San Diego is My Home

01
Feb

It’s Money Time

Author: HelenKay, Category: City Council, Housing, Neighborhoods, Politics

A panel recently recommended raises for our Mayor and for the City Council members.  The proposal suggests increasing the Council members’ salaries from their current $75,386 level to $125,000 next year, and from $100,464 to $150,000 for the mayor.  More than likely this will not be approved.  Kind of a bad political move to increase their income while many in San Diego are losing their homes.

And speaking of that…you may be entitled to a temporary break in your real estate taxes.  The idea is to give relief to those who purchsed their homes during the housing boom and now find themselves sitting in a house that’s worth a lot less than it was last year.   In other words, this is a benefit for everyone who purchased a home during the last five years.  You fill out a form with the Assessor’s Office and you’ll find out if you qualify. 

Now, there are companies offering to check into this relief for you for a fee.  There’s no need to pay it.  Just fill out the form through the County.  There’s nothing to lose.  For more information, check here.

04
Jan

Booze in Balboa

Author: HelenKay, Category: Balboa Park, City Council, Neighborhoods, News

The first step is complete.  The Balboa Park Committee voted yesterday to support a partial alcohol ban for the Park.  Under the Board’s plan, the areas  and times in which people can drink in the Park will be restricted.  The Park and Recreation Board has to weigh in, then it’s up to the City Council to vote on the measure.  If the Council supports the Board, you’re going to have to start drinking in the Park at noon instead of 8:00 a.m. as you do now.  To paraphrase Board member Laurie Burgett’s comment on this issue:  this is not exactly a draconian measure.  After all, should you be getting drunk and stupid in the Park at 8:00 a.m.?  Uh, no.  Clearly that’s an afternoon activity.

05
Dec

Slip Away

Author: HelenKay, Category: City Council, Emergency Situations, Environment

The news is not good for the homeowners in Mt. Soledad. Recent rains caused even more damage to the soil in the already environmentally unsound area.  Geologists have noted additional movement on the hillside where houses have already been condemned due to the sinkhole/slide of early October.

To prevent a complete disaster, the City Council approved $20 million for emergency repairs.  Patti Boekamp, city engineering and capital projects director, says:  ”We’re racing against the clock, we’re racing against the weather, and we’re working between rain spells.”

In other words:  more trouble ahead.

29
Nov

Children’s Pool Revisited

Author: HelenKay, Category: Beaches, City Council, Politics

The State Supreme Court has spoken…or not spoken.  The Supreme Court (the one in CA, not the one in DC) decided to let the lower court’s ruling to dredge the Children’s Pool/Seal Beach in La Jolla.  This means that all those adorable little seals that congregate there, sleep, give birth and otherwise entertain toursists is - GONE!

The beach as it looks now will disappear, as will the seals.  In it’s place will be children.  Many think, in addition to being inhumane to the seals, that having hordes of children there is not exactly progress. 

Where will the seals go and how?  Well, that’s the question.  The Court has spoken, so there is no choice.  The seals go.   Maybe everyone can agree on how to get that accomplished.  Doubtful, but possible.

20
Nov

Mini-Dorms Redux

Author: HelenKay, Category: City Council, Housing, SDSU

The City Council met last night to discuss the always divisive issue of mini-dorms.  For those who have missed the lawn signs and vocal arguments, mini-dorms happen when a group of students move into a residential neighborhood, rent out a house and turn what was a nice little cottage on a quiet neighborhood into a home for 50 partying college kids. 

Okay, that’s a slight exaggeration, but you get the point. 

The real problem is the serious lack of housing options for local students.  The result is the mini-dorm mess and a bunch of angry non-student neighbors.  Two proposed ordinances addressing these issues went before the Council.  One passed.  It requires $1000 yearly permits for homes with more than six occupants.  The idea is to provide an economic disincentive…I think.  The second was a rooming house proposal relating to the number of leases allowed and required per house.   That one did not pass due to wording issues.  The expectation is that is will be rewritten and re-submitted.

The end result?  No one is happy.  The proponents of the ordinances feel as if no one is listening or willing to do anything.  The opponents think the yearly permit fee is overkill.  The issue of insufficient student housing  - ie, the underlying problem - remains unaddressed, so the students are no better off either.

Kind of makes you wonder what the “right” answer is, doesn’t it?