I want to commend Chester Owen III who is an Eagle Scout candidate with Boy Scout Troop 959. His Eagle Scout project focused on improving the Cowles Mountain hiking trail in Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP).
The trail was closed on Saturday, February 24th when he and a great crew of volunteers installed fencing and railings in order to protect the habitat of vegetation and wildlife and to limit further trail erosion.
As anyone who has hiked the trail knows, they provided a wonderful service. Not only does this benefit MTRP users but my calculations indicate that he saved taxpayers approximately $15,000 in what it would have cost to have this work done.
On behalf of the residents of District 7 and the City of San Diego, I want to thank and congratulate Chester for a job well done.
New Medians for El Cajon Boulevard
March 26th was a big day in our district. Residents, the business community and local leaders truly deserve credit for spearheading the project of getting new medians on El Cajon Boulevard.
Without them, I don’t think this project would have gone past the drawing board. Community leaders such as Jose Lopez, Thomas Du, Lee Rittiner, Harold Webber, Danielle Laman, Doris Perry, Bruce Robertson and Jody Talbot joined me in celebrating the official groundbreaking. Mayor Jerry Sanders told the audience that neighborhood commercial revitalization projects such as this are crucial to help beautify San Diego, enhance identities of older business districts and improve the quality of life for surrounding neighborhoods.
He said we are fortunate to have the tool of redevelopment and the commitment of so many partners to make this project a reality. Mike Trunzo, President of the College Area Business Improvement District (BID) and Charles Maze, Chair of the Crossroads Redevelopment Project Area Committee (PAC) also spoke eloquently at the event.
This long anticipated $2.2 million median reconstruction and landscaping project will help beautify and improve sections of El Cajon Boulevard from 54th Street to 73rd Street within the Crossroads Redevelopment Project Area. The project is expected to take 180 work days to complete and involves reconstruction of raised medians and the installation of decorative stamped concrete, irrigation and landscaping. It will also feature two community entrance signs. This revitalization project is the result of a public/private partnership of the Redevelopment Agency, several City departments, my office, the College Area Business Association, community members and businesses along El Cajon Boulevard.
Landscaped medians are part of my overall beautification goal for the communities in District 7. I ran for office on a platform of improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods and the El Cajon Boulevard medians are one more example of keeping that commitment.
This project has been in the planning and preparation stages for several years. In fact, my Chief of Policy Don Mullen was instrumental in helping move this project forward years ago when he was Executive Director of the College Area Business Improvement District. Funding comes from a variety of sources. More than $2 million in funding was approved by the Redevelopment Agency using tax increment generated by the Crossroads Redevelopment Project Area. The County of San Diego is investing nearly $16,000 for the business district signs. The businesses along the corridor are investing an initial $45,000 for the business district signs and will also fund ongoing maintenance of the medians.
I’m very proud of the Crossroads Redevelopment Project Area and the many community leaders who have donated their talent to make it the best it can be. As you know the 1,031-acre Crossroads Redevelopment Project Area was adopted 2003 to facilitate new construction, revitalization and upgrading of residential, commercial and public properties as well as revitalizing facilities within the surrounding Crossroads Redevelopment Project Area.
Revitalization and redevelopment within the Project Area is gaining momentum. The Crossroads Housing Enhancement Loan Program (HELP) for low-and-moderate income homeowners was created to help homeowners make needed improvements to their homes. In March of 2006 an agreement was approved for CentrePoint, a $110 million mixed-use project incorporating 312 condominiums including 47 affordable units and neighborhood serving retail space.
Redeveloping the area known as Chollas Triangle is in the works and the Redevelopment Agency is actively seeking development partners for this 36-acre site which is bounded by University Avenue, Chollas Parkway and 54th Avenue.
Also nearby is a private development project called Parc@54 which is a 90-unit housing development one block north of University Avenue on 54th Street.
Traffic Calming Measures Coming to Twin Lake Drive and Jackson Drive
Recently there have been issues raised by parents concerned for the safety of their children traveling to Benchley Weinberger Elementary School crossing at Twin Lake Drive and Jackson Drive. This is an issue that has been discussed by parents, by community leaders and by community planning groups over the past several months.
I have reviewed their recommendation and have also read evaluations from the City’s Traffic Engineering Department as well as from the San Diego Police Department. While I understand some residents desire to have an all-way stop sign installed, I believe Traffic Engineering’s recommendations for traffic calming measures, which are supported by the Police Department, are a much safer alternative. I do not take this issue lightly and wanted to thoughtfully evaluate all aspects.
After careful consideration, and following input from the local community group, I came to the conclusion that an all-way stop sign would create a dangerous false sense of security for pedestrians using that crossing. You may read my letter on this issue by clicking here.
Tip of the Hat
Congratulations to Bob McElroy and his group at the Alpha Project for reaching a major milestone. This remarkable non-profit group just celebrated their 20th anniversary with an event as distinctive as they are.
The Alpha Project helps the homeless get off the streets and helps in transitioning them into living a productive, independent and drug free life. It is touching when you hear testimony from people whose lives have been completely transformed by their mission.
I’ve been a longtime supporter of the Alpha Project and invite you to click here to find out more about them.
The Passing of a Champion
San Diego lost an incredible sports icon and champion for our youth with the passing of Ernie H. Wright, Sr. on March 20th. From his days as a sports hero in the 1960s and 70s to his founding of the Pro Kids Golf Academy, Ernie Wright exemplified the very best for San Diego. He was a legend in the National Football League and the San Diego Chargers as well as a driving force for the Pro Kids Golf Academy and Learning Center. He could make things happen when others were unable to. He used his contacts, resources and love of children to provide thousands of San Diego’s inner-city youth the opportunity to learn life enhancing values through the game of golf by establishing Pro Kids in 1994 at the City’s Colina Park Golf Course.
His dream for Pro Kids started with a ramshackle one-room clubhouse at the Colina Park Golf Course which he turned into the outstanding facility that it is today. His Pro Kids program is now a model for the nation. He used the game of golf to teach important life lessons about values, sportsmanship, etiquette, honesty and self-discipline.
Ernie Wright’s Pro Kids Golf Academy and Learning Center has provided more opportunities for our inner-city youth than any comparable program. The Academy is a testament to his years of dedication to the less fortunate and to those who would never have had these opportunities. Although Ernie has now passed on, his legacy will live forever and the foundations he has provided for our youth will continue to shape wonderful citizens and leaders for tomorrow.
Dial 511
Did you know that you can now dial 511 for Roadside Assistance on our roads and highways? If you get stranded in a non-emergency situation, you may use your cell phone to dial 511 to be connected to the Call Box Answer Center for assistance. To find out more about this, visit SANDAG's 511 web site at http://www.511sd.com/
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