October 9,
2009
— Hillcrest resident Nancy Moors
re: the little known park behind AT&T’s high cement walls
October 8,
2009
Mayor’s Parking Utilization Plan Moves to Full Council for Final Vote
Yesterday morning at the Budget & Finance Committee meeting councilmen Todd Gloria, Kevin Faulconer and Tony Young voted in favor of Mayor Sanders’ Parking Meter Utilization Plan which will allow the mayor’s office to increase parking prices in the city’s “hot spots.” Councilmember Todd Gloria made a motion, seconded by chair Tony Young to move the Mayor's Plan on to the full council for consideration. Councilmember Kevin Faulconer sited the downtown pilot program as successful because the downtown neighborhood was involved in the program. The councilmember cast a favorable vote after expressing that he believes neighbors should have a say in their community.
Councilman Carl DeMaio said, “I agree with Ms Emerald. This is nothing more than a money grab” by the city. Adding “raising parking rates and adding staff doesn’t set well with the public.” What do you think? Carl DeMaio will be speaking at next Tuesday’s Hillcrest Town Council meeting at the Joyce Beers Community Center. Councilmember Todd Gloria will be addressing the November’s monthly meeting. All Hillcrest residents are encouraged to attend and voice your opinion.
Hillcrest Business Association Executive Director Ben Nicholls (above) suggested that council look at putting parking meters in other appropriate neighborhoods and bring an equitable parking policy across the city rather than “squeeze more money” out of our neighborhoods. Nicholls speaking against the mayor's plan asked for Uptown to be removed from this policy.
Hillcrest Town Council, Save Hillcrest, the Hillcrest History Guild, the Hillcrest Business Association and Uptown Planners have all gone on record to have Uptown removed from the proposal. Councilmembers Carl DeMaio and Marti Emerald agreed and voted against moving the plan on to the full council for a vote. (This should be on the council docket in a couple of weeks.)
Don’t neighborhoods like Ocean Beach, La Jolla and North Park need meters before the parking districts (like Downtown, Hillcrest and Little Italy) have to pay more? All San Diego communities need to share in helping to reduce the city’s deficit.
October 7,
2009
— Hillcrest Business Association
director Benjamin Nicholls re: the Mayor’s Parking Utilization Plan
October 7,
2009
After expiring on September 28, the new Uptown Partnership budget came before the SD City Council Tuesday afternoon. Several council members continued to express concerns about the lack of a conflict of interest policy, while Council Member Kevin Faulconer layed out his suggestion to establish a subarea of the Partnership for Bankers Hill/Park West. City staff, Meredith Dibden-Brown explained that the Partnership would have to close its doors if the budget was held up while waiting for the City
Attorney to return a conflict of interest policy in mid-November.
Leo Wilson (above) chair of the Bankers Hill/Park West Community Association (BHPWCA) requested that the Council create an independent parking subgroup for the area – similar to existing subgroups in both University Heights and Golden Hill. “The diversion of parking meter money and funds from developer impact fees (DIF) have made scarce the resources necessary to address a critical public-safety issue in Bankers Hill/ Park West — one of the highest traffic accident rates in the City (74 in the last five months),” stated Wilson. Several months ago, the BHPWCA steering committee approved a motion with a 24-0 vote for Bankers Hill to end its direct affiliation with Uptown Partnership and become its own parking subarea, similar to the University Heights parking district subarea, so that parking meter revenues generated in Bankers Hill should be used solely for improvements within that community. Parking meter revenue that is generated should be held in a trust account or another manner that is transparent. Additionally, any overhead should be limited to no more than 10% of the funds generated in a given year.
Speakers at yesterday afternoon’s Council meeting included Hillcrest Business Association Director Benjamin Nicholls who expressed that if the council endorsed a subgroup for Bankers Hill/Park West, then Hillcrest would also want to be involved in that discussion. Councilman Faulconer moved that the parking district budgets be approved; that a conflict of interest policy be presented to council by mid-November; and the approval to establish a Bankers Hill/Park West parking subarea which will be moved on for further action at the next Public Safety & Neighborhood Services Committee chaired by Marti Emerald. The motion passed 5-3 with council members Frye, DeMaio and Lightner dissenting.
I am writing as chair of the Bankers Hill/Park West Community Association (BHPWCA) requesting that the City Council create an independent parking subgroup for our area – similar to existing subgroups in both University Heights and Golden Hill. Bankers Hill/Park West is the second largest community in Uptown, with a population approaching 15,000. In the past decade, we have absorbed the majority of new development in our area and have generated a substantial portion of Uptown development-related revenue and parking meter fees, which have consistently been diverted out of our neighborhood to other communities in Uptown – often to low-density areas that have had little new development.
The diversion of these funds has made scarce the resources necessary to address a critical public-safety issue in Bankers Hill/ Park West — one of the highest traffic accident rates in the City (74 in the last five months). For years, we have requested either stop signs or traffic signals to help remedy this situation – with no response from city staff other than, “We are studying the issue.” While we have had no access to parking meter revenue, Uptown Partnership generously funded new sidewalks and pedestrian pop-outs in other areas. Recently the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Uptown Partnership was about to make what amounted to a $1 million gift for a new library for Mission Hills. Bankers Hill/Park West supports libraries, but the purpose of parking-meter revenue is to address parking and other traffic/mobility-related public facilities.
Several months ago, the BHPWCA steering committee approved the following motion by a 24-0 vote: (1.) That Bankers Hill ends its direct affiliation with Uptown Partnership and become its own parking sub-area, similar to the University Heights parking district sub-area. Parking meter revenues generated in Bankers Hill should be used solely for improvements within our community. Parking meter revenue that is generated should be held in a trust account or another manner that is transparent. Additionally, any overhead should be limited to no more than 10% of the funds generated in a given year.
The BHPWCA has subsequently been informed that President Pro Tem Kevin Faulconer will be introducing a motion in response to the above request (today) October 6. If the motion begins the process of allowing the Bankers Hill/ Park West community to establish its own independent subgroup, then we urge you to support it. In requesting a separate community parking subgroup, the BHPWCA is not supporting, or condoning, the approval of the Uptown Partnership contract. The numerous issues and controversies involving the Uptown Partnership are well known and have been featured in several critical newspaper articles. It does not appear that these issues, nor the clearly excessive operational expenses and lack of accountability of the organization, have been remedied. If the City Council does choose to renew the contract (tune into Channel 24 this afternoon), as a matter of fairness and equity it should also approve a separate subgroup for Bankers Hill/Park West for the reasons stated above.
October 6,
2009
Balboa Park freebies
How does free admission to San Diego’s best museums sound? Each Tuesday of the week (except in those rare five week months) museums in Balboa Park open their doors to San Diego County residents for free.
At the right is the Natural History Museum (along Park Boulevard near the large fountain). Today you may enjoy their permanent shows with no admission fee. Discover a world full of change from dinosaurs to mastodons, as you travel through 75 million years and dig into the rich fossil history of Southern California and Baja California.
Founded
by a handful of citizen-naturalists in 1874, this museum is an active
research institution and is the second oldest scientific institution in
Southern California. It’s also features giant-screen films and offers a
wide selection of public programs for people of all ages. Also today (and each first Tuesday of the month) you may get into the Model Railway Museum and the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center for free.
On the second Tuesdays of the month visit the San Diego History and Photographic Arts museums; on the third Tuesdays, check out the Art Institute, the Museum of Man, the Mingei International and the Museum of Art; each fourth Tuesday enjoy free admission to the Aerospace and the Auto museums, the Hall of Champions and International Cottages.
Thanks to ball bearings, the Timken Museum of Art, considered one of the great small museums in the world, is a gift to every visitor to Balboa Park. The admission here is always free.
October 5,
2009
— Hillcrest author Linda
Patterson re: what
the Bible says about homosexuality
October 4,
2009
Hillcrest Farmers Market every Sunday
Fall is in the air, making it time to begin shopping for pumpkins. Head on over to the Hillcrest DMV (on Normal Street just south of Lincoln Avenue) today from 9am until 2pm for the Hillcrest Farmers Market. Voted San Diego’s favorite neighborhood market year after year, as a bonus dollars spent at the weekly market also help raise funds for community improvements through efforts of the Hillcrest Business Association. Shop for fresh produce (many vendors offer samples), colorful flowers, plants, crafts, food while toe-tapping tunes from Shawn P. Rohlf and the 7th Day Buskers add to the ambience. With the holidays approaching, the Hillcrest Farmers Market is also a great place to find unique gifts.
Need a new HillQuest, Urban Guide? Stop by the Hillcrest Business Association booth just north of the band where you may also pick up a “Fabulous Hillcrest” button and get information about local businesses.
As the economy continues to struggle, please support neighborhood shops and services with your hard earned dollars.
October 3,
2009
— Rev. Paul Cody, president of
Hillcrest Compassion Care re: medical marijuana and the right to
wellness
October 2,
2009
— San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders
giving a sad financial update on our city
October 1,
2009
— Tom Fudge re: Critical Mass in
a letter to the Voice of San Diego
