie was broken by the chair, and the motion failed. A third motion to remove all meters in Uptown failed 5-8-1. Motion #4 to refer the discussion of the future of the Uptown Community Parking District to the Uptown Public Facilities Subcommittee passed by a vote of 12-2-1. The Uptown Partnership will hold their board of directors meeting tomorrow beginning at 4:30 on the second floor of the Park Manor Suites Hotel.
Monday,
May 4,
2009
2009
— Councilwoman Donna Fyre
suggesting a consolidation of CCDC and SEDC
Sunday,
May 3,
2009
2009
Mr. & Mr. Yoshida share their story...
At our wedding a guest asked, “So, are you going to change your name?” My response was, “Um. No. Why would I do that?” In fact, the day I married the man I’d loved for more than 15 years, the last thing on my mind was changing my name. And then Prop 8 passed.
I believed that in spite of no specific mention of retroactive annulment of existing same sex marriages, allowing both Prop 8 and the marriages to stand would create yet another class of citizen – married same sex couples vs non-married same sex couples. The easy way out seems to be to annul the marriages so that all same sex couples are treated equally under the law. I hope I’m wrong.
But faced with the idea that the state may annul my marriage, I started to think about my name. When my mom married my dad, she took his name. Regardless of having a new name, she did have a new identity — her husband’s wife. And my dad also had a new identity — his wife’s husband. But to the public, sharing one name made a statement of family and of unity. Around Thanksgiving, I started asking friends and family what they thought. Almost universally, I got a thumbs-up. People were excited for me because they understood what sort of statement I was making by sharing a name with my sweetie. I was making a statement of family and of unity.
So last week I went to the Social Security office in downtown San Diego. I plunked my marriage license down at the window, explained that I’d been married some months ago, and that I was just getting around to changing my name, as if it were the most natural, expected course of action. She typed some information into a computer, gave me something to sign and along with a letter confirming my new name. It was that easy. I hopped on the bus and went to DMV. A short wait later, Ms. DMV changed the name on my driver’s license (new picture too!).
How do I feel now? Terrific. In love. Rejuvenated. Renewed. I’m “the other Mr. Yoshida,” and I’m loving it. I just got my new ATM card with my new name. When I call the bank the agents call me “Mr. Yoshida,” and it still feels new and fun. I’m starting to get mail in my new name. Most of all, I feel embraced. My friends, family and the clients of my accounting and tax firm have all been absolutely terrific. They get it. They know why this symbol of my love for my partner, sweetie, husband, is a good, stabilizing thing in my relationship and in our community. I hope that people who want to make these kinds of changes know that the response is likely to be positive and supportive.
Saturday,
May 2,
2009
2009
Majority opposed to meter increase
60% of San Diego area adults say they would be opposed to raising the rates of city parking meters in order to raise revenue for the city according to a recent SurveyUSA poll conducted for KGTV. 34% said they would support the increase.How much will an increase in parking meter fees hurt downtown businesses?
> 45% said it would hurt a lot
> 38% said it would hurt a little
> 17% said it would hurt not at all
4/23/09 U-T story on Uptown Partnership
Friday,
May 1,
2009
2009
— Councilman Carl DeMaio re:
slain gay politician Harvey Milk
