12 Questions from the Voice of SD
Council votes 7-1 to move the “process” ahead
Over 100 San Diegans spoke at City Hall this afternoon re: the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to fund a private project by the Plaza de Panama Committee, more commonly known as the Jacobs/Sanders Plan, to build a bypass bridge aka “Centennial Bridge” off the Cabrillo Bridge, a paid parking garage and numerous other irreversible alterations to Balboa Park.
The mayor was called to the microphone by Councilman David Alvarez to confirm that a vote today would not necessarily mean a vote for the bypass in the future. Councilwoman
Sherri Lightner was the lone vote against the motion. Within a couple minutes of the vote Councilman Todd Gloria’s office released this statement:
“Environmental review will be necessary in order to accomplish any of the visions for removing parking and traffic from the Plaza de Panama. Proceeding with the Environmental Impact Report is in the overall best interest of the Park, and will only be accomplished with the approval of the MOU.
“While I have strong concerns about the potential impacts of the Plaza de Panama Committee’s proposed project, I am interested in having the analysis of the project and alternatives so that when the time comes I can weigh all of the possibilities in the correct context. The MOU does not commit me or the City Council to supporting the project once the EIR is completed.”
