Bankers Hill Traffic Sweeps • Todd Gloria & SD Budget Deficit • March on Washington • Mayor Jerry Sanders

Saturday, October 17, 2009	“If you’re just looking at traffic collisions reported by San Diego Police, the number hasn't changed that much in the past year (Sept. 2008-Aug. 2009). For statistical tracking purposes, the city uses the neighborhoods of Balboa Park and Park West to measure that area. Balboa Park had between three and nine reported collisions per month. Park West had between three and 12 each month.” — Voice of San Diego’s Keegan Kyle re: Do Traffic Sweeps Improve Safety?
Friday, October 16, 2009	SD’s budget deficit: What does $200M mean & how can we fix it? Todd Gloria to speak at The Center this morning City Councilman Todd Gloria is seeking public input to prioritize services for the City of San Diego’s tight budget situation. You have an early opportunity to weigh in with your service priorities and budget ideas at a public forum scheduled for today from 7:30- 9am at the LGBT Community Center, 3909 Centre Street (just north of University Avenue). The $10 breakfast event (you may attend without eating) will also feature his presentation of easy-to-understand information about the City’s budget. “San Diegans are going to feel the impact of the budget challenges, and I want to help educate them about our current situation and start getting their input,” said Councilman Gloria. “A mix of efficiencies, cuts and revenues will be necessary to address our long-term issues. Now is the time to construct comprehensive remedies.” Attendees will be asked to rank top City service priorities for funding, offer perspective on potential service reductions and weigh in on the topic of additional revenues. Two weeks ago, the City’s Five Year Financial Outlook projected at $179 million deficit for the next fiscal year. Other officials have suggested shortfalls closer to $200 million. The City Council Budget & Finance Committee will also hold public budget forums in the coming weeks.
Thursday, October 15, 2009	“While the Mayor’s Office deserves some credit for making small incremental changes to the pension program, these changes have focused only on newly hired city employees...(but) the city’s required payments to its pension system have grown by several tens of millions of dollars since 2005.” — Steve Francis in an open letter to the Union-Tribune re: sacrifices needed to right finances
Wednesday, October 14, 2009	HBA Mixer with Mayor Sanders this evening Meet San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders from 5-8pm Wednesday evening at Hillcrest’s newest wine bar — Jake’s on 6th. The business association’s quarterly networking social provides business owners an opportunity to socialize with one another and an interesting guest speaker. Mix and mingle with business owners as you sample appetizers provided by several local restaurants. Jake's is located at 3755 Sixth Avenue. The Hillcrest Business Association, San Diego’s oldest, was established in 1921.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009	Councilman Carl DeMaio speaks to the Town Council re: City Deficit Here’s a summary: the Mayor projects $180 million annual deficit; an independent agency projects $200 million. Councilman DeMaio projects an additional $120 million deficit to pay for retiree healthcare, and even more to pay for required deferred maintenance, that makes the actual annual deficit more like $365 million. Unfortunately, this will allow the city to merely tread water and not pay off any debts. The situation will continue to worsen. DeMaio also believes the main problem is retiree obligations. The city will not be able to fix this problem by raising taxes or cutting services. The retiree obligations need to be renegotiated. DeMaio believes he can do this. Stay tuned. HBA holds annual board meeting, one election down...one to go The Hillcrest Business Associaiton held their annual meeting Tuesday evening. Glenn Younger, owner, Grah Safe & Lock was appointed as the HBA’s respresentative at the Community Plan Update. Property owner, Ron Baranov was selected alternate. Michael Wright, owner of City Deli and Steve Moore of Column One were affirmed as members of the Hillcrest Committee, a joint committee with the Uptown Partnership which is chaired by Nick Moede, owner of Rich’s and Numbers. en business owners (Robert Grinchuk, The Wine Lover; Cindy Lehman, California Bank & Trust; Sean Cute, The Ruby Room; Nick Moede, Rich’s; Amy Capano, Cathedral; Ann Garwood, Ad Ink Advertising Agency; and Dalour Younan, Hillcrest Shell) ran for open seats. 45 votes were needed with 47, Cindy Lehman was the only candidate elected. Oddly, no other candidate received enough votes to be seated. The board failed to ratify the results of the election. The organization was also scheduled to elect officers, but because of the unusual outcome of the board election, that agenda item was postponed. Executive Director Benjamin Nicholls will be consulting counsel for direction. Stay tuned.
Monday, October 12, 2009	“My hope would be that we would have an entity that would bring the focus and attention to the park. A nonprofit partner whose sole purpose is to champion the park would get us to where we need to be.” — City Councilmember Todd Gloria endorsing private fundraising/management for Balboa Park
Sunday, October 11, 2009	“Look me in the eye and tell me I am less of a person than you are. Look me in the eye and tell me my family is worth less than yours. Look me in the eye and tell me I am not an American. Well you know what, not one person in any of those places can do that, not one of them.” — Christine Quinn, openly lesbian on the NY City Council speaking at the March on Washington rally
Sunday, October 11, 2009	“In some places, we have the right to get married. And in some places, you can be fired for being gay. And in some places, you can’t. You know, there is sort of a patchwork, but we want full equality, and we’re not going to accept compromises or fractions of equality.” — Kip Williams organizer of today’s gay and lesbian March on Washington
Saturday, October 10, 2009	Would you like to own a Victorian home? Save Our Heritage Organisation is trying to find a way to save this old house. The historic 1887 structure at 1043 Tenth Avenue in Center City can be yours for free, but must be relocated. The owner will donate $35,000 toward the moving expenses. The Harwood-Tichener House is one of the last four middle class houses left from the Great Boom of the 1880s. Interested? please call the SOHO office (619) 297-9327.

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