Mission Valley News - October 2013 by Mission Publishing Group LLC

October 11, 2013

Food truck ight On the Internet at www.MissionValleyNews.com

heating up against city A policy banning food trucks from private property puts the brakes on vending

Volume VII – Number 10

Old Town dead set on celebration Nov. 1 & 2 Day of the Dead comes alive in San Diego

By Jeremy Ogul Mission Valley News

new San Diego policy that effectively bans food trucks from operating on private property threatens to undermine the budding industry and already has claimed a popular gathering in Mission Valley. The city’s crackdown hit the weekly gourmet food truck gathering at the Westield Mission Valley in early

October. Organizers of the event, which has brought a rotating array of six trucks to the parking lot near Chipotle and Target since April, said

Local food trucks, such as Mangia Mangia, asked customers to sign a petition to allow food trucks on private property.

it would be cancelled until further notice after the city issued a cease and desist letter to Westield. City staff have resumed investigating and shutting down food trucks operating on private property since City Council President Todd Gloria took over the mayor’s ofice after Bob Filner’s resignation. The Municipal Code allows food trucks to operate on public streets under certain conditions, but city leaders say the code prohibits mobile food vendors operating on

private property, even when the vendors have permission from the property owner and comply with all other health and safety regulations. Food truck operators have faced similar struggles recently in the cities of Del Mar and Encinitas, where restaurant owners have complained about the added competition from mobile vendors. But food trucks had been vending on private property in San Diego for years without much trouble with the city, so See FOOD TRUCKS page 10

Checking out the new Central Library

The iconic silver dome of the Central Library was designed to appear in “a perpetual act of becoming,” said architect Rob Quigley.

By Jeremy Ogul Mission Valley News

ore than three decades after library leaders irst started kicking the idea around, San Diego’s new Central Library inally opened to great fanfare Sept. 30. The new, $196.7 million building is 497,652 square feet, with

nine stories and two levels of underground parking. The library also includes a detached 350-seat auditorium. More than 1.2 million books ill the shelves and 407 public computers and devices are available throughout the building. While many have questioned the role of an expensive central library in the age of electronic books, San Diego Public Library

Deborah Barrow said a library is about more than just the printed page. “The Internet and other technology are the tools,” she said. “The library is the place where they can be joined freely with the people that need them.” The iconic metallic dome has already made a permanent impression on the downtown landscape. Architect Rob Quigley explained its symbolism in a speech at the library’s dedication Sept. 28. “This dome above us stands as an icon, a symbol of this city’s commitment to literacy and community and like the human spirits nurtured within,” Quigley said. “The dome is designed to be in a perpetual act of becoming. It will never look inished or complete. It’s intended to stand as a paradox: grand yet accessible, familiar yet unique, comforting yet provocative, permanent yet always kinetic as it relects the clouds and the sun.” The rest of the building is uniquely San Diegan, too, Quigley said – the kind of thing you See LIBRARY page 16

By Jeremy Ogul Mission Valley News

ld Town will come alive in celebration of the dead Nov. 1 and 2 as it hosts one of the most elaborate Dia de Los Muertos celebrations in San Diego. Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday in which families create altars to honor deceased relatives and friends. The altars, designed to attract the spirit of the person who died, typically include the deceased’s favorite food and drink, items that represent their life, burning candles and fragrant orange marigolds, which are said to light the path home for the dead during the holiday. More than 40 altars will be on display throughout Old Town, both inside and outside shops, museums and restaurants. The celebration culminates in a candlelight procession through Old Town, complete with the singing of “Las Calaveras,” a traditional song with verses in both Spanish and English. The procession begins at Twiggs Street and San Diego Avenue in Old Town State Historic Park; it ends at the big community altar at El Campo Santo Cemetery. Participants in the procession can pick up candles at businesses throughout Old Town. Event organizers invite visitors to add their own personal mementos to the large public altar at El Campo Santo Cemetery. The local historic preservation group Save Our Heritage Organisation organizes the annual two-day event, now in its fourth year, in Old Town. SOHO keeps its ofices in Old Town and also operates the Whaley House Museum and the Old Adobe Chapel. “We think it’s especially itting to celebrate this holiday in See CELEBRATION page 13

LOCAL NEWS

Using sheer willpower By Kelly Ostrem ACSM-HFS, CHES Fitness Expert

e all know exercise is good for us, but actually doing it can be a real challenge. Sheer willpower to exercise may not be the only way to get it done though. In a recent study from the University of Southern California, researchers discovered that habits are stronger than willpower. When someone is tired or stressed out, he or she will revert to routine, whether that routine is good or bad. Get in a good routine with daily physical activity and you can boost your health some very important ways. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of Americans each year, and it’s largely preventable. That’s right – to reduce the risk of getting heart disease, just exercise regularly. Exercise helps manage blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides levels, which are key indicators of one’s health. In addition to keeping these numbers in check, exercise can reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, some cancers, and metabolic

syndrome – a disease that is on the rise and can lead to heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Exercise isn’t all about preventing just the bad things in life; it can bring out many positives in your health as well and increase your life expectancy. Exercise improves mental health. Physical activity releases endorphins, meaning you’ll be in a better mood and feel good! Activities also strengthen bones and muscles and make everyday activities like getting groceries or picking up a child easier and more functional. Just 30 minutes of aerobic physical activity a day will get you all these basic health beneits associated with exercise, according to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. (Anything that gets you moving counts — walking, dancing, bik-

Linda Vista skate park clears irst hurdle MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

ing, swimming, or any activity that elevates the heart rate and keeps it elevated for a period of time. Just 150 minutes of any of these activities spread out through each week will meet this healthy goal.) To move beyond that basic level and get more health beneits or to work toward a weight loss goal, the guidelines recommend 300 minutes weekly, or 60 minutes on ive days each week. So how do you create a healthy habit and get your exercise? Set goals. If 30 minutes every day is too much right now, start with 10 minutes each day or 30 minutes for three days each week, and build on it. There are lots of programs available to help you develop a regular exercise routine. The F.I.T. 4 Me, a program at the Mission Valley YMCA, helps members build a foundation for a healthy exercise habit. Members meet with wellness coaches who keep them accountable and build on new exercises week by week to empower members, give them more tools to be successful, and help make exercise a habit. The key is to establish good habits. These habits need to be easy behaviors to perform so the behavior is repeated often. Then when the going gets rough, and it will, you’re more likely to continue on: Wake up, then walk the dog. Eat lunch, then walk around the block. When stress strikes, everyday cues will lead to the continuation healthy habits. And continued healthy habits bring beneits that will last for a long, healthy lifetime.

By Jeremy Ogul Mission Valley News

upporters of a skate park in Linda Vista hit a rough patch at a meeting of the Linda Vista Recreation Council last month. The council discussed whether to support an amendment of the Linda Vista Community Park General Development Plan, which would be necessary for a skate park to be built at the park. While the council ultimately voted 3-2 in favor of moving forward with an amendment, several members criticized the impact a skate park would have on the park and the neighborhood. The opposition to the skate park plan stood in strong contrast to the proposal’s warm reception at a community meeting in August. The biggest concern members of the Recreation Council had was the preservation of the grass ield on the southeastern side of the park, between the new picnic shelter and the Recreation Center buildings. “This is one of the few open – really large, open areas in Linda Vista, and there will be no more,” said Yvette Belcher, a member of the council. Another member, Jo-Ann Carini, agreed. “That’s 40,000 square feet of grass that will never be again,” Carini said. Carini also said she was concerned about the trafic, noise and parking issues a skate park would bring to residents in the area immediately surrounding the park. “It’s not fair to ruin the quality of life for these people here,” she said. Gary Stang, who owns Skateworld and supports the skate park, said residents living adjacent to the park would not be hurt by the addition of a skate park. “This isn’t going to surprise anybody that we have activities here that are going to create noise and some trafic,” Stang said. “They’re living next to the rec center!” Margarita Castro, another Recreation Council member, said she was concerned about gang ights and turf disputes once the skate park opens, especially considering that there will be no formal supervision at the skate park. “I really feel that there has to be someone responsible,” Castro said. Community Planner Brian Schoenish said the positive impact of a skate park at Memorial Park in Logan Heights belies

the idea that skate parks attract crime. “This location had the worst gang activity in the area at the time,” Schoenish said. “The gang activity has gone away completely from that site. The police have said it’s been completely cleaned up. You don’t have the stabbings, the drivebys.” As a result of the successful Recreation Council vote, the city can now apply for a grant from the state Housing Related Parks Program, funded by the voter-approved Proposition 1C in 2006. In the past three years the city has won an $846,950 grant for park improvements in the Encanto area and a $1 million grant for Chicano Park in Barrio Logan. San Diego City Councilmembers Scott Sherman, Kevin Faulconer, Lorie Zapf and Park and Recreation Director Stacy LoMedico have all concurred that

the city should pursue the grant money, Schoenish said. The size and design of the park will be constrained by how much grant money the city secures, Schoenish said. Supporters are hoping for a state-of-the-art, 40,000-square-foot facility. Once the money is secured, the design of the park would be commence through a series of community workshops. The features and coniguration of the skate park, including lighting, access, viewing areas, would be determined by community input and by the guidance of the Linda Vista Recreation Council. At that point, the proposal will move through the Park and Recreation Board’s Committee before heading to the Planning Commission and eventually the City Council for inal approval.

MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

GINA’S

VALLEY VIEWS By Gina Cord, founder of Mission Valley News

Bocce Ball is for everyone Bocce Ball isn’t only for the Italians, however, we do have to give them credit for introducing all of us to this great game

which is now enjoyed by every nationality. On Saturday, Oct. 26 between noon and 5pm at The Pond at East Vacation Isle you will ind a great mixture of nationalities as the Mission Bay Rotary Club presents several teams of Bocce Ball players trying to out-do each other and win the

most points. This is an annual fund-raiser by the Club to support Wounded Warriors, Polio Plus, Middle School Garden to Café Program and other community projects undertaken by the Mission Bay Rotary Club. Teams of foursomes will pay $25 each to compete. And this year, the Rotary Club of Convoy will compete to show their skills in a game they know little about until now. Also, the Soroptimist Club of La Jolla already has one foursome and is working on another to show how skillful the women are in this sport. All participants receive free beer, food, soft drinks and hours of great fun. The winning Rotary team will receive 1,000 Paul Harris Points. For more information contact Mission Bay Rotary Club at (858) 518-9035 or email gus.goldau@yahoo.com.

the list of favorites, introduced Oct. 2, is Vietnamese Noodles with steak and shrimp inspired by the warm lavor of Pho, this comfort food is fresh and light combining rice noodles, vegetables, shrimp and beef with hints of cinnamon and coriander. Another favorite is Crispy Korean Chicken Wings, which are crunchy and coated with a sweet, spicy sauce made from Korean red chili paste and hon-

ey. New also the menu is Shanghai Waldorf Salad, Harvest Vegetable Quinoa ‘Fried Rice’, Miso Chicken, Citrus Mustard Prawns, and in keeping with the season Pumpkin Wontons and Caramel Apple Wontons which are truly delicious. Three new cocktails have also been introduced Ginger Jalapeno Mule (a P.F. Chang’s introduces new twist on the traditional Moscow Mule), Apple Cinnamon Martini selections and Rumchata. You’ll have to set The same as Bocce Ball is go- your palate to an international ing international, P. F. Chang’s lavor and enjoy all of these new Chinese Bistro is spreading out, worldwide selections. also. Frank Vaughan, the new We welcome What’s News and operating partner at the Fashion Who’s News for this column. Call Valley location showed me the new dishes that are not neces- Gina Cord at (619) 683-2434 or sarily Chinese in origin. High on email cordgina@gmail.com.

3 LOCAL NEWS Protect yourself from the lu this season By Ron Roberts Fourth Supervisional District all is approaching, a season when the air cools, leaves change color and children haunt neighborhoods in hopes of treats. Unfortunately, fall also marks the beginning of lu season. While inluenza is usually mild, with most of us able to get better after a few days of rest, it can be dangerous, contributing to about 36,000 deaths nationwide each year. An annual lu vaccination is your best protection. On Oct. 18, I will be getting my lu shot at the Bayside Community Center in Linda Vista and I invite you to come along. At this “Flu POD,” or Point of Dispensing event, the county’s North Central Region Public

Health Center will be offering free lu, pneumonia (if available) and Tdap vaccinations to the general public. The center is located at 2202 Comstock St. and the shots will be given from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information call (858) 278-0771. Organizing a Flu POD allows

us to both train county workers in disaster preparedness as well as protect residents against the seasonal lu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive an annual lu vaccine. People at higher risk of serious complication from the lu include young children, pregnant women, those with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart or lung disease and individuals over 65. For more information on immunizations, visit www.sdiz.org. And make sure, as we say at the county, to Live Well, San Diego. Supervisor Ron Roberts represents Mission Valley as part of his Fourth Supervisorial District. You can follow him on Facebook at Supervisor Ron Roberts, on Twitter at @RonRobertsSD and at www.RonRoberts.com.

LOCAL NEWS

News around town

Compiled by Genevieve Suzuki Executive Editor

Watch for Water Agency imposters The San Diego County Water Authority is warning residents to watch for scam artists posing as fake water utility employees after a series of recent incidents in which imposters appeared intent on gaining entry to homes. The recent cases involve fake utility representatives calling local residents and offering to test their water for pollution or contamination – presumably seeking opportunities for theft or fraud. In some cases, the callers said they were with a local water agency, while at least one solici-

tor posed as a Water Authority employee. The Water Authority and its member agencies are not responsible for ixing problems or testing inside private residences and rarely have reason to ask for entry. If a water agency were to need in-home contact with a resident, someone would call irst to make an appointment. Residents are advised that if anyone claiming to be a water utility employee comes to their home without an appointment they should refuse entry and contact their local water agency. Legitimate water agency employees will have proper identiication, be willing to show it and provide a supervisor’s phone number at the agency for veriication. They typically will be driving clearly marked agency vehicles with government li-

MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013 cense plates. Homeowners should check any phone number provided for veriication with the number for their water agency on their water bill or in the phone book to make sure it is legitimate. Any supposed water agency employee who refuses to wait while the

Prudential pays $57 million for Mission Valley building

agency is contacted should be considered a fraud and reported to police. Residents who aren’t sure what water agency serves their property can go to sdcwa.org and enter their address under “ind your water district.”

San Diego Uniied is a 2013 Broad Prize inalist

San Diego Uniied School District’s Class of 2014 will split $150,000 in scholarship money, thanks to the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. On Sept. 25, the Foundation announced that the Houston

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scores and other data from the 75 largest school districts and picks four inalists. A team of independent educational experts then analyze the districts and one winner is selected. Only the four top districts receive scholarship money. The $1 million Broad Prize is the largest education award in the nation. It recognizes urban school districts that demonstrate the strongest student achievement and improvement while reducing achievement gaps among low-income students and students of color.

Eli and Edythe Broad Independent School District was awarded this year’s Broad Prize and $550,000 in scholarship money for its students. Besides San Diego Uniied, other districts nominated were Corona-Norco, located in Riverside County, and Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina. Districts do not apply for the Broad Prize. Staff from the Broad Foundation looks at test

Prudential Real Estate Investors bought the Rio San Diego Plaza ofice building at 8954 Rio San Diego Dr., according to a San Diego Business Journal report. AEW Capital Management of Boston sold the 189,490-squarefoot property for approximately $56.8 million.

Water District loses motion to exempt rates A San Francisco Superior Court judge Sept. 20 rejected an attempt by the Los Angelesbased Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to exempt its water rates from a voter-approved measure designed to protect ratepayers from hidden taxes. Two days after hearing arguments on the motion, Judge Curtis E.A. Karnow ruled that MWD’s rates for 2013 and 2014 may be subject to Proposition 26, passed by voters in November 2010. It requires government agencies to show that the rates they charge do not exceed the cost of the services being provided. Proposition 26 also placed the burden on local governments

such as MWD to prove that the costs allocated to each of their member agencies bear a fair or reasonable relationship to each member agency’s beneits from the governmental activity. Proposition 26 is now embodied in California’s Constitution in Section XIII C. For more information about the Water Authority’s lawsuits against unlawful rates and charges levied by MWD, go to www.sdcwa.org/mwdratechallenge.

Orchids for San Diego Airport

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority won two Orchids & Onions Awards Oct. 3 for the public art and interior architecture of The Green Build, the recent Terminal 2 West expansion at San Diego International Airport. The annual event is held by the San Diego Architectural Foundation. The Orchids & Onions jury called The Green Build “breathtaking from a distance, up close, outside and inside,” and said it “creates a sense of place, provides an awesome esthetic journey, and combines the very best of form and function.” “We’re honored by this rec-

ognition and proud of the innovative public art integrated throughout The Green Build expansion,” said Airport Authority Board chair Robert Gleason. “We share this recognition with the many talented artists who created these works, with the airport’s dedicated art staff, and with all airport staff who contribute to the vibrant artistic environment at the airport. I also thank the Airport Authority Board and the Art Advisory Committee for their vision and support of the art program.”

Saying goodbye humanely

MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

By Sari Reis

Mission Valley lights up the sky for breast cancer

LOCAL NEWS

By Debra Fuentes

Owner of Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services www.missionvalleypetsitting.com

Victoria House Director of Marketing

ne of the most dificult, yet loving decisions pet owners have to make is the merciful ending of the life of an animal companion. Sometimes we are not given options; life’s circumstances take them away from us through tragic accidents. More often, however, we are faced with having to make the ultimate decision to let them go. For many of us, this is a call we have to make over and over again as we continue to bring more animals into our lives. Despite knowing we are going to lose them, and despite knowing that it is going to be painful, we cannot imagine our lives without the joy and unconditional love our “furry kids” give to us. Personally, I have had to euthanize four of my own furry kids over my many years of pet ownership. It never gets any easier and yet I keep inviting more animals into my life. Besides the actual loss of our beloved companion, the hardest part is deciding the “right” time to let them go. Sometimes our pets make the decision for us. Their bodies shut down before our eyes. None of us wants to see our pet in pain or suffering, so the choice becomes obvious. But, if they don’t appear to be in

Although it’s hard, when the time comes, the most loving thing you can do is to let them go. pain, we don’t want to say goodbye before it is necessary either. If it is unclear whether your pet is ready, look for these quality of life signals: Is your pet still eating and enjoying his food? Is he able to move around? Can he relieve himself outside, in the litter box or on a potty pad? Does he still enjoy going on his walks? Is he still enjoying interacting with you and other canine or feline pals? Does he still like affection, belly rubs or being brushed? If you answer no to most of these questions, then it is likely that his quality of life is greatly diminished and it may be time to say goodbye. Today we are fortunate to have procedures that make this process as easy and humane as possible. Generally, your veterinarian will give two injections. The irst, completely relaxes the animal. The second stops his heart. It is all over in a matter of moments and is very peaceful. Although veterinary ofices, emergency clinics, and the Hu-

mane Society offer euthanasia services, there is also the option of having in-home euthanasia. The veterinarian will perform your pet’s transition at your home so that you can keep your pet as comfortable as possible in his/her own surroundings. This also gives all human family members and any other animal companions their chance to say good bye to their friend. This can be very important as other pets will sometimes search for their disappeared friends for days or even weeks if they are unable to see and smell them pass “over the rainbow bridge”. Although it’s hard, when the time comes, the most loving thing you can do is to let them go. For more information on inhome euthanasia, pet grief programs, etc. please contact me. Sari Reis is a Certiied Humane Education Specialist and the owner of Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services. You can reach her at 760-644-0289 or www. missionvalleypetsitting.com.

ne in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the course of her lifetime. Every 13 minutes, a woman dies from Breast Cancer. That woman could be your wife, your sister, your aunt, your mother, or the friendly face working at your favorite grocery store. As shocking as these statistics are, what can be done about them? Research, education, yearly mammograms, changing one’s diet or lifestyle, early detection and treatment are all a part of the cure. But what about the actual people who have been affected, and who are being affected every day? In a national effort to raise awareness and funding to eradicate breast cancer, Victoria House Corporation (VHC) is hosting “Light Up The Sky For Breast Cancer.” It is a “Day of Hope & Remembrance,” scheduled during the month of October, which is national/international breast cancer month. The event will be held Oct. 19 at 7 p.m., across the country, spanning four different time zones of the USA. At 7 p.m., nationwide, groups of participants will pause for a moment of silence, and

then raise their hands to shoot a pink light into the night sky. Along with this simple act of dedication to the cause, many buildings in the San Diego area will be “lighting-up-in-pink.” Among these are the Marriott Marquis & Marina, Hilton Bayfront in the downtown area. The Doubletree Mission Valley will be lighting-up for the entire month of October, the Handlery Hotel will light their signature dome, the Ameritrade building is lighting-up, Comfort Inn and King’s Inn will illuminate their See CANCER page 11

Movers & Shakers BUSINESS NEWS

MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

Family law attorney among 40 Under 40

Movement in San Diego’s Business Community Chief Deputy City Attorney awarded Marine Corp Silver Star

Joe Cordileone Chief Deputy City Attorney

Chief Deputy City Attorney Joe Cordileone was awarded the Marine Corp Silver Star for his bravery in combat. Cordileone and his unit were involved in the Battle of Khe San during the Vietnam War. “We are honored to have one of our own deputies receive this award for gallantry in action,” said City Attorney Jan Goldsmith. “Chief Deputy Cordileone truly exempliies extraordinary heroism along with the men and women that risk their lives for our country.” On April 30, 1967, then-PFC Cordileone and his company attacked a North Vietnamese stronghold known as Hill 881 South. Cordileone’s company knew the enemy was dug in and waiting for them. The enemy was entrenched in hidden bunkers and had already set up pre planned ields of ire. Cordileone’s company was completely surrounded in a clearing, while pre-planned mortar ire rained down upon them. As his fellow marines were being killed and injured, Cordileone worked to pull them from the line of ire. Cordileone’s platoon commander was knocked unconscious by one of the blasts; as Cordileone and his fellow Marines attempted to evacuate their commander, another mortar blast struck, killing the platoon commander and two of the Marines and wounding Cordileone and another Marine.

Padres appoint pitching coordinator and special assistant to the GM

Trevor Hoffman Upper Level Pitching Coordinator & Special Assistant to the General Manager

The San Diego Padres appointed Trevor Hoffman to the role of Upper Level Pitching Coordinator & Special Assistant to the General Manager. In his new role, Hoffman will evaluate and help coordinate all pitchers from the Double-A, Triple-A and Major League levels. “Trevor will be a key part of inishing the development of our younger pitchers,” said Padres General Manager Josh Byrnes. “His expertise, passion and communication skills will undoubtedly impact this critical area for us.” Hoffman had served the last three seasons as Special Assistant to the President & Chief Executive Oficer following his retirement from the playing ield in January 2011, following an 18-year Major League career that included parts of 16 seasons with the San Diego Padres, as well as time with the Florida Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers. In 2011, the Padres retired Hoffman’s no. 51, an honor bestowed upon only four other Padres (Steve Garvey, Tony Gwynn, Randy Jones, Dave Winield) and Jackie Robinson, whose number was retired in 1997 by Major league Baseball. A California native, Hoffman has been heavily involved in the local community since irst joining the Padres in 1993. He has worked extensively with the National Kidney Foundation and Rady Children’s Hospital, while also donating his time and resources to numerous community and military outreach programs.

Gable PR hires Assistant Account Executive

Lisa Field Assistant Account Executive

Gable PR, one of the west’s most experienced and respected public relations irms known for managing complex strategic programs and crisis PR, announced today the addition of Lisa Field to their awardwinning team as the new assistant account executive. Field’s role at Gable PR will include writing, research, and helping the agency pursue the highly-targeted fact-based media relations campaigns that have brought such success to its clients. She will also support the agency in its community relations outreach plan and expanded use of online social media to drive new business and client results. Field specializes in writing, media relations, new media engagement, branding and materials development. Prior to joining Gable PR, Field was a public relations representative at the San Diego Tourism Authority where she worked closely with regional, national and international media. Field’s PR efforts and successes served to promote San Diego County and position the region as a top leisure, travel and meeting destination. A sampling of her media placements include USA Today, Modern Woman, Parents Magazine, the Toronto Star, The Today Show, Examiner.com, Irish Sun Times, Coastal Living, Orange County Register, Skyward Magazine, MensHealth. com and the Travel Channel. Field received her bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing from the University of San Diego. She has also completed intensive studies at the American Business School of Paris in Paris, France and HKBU: School of Business in Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Puja Sachdev Family Law Specialist

Puja Sachdev was named one of 2013’s Top 40 Under 40 by San Diego Metro Magazine. Sachdev is a certiied family law specialist, whose practice includes dissolution, child custody, child and spousal support, property division and temporary and permanent restraining orders. She started her business career as a research analyst at Franklin Templeton Investments in San Mateo. She is a graduate of the University of Nevada, holds an M.S.B.A. degree from San Diego State University and her law degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Her master’s degree from SDSU focused on inancial and tax planning. SD METRO Magazine has honored her as a Best Lawyer, she has been a staff writer for the Millionaire Girls Movement, has volunteered for the Lawyer Volunteer Program and participated in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. Sachdev, who has her ofice in Mission Valley, is a member of Lawyers Club of San Diego, the North American South Asia Bar Association and the National Asian Paciic American Bar Association.

Mission Valley News editor also honored

Genevieve A. Suzuki Executive Editor

Our editor, Genevieve A. Suzuki, was selected as one of the Top 40 Under 40 by San Diego Metro Magazine for 2013. Suzuki has been editor of La Mesa Courier since July 2012 and Mission Valley News since December 2012. In addition to being executive editor for Mission Publishing Group, Suzuki practices family law from her ofice on Baltimore Drive in La Mesa. She continues to work with her alma mater, California Western School of Law, as the mediation coach. Suzuki has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. She is a member in several community organizations, including the Grantville-Allied Gardens Kiwanis Club and serves as secretary of the San Diego Japanese American Citizens League (JACL).

College chancellor given Pacesetter Award

Cindy L. Miles Chancellor of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

Cindy L. Miles, chancellor of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, has been recognized by a national organization of community college marketing professionals for her leadership in communications and advancement of the East County college district. Miles accepted the Pacesetter award Sept. 26 from the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations at its regional conference in Tempe, Ariz. As the award winner for the region covering ive western states and the Paciic islands, Miles will be one of seven area winners eligible for the national Pacesetter award when the marketing organization meets in March 2014. The award is the second honor this year for Miles, who has served as the district’s chancellor for four-and-a-half years. Last month, Miles was selected as the top chief executive oficer for two-year colleges in the nine-state Paciic region of the Association of Community College Trustees, an organization representing more than 1,200 community colleges nationwide. The national award recipient among the ive regional winners will be announced Oct. 4 at the ACCT Leadership Congress in Seattle, Wash. “These awards demonstrate what we’ve known all along – that Dr. Miles is an excellent chancellor who is deeply committed to advancing our district and encouraging the success of every one of our students at Cuyamaca and Grossmont colleges,” said Bill Garrett, president of the district Governing Board. The Pacesetter award recognizes Miles’ efforts to create the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges, a single foundation that represents both colleges in the district. The uniied foundation, created in 2011, better focuses and strengthens the district’s fundraising efforts instead of two separate college foundations that were competing for money. The foundation held a fundraising event in March called Give the Dream that netted more than $80,000 for a program that provides emergency scholarships to students who face a sudden inancial crisis. Miles also created a new Advancement and Communications department for the district, which places the district’s foundation, communications and auxiliary – its grants organization – under the oversight of a new associate vice chancellor. John Valencia, formerly executive director of the San Diego Oceans Foundation, recently began serving in the associate vice chancellor position. The nomination for the award also noted Miles’ leadership toward the passage of Proposition V, the district’s $398 million bond measure, by East County voters in November 2012. Working on her own time, Miles led the district’s volunteers in a low-budget bond campaign. The measure was approved by more than 58 percent in an election when other better-funded school bond measures failed at the polls. “I’m very pleased that this award recognizes all that our district has done to communicate with the public about all of the amazing things our colleges are doing,” Miles said. “I believe in the vision of our district to transform lives through learning, and I want to do everything I can to be accountable to our community.” Miles received her doctorate in educational administration from the University of Texas at Austin; a Master of Science degree in secondary and higher education from Texas A & M University-Commerce; and a Bachelor of Arts in biology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Build a new stadium on my dollar? LOCAL NEWS

MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

COMMENTARY

By David Ogul Mission Valley News

rop dead. That’s my visceral reaction to any suggestion that taxpayer dollars be spent on developing a new Chargers stadium, a palace proposed for the beneit of a billionaire owner belonging to a league comprising some of the richest men on Earth. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge Chargers fan. And I’ve been one since I irst moved to San Diego from Los Angeles in 1977 at the dawn of the Air Coryell era. But I don’t hear anyone from San Diego urging the city to spend a dime on my business (shameless plug: Ogul Communications), which contributes thousands of tax dollars directly and indirectly into our economy every year. The Chargers have done a masterful job in whipping up

public support from the Joe SixPacks of the city to reach into their pockets for whatever is left from stagnating middleclass salaries amid growing income inequality. The team’s proposal for an East Village site that can double as part of a noncontiguous convention center expansion is but the latest in an ever-growing

smorgasbord of ideas that have included moving to South Bay, Escondido and Oceanside, not to mention building at the San Diego Port District’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. All would come with a huge contribution from the taxpayer. Thanks, but no thanks. Excuse me for being so cheap with my money, but I’m not the only one who feels this way. “While a pro football team is a sign of a great city, so are smooth roads and safe neighborhoods,” said city councilman and mayoral candidate Kevin Faulconer. “We need to ind a innovative solution to ensure that we keep the Chargers in San Diego, and as Mayor I’ll commit to working with the Chargers and civic leaders to ind one, but any deal has to be a fair deal for taxpayers and not be at the expense of our neighborhoods.” Nathan Fletcher, Faulconer’s likely runoff opponent, agrees. His spokesperson, Rachel Laing, said on Twitter recently that Fletcher supports the current

convention center plan, a $520-million expansion poohpoohed by the Chargers that goes before the state Coastal Commission on Oct. 9. Fletcher, however “will work with Chargers on stadium, but priority is put basic services irst,” Laing tweeted. The Chargers argue that if the team were to leave for greener pastures willing to spend tax dollars (never mind that taxpayers are revolting across the country), San Diego would suffer. Libraries could be shuttered. Public safety threatened. Streets left unrepaired. But according to a 2012 UBS study, “independent academic research studies consistently conclude that new stadiums and arenas have nonmeasurable effect on the level of real income or employment in the metropolitan areas in which they are located.” Folks who disagree often like to point to Staples Center in Los Angles – home of the Kings, Clippers, Sparks and my beloved Lakers. Except that the most detailed study on Staples

Center’s economic impact shows the downtown arena has a mixed record, at best. The report was conducted by the City of Los Angeles, Ofice of the Controller. It notes that “increased spending in the Staples Center and environs substitutes for spending that would occur elsewhere in the City of Los Angeles.” And what about Inglewood, the city that lost the Lakers and Kings when those teams moved to their new downtown

digs more than a decade ago? The report found that Westside city is actually faring better economically. “The losses of the Lakers and Kings apparently served as a call to action and may have prompted economic initiatives, which contributed to local economic development,” the report said. By the way, while I’m referring to Los Angeles, ask the folks up there how much that city has suffered since the Rams and Raiders left town. It hasn’t.

Sudoku

Maze Escape 1.

Start in the center of the maze.

Get to the exit on the left as fast as possible.

If you make it to the exit on your first try, congratulations!

ANSWERS ON BOTTOM OF PAGE 8

I want the Chargers to stay. But just as I have to pay to build up my business, just as you have to pay when building a new home, and just as every merchant in this city has to pay when striking out in their own, the Chargers should bear all the costs if they want to play in a new stadium. Of course, the NFL can pitch in a few hundred million dollars if it wants to, too. The two, after all, are business partners. There is an alternative, though. If the team continues to insist the only way to build a new sports palace that would keep the Chargers in town is for taxpayers to pony up a few hundred million dollars, then the city should get a guaranteed stake in any resulting proits. If taxpayers, for example, were to contribute, say, 25 percent of the cost of a new stadium, then taxpayers should earn 25 percent of all gross revenue from the venue – including naming rights, personal seat licenses, tickets and parking, not to mention a 25 percent stake in any growth in the value of the franchise. It’s called an investment. It’s called capitalism. Surely, the Chargers know all about it. Drop dead? I suppose it’s not so visceral after all. ********* David Ogul is a longtime reporter and editor who has worked at numerous Southern California daily newspapers in a career spanning more than three decades. He now runs his own communications company and writes a monthly column for The Mission Times Courier. You can follow him on Twitter via @ogul.

Math Squares

A sudoku puzzle is a grid of nine by nine squares or cells, that has been subdivided into nine subgrids or “regions” of three by three cells.

Try to fill in the missing numbers.

The objective of sudoku is to enter a digit from 1 through 9

Each number is only used once.

in each cell, in such a way that:

1. 2. 3.

Each row is a math equation. Each column is a math equation.

Remember that multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

Each horizontal row contains each digit exactly once Each vertical column contains each digit exactly once Each subgrid or region contains each digit exactly once

ANSWERS ON BOTTOM OF PAGE 8

Use the numbers 1 through 16 to complete the equations.

ANSWERS ON BOTTOM OF PAGE 8

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

Saucy harmony at The Kebab Shop

side. All the entrées are hefty portions, and in keeping with its California Mediterranean theme they also feature a variety of salads. The fresh salads ($3.99-$8.99) displayed at the front include gluten-free options such as their Andalusia carrots and chopped Greek salad. French fries ($1.99$2.58) and saffron rice ($2.59) are also available. Those who want more something different should try their falafels ($1.99$2.59). Seasoned ground chickpeas are formed into balls and fried. Where other places overcook their falafels, The Kebab Shop’s are cooked perfectly with a tender crust that’s complimented by their sauces. The Kebab Shop is open every day at 10:30 a.m. and they accept orders by phone or online. Besides the Mission Valley location, the restaurant can also be found downtown, in Mira Mesa, Encinitas, Little Italy and Rancho Bernardo.

The Kebab Shop 1570 Camino De La Reina, Suite C San Diego, Calif. 92108 (619) 491-0279

exican food has long been a standard for quick food fare in San Diego, but there’s another cuisine on the rise and it’s found at The Kebab Shop. Their tagline is “California Mediterranean with a European Turkish inluence.” And the food at the restaurant relects this mantra without compromising on taste. First and foremost, The Kebab Shop specializes in shawarmas and doner kebab wraps ($6.99 each). Both are packed with your choice of illing (lamb, chicken or falafel), folded with a salad mix (lettuce, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes and mint) and topped with their addicting and potent garlic yogurt sauce. The difference between the shawarma and doner kebab wrap is whether you want the extra carbs or not.

Oktoberfest at Tower After Hours

MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

The Kebab Shop specializes in shawarmas and doner kebab wraps. Those who order the shawarma are rewarded with a thick, luffy roll with a generous illing. But the doner lat bread wrap is nothing to shirk, either. The wrap is the size of an average person’s forearm and when it comes to something this good, size does matter. Every bite is a

harmonious combination of ingredients – something that can’t be replicated with their plates. If you prefer to forego bread altogether, The Kebab Shop also has a doner box ($6.99-$7.99). A doner box is assembled with chicken, falafel or lamb, salad, rice or fries with sauce on the

Darlene Horn is a San Diegobased food blogger and has penning her opinions on food for eight years at MyBurningKitchen.com. She’s also the author of the semi-autobiographical, foodcentric comic, The Girl with the Donut Tattoo, drawn by her husband and artist, Paul Horn.

The San Diego Museum of Man is beckoning guests with the promise of food and fun at a good old-fashioned German Oktoberfest Oct. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. Immerse yourself in German culture and share in the festive atmosphere as we explore the rich heritage of this nation. Enjoy delicious traditional fare like bratwurst from the German American Societies and apple strudel from San Diego Desserts, as well as craft brews from Karl Strauss, Coronado Brewing, Ninkasi, and Bark and Brew. Also, delight in performances by the Albert Einstein Kinder Chor and the Red Baron Band.

SUDOKU ANSWERS FROM P. 7

MATH ANSWERS FROM P. 7

MAZE ANSWER FROM P. 7

Building Industry Association recognizes Civita MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

Sudberry Properties named “Builder of the Year”

Circa 37 Apartment Homes, developed by Sudberry Properties at its Civita urban village in Mission Valley, won the award for Best Attached Project at this year’s Icon Awards, sponsored by the Building Industry Association (BIA) of San Diego. MVE & Partners of Irvine designed the 306-unit luxury apartment neighborhood and Lifescapes International of Newport Beach created the landscape design.

udberry Properties and its master-planned urban village of Civita proved to be best of the best at the San Diego Building Industry Association’s recent Icon Awards, winning four major awards. Additionally, Sudberry Properties was honored as “Builder of the Year” for its support and involvement with the building industry on all fronts, including political and legislative, and its efforts to encourage young people to join and succeed in the industry. Mark Radelow, vice president and senior project manager for Sudberry, was honored as the Project Manager of the Year for his work at Civita. He manages the vast team that is creating the 230-acre community in Mission Valley that will feature 4,780 residential homes and apartments, a 19+acre city park, and nearly a million square feet

Software helps police cut down on grafiti

of retail and ofice development. Honors for the Best Marketing Campaign went to Anne Law, director of marketing for Sudberry, who manages Civita’s extensive marketing and communications program, and directs the work of Greenhaus. Sudberry’s Circa 37 Apartment Homes won the award for Best Attached Project. MVE & Partners of Irvine designed the 306-unit luxury apartment neighborhood and Lifescapes International of Newport Beach created the landscape design. The non-smoking neighborhood features a stylish three-story recreation complex overlooking a resort-style pool area. Shea Homes, builder of Origen at Civita, and Ami Samuel Interiors, Inc. were honored for the Best Interior Design for the plan 3 at Origen’s socialGarden.

At Civita, Sudberry Properties is transforming a 70-year-old sand and gravel quarry into a sustainable, transit-oriented, urban village in a stunning garden setting, with a network of footpaths, bike paths, and vista parks. A variety of single-family and attached homes, are available for sale, including townhomes at Origen by Shea Homes starting in the low $500,000s and singlefamily homes at Altana by TRI Pointe Homes, starting in the mid $600,000s. An interest list is forming for Shea Homes’ newest community Frame & Focus, scheduled to open in November with motor court homes and row homes. Information on all neighborhoods is available at civitalife.com. Civita is surrounded by extensive shopping, educational opportunities, gourmet dining, entertainment, employment centers, top heath care providers and nearby outdoor activities. The walkable community is close to the San Diego Trolley.

By Jeremy Ogul Mission Valley News rafiti pops up in nearly every community, but a new approach in San Diego has helped authorities catch more of the vandals responsible and capture greater amounts of restitution than ever before. For the past two years San Diego police have been using Grafiti Tracker, a software tool that allows law enforcement agencies to create a detailed catalog of grafiti incidents, or tags, and

share that information with other police agencies throughout the county. While the number of arrests for grafiti vandalism crimes has remained about the same since the department started using Grafiti Tracker, the amount the city has won in restitution from convicted vandals has increased, said San Diego Police Oficer Ed

Zwibel. In the irst nine months of 2013 alone, the city received nearly $181,000 in restitution, he said. The ability to easily share detailed information helps investigators link incidents in different neighborhoods to a single suspect. See GRAFFITI page 14

LOCAL NEWS

MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

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how did it come to this? Last December the City Council adopted new regulations targeting food trucks on public streets, but they also included a bit of wording that required food trucks operating on private property to comply with the “health, safety, zoning and land use regulations” that apply to the property. Thus, a property zoned for a small retail clothing store, for example, could not be used to sell food. The city’s code enforcement staff began issuing citations of $500 to $1,000 to food truck violators earlier this year. In April, a group calling itself the United Association of Food Trucks of San Diego California iled a lawsuit that claimed the city’s citations were bogus. At that point, Filner ordered city staff to stop citing food trucks until the City Council revised the Municipal Code, and the group withdrew its suit, said Michael Gibson, the attorney who represented the food truck group. In a Sept. 19 memo, Gloria said that while he understood the inspiration behind Filner’s moratorium on enforcement, “it is more appropriate to amend our current code than to simply ignore it.” A recurring event at a parking lot near City Hall was city staff’s irst target. “Currently, no zone within the City of San Diego permits Food Trucks on private property,” wrote Peter Kann, a city code enforcement investigator, in a letter last month to Ace Parking, which hosted the event on its property. “Food truck operators and property owners found in violation… will be subject to ines.” Staff have only investigated two other food truck complaints, on El Cajon Blvd. in North Park, since Gloria took over, according to his spokesperson, Katie Keach. In the Sept. 19 memo, Gloria asked city staff to prepare new regulations that would allow food trucks to operate on private property. He said he wanted regulations that would allow food trucks to operate “in a manner that best balances safety, community character, and economic interests of the surrounding areas.” Gloria’s approach does not satisfy Christian Murcia, who runs Curbside Bites, the company that organizes the gourmet food truck events in

Mission Valley and elsewhere in the region. With thousands of San Diegans earning an income from the food truck industry, Gloria needs to come up with an interim plan to keep them in business until the city sorts out the mess, Murcia said. “I have 25 employees in San Diego,” Murcia said. “Their hours are getting cut back. These guys have child support to pay.” The average food truck makes $500 to $1,000 a day, Murcia said. “We have a fundamental right to earn an honest living as long as we’re doing it safely,” he said. “Why destruct an industry when we’re going to be amending a code to allow them to do what they’ve always been allowed to do?” Councilmember Lorie Zapf expects to begin discussing the issue at the City Council’s Land Use and Housing Committee meeting on Oct. 23, said her spokesperson, Alex Bell. The committee, which Zapf chairs, will likely assemble an advisory group of stakeholders, including food truck owners, restaurants

and neighborhood planning leaders. Food truck owners dispute the idea that their presence hurts nearby restaurants. “If a restaurant is afraid of a food truck that is doing $500 in sales, then something is wrong with the restaurant, and they should go look at their business plan,” said Marko Pavlinovic, who owns the popular Mangia Mangia Italian gourmet food truck. Pavlinovic and Murcia said they would continue to do business elsewhere in the city and hope not to get ined or shut down. “If I don’t go out for one day, I still have to pay my employees,” Pavlinovic said. “I still have to pay my loan for the truck. I still have to pay for the kitchen space.” Nearly 2,500 people have signed a Change.org petition demanding that food trucks be allowed to operate on private property.

Tuning into Hal MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

MVN: What does The Grifin, as a venue, add to these events? MH: It’s funny ‘cause this is my home on Tuesday nights…. They always hire really good sound people, the door men are amazing, the bartenders… I mean Jesse LaMonaca works here, for Chrissakes, one of the best artists in San Diego. And the fact that I get to hang with them every Tuesday is a pleasure. And musicians are a different breed of people. They don’t get treated like cattle here… even though it looks like a barn.

Mission Valley News Music Writer

Mission Valley News: Who books the bands for the Radio Halloran nights? Michael Halloran: I don’t want to say it’s a group effort, because Melissa [Sayviseth] does 99.999% of the work. She really works her ass off on it. And a lot bands now are just approaching her directly or Joe [Rinaldi] directly because they know the thing’s happening. But she’s t h e u n sung

Cancer, from page 5

too, which is an added bonus.

By Jen Van Tieghem

ichael “Hal” Halloran has been a staple in San Diego radio for years. He currently serves as on-air talent for 91X weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m. and Sunday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. for the local-music-oriented program, Loudspeaker. But Halloran’s devotion to our town’s local talents doesn’t stop there. For the last several months he has been the host of weekly Radio Halloran Present shows at The Grifin in Bay Park. Each show features three to four local bands with Halloran serving as MC and spinning tunes between sets. Events are free with online RSVP, or $5 at the door, providing affordable live music to the masses. Doors open around 7:30 p.m. and music commences between 8:30 and 9 p.m. The partnership between Halloran and music booker at The Grifin, Joe Rinaldi, was years in the making. The two were acquainted years ago in L.A. where Rinaldi ran similar local music nights at The Viper Room. Having seen their success he tapped Halloran to put together something similar for The Grifin and with months of planning the Radio Halloran Presents nights came to fruition. Mission Valley News sat down with the authority on the San Diego scene to learn more about how these events come together and how Halloran works to shine a spotlight on bands he believes in.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Photo by Marissa Mortati

hero in this whole thing because she really puts extraordinary effort into it- making sure the bill is really cool and there’s a good balance to it. Otherwise, you know, it would just be four of the same sounding bands, which gets kind of boring. MVN: Have there been any highlights for you so far? MH: Well, the weird thing is yeah, I’d say all of them! Because it’s like they know they gotta bring their A game. They can’t come down here and go “we’re just gonna kinda suck at it.” They really have to do a lot of things, including tell their friends “it’s free to get in” and telling them to get on the guest list, come on down and see it. There was a band here a couple weeks ago that packed the place. And that shows me a lot about their chutzpah, more than anything else, b e cause they actually went o u t there and did it. Their songs were g o o d

MVN: What do you hope these events do for local music? MH: Being able to see a band live is one thing, playing them on the radio is another thing, but I’m starting a television show very soon. And one of the reasons I wanna see a band live…. is because if they can pull it off live I will invite them to come in and tape a segment for the TV show.

marquis with the event’s information, and other area businesses are jumping on board daily to become involved. To further get the word out, VHC released its own commercial, which is meant to “play forward” to everyone you know. The video can be seen on www. lightuptheskyforbreastcancer. org. It’s one of those clips you won’t want to miss. To participant in this landmark event, simply visit the website and donate $25. You will receive a pink light, a certiicate of participation, and a commemorative calendar after the event. On our website, locations for the event will be listed, and you may “Tell Your Story,”

send in a photograph, host a location, volunteer, or sponsor the event. Donations received will be dispersed to organizations that help eradicate Breast Cancer and raise awareness.

MVN: What else can you tell us about that? MH: I’ll release that information for you later… but it will be on three times a week. All the bands I’ve booked so far I’ve seen live on the stage here [at The Grifin.] For more about Halloran visit www.91x.com/pages/halloran and check The Grifin’s schedule at www.thegrifinsd.com/calendar for Radio Halloran Presents and more.

Upcoming Radio Halloran Presents Events at The Griffin: Oct. 15 – Pool Party, The StirCrazies, and Devocean Oct. 22 – Glasmus, Stripes and Lines, and Elephant King

NEWS ONLINE Photo by Marissa Mortati

SCOOPSANDIEGO.COM

LOCAL NEWS

North County welcomes the Seaside Courier

MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

H JAzz Wednesdays – Gilbert Castellanos Jazz Jam at Seven Grand. Free. 9 p.m. SevenGrandBars.com. Wednesdays – Jazz with Kice Simko and Friends at Riviera Supper Club. Free. 9 p.m. RivieraSupperClub. com. Fridays – Sam Johnson Jazz Group at Cosmos Coffee Cafe. Free. 3 to 5p.m. CosmosCoffeeCafe.com. Saturdays – Jazz with George and Alan at Bistro Sixty (formerly San Diego Desserts). Free. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. www. SanDiegoDesserts.net Saturdays – Douglas Kvandal with the LiveJazz! Quartet at the Amigo Spot a the Kings Inn. Free. 7 p.m. www.kingsinnsandiego.com Oct. 11 – Sure Fire Soul Ensemble at Riviera Supper Club. Free. 9:30 p.m. www. RivieraSupperClub.com Oct. 25 – The Matt Smith Neu Jazz Trio at 98 Bottles. $10 adv/ $12 day of show. 8 p.m. www.98bottlesSD.com

ALTERNATIVE Oct. 19 – Rocktoberfest featuring Pinback, Little Hurricane, The White Buffalo, Black Hondo, Barbarian, El Vez Punk Rock Revue, Tropicle Popsical, and Octa#grape behind West Coast Tavern. $15. 3 p.m. www. WestCoastTavern.com Oct. 19 – 91X’s Next Big Thing with Ms. Mr. and Wildcat! Wildcat! at Soda Bar. $0.91 at door only. 8:30 p.m. www.91x.com/pages/ nextbigthing

Oct. 31 – Rocket from the Crypt, The Creepy Creeps, Rob Crow, Mrs. Magician, Deadbolt, and Beehive and The Barracudas at House of Blues. $27.50. 8 p.m. www. houseofblues.com/venues/ sandiego clubvenues/

yper-local community advertising makes sense. Seaside Courier has a circulation of 33,000, mailed to over 27,000 homes and businesses in Encinitas and Carlsbad, covering Del Mar, Solana Beach, Leucadia, Encinitas, Cardiff, Carlsbad and Oceanside. Where else can you reach an audience looking for content

related to their home, neighborhood and community in a community newspaper directmailed to over 27,000 addresses in our circulation area? An additional 6,000 copies are distributed from Del Mar to Oceanside at convenient high-trafic rack locations. We make it easy for you to reach this vibrant market in one targeted package.

With community newspaper publishing experience since 1995, Mission Publishing Group offers hyper-local news with a combined circulation among our four newspapers exceeding 100,000 printed copies and over 200,000 print and e-readers each month.

First Issue Dec. 6, 2013

CLASSICAL Oct. 11-13 – Gershwin’s An American in Paris at Copley Symphony Hall. $20-$96. Fri. & Sat. 8 p.m./Sun. 2 p.m. www. SanDiegoSymphony.org Oct. 18-19 – Bill Conti “at The Academy Awards” at Copley Symphony Hall. $20-$85. 8 p.m. www. SanDiegoSymphony.org Oct. 20 – Santee Community Chorus at Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center Theater. Free (donations welcome). 3 p.m. www.mtrp.org Nov. 1 – Dia De Los Muertos: Honoring Mexico’s Singers and Composers at Copley Symphony Hall.. $20-$86. 8 p.m. www. SanDiegoSymphony.org Nov. 17 – Pomerado Brass Quintet at Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center Theater. Free (donations welcome). 3 p.m. www. mtrp.org

POP Thursdays – Greg Shibley at The Westgate Hotel. Free. www.westgatehotel.com Fridays – Nathan Welden at Bistro Sixty. Free. 6:30 p.m. www.SanDiegoDesserts.net Oct. 12 – The PushPins at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room. Free. 7 p.m. www. SanPasqualWinery.com

Oct. 24 – Gone Baby Gone, Schitzophonics, and Super Buffet at Bar Pink. Free. 9 p.m. www.BarPink.com

Oct. 25-26 – Get Groovin’ at Pal Joey’s. Free. www. PalJoeysOnline.com

Oct. 26 – Clayton Joseph Scott, Leanna May and the Matadors, and The Midnight Pine at The Griin. $8. 8 p.m. www.TheGrifinSD. com

Bands, venues, and musiclovers: Please submit listings for this calendar by emailing Jen@ScoopSanDiego.com.

Proudly serving Cardiff, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Leucadia, Oceanside, Solana Beach, and surrounding communities Market Saturation Award-Winning Journalism Proud recipient of numerSaturated reach throughout ous San Diego Press Club the communities we serve “Excellence in Journalism through direct-mail and high Awards” trafic rack locations Ongoing recipient of local Highly desirable demographand national press awards ics since 1995 Flexible media partnerships Over 175 newsstand locations

Local Community News Written for the community by the community Hyper-local news promotes “cover to cover” readership

For more information, call (760) 456-7075.

LIBRARY EVENTS

MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

Celebration, from page 1

OASIS Class: Hearing Loss and New Technology Oct. 14, 1 p.m. Learn about the anatomy of the ear, different types of hearing loss and the options available to you, including the latest advancements in hearing technology and what you need to know about hearing aids before purchasing your next set. Halloween Event: Spooky Science with Krypton Yvonne! Oct. 31, 10:30 a.m.

Old Town, the oldest part of San Diego and historically multicultural, having been settled irst by Native Americans, then the Spanish and Mexicans, and then Americans,” said chief organizer Alana Coons. “This celebration is a means of bringing the community together to experience the tradition and culture surrounding Day of the Dead,” Coons said. “We hope everyone will embrace the magic and leave the event with something lasting on an emotional level, as well as having just a great, fun time.” This year’s event celebrates the 100th anniversary of the death of Jose Guadalupe Posada, the Mexican artist whose skeletal igures, or calaveras, have come to visually symbol-

ize the holiday. A large outdoor altar dedicated to Posada will feature reinterpretations of his illustrations, many of which symbolized the fact that no matter one’s social class, we all end up as skeletons in the end. In addition to the altar tour and the candlelight procession, organizers are planning traditional music and danc-

ing throughout the streets and plazas of Old Town, and families with children can enjoy free craft workshops. “This is one of my very favorite events in Old Town,” said Bazaar del Mundo’s Diane Powers in a press release previewing the event. “The Tour of Altars is very dramatic and especially spectacular in the evening, when each altar is aglow with a multitude of candles.” Café Coyote is the presenting sponsor of this year’s event. For more event information, such as altar tour maps and transportation information, visit SDDayOfTheDead.org or call (619) 297-9327.

Linda Vista Planning Group General Meeting Oct. 28, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Friends of the Linda Vista Branch Library Nov. 2, 11 a.m. to noon

Morning Storytime with Melissa Thursdays, 10 to 11 a.m.

This is an open meeting of the Linda Vista Planning Group. The public is encouraged to attend.

The Friends of the Linda Vista Branch Library meet to coordinate activities including our book sale, Homework Help program and more. Newcomers welcome.

Children and their families are invited to join us for stories, rhymes, and songs.

Get your costumes on and come to our super fun Spooky Science event on Halloween! Movie Night: The Kings of Summer (2013) Every fourth Wednesday, 6 p.m. (Oct. 23) Why live when you can rule! This dreamy lark of an adventure premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews. Three teenage boys (Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso , Moises Arias) decide to free themselves from the shackles of adolescence by leeing to the wilderness where they build a makeshift house and live off the land as masters of their own destiny. At least that’s the plan. Discussion to follow. Sumi-E Art Class Wednesdays, 2:30 to 5 p.m. Learn the classical Japanese style of ink and brush. Tai Chi Class Thursdays, 1 to 3 p.m. This class is designed for adults 55+ and will teach students strategies for implementing physical exercise and relaxation techniques in addition to Tai Chi. Yoga Tuesdays , 6 to 7 p.m.

Hopscotch Tiny Tots Storytime Every Tuesday, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Morning Storytime with Kathie Mondays, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Join Miss Kim for a great time with music, stories, and crafts for babies and toddlers.

Children and their families are invited to join us for stories, rhymes and songs.

Linda Vista Branch Library is located at 2160 Ulric St., San Diego. Visit lindavistalibrary.org or facebook. com/lvlibrary. The library is open Monday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday 12:30 to 8 p.m.; Thursday and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; closed Sunday.

For adults and teens. Learn yoga, an easy to learn workout program that requires little or no equipment and soothes your soul while toning your body. zumba Basic Mondays, 4 to 5 p.m. Join the Zumba craze! Find out what makes this fun workout such a hit. A towel and bottled water are recommended for our Zumba sessions. zumba Gold Fridays, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Zumba Gold is a lower impact version of our Zumba Basic class Baby Signing Storytime: First and third Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. Expert baby sign language instructor Joann Woolley will delight little ones with signing through storytime. Learn how to sign through favorite stories and nursery rhymes. Preschool Storytime & Craft Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Preschoolers are invited to a storytime, then a fun craft right afterwards! Toddler Storytime Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Storytime designed for toddlers, featuring songs, rhymes, and ingerplays. Yoga for Kids First and third Mondays, 1:30 p.m. Kids will learn how to calm and quiet themselves, develop strong & healthy bodies, and set a foundation for life-long well-being in a relaxed and fun environment.

GET INVOLVED!

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OUR NEXT ISSUE The next issue of the Mission Valley News comes out Friday, Nov.15. The advertising deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Circulation: 15,000. Published 12 times in 2013 and delivered throughout our circulation area of Mission Valley, San Diego, California by Mission Publishing Group, LLC. Classiied ads and articles must be submitted by mail, e-mail or dropped off at our business address, 6549 Mission Gorge Road #199, San Diego 92120. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisements or material submitted which are deemed to be objectionable. Publisher’s liability for errors: Mission Valley News assumes no inancial liability for errors nor for omission of copy and upon request will furnish a letter of correction to the advertiser. The Publisher, Mission Publishing Group, LLC., shall not be liable for any error in published advertising unless an advertiser proof is requested in writing 12 days prior to publication date and clearly marked for corrections. If the error is not corrected by the Publisher, the liability, if any, shall not exceed the space occupied for the error. Further, the Publisher shall not be liable for any omission of an advertisement ordered to be published. On written request, Publisher shall reschedule and run the omitted advertisement at the advertiser’s cost. All claims for adjustment must be made in writing within 30 days of the date of publication. In no case shall the Publisher be liable for any

general, special or consequential damages. Equal Housing Opportunity: Real estate advertising in Mission Valley News is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Mission Valley News will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. This is to notify Mission Valley News readers that all dwellings advertised in Mission Valley News are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or TTY at 1-800-927-9275. News and information printed in Mission Valley News is obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but accuracy on information sent to the paper cannot be guaranteed. Articles and opinions of writers or letters to the editor that are submitted for publication to the Mission Valley News are the views of the writers and should not be considered the views of the publisher. Content of paid advertisements is solely the responsibility of the advertiser. © 2007–2013, all rights reserved.

LOCAL NEWS

MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

Graffiti, from page 9 Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 20, the police department’s Grafiti Strike Force Unit culled 457 crime cases using Grafiti Tracker, Zwibel said. This number is about the same as the number for the same time period last year. A couple years ago, Grafiti Tracker helped La Mesa snag a juvenile suspected of tagging the name “Boston” on at least 71 different occasions. The suspect was charged with felony vandalism. Contrary to popular belief, grafiti tagging is not normally related to narcotic sales, Zwibel said. Instead, taggers are usually looking for notoriety, especially for getting their moniker onto hard-to-reach places, such as freeway overpasses. There are also gang-related taggers, “where gangs are claiming a turf or trying to intimidate rival gangs by crossing out each other’s tags,” he said. The city relies on Urban Corps to clean up grafiti on city buildings, but the cost of removal depends on the overall size of the grafiti tag and the surface on which it was painted or etched. The process for grafiti on private property is a bit different. The property owner must provide their written legal consent to city staff before the grafiti can be removed. According to the city website, the process of obtaining consent from a private property owner to remove grafiti can take

several weeks. The process can take even longer if city staff are dealing with a high number of grafiti incidents at a given time. Different government entities have their own processes for removing grafiti from their property. Grafiti on structures in the public right of way, for example, is handled by the city’s Department of Public Works. San Diego Gas & Electric, the United States Postal Service, Metropolitan Transit Service, Waste Management, Caltrans and cable companies all are responsible for removing grafiti from their own properties. Rather than keep track of all the various agencies to call if vandalism is found on their property, witnesses can simply dial 2-1-1 to report grafiti to the operator, who will then route the information to the appropriate agency. If you witness grafiti vandalism in progress, city oficials request that you report it immediately to city police or to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

Style has a home. And now you do too. Modern award-winning architecture. Urban details with multi-story window walls. The latest trends in sustainability. Electric cars on hand. Civita is the perfect blend of urban chic and village charm, right in the heart of Mission Valley. With its eclectic mix of neighborhoods—and more coming this year—Civita is the cure for bland. Visit us on Civita Blvd.— two blocks north of Friars Rd., off Mission Center Rd.

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civitalife.com Civita is a master plan development of Quarry Falls, LLC. All information is accurate as of date of publication, but information and pricing is subject to change at any time.

eral ireighters from Miramar were standing in the parking lot of a service station just off the 52. They were waiting to be put to work, but they no way of knowing where they were needed. They had no common radio frequency, and cell phone communications were nearly impossible. That problem has been taken By Doug Curlee care of. That said, there is one inesStaf Editor capable conclusion Mainar reluctantly draws. “We know that irestorms will ooking back on the irestorms of 2003 and 2007 happen here again. It’s just a in San Diego, Fire Chief Javier matter of when.” Mainar looks around at the Mainar is justiiably proud of the progress local, state and abundance of bone-dry fuel federal ire oficials have made available and eyes the calendar, noting our ire season and the Santa Ana winds- haven’t hit us yet. They will, he says.

in preparing for the next one. More ireighters, more equipment, better communications, and an overall battle plan involving cooperation among all ire agencies are just some of the improvements lessons from the past have brought us. Better communications regionwide may be the single most important improvement among the several Mainar cites. I recall during the 2003 irestorms, when a crew of fed-

stopped by Navy and Marine Corps choppers when needed. If lames do get loose in the Regional Park, aerial attack may be the only way to head them off quickly. The ongoing battle over the control tower at Ramona airport adds wrinkles to the frowns on the faces of state and Federal air attack oficials. Ramona is the home of the irst ire attack base in the United States, and it’s a resource whose value cannot be overestimated. In 2003 and 2007, many of the homes that caught ire were victims of exploding eucalyptus trees. When a eucalyptus tree gets hot, the sap inside boils and explodes, sometimes casting burning embers 100 feet or more. Australia did us no favors sending us those trees, pretty though they may be.

Danger spots

Look over the fence

Perhaps the biggest single concern, although far from the only one, is Mission Trails Regional Park, and the way it butts up against Highway 52 and the Del Cerro-san Carlos fringes. Should lames get a foothold there, it will require a lightningfast, overwhelming response to save homes along the fringe areas. There are still more than a few homes in the area with plenty of exposed wood. There are still shake roofs out there. The regional ireighting efforts have added a lot of airpower to the ire attack plan, with cityoperated helicopters now back-

Everywhere you look, though, there are areas and structures still at risk. Most people have done a good job of keeping vegetation growth far enough away from their homes, but aerial surveys point out there is still a great deal of work to be done in that area. Mainar says we are as prepared now as we can be for the ire season, but he has to note that his optimism can only go so far in the face of undeniable facts. “There are not enough ireighters, enough ireighting equipment, or enough water to stop a Santa Ana-driven wildire.”

Haunting San Diego for Halloween LOCAL EVENTS

MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

Halloween gets bigger and better every year around San Diego. his year brings the usual spooks and ghouls with an extra dash of magic here and there. Mission Valley News has compiled several local oferings in an efort to help you decide how to celebrate the season of the witch. New Haunted Tales of the Ship Oct. 18, 19, 25 & 26 It is time again for all aspiring ghosts, goblins, pirates and princesses to gather on the Star of India for some ghostly tales of enormous proportions. Creepy treats will be given to all who dare

Zombie Diego Oct. 26

Walk:

Spooktacular

SeaWorld’s Halloween Weekends Oct. 27th

through

Dive in and explore an enchanting underwater fantasea at SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular. Enjoy silly spooky shows, fun-ishy

activities and photo ops with wacky characters. Grab gobs of ghoulish goodies and so much more! Come in costume with the kids and have fun trick-or-treating!

Haunted Birch Aquarium: Shipwrecked! Oct. 25 & 26

Ghouls and buoys of all ages are invited to spend a safe and “spirited” Halloween with Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. Discover what lurks beneath the surface Oct. 25 & 26 at the 13th annual Haunted Birch

San

This year’s October walk will have a theme! Think of your favorite character from movies, cartoons, anime, comics, manga, television, sports, video games... and zombie it up! Come as a zombie version of any character to help make San Diego’s biggest zombiewalk even scarier as we stroll through the Gaslamp! Meet at 5 p.m. – no later than 5:20 p.m. – at Children’s Park on Island Avenue, between Front and 1st streets. For more information, go to www. sdzombiewalk.com.

San Diego Bash Oct. 26

attend and kids are encouraged to wear costumes. Tours of 45 to 60 minutes will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 18, 19, 25 & 26. All activities will take place on the ship Star of India, where many real life encounters with ghosts have occurred. Tickets are $8-$16 for admission to the museum; which includes ghost stories. Advance tickets are available on the museum’s website at www.sdmaritime.org. Call (619) 234-9153 ext. 101 for more information.

Monster

Celebrate the year’s most frightful holiday at San Diego’s premiere Halloween block party. The 13th Annual Dos Equis XX Monster Bash Oct. 26 will take over more of the Gaslamp Quarter than ever before when from 6 p.m. to midnight eight blocks will be

Aquarium: Shipwrecked! The entire family can soak up spooky science activities, explore the aquarium’s “wreckage” for sunken treasures, BOO-gie down with zydeco band Billy Lee & the Swamp Critters, and enjoy close encounters of the ishy kind. Come dressed to impress in your best costume for great prizes! Proceeds support exhibits and educational programming at Birch Aquarium at Scripps.

Halloween Bash on the Bay Oct. 26

Celebrate the arrival of fall at Seaport Village, where San Diegans are invited to join the fun at Seaport’s third annual Halloween Bash on the Bay on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. The third annual celebration invites little monsters, pirates, witches and superheroes out to the village for an afternoon of fall festivities, including photos with a living scarecrow, costume contest for kids and pets, music including a monster mash band and Thriller DJ, and games for kids. The costume contest will award prizes for the best superhero, scariest, prettiest, family and pet costumes. In a change to the format, the event will not include candy or trick or treating, but offers many family-friendly activities, including a scavenger hunt, face painting and harvest-themed games. For more information about parking or shuttle services, please visit www. seaportvillage.com. Locals Appreciation Week precedes the fall celebration with signiicant deals from Seaport Village’s shops and restaurants to say “thank you” to San Diegans and welcome them back after the summer tourist season. All deals will be listed at www.facebook.com/ SeaportVillage Oct. 21. Locals must show valid California ID or SDG&E bill to redeem discounts and gifts.

Balboa Park’s Halloween Family Day Oct. 26 Balboa Park’s 5th annual parkwide Halloween Family Day Oct. 26 once again treats kids 12 and under to a day full of hair-raising fun and free museum admission with a paid adult. Participating museums and cultural attractions will present an array of hands-on activities, crafts, costume parades, tours, storytelling,

and other free goodies from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adults also receive discounted admission when they pick up a Stay-for-the-Day Pass, a one-day excursion pass allowing one adult admission to ive park museums for a low price of $43. Among the highlights of this year’s park-wide Halloween Family Day is a doggie costume parade and contest in the Spanish Village Art Center, spooky storytelling and mask-making at the Timken Museum of Art, a host of activities centered on the Model Railroad Museum’s Haunted Train Town, a creepy nocturnal Critter Cave at the Natural History Museum, and a variety of free activity and prize-drawing booths on the Prado. Visit www.balboapark.org/ halloweenfamilyday.

illed with three stages, 10 bars, 50 toxic dancers, and thousands of partygoers dressed in every fetish and fantasy possible. For more information and ticket prices, visit www.sandiegomonsterbash.com.

Old Town Trick-or-Treat Oct. 31 Free goodies courtesy of the merchants with Old Town San Diego State Historic Park with ghosts and goblins out in full force. Enjoy special holiday treats, activities, and extended shopping hours at all the stores within the state park.

16 Library, from page 1 would never see in New York or Munich or Los Angeles. For example, an entire glass wall in the lobby can be opened like a curtain when the climate is right to allow the cool bay breeze into the building. While Quigley, as the lead architect, envisioned the dome, engineer Paul Endres igured out how to bring it to life. Endres and his team recently won the 2013 National Award for Excellence in Structural Engineering, awarded by the National Council of Structural Engineers. City leaders gushed praise for everyone involved in the project. “I feel proud that we have built something that will bring this city together,” said City Council President Todd Gloria. Unlike many government projects, this library building was fully paid for the day it opened. Nearly $75 million came from about 3,000 private donors. Joan and Irwin Jacobs gave more than anyone else; they donated $25 million to the construction of the building and $5 million to support increased operating costs over the next ive years. Many others donated $1 million or more to the library effort, including David Copley; Donald C. and Elizabeth M. Dickinson; the Epstein family; Pauline Foster, in memory of Stanley; the Hervey family; the estate of Armando de Peralta, Jr.; the Price family; Qualcomm, Inc.; Denny Sanford; Darlene Marcos Shiley, in memory of Donald Shiley; Katie and Dan Sullivan; Frances Hamilton White; and the Woods family. An additional $20 million came from the San Diego Uniied School District, which purchased a 40-year lease for the entire sixth and seventh loors for a charter high school. Jacobs said he was thrilled with how the library turned out. “Seeing this new library is much more spectacular in actuality than it was apparent in the planning,” Irwin Jacobs said. “It really, indeed, has come out to be something well above what we originally anticipated.” One of the biggest points of pride for Turner Construction, the general contractor that built the new library, was its safety record for the project since construction began in August 2010, said project executive Carmen Vann. “Over 1,100 workers crossed our job site fencing, we put in place over 770,000 man-hours and had zero lost time accidents, and that to me is a success of successes,” Vann said. Artist designer Armando Gomez was just one of the thousands of locals who visited the library on its irst day open. Gomez said he would have liked to see more color on the building, but perhaps that kind of thinking is exactly what the library was designed to provoke. The uninished look of the concrete and steel invites the viewer to imagine what could be.

Mayor’s October Update LOCAL NEWS

MISSIONVALLEYNEWS.COM — OCTOBER 11, 2013

By Todd Gloria Interim Mayor, City of San Diego ’m happy to report the work in the Mayor’s ofice is charging full steam ahead. My staff and all City employees are dedicated to doing the peoples’ work. They are knowledgeable professionals in their respective ields and are committed to being responsive and helpful to you. I invite you to visit our new Mayor’s web page to communicate with me and keep abreast of what we’re working on. Just how much can I accomplish in 81 days between when I took on this role and the November 19 election? Visit the

web site to ind out, www.sandiego.gov. Additionally, I send out e-newsletter updates about two times per month. You may sign up on the web site or send an email to toddgloria@sandiego.gov and you’ll be placed on the list. In the name of progress, there is much to report on. The previous administration

was criticized for its lackadaisical approach to enforcing our laws and codes consistently, which led to unfair treatment beneiting San Diegans who happened to have access to my predecessor. As your representative, I see it as my job to modify laws that don’t make sense. Unless and until laws can be modiied, they must be enforced. This is the current challenge I face as I work with my City Council colleagues, the City Attorney, and City staff to develop sensible code updates to allow medical marijuana dispensaries and food trucks to operate legally in ways that balance the needs of their clients and the surrounding neighborhoods. I appreciate the input provided from passionate San Diegans on both topics, and the measures we’re developing will be publicly vetted prior to their consideration by the City Council. It’s essential your voices are heard; my decisions are always

informed by your input. Just like your participation guides our actions at City Hall, San Diego’s interests must be well-represented in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. I am proud that we recently re-hired lobbying irms to resume the representation of San Diego before lawmakers and inluencers in our state and national capitols. For the past nine months, San Diego has had no one at the table vying for our interests or funding, which is troubling given the looming sequestration and its potential effect on local families and businesses whose way of life is directly connected to our military economy and other federal spending. Late last month, the City initiated a process for new lobbying contracts to ensure that, moving forward, San Diego receives the representation it deserves. I headed to Washington, D.C. with members from the San Diego Regional

Chamber of Commerce the irst week of October and met with key stakeholders to advocate for San Diego on Capitol Hill. So what have I learned during these past few weeks as Interim Mayor? I’ve learned I really love this job. I love the people side of it, the consensusbuilding side of it, the making progress side of it. Make no mistake, it’s a demanding job and I do my best to balance my roles as interim mayor, council president and councilmember. But at the end of each day, it’s the people that make it great – diverse stakeholders coming to the table with different ideas on how we can collectively make San Diego a better place to live. This is a great gig. There is much work to be done between now and when a new mayor takes ofice. I appreciate your continued patience and participation in these upcoming months. As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve.