Connect with us

San Diego, CA

Impassioned students, activists plead to save services after mayor delivers budget plan

Published

on

Impassioned students, activists plead to save services after mayor delivers budget plan


Students and residents made impassioned pleas at a meeting of the San Diego City Council on Monday, hoping to keep the city from reducing recreation center hours and closing libraries on Sundays and Mondays.

“Here we are begging for crumbs in your budget,” one student yelled at councilmembers.

“A lot of us learned to dance at El Toyo Park,” said another woman. “And I learned how to play tennis at MLK Park.”

The proposed cuts are part of Mayor Todd Gloria’s budget plan to make up a nearly $260 million budget deficit. He presented his final budget proposal to councilmembers on Monday.

Advertisement

Community advocate Francine Maxwell urged councilmembers not to rubber-stamp the budget. She urged council to cut people and not programs.

“At a minimum, you should be cutting deputy-level salaries,” Maxwell said. “Be bold leaders and cut them. We need our services. The middle management bloat is wrong.”

With the budget now in the council’s court to start making amendments, Councilmembers Sean Elo Rivera and Henry Foster said they’re looking to prioritize rec centers and libraries, especially after protests against plans to merge the Carmel Valley police station resulted in that proposal being scrapped, with nearly $800,000 restored to the police department.

“Keeping folks safe is our top priority, but that requires more than just, you know, putting cops on the street or firefighters on engines,” Elo-Rivera said. “That’s important. And if young people don’t have a place to go, a safe place to go after school, that makes us less safe.”

Elo-Rivera suggested keeping libraries and rec centers open full-time with the $11 million expected to roll in next year from paid parking at Balboa Park. He’d also like to see out-of-towners pay for parking at the zoo, new revenue that could help students focus on their future full-time at San Diego area libraries.

Advertisement

“I live in a house with five other people,” said high school senior Jaime Lopez Gill. “It’s always chaotic. There’s  no personal space. Going to these study rooms, I can focus on myself and put the best I can out there toward my education.”

The council will meet over the next three weeks to make amendments to the mayor’s proposed budget. Councilmembers will vote on the final budget on June 10.



Source link

Advertisement

San Diego, CA

Washington Nationals vs San Diego Padres Game Thread

Published

on

Washington Nationals vs San Diego Padres Game Thread


The Nats had chances to win last night, but they came up short. Some of the weaknesses at the back end of their roster showed up, and they lost 7-5 in a bullpen battle. Now they will look to bounce back at home against a tough Padres team.

Blake Butera has made some peculiar changes to the lineup. Clearly, he wants to go lefty heavy. The struggling Jorbit Vivas will start over Curtis Mead. Jose Tena will also be starting at DH. That means James Wood will go to right field and Dylan Crews will slide to center. Drew Millas will also be back behind the plate. Foster Griffin will be on the bump.

The Padres have a very similar lineup to last night. Rodolfo Duran will replace Freddy Fermin behind the plate. Otherwise, it is the same personnel. We saw Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis start to wake up, so hopefully that does not continue. Blake Butera’s college teammate, Michael King, will be on the mound.

The Nats will look to avoid going under .500 in this one. Michael King will be a good test, but this lineup has been resilient. Hopefully Foster Griffin can build on his strong outing against the Braves. If they don’t win today, those narratives about the poor home record will re-appear. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

San Diego, CA

Letters: Stop taxpayer funds for short-term rental trash 

Published

on

Letters: Stop taxpayer funds for short-term rental trash 


San Diego taxpayers are subsidizing the short-term rental industry’s trash collection under the People’s Ordinance. The 2017 letter from the city attorney to Councilmember Zapf is crystal clear: transient occupancy (rentals under 30 days) generates “nonresidential refuse.”

The city is prohibited from providing free weekly collection to these units. Yet, thousands of whole-home STRs continue to receive curbside service at taxpayer expense. Measure B (2022) modernized funding but left the core definition intact — transient rentals remain ineligible for city residential service. 

Requiring owners to arrange and pay for private hauling would shift the full cost off the general fund. With roughly 7,954 active licenses, and residential collection costing about $520 per unit annually, the city could save approximately $4.1 million a year. That money could repair streets, fund public safety or lower taxes for actual residents. Enforce the ordinance as written.

— Gary Wonacott, San Diego

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

San Diego, CA

San Diego teen organizes Eid goodie bags for children after Mosque tragedy

Published

on

San Diego teen organizes Eid goodie bags for children after Mosque tragedy


SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — As the Muslim community prepares to celebrate Eid al-Adha next month, a San Diego teenager is working to bring comfort and joy to children impacted by the recent tragedy at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

Seventeen-year-old Sarah Abdin spent the past week fundraising, shopping and assembling nearly 100 Eid goodie bags for students at the mosque’s elementary school.

While many teenagers are focused on final exams, Abdin said she spent some nights working until 2 a.m. to make sure every bag was ready in time for the school’s upcoming graduation celebration.

The project was inspired by the recent shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, where children were present during the incident. Abdin, who attended the mosque as a child, said hearing about what students experienced motivated her to take action.

Advertisement

Each bag contains a variety of treats, activities and gifts intended to help children celebrate Eid, one of the most important holidays in Islam.

Abdin said community members quickly rallied behind the effort, helping raise funds and support the project. After days of shopping and preparation, she and her sister spent several hours assembling the bags ahead of delivery.

The goodie bags are expected to be distributed during the elementary school’s graduation festivities in early June.

Abdin said she hopes the gesture serves as a reminder that the children are surrounded by a community that cares about them and stands beside them during difficult times.

The fundraising effort received widespread support, helping cover the cost of the goodie bags and allowing organizers to expand their reach to more students.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending