Courtesy of Barry Bernstein:
The Holiday season is here! I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful, and that you are looking forward to your Christmas/Hannukah holiday planning. This year Christmas Eve and the first night of Hannukah share December 24!
On Friday, December 9, UCCA will be joining the Standley Park Recreation Council in sponsoring “An Evening of Celebration.” Standley Park’s “Dinner with Santa” at 5:30 PM and UCCA’s Annual Tree/Menorah Lighting program starting at 6:30 PM. Please join us for some wonderful holiday music, hot chocolate, cookies, children’s activities and of course, a visit from the jolly old elf himself!
The San Diego City Council is expected to vote on Monday, December 5* on the AMENDMENT to REMOVE from the current University Community Plan the two most well-known and controversial recommendations for alleviating traffic issues and providing improved fire/rescue access to South University City.
These recommendations are: Building the Regents Road Bridge and Widening of Genesee Ave. The City Planning Commission on October 27 voted 6-0 to keep these two options in the Plan. The Smart Growth/Land Use Committee, rather than a vote on the matter, decided to move the issue to the larger City Council meeting on December 5.
If the two options remain, it does not mean anything more than the City Council can consider their value and importance to the University City community sometime in the future. If they are removed from the Plan, it will mean the City Council could not consider these recommendations as remedies and therefore the builder’s monies collected previously, and those anticipated, could not be used for either project.
However, when a new University Community Plan is developed, which is planned to start in 2017, those same options theoretically could once again be included, (only with UCPG endorsement and City Council approval). “SO THE BEAT GOES ON!”
Thank you for supporting me and our UCCA officers, all of whom were re-elected by acclamation at our November 9 General/Election meeting. A recap of that meeting, which includes current information regarding the anticipated Mid-Coast trolley line on Genesee and the expansion of Westfield UTC Mall can be found on UCCA’s website at https://www.universitycitynews.org/2016/12/01/westfield-utc-mall-and-mid-coast-trolley-construction-updates/
Our newest street banners will soon be up on various street poles throughout University City; funded by a grant from the San Diego Board of Supervisors.
Thank you and congratulations to Jemma Samala and Randall Tonini, the new-co-chairs for the 2017 Fourth of July Celebration. I’m confident they will carry-on the wonderful traditions and activities that under George Odero’s leadership had made this annual community event so special.
Our Northern Division Police has new leadership. Capt. Stephanie Rose, Lt. Daniel Grubbs, and the new community service officer replacing Holly Tafoya is Officer Brandon Broaddus. We hope to introduce them to our community at our January UCCA meeting.
Barbara Bry was officially elected as San Diego City Council District 1 representative….we look forward to working with Barbara and her community representative, Hilary Nemchik. Also on the political front….Dr. John Lee Evans was re-elected to the San Diego City Schools Board of Education, Congressman Scott Peters was re-elected to Congress, County Supervisor Dave Roberts was defeated, and Toni Atkins, the former California Assembly Speaker, was elected to the California State Senate.
JOIN UCCA…JOIN UCCA…JOIN UCCA…JOIN UCCA…JOIN UCCA! I do hope you have joined, or will be joining/renewing your UCCA membership for 2017. Your membership dues provide UCCA the resources to do the many important things needed to support our local schools, organizations, parks, and the various community activities taking place during the year (as well as paying for our newsletter costs). You may join online through PayPal at https://www.universitycitynews.org/join-ucca-today/ or complete and return the membership coupon found in the print newsletter.
Remember, University City is “more than just a neighborhood.” My best wishes to you all for a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and a safe and healthy 2017!
*Note: The agenda for the December 5 City Council meeting is available at https://www.universitycitynews.org/2016/12/01/city-council-releases-agenda-for-december-5-action-to-amend-university-community-plan/
For related posts, visit https://www.universitycitynews.org/category/transportation/
