San Diego Uptown News, August 2-15, 2019 by San Diego Community Newspaper Group

Mayoral debate: Bry wins endorsement

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 15

August 2-15, 2019

SEE P. 5

Old Town • Mission Hills • Bankers Hill

Hillcrest • University Heights • Normal Heights • North Park • South Park • Golden Hill • Kensington • Talmadge

Family of Congolese asylum-seeker pushes for his parole

OPINION P. 3

KENDRA SITTON | Uptown News

Blind Community Center

HISTORY P. 8

Sherman-Gilbert House

FOOD AND DRINK P. 10

KENDRA SITTON | Uptown News

ARTS P. 16

Turning alleys into galleries

Index 6

Calendar

Puzzles

Classifieds

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Marie-Louise talks about missing her father at a press conference held to urge ICE to release him on parole. (Photo courtesy St. Luke’s Episcopal Church)

be more independent but it’s not so [easy] because I miss my dad,” said Bakala’s teen daughter MarieLouise. “I hope that he will be here and we will be a family again.”

Mathewson said although those gathered cannot move Washington to take action on immigration reform, they can work to change the minds of two people:

the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) assistant field office director for the Atlanta field see Asylum, pg 15

Plan for 30th Street bike lane stokes fears, hopes

Vegan taco cookoff

Opinion

“We can use the bodies, voices, gifts, time, and talents God gave us to help Constantin and his family,” exhorted Pastor Laurel Mathewson at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in North Park on a Sunday morning in July. The church is calling on its congregation and other San Diego interfaith activists to organize for the release of Congolese father Constantin Bakala on parole while he awaits his asylum hearing. His wife and seven children spoke at the press conference to explain why they were pushing to be reunited with Bakala, who has been in immigration detention since November 2017. “This makes us feel real sad because my dad is not here with us. I have to do everything by myself. I have to help my mom with some translation, documents. It’s the first time for me to do stuff like that. I am getting stronger but it’s not enough because I need my father back to support my mom and help her with everything that she will need. I’m doing my best to

On May 16, Mayor Kevin Faulconer ordered the implementation of Option A on 30th Street, which eliminates 420 parking spaces in favor of a two-mile fully protected bike lane from Howard to Juniper streets. Over two months later, he has yet to revise this decision even as many people in North Park mobilize to preserve parking, including Councilmember Chris Ward, who issued a memo in July saying he supported Option B from Howard to Upas streets — a compromise which would have saved half the parking spaces in the business district. In the wake of the Faulconer’s decision to add a protected bike lane with the support of North Park Community Planning Group after a vote on May 14, residents and business owners have pushed against the proposed plan. Save 30th Street Parking organized a rally, a petition has garnered more than 2,000 signatures, and several business have put up signs decrying about the change. In addition, the Save 30th Street Parking group has retained attorney Craig Sherman, who is looking at the

transparency and approval process of the plan. Pat Sexton, who has led the group, claimed the bike lane will not be safer than sharing the lane with cars, which is the current system, because there will be so many breaks in the lane for driveways and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant parking spots. “Between the driveways that will have no protected bike lanes and the blue-curbed areas that will have no protected bike lane, there's going to be a lot of stops on 30th Street and the bicycle riders are going to have to ride in the traffic lane,” Sexton said. Despite this, Matt Stucky, who is a member of the North Park Community Planning Group, sees the bike lane as an improvement. “I think it definitely is still safer than the current condition. It's not ideal obviously with where it's going to be broken up with driveways and all that. But I think it's an improvement over what the current conditions are — just the sharrows, no bike lanes,” he said in a phone interview. Stucky helped kick off the process of adding the bike lane over all of 30th Street by asking the city about adding

a bike lane on the bridge over Switzer Canyon where street parking spaces often go unused. It is this request that has spurred some of the pushback around the approval process of the bike lane. “We are not against bike lanes per se. We are against the removal of all parking,” Vernita Gutierrez, of SoNo Neighborhood Alliance, said over the phone. “It really benefits a small portion of the people who actually live and work and have businesses in that area. I think the other big issue for us was that there seemed to be a lack of transparency during the whole process.” North Park Main Street, which represents local businesses, has distinguished itself from people that see 30th Street, pg 13

A woman and her child hold a sign at the Save 30th Street Parking rally (Photo courtesy SoNo Neighborhood Alliance)

San Diego Uptown News August 2-15, 2019

FEATURES

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Exploring Uptown's burgeoning poetry scene SUE TAYLOR | Uptown News

Poets are sharing their art all around the Uptown area. Most of these spoken-word performances take place in coffeehouses, libraries, Balboa Park, event venues, and at least one North Park bar. Think about Ernest Hemingway and his writer friends in a café in Paris. Paired with coffee, alcohol, or just a good microphone, writers thrill listeners with poems and prose, beautiful words and brash expressions that take listeners out of their ordinary routines. City Heights Coffee House recently held a spoken-word and visual arts event. A few known and novice writers read to a cozy crowd while sipping coffee and eating samosas. This was a fundraiser for The AjA Project, an organization that provides scholarships for underserved youth. Other writers frequent Lestat’s West, which regularly hosts an open mic night on Mondays from 6:3011:30 p.m.

Balboa Park Poetry Party (Photos courtesy Christophver R) A little edgier is Queen Bee’s, in North Park, popular for its Tuesday night “Lyrical Exchange.” On the second Monday of each month, the venue also hosts The San Diego Poetry Slam. Admission is $5, and it’s said to be extremely loud, competitive, and trading on vulnerability. Who can resist poetry readings called the “Gelato Series”? The sporadic event is held at Meraki Café in

University Heights. “Meraki” means “to do something with passion, love or creativity.” While they do not sell gelato, sorbet is available for purchase. Balboa Park is home to “The Poetical Party of Choice,” also known as the Poetry Party, put on by the city of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation Department. It is free and held the first Friday of each month from

2:30-5 p.m. They encourage people to “Come to read poetry, listen, or to be seen.” The tone is sometimes drolly funny, and always thought-provoking. The poets meet at Balboa Park in the Santa Fe Room, located at 2150 Pan American Road West, by the Puppet Theater. Also in the park, the Poetic Legacy Program occurs the last Friday of each month at 3 p.m. This is a monthly workshop exploring renowned poets. In July and August, the poets Kenneth Patchen and Patricia Smith will be read. Walk through Tiger! Tiger!’s restaurant and bar to the enclosed patio for this spot’s poetry readings on the third Sunday of every month at 7:30 p.m. For writers who want to practice their own original poetry and prose expression, the Gypsy Writers meet every Wednesday at Lestat’s in Hillcrest. They follow Natalie Goldman’s book, “Writing Down the Bones,” which recommends writing nonstop for a timed period, usually

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to a prompt from the leader or other participants. The Gypsy Writers normally write for 10 minutes straight, and then read their work aloud. This is a free, fun event, starting at 10:30 a.m. and lasting about 75 minutes. Lestat’s lets the group use a quiet upstairs room and purchased food and beverages are permitted. Everyone is welcome to join in (including dogs as it’s a canine-friendly establishment). Another welcoming and nonjudgmental place to read and write poetry is at the Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Knox Library. Participants study a selected poet each month. At the conclusion of the study, participants write their own poems using ideas from the selections they just read. Again, there is time to share. The library is a relatively new building with validated underground parking. The poetry studies run from 6-7:45 p.m. Finally, Uptown is lucky to have a small neighborhood book store at 30th Street and North Park Way. Verbatim Books is an eclectic bookstore, with used and new books and it has been very successful in attracting an overflow crowd for its monthly spoken-word nights. The bookstore recently expanded, remodeling what was a dental office next door, so there are more seats for the audience. The event is held one Monday a month at 7:30 p.m.

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Michael Blades at a poetry reading Though Nell Rose Smith, one of the Gypsy Writers, says “she is the late to the game,” you don’t have to be an English professor or published writer to join in the fun. Life has already given us pages worth of experiences to write about. Poet Michael Icarus Blades said, “Heck, yeah!” when asked if he wanted to read poetry with the spaces provided by Park and Rec. Poet Christophver R, known for his outstanding poetry, seems to know everywhere in Uptown to read and listen. When not giving workshops, R is busy reciting. He will be signing his newly released book, “Intellectual Suicide: Poems to Die For,” at a launch party at Lestat’s Hillcrest on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 3 p.m. – Sue Taylor is a retired English teacher and currently works as a private tutor and freelance writer. She has written for North Park News and Edible San Diego. Taylor can be reached at suetaylor0825@yahoo.com.

San Diego Uptown News August 2-15, 2019

FEATURES

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Blind Community Center leads the way to fun and friends CYNTHIA ROBERTSON | Uptown News

Contrary to negative stereotypes, vision-impaired people can have very full lives. They get out and about, sing and dance with friends, eat heartily and happily work or volunteer. The Blind Community Center (BCC) in the Balboa Park area is a place where many get started on a truly fulfilling life. This year, members of the BCC also won firstplace prizes at the San Diego County Fair for their beaded creations. The center, which is a nonprofit organization, is also the home of the Lions Optometric Vision Clinic, providing eye testing and glasses for those unable to pay. On Saturday, July 20, about 75 people came to the center for a fundraiser. They enjoyed a homecooked Mexican meal of beef or chicken chilaquiles with refried beans, rice, sour cream and lots of good salsa. Conversation flowed happily around the 10 tables while Shon Mackey, instructor of the Blind Rhythm class at the center, provided foot-tapping music. Rick Hannum, a Lions Club member since 2009 and now a current board member, ate and chatted with David Shaw, also a Lions Club member. “Just getting new glasses can be impossible for people,” said Shaw. “Even I could come in here and get fitted for new glasses with the glasses donated by other people.” Hannum agreed. “This organization is one of the best to be involved in. That’s why I believe in it so much.” After the hearty meal, Mackey acted as master of ceremonies, announcing the guests receiving prizes with their raffle tickets. “This is a very generous gift,” said Meagan Conner of her gift basket of snacks. “My husband and

sons will enjoy this very much.” When Conner won yet another gift, a set of handsome gray hand towels in an attractive basket, she told Mac that she would pass it on to someone else who could use them. “How very generous of Meagan,” Mackey said. “Who would like these?” Hannum stepped up to take them. Then it was time for the music by San Diego Mariachi Band. The young men crooning and strumming the bass and guitar grabbed the hearts of many. People joined in the singing of Spanish, including “Besame Mucho.” Several couples got up and danced. The merrymaking lasted for nearly an hour, and then it was time for closing remarks by Joyce Porter, the fundraiser chairperson. “I really appreciate your presence,” said Porter, thanking the BCC staff and volunteers. “Miss Ethel, you sold tickets, too,” Porter addressed an elder vision-impaired lady, who smiled big and waved at everyone. Applause broke out around the room. Another closing comment by

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Blind Community Center members won first prize at the San Diego County Fair for their beaded creations. (Photos by Cynthia Robertson) Mac summed up the afternoon — and the purpose —of BCC. “We are more than just what you see,” he said. Formerly the Blind Recreation Center, the Blind Community Center of San Diego was an idea of C. Anthony Moran in 1947 when he was chair of the Sight Conservation Committee. Dr. Moran had been legally blind for 10 years, after which his sight was miraculously restored. He was a former member of the Braille Club whose effort it was to save money for a building where the club could socialize. The Lions Sight Conservation Committee made the building of a recreation center for the blind their major goal. A piece of property was located

on the north side of Balboa Park through the help of several Lions Club members, and a lease was made with the city to use the land for the building. Club members decided that the center should be run by the blind community and to incorporate as the Blind Recreation Center. The building was completed and dedicated Sunday, May 8, 1949. The original building contained a 200-seat auditorium, a hobby room, and a kitchen. By 1961, the community had outgrown the building, and an expansion was made. The auditorium size was doubled, and the kitchen, restrooms,

and craft room were expanded. In that same year, the Optometric Association and the Lions Club formed the Lions Optometric Vision Clinic. Membership to the Blind Community Center is open to all blind, legally blind or visually-impaired persons who are 18 years of age or older. Many programs and classes are made available to members, including the popular ceramics class. For more information, go to bccsd.org. —Cynthia Robertson is a local freelance writer.

The San Diego Mariachi Band had people up on their feet to dance at the Blind Community Center's fundraiser on July 20.

San Diego Uptown News August 2-15, 2019

POLITICS

City Council District 3 race update Let’s put an end to Financial disclosures reveal tight race between Dems summer hunger KENDRA SITTON | Uptown News

The race between four Democrats vying to replace Chris Ward on the City Council is closer than initial fundraising numbers released on Thursday appear to show. While Stephen Whitburn, who has been endorsed by many local political groups, reported $60,000 in contributions to his campaign, a significant portion of that was his own money. Based on these numbers, he has a significant lead over his three opponents, two of which are

first-time candidates. However, the range between Whitburn and all his other opponents drops to less than $10,000 once his own contributions as well as donations to the general election are subtracted. By looking at those numbers, he still leads with $37,015. Behind him is Adrian Kwiatkowski at $32,470. Closely following Kwiatkowski is Chris Olsen with $31,123. Olsen is running a YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) campaign and has taken strong positions regarding increasing density as well as adding

bike lanes. Toni Duran trails with $27,954. The only woman in the race, she was also the only candidate not to donate towards her own campaign. While she has the least amount of money to campaign with, she is backed by powerful politicians like Representative Scott Peters and Calif. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. These financial disclosures reveal the race is far from over and anyone could win come March. – Kendra Sitton can be reached at kendra@sdnews.com.

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District 53 Dispatch Susan A. Davis Summer vacation invokes images of going to the beach or trips with the family. However, for too many children in San Diego and across America, it can mean going without food. During the academic year, millions of children from low-income families rely on free or reduced-price meals when they attend school so they can get the nutrition they need. We know that well-fed children engage and learn better in the classroom. However, when school lets out in the summer months, many of these same students lose access to these meals. In San Diego County, over 90,000 students who benefit from nutritious, affordable school meals during the academic year miss out on these school meals during the summer. Barbara and Silvia each have two children who rely on free or reduced-price meals at the elementary school they attend in San Diego. But when summer comes along, they struggle to fill this gap and use local food banks to put food on the table. To address this crisis, I reintroduced the Stop Child Summer Hunger Act to provide families who have children eligible for free and reduced-price school meals with an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card. This EBT card would provide $150, equal to about $60 per month, for each child eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. This will allow families to purchase groceries to replace the meals the children would otherwise have received at school. The Stop Child Summer Hunger Act expands the successful Summer EBT for Children demonstration project, which has been piloted in 14 sites and 10 states (but not California) to all 50 states. This pilot program had positive results, decreasing hunger among children by 33%. Despite the success of the program, low-income children could see this benefit taken away from them. The Department of Agriculture has recently announced that it will end the pilot program in Oregon. Which states could be next? There is an existing federal program that provides low-income families across the nation with access to meals but its limitations mean not all children benefit.

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The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) attempts to fill the summer meal gap by providing funding to nonprofit, government, and religious entities to serve food to low-income children during summer breaks. However, while some areas of the country see great success with the SFSP, many barriers to participation in the program remain, including unfamiliarity with the program or sites, lack of transportation, and limited food distribution hours. According to the Food Research and Action Center, in July 2017, 3 million children ate lunch on an average weekday at a summer meal site — only a fraction of the 20 million low-income children who participate in school lunch each day during the school year. Much of the low participation is due to limited public funding available to support summer programs for low-income children to attend, and as a result, children around the country are more likely to be hungry during the summer. The Stop Child Summer Hunger Act, in conjunction with the SFSP, would ensure that children across the country don’t go hungry when school is out. Providing families with an EBT card, which is how low-income families use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), will help those families who are unable to reach the sites where food is being distributed. Expanding the summer EBT program is not only good for our kids but our economy. Using SNAP as a model, according to economists, every SNAP dollar that households redeem expands the economy by about $1.70. And many of the businesses who benefit from EBT use are small businesses. No child should go hungry and no parent should have to worry about being able to feed their children. The Stop Child Summer Hunger Act builds on a proven and simple solution to fill the summer meal gap that millions of children face every summer. Expanding this program will be good for our kids, good for education, and good for the economy. – Congresswoman Davis represents central San Diego, including the communities of Old Town, Kensington, Mission Hills, University Heights, Hillcrest Bankers Hill, North Park, South Park, Talmadge, Normal Heights, as well as La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley and parts of El Cajon and Chula Vista.

San Diego Uptown News August 2-15, 2019

POLITICS

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Uptown Democrats endorse Bry for mayor In a debate moderated by Pat Byrne, three Democrat candidates for San Diego mayor went head-to-head. The Uptown Democratic Club decided to endorse City Council member Barbara Bry. Here are some highlights from the event.

Barbary Bry

Todd Gloria

Top issues: Increased transparency, local control of housing, building tech center Downtown

(Todd Gloria was scheduled to travel before being invited to the debate so Campaign Manager Nick Serrano represented him instead) Top issues: Addressing housing crisis and homelessness, improving transit, climate action Standout quote: “We want a new San Diego that works for all of us. It’s the same Assembly member Gloria that you’ve seen for years in this community that’s been working for you.” Yikes moment: Not showing up (even though he did send Serrano in his place, people complained) Best moment: Serrano’s command of the issues. He passionately and extensively explained Gloria’s track record.

Standout quote: “Before I take a position on any issue, I do my research.” Yikes moment: Offering very few policy proposals when answering questions because she needed to know more about the issues. Best moment: Several pointed attacks on Todd Gloria’s record, the favored candidate in the race, that positioned her as the underdog.

Beatrice Marion Top issues: Ending the practice of declawing cats, animal rights Standout quote: “It’s not America’s finest city but it can be.” Yikes moment: Not answering questions and instead talking about personal experiences. Best moment: Leaning on her identity as an outsider in the race with no mainstream backers.

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OPINIONS/LETTERS: San Diego Uptown News encourages letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please email submissions to kendra@sdnews.com and include your phone number and address for verification. We reserve the right to edit letters for brevity and accuracy. Letters and guest editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or staff. SUBMISSIONS/NEWS TIPS: Send press releases, tips, photos or story ideas to kendra@sdnews.com For breaking news and investigative story ideas contact the editor by phone or email. PAID SUBSCRIPTIONS: You may read all of our newspapers online for free at sdcnn.com. You may sign up for our weekly newsletter for free at sdcnn.com where we will email you a link of our digital edition upon publication of our newspaper. We also make our newspapers available in hundreds of locations throughout the communities we serve. If you would like a hard copy of your community newspaper mailed to you first class by USPS you may pay by credit card or check. Subscription rates are $1.55 per copy. Mailed copies are mailed the day of publication by first-class mailed by USPS. 12 issues - $18.60 or 26 issues - $40.30 DISTRIBUTION: San Diego Uptown News is distributed free every other Friday. © 2019. All rights reserved.

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No license? No job! Avoid contractor scams District Attorney News Summer Stephan As your District Attorney, I’m committed to increasing communication and accessibility between the DA’s Office and you, the community. One way I have been doing that is through this monthly column, where I provide consumer tips on public safety matters. Hiring a contractor to perform construction work or a kitchen-and-bathroom remodel already comes with built-in stressors: choosing a quality company, affordability, staying on schedule not to mention the disruption it has on the household. The last thing consumers worry about can sometimes be the most costly — getting scammed. The majority of contractors are honest and reliable, but not always. Inevitably there are cheaters working the system and preying upon the unsuspecting. Sometimes they are rogue contractors, but mostly they are unlicensed fraudsters who cut corners or skip town with your money. The most common way consumers get ripped off is by someone representing himself as licensed in a trade and requiring the majority of or the entire contract amount to be paid up front. Frequently the phony contractor asks to be paid in cash claiming that he or she can begin work more quickly that way. Unfortunately, we have prosecuted cases where the scammer pockets the money and never comes back.

Before you put off that remodel job for good, here are some tips to help you distinguish the good from the bad. • Fraudulent contractors typically do not have a contracting license or workers compensation insurance. • Check whether your contractor is licensed or has disciplinary actions on the Contractors State License Board website at cslb.ca.gov. • If your potential contractor does not appear on the website or does not have a license number, do not hire him or her for your job. • Be wary of anyone trying to convince you that since it may be a “small job,” they do not need a contractor’s license. Any home improvement project over $500 requires a licensed contractor. • With extremely limited exceptions, contractors cannot ask for more than 10% of the total cost of the project or $1,000 (whichever is smaller) as a down payment. • Do not pay more than that amount before the project begins. • Be wary of door-to-door salesmen offering free inspections. Many times they will claim that there is a “serious” problem such as bad plumbing or leaky roof which will put you in danger and that it needs to be fixed immediately. • Remember that they have an incentive to indicate that a problem exists. • Avoid paying in cash. If your contractor asks for cash only, it may be that they are operating outside of the law and do not want to be traced. • It is much harder to prove that you paid certain amounts if it was a cash

transaction. • Paying with credit, debit, or check ensures you have a receipt that a payment was made. • Ask for three references from prior customers and then check and verify that those references were satisfied with the contractor and his or her work. In addition to these signs of fraudulent contractors, it is important to know how to select the best legitimate contractor for your job. The Contractors State License Board created a video that guides you through the process of selecting, hiring and managing a contractor which can be found under the consumers tab on their website. If you believe you have been scammed by a contractor, file a complaint with the Contractors State License Board. The DA’s Consumer Protection Unit is made up of deputy district attorneys, investigators and paralegals dedicated to protecting consumers and law-abiding businesses from fraudulent or unfair business practices. To report a consumer complaint, you can call 619-531-3507 or email consumer@sdcda.org. – District Attorney Summer Stephan has dedicated more than 29 years to serving justice and victims of crime as prosecutor. She is a national leader in fighting sex crimes and human trafficking and in creating smart and fair criminal justice solutions and restorative justice practices that treat the underlying causes of addiction and mental illness and that keep young people from being incarcerated.

Financial planning for retirement: How to ensure you are saving enough Steve Doster | Uptown News

Saving for retirement is something everyone needs to do as a part of their financial planning. Set aside some time and energy to think about your future and how you will pay for your retirement. You will need to save to retire. Here are some simple guidelines to save enough for retirement and do it in a smart way. The No. 1 rule is to save 15% of whatever you make. This percentage should be based on your total income before taxes or any other payroll deductions. Saving this amount will allow you to retire at the normal retirement age of 65 to 67 years old. You can consider other financial planning strategies as well, such as ratcheting up this savings amount to 20% or 25% of your total income if you want to retire earlier, or if you are getting a late start on retirement savings. These days, it seems like most people are getting a late start on retirement savings. The average retirement savings of someone in their 50s is about $125,000, which is not enough to retire on. If you find yourself in this group, though, don’t beat yourself up! There’s always time to move forward and start saving now. There are some general financial planning guidelines that can help you save in the smartest way. These recommendations apply to most people, but there are always exceptions. Talk with a fee-only financial advisor to work out your best savings strategy.

The first savings priority is getting the full employer match. Don’t pass up free money. If your company 401(k) will match up to 6% of your pay, then at the minimum, set your 401(k) savings at 6%. The next priority is to build up an emergency fund. This needs to be three to six months of living expenses. That’s a lot of money, but you need this in case you lose your job, can’t work due to an injury or illness, or have a big car repair. An emergency fund protects you from relying on credit cards when those inevitable emergencies come up. The next step in your savings strategy is to pay off credit card debt. If you have credit card debt, save up a partial emergency fund of $2-$3,000 dollars. Then focus on paying off credit card debt as fast as possible. Once the debt is gone, go back to building up your emergency fund to the full target amount. But remember, keep saving the minimum to your 401(k) plan to get the employer match while you are paying off credit card debt and building an emergency fund. Free money (the employer match) takes top priority. At this point, you are saving 6% to your 401(k), have an emergency fund safely sitting in a savings account, and you have no credit card debt. Where should you save next to hit your 15% savings goal? This depends on how much money you make. Save to a Roth IRA if you qualify to make contributions. To qualify for the full contribution amount, your

adjusted gross income needs to be below $122,000 for single and $193,000 for married. You can save $6,000 to a Roth IRA per year if you are under 50 years old. The limit is $7,000 if you are 50 years old or older. If you don’t qualify for the Roth IRA, then increase your 401(k) savings until you hit the maximum amount. The limits for 401(k) are $19,000 per year in 2019. If you are 50 years old or more, then you can save up to $25,000 per year. These amounts increase each year, so remember to increase your 401(k) savings percentage every January. The final step in the savings strategy is to open a brokerage account. This can be done at Vanguard, Schwab, or anywhere you can buy low-cost mutual funds. Set up a recurring monthly transfer from your checking account to this brokerage account. The amount depends on how much more you need to save to hit your 15%-25% savings goal. Smart financial planning includes thinking about your future. Saving now is for the benefit of your eventual retirement. Save at least 15% of your income and follow the savings priorities outlined above. – Steve Doster, CFP is the financial planning manager at Rowling & Associates – a fee-only wealth management and CPA firm helping individuals create a worry-free financial life. Rowling & Associates works to a fiduciary standard of care helping people with their taxes, investments, and financial planning. Read more articles at rowling. com/blog.

San Diego Uptown News August 2-15, 2019

POLITICS

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A thriving democracy: the vote center approach

Supervisor Nathan Fletcher with representatives from League of Women Voters of San Diego, Alliance San Diego and Engage San Diego. (Photo courtesy Office of Nathan Fletcher)

Nathan Fletcher District 4 Supervisor Democracy thrives when all citizens are offered the opportunity to vote. Greater participation in democracy pushes us closer to a more perfect union. And making it easy for citizens to vote holds up our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That is why I am excited that the Board of Supervisors supported my proposal to explore the addition of one-stop ‘vote centers’ for the 2020 election. Vote centers have been shown to increase access, turnout, and improve ease of voting. Similar to traditional polling locations, a voter can cast a ballot in person at a vote center. But one-stop vote centers also provide almost any service and resource a voter could hope for. All voters are mailed a ballot, which they can return in the mail or drop off at a vote center, or can cast a ballot in person, and register to vote. Vote centers nearly eliminate the need for provisional voting, which can delay election certification. Language, access, and translation services are offered at vote centers without the need to visit the Registrar of Voters. Vote centers are open for multiple days before the election as well as on Election Day, allowing voters additional time and flexibility to cast a ballot. Many counties have already adopted the vote-center model and the initial results are very promising. Additionally, more than half of California’s population live in counties that have adopted vote centers, rather than traditional polling locations. According to research from UCSD, average voter turnout increased by 4% in the five counties that adopted the model in 2018 (as compared with 2014 turnout). Turnout increased the most (around 7%) for youth, and in low-income and minority

communities. If these trends held true for San Diego County, average turnout using vote centers would increase by almost 71,000 voters. Vote centers build upon other changes to state law that I have long advocated for. This includes pre-registration for 16 and 17 year olds, paid postage on every absentee ballot, and automatic registration at the DMV. These see Vote centers, pg 15

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San Diego Uptown News August 2-15, 2019

HISTORY

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Former Bankers Hill home Sherman-Gilbert House still standing proud JILL DIAMOND | Uptown News

While many older, historic buildings get demolished, some are saved. Take the Sherman-Gilbert House, which has a long history and was moved from the Bankers Hill area to Heritage Park in San Diego where it has been on view since 1971. According to Ellen Sweet, historian at County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation, it all started when John Sherman purchased the land where the Sherman-Gilbert House originally stood at 139 Fir St. in 1887 for $9,500. He contracted with architects Comstock

and Trotsche to build the home, and they designed it in the Stick Eastlake Victorian style. Construction was completed in 1889. Sweet said Sherman then sold the home to W.E. Willis, who never lived in the house but rented it to others from 1889 until 1897 when Augusta Gilbert bought the home. Gilbert later had three children and two of them remained in the home until 1965 — Gertrude and Bess, artists, patrons of music and performing arts, and frequent hosts to internationally famous entertainers and soirees. The Sherman-Gilbert home stood vacant for a few years, until 1969, when a developer offered to

The Sherman-Gilbert House at its original Bankers Hill location (Photo courtesy the Historic Archives History Center, County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation)

The Heritage Park

(Photo courtesy County of San Diego Department of Parks and

Recreation)

sell the structure to the Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) for $500 — giving them two months to clean and move the house to a new location. Mary Ward, later County Parks' first historian, was part of the fundraising activities. Multiple time extensions were granted, but SOHO was struggling to find a relocation site, according to Sweet. Ward prepared a report for the city’s Historic Board and had the structure declared historic while additional fundraising efforts ensured. “In 1971, the County purchased a 7.8-acre property bordering Old Town Historic Park for the specific purpose of opening an 1880s-style ‘Victorian preserve,’” according to Jessica Geiszler marketing and public outreach manager for County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation. “This

was after citizens voiced concern over San Diego's rapid growth, which was threatening many fine Victorian homes with destruction. “Today, Heritage County Park preserves the mid-Victorian era and serves as a transition between the Spanish-Mexican, early-American periods and the modern city of San Diego.” Private and public funds were used to acquire, move and restore these unique Victorian structures. The County Board of Supervisors budgeted $1.2 million over a 10-year period, and a HUD openspace land grant paid for paving, grading and landscape improvements, she added. On May 20, 1971, the Sherman-Gilbert House was removed from its original location. It was split into two portions requiring three trucks per side. The

move was no easy feat; utility wires had to be raised and the trucks had to navigate the steep grade of Juan Street hill! Moving costs alone were about $10,000, Geiszler said. On June 16, 1976, the County Board of Supervisors approved the relocation and exterior renovation of three additional Victorian structures: The Christian, Burton, and Bushyhead residences. Senlis Cottage and McConaughy House were added by 1981. “All of the houses at Heritage County Park were originally located in Downtown San Diego, roughly between Fir and Cedar streets and Union and Third streets in an area we now know as Bankers Hill, but that was originally referred to as ‘New Town’ by earlier residents,” Geiszler said. “Heritage County Park is an interesting property — full of history and intrigue, art and beauty. Victorian homes that are well over a century old have found new life in a park that’s dedicated to preserving stories from our past.” The park is open sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, and free docent-led tours take place the first Saturday of every month at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. — Jill Diamond is a Southern California freelance writer with a penchant for interesting historical pieces. Reach her at JillDiamondHistory@ gmail.com.

San Diego Uptown News August 2-15, 2019

THEATER

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‘Rock of Ages’

The details “Rock of Ages” plays through Aug. 25, 2019 at Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St. in Old Town. Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m.

JEAN LOWERISON | Uptown News

Rory Gilbert as a wannabe rockstar (Photos by Ken Jacques)

What is it with big money and muddle-headed morality, that so often want to mess things up for kids who just want to rock out and have fun? Don’t spend a lot of time pondering this. I’m just setting up the plot for Cygnet Theatre’s latest offering, the jukebox musical “Rock of Ages,” playing through Aug. 25. Cygnet’s artistic director Sean Murray is at the helm. Cast your mind back to the 1980s in Los Angeles, when kids were rocking to bands like Whitesnake, Styx, Twisted Sister and the like, and be prepared for loud music from singers and

Bryan Banville in 'Rock of Ages'

Tickets: 619-337-1525 or cygnettheatre.com 'Rock of Ages' cast at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town Patrick Marion’s fine five-man band alike. I mention “loud” because the theater will provide earplugs to all who request them. Here’s the setup: The Sunset Strip has (among other things) a popular bar called the Bourbon Room and a strip joint called the Venus Club. The area is loud and more than a bit seedy, so along comes German developer Hertz (John Rosen), who decides the Strip needs cleaning up. Hertz drags his son Franz (Zackary Scot Wolfe) along for the... what, experience? It only takes a suitcase full of money to convince the city council to let them tear down the Bourbon Room and build something more, you know, decent in its place. The lone political dissenter is city planner

“The Man in the High Castle.”

Wondering which TV show or movie to watch when you have some time to unwind? Cox Communications just made it even easier to ﬁnd a new favorite show with its recent launch of Prime Video on Cox Contour TV. Prime Video joins Netﬂix, YouTube, NPR One and others in the Contour TV library of apps. Cox Contour video customers can use their voice remote control to easily and quickly access their Prime Video subscription to watch critically acclaimed shows such as “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” directly on their televisions. Other popular Originals include “Hanna,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” “Guava Island,” “Homecoming,” and

“There’s no need for a secondary device or input switch,” said Suzanne Schlundt, vice president of ﬁeld marketing. “Similar to Contour’s other integrated apps including Netﬂix, YouTube and iHeart Radio, all you have to do is speak into your voice remote control and say things like ‘Prime Video’ or ‘Mrs. Maisel,’ and Cox Contour will take you to your Prime Video programming.” Prime Video can also be accessed in the “Apps” section of the Contour guide. “Contour has become one of the most innovative platforms in cable,” said Schlundt. “By adding the Prime Video app to Contour, Cox continues to make it incredibly easy for customers to access all the programming they love in one place.” Popular Prime Video TV shows include: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (2 Seasons) This winner of eight Emmy Awards tells the story of Midge Maisel, a

Regina (Emma Nossal), who gets together with denizens of both clubs to loudly oppose the plan. Chief among them are Dennis (Berto

perfect 1950s housewife with two kids whose life gets turned upside down when her husband leaves her. Instead of falling to pieces, Midge surprises everyone she knows by taking the stage and becoming one of New York City’s most colorful stand-up comics. “Hanna” (1 Season) Based on the 2011 ﬁlm of the same name, “Hanna” is a brooding thriller about a young girl raised by her father in isolation in the woods and trained to be a lethal assassin. Thrust into the real world with no sense of social normalcy, Hanna skillfully dodges an off-book CIA agent while searching for the truth about her identity. “Jack Ryan” (1 Season) This political action thriller follows CIA analyst Jack Ryan, a character from Tom Clancy’s well-established “Ryanverse,” who is pulled from the safety of his desk job to work in the ﬁeld.

Fernandez), owner of the Bourbon Room, and Venus Club owner Justice (Anise Ritchie), but employees and customers get in on the protesting as well. The story is narrated by Lonny (Victor E. Chan), who keeps the story straight and the traffic flowing. After Lonny has set the politics up for us, he realizes something is missing: the love story. Enter Sherrie (Megan Carmitchel), cute as a button. A Kansas girl from a good Christian background, she scandalized her parents by leaving for California’s Sin City to follow her dream. She’ll meet wannabe rock star Drew (down-to-earth Rory Gilbert), currently a busboy at the Bourbon. When it looks like Hertz has won and the Bourbon Room will be razed, Dennis figures he can go out with a bang by hiring real rock star Stacee Jaxx (an amusingly preening Bryan Banville) to do the final show. When Staycee meets Sherrie, it’s Katy, bar the door. Romance also blooms elsewhere before the final curtain. The plot is good enough and some of the lines are clever, but you’re probably in the audience for another reason: this is an ’80s throwback concert and you want to hear those songs. That you will: this show has more than 30 of ’em. Since this is not my decade and not my music, I’ll spare you my dyspeptic musical criticism. Suffice it to say that the show runs more than two hours, has lots of energy and tons of songs, a fine band and a talented cast to bring the show to life. Murray has found the right group for the show. Kudos also to Sean Fanning’s colorful set, which along with Blake McCarty’s projections, Amanda Zieve’s lighting and TJ Fucella’s sound design make this show work visually as well as acoustically. And Katie Banville contributes some spirited, sometimes raunchy choreography. If the sounds of the ’80s are your thing, Cygnet’s the place to be. — Jean Lowerison is a long-standing member of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle and can be reached at infodame@cox.net.

San Diego Uptown News August 2-15, 2019

FOOD AND DRINK

The outdoor Dojo Cafe in City Heights will be the site of a vegan taco cookoff from 4 to 8 p.m., Aug. 11. Now in its third year, the event is presented by Vegan in San Diego, an organization

that supports local vegan and animal-rescue communities. Contestants include nearly a dozen caterers and food truck businesses, such as Veg’n Out, Santosha Nutrition, FaVe Tacos, The Vegan Tamale Company, and others. Two winning titles will be awarded, one by a panel of judges and the other by attendees. General admission is $6, and crowd-judging tickets are $37, which includes one free taco from each contestant and 4 p.m. admission (opposed to 5 p.m.). Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. 4350 El Cajon Blvd., 619-949-1584, www.veganinsandiego.com.

Sherif plans on renting a commercial kitchen for conducting pop-ups and fulfilling catering orders via cardamomcafe@hotmail.com. She will also continue supplying her famous sweet and savory croissants to Seven Seas Roasting in South Park, Daniel’s Coffee in Spanish Village and Cafe Moto in Barrio Logan, adding that Atypical Waffle in North Park may soon start selling them as well. Lota will transform the cafe into a restaurant specializing in scratch-made Italian meals. The name is yet to be announced, although he plans on retaining Sherif’s employees. Cardamom will remain open through late August. 2977 Upas St., 619-5465609, cardamomsandiego.com.

The much-anticipated Breakfast Bitch opened in Hillcrest on July 13 with a playfully profane menu. Under the “basic bitch” category are create-your-own pancakes. Selections from “skinny bitch” include light items such as avocado toast and kombucha smoothies with fruit and veggies, while dishes such as lobster Benedict and loaded croissant sandwiches await under the “main bitch” section. Those items and more are available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and until 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant doubles as a late-night hangout from 12:30 to 3:30 a.m. on weekends, when spritzers, kombucha and coffee drinks are available. A limited

Vegan tacos will take center stage at an upcoming cooking competition. (FaVe Tacos/Instagram)

Baker extraordinaire Joanne Sherif has sold her 11-year-old Cardamom Cafe & Bakery in North Park to Accursio Lota, the former executive chef of Solare Ristorante Italiano in Liberty Station.

Cardamom Cafe will close in late August, but its popular croissants will live on. (Photo by Joanne Sherif) “It’s time for a new chapter in my life,” Sherif told San Diego Uptown News. “I’ll still focus on my love of baking, but without running a cafe.”

San Diego Day by Marna Schindler

Connecting g Creative Communities

sdnews.com Thorn Brewing opened a tasting room in Mission Hills in what was previously a multi-unit office space on Hawk Street. There are 12 taps divided equally on opposite ends of the bar, with all of them dispensing beers brewed at the company’s Barrio Logan headquarters. “Our intention is to offer Mission Hills a tasting room that fits snugly between the higher-end restaurants and the dive bars,” said Thorn Brewing general manager Tom Kiely. Beers are sold by the pint for consumption on the premises, and they’re available in bottles and cans to go. There is no

Hill Photography)

kitchen, but customers are permitted to bring in food. In addition, electronic games will be installed in the coming days. The tasting room is open from noon to 10 p.m., daily. 4026 Hawk St., 619-255-9679, thorn.beer.

The sassiest breakfast eatery in San Diego has arrived. (Courtesy photo) food menu includes the “sweet and savory” taco featuring a waffle shell filled with eggs and bacon or turkey sausage. Breakfast Bitch’s owners are former college and professional football player Derrell Hutsona The newly opened Arama is a six-seat “restaurant” within Il Dandy, which launched recently in Bankers Hill as a full-scale restaurant by Calabrian-born brothers Dario and Pietro Gallo. The chefs on board are Antonio Abbruzzino and his son, Luca, whose restaurant in Southern Italy garnered the duo a Michelin star. Situated behind Il Dandy’s kitchen, the intimate space gives guests a doting experience involving 12-course meals and wine pairings that draw upon the culinary traditions of Italy’s Calabria region as well as other parts of Europe. There is only one seating per evening, and reservations are required. Prices range from $180 to $250 per person, depending

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Thorn Brewing brings a tasting room to Mission Hills. (Photo courtesy Adam

8/31/19

and his wife, Tracii. The couple runs the Los Angeles-based lifestyle management company Elite Luxe, which caters to athletes and celebrities. 3825 Fifth Ave., 877-732-4824, eatbreakfastbitch.com.

This table is a secret. (Bay Bird Inc.) on the number of guests in each party. Wine pairings begin at $70 extra. 2550 Fifth Ave., Suite 120, 619-310-5669. — Frank Sabatini Jr. can be reached at fsabatini@san.rr.com.

Come On Get Happy!

Drinks: 4 The craft beer selection is the strong point on a drink list that features sangria, a few wines and two Champagne-based cocktails. Food: 3 Judging only from baguette bites crowned with garlic, mushrooms, onions and cheese, the quality is good, but the noshes discounted for happy hour are basic and limited. Value: 4 Savings on food and drinks range from 30-50%. Service: 5 It took a few minutes for the lone waitress to emerge and discover me standing at the “wait to be seated” sign. Once she did, service ran smoothly. Atmosphere: 5 Located in the Days Inn, the restaurant has a street entrance that leads into an L-shaped dining room with mild retro touches. There’s also a front patio secluded by greenery.

475 Hotel Circle South • 619 298 6515, bunzsd.com Happy hour: 3 6 p.m. daily

protein and avocado options; chicken strips with a choice of sauces; nachos using freshly fried tortillas; or something called “garlic mushroom & onion bites.” I happily went with the “bites,” which featured a nice

D r. I n k

RATINGS:

BUNZ

A late-afternoon ‘sunrise’ You can whip right by it in the blink of an eye while driving around the bend at Hotel Circle or when landing at the bottom of Bachman Drive from Hillcrest. And even if the place does catch your attention, you’d probably never guess that Bunz is the only eatery along “the circle” that focuses on sustainable, market-fresh ingredients. Fronted by the Days Inn motel, it is owned by chef-author Jeff Rossman of Terra American Bistro in the College Area. Shortly after penning “From Terra’s Table,” a locavore’s guide to Southern California’s agricultural bounties, Rossman became something of a pioneer in San Diego’s farm-to-table movement. That was in 2010, about a year before he introduced to this touristy area gourmet burgers complemented by house-made condiments and thick milkshakes better known as “concretes.” I never knew until recently that Bunz offered a daily happy hour, let alone that it had a beer and wine license. Taking for granted that burgers or sliders would appear on the discounted food menu, I was in. My assumption proved wrong. While booze choices sufficed with a few wines and five craft beers on tap for $4.99 a glass, the nosh options were rather basic, with nary a discounted hamburger patty in sight. I veered off the beer and wine lists and ended up ordering one of two Champagne-based cocktails better suited for Sunday

San Diego Uptown News August 2-15, 2019

FOOD AND DRINK

sdnews.com

Garlic-mushroom-onion “bites” topped with cheese

A straight shot down Bachman Drive from Hillcrest brings you to Bunz. (Photos by Dr. Ink)

brunches. But what the heck? Priced at $5.99, I chose the “sunrise sparkle” made with orange juice, bubbly and grenadine — basically a jazzed up mimosa that thoroughly quenched my late-day thirst. The other, a “sangria spritz,” mixes OJ and Champagne with house-made sangria. The happy-hour food menu featured only a quesadilla with

The Champagne-based ‘sunrise sparkle’

sautee of the stated ingredients atop toasted slices of baguette. The garlic was pronounced, but it didn’t linger long on my palate due to the refreshing fizzle from my cocktail. Intent on ordering a burger from the regular menu (served on brioche buns), I passed because the dish sufficiently filled me up. Bunz escapes the cheap-motel restaurant feel with a down-toearth, slightly retro design. The

dining room features wooden chairs with padded seats, an elongated banquette, colorful wall musings about hamburgers and hot dogs, and a front patio with lush shrubbery blocking the unglamorous view of Interstate 8. It isn’t a bad place to plop down and refuel when traversing between Uptown and Mission Valley. I just wish a juicy, discounted burger would factor into happy hour.

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San Diego Uptown News August 2-15, 2019

CALENDAR / FEATURE

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UPTOWN CALENDAR Friday, Aug. 2 Get Spritzed

To kick off an August cocktail special, Upper East Bar is hosting a “Get Spritzed” rooftop pool party. Located at the Kimpton Solamar Hotel at 435 Sixth Ave. in East Village, the 1920s-themed event will feature traypassed canapés, music, and plenty of Aperol Spritzes to go around. 4-6 p.m.

the latest art instillations in unusual places. 10-11 a.m. The Not-So-Silent Short Film Fest: Steampunk Celluloid Soiree What happens when viewers get to take part in the creation of a cinematic experience? Vanguard Culture and the La Jolla Historical Society present The Not-So-Silent Short Film Festival, featuring a selection of short silent films curated by award-winning soundscape artist Scott Paulson. Costumes are encouraged at the family-friendly event. Tickets include complimentary tastings by Boochcraft and CaliFino Tequila, gourmet popcorn by Chef Daniella de la Puente and one craft cocktail. General admission $15. 7-9 p.m. at IDEA1, 899 Park Blvd. Swim & Spin Saturdays Kimpton Solamar Hotel is partnering with Fit City Adventures to offer mermaid core and spin rooftop fitness classes at Upper East Bar. $25 per class. Mermaid core at 9 a.m. Spin at 10 a.m. 435 Sixth Ave.

Monday, Aug. 5

‘Straight’ The Experiential Movement Lab This workshop explores how physical movement can be a metaphor for finding balance in life and overall health. Taught by internationally renowned dance improviser and founder of Improvisation Project Network, Patricia Maldonado, the Experiential Movement Lab will help attendees explore how physical movement is connected to life balance and overall health. The series reveals how people can break the sedentary patterns in daily life that lead to physical and creative atrophy. Attendees will learn to eliminate fear and self-doubt in their interactions with the world around them, using movement as a catalyst for identifying one’s greater purpose. IDEA1, 899 Park Blvd. 7-3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 7 Loud Fridge Theatre Group is producing the San Diego premier of “Straight,” the provocative new play by Drew Fornarola and Scott Elmegreen, that deals with fidelity, sexuality and identity in “post-equality” America, directed by Kate Rose Reynolds and Andréa Agosto. “Straight,” The New York Times Critic’s Pick, chosen for its “smart, bracing writing brimming with clever wisecracks and thought-provoking observations,” made its off-Broadway debut at the Acorn Theatre in 2016. Now, “Straight” is making its California debut, after enchanting audiences in New York City, Mexico City, Austria, Berlin and much of the East Coast. Playing from July 25 to Aug. 4 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tenth Avenue Arts Center, Forum Stage, 930 10th Ave. Tickets range from $17.50-$35 and can be purchased online at loudgridgetheatre.com/straight.

Saturday, Aug. 3 A Short Walk Home Several hundred San Diego residents will lace up their sneakers and walk two miles to get active in solving the region’s homelessness crisis during A Short Walk Home, San Diego’s only walk to end homelessness. After walking through the giant door at the finish line, participants will have the chance to explore Father Joe’s Villages programs and join staff in various activities, including writing notes of encouragement to be displayed at the Village. The event is free and all proceeds benefit homeless services. Register at fjvwalkhome.com. 8-11 a.m. at Spanish Landing Park. Trades that Shaped the West As towns developed in the West, so did the need for specialized trades and artisans. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park will present 19th-century trades that helped shape the community of San Diego. Noon-4 p.m. Guided walking tour Meet at North Park Main Street, 3939 Iowa St. to walk through the city to see some of

Flexible Fleets Webinar SANDAG will host a series of five, 45-minute webinars to discuss its “5 Big Moves.” These strategies set the framework for a bold new transportation vision for San Diego Forward: The 2021 Regional Plan, which will enhance connectivity, increase safety and sustainability, and improve quality of life. Explore how flexible fleets can build upon the popularity and success of shared, on-demand services like ride-share, ride-hailing, microtransit, bike-share, scooters, and delivery vehicles. These fleets provide personalized and convenient travel options through shared vehicles available 24/7 for different types of trips, which can reduce the need to own a car. The webinar begins at noon. Register at SDForward.com/ webinars.

Thursday, Aug. 8 Business Strategies for Creatives In partnership with Cassidy Creative Solutions, Vanguard Culture presents a series of workshops to help creatives take their art practice to the next level. Attendees are invited to participate in candid conversations about how to make one's art practice both marketable and profitable. Noon-1 p.m. IDEA1, 899 Park Blvd. Summer Family Fun with Zovargo Get ready for a fun, interactive adventure starring wild animals! This show is one of several offered as part of Mission Valley Library's summer reading program! Visit sandiegolibrary.org for more information. 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Community Room inside Mission Valley Library. Mike Hess Brewing Dinner Top of the Market Restaurant in Downtown San Diego will host a five-course dinner highlighted by Mike Hess Brewing's best beers. Executive Chef Jeremy Loomis and Lead Brewer Paul Deras are putting together an exciting menu showcasing what summertime cuisine can be in California and just how seriously it can be elevated with an ice-cold glass of brew. Tickets are $90 per person. 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 9 Sip & Swim Celebrate the end of one of TV’s most-loved events at this Shark Week-themed Sip & Swim featuring shark floaties and a signature Sharka-POOL-ooza drink. As always, the Weissmuller Pool will be the perfect place to lounge, dance and have fun, with live music by Lady Dottie & The Diamonds with feel-good activations by Urbn Leaf and Truly Hard Seltzer. Admission is $30 and includes the signature cocktail. The pool party starts splashing at noon and lasts until 5 p.m. The Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd. Film & Float The Lafayette’s beloved Weissmuller Pool which will be transformed into a theater with specialty themed drinks and appetizers from on-site restaurant Hope 46 beginning at 7 p.m. This month’s movie will be the classic summer favorite, “The Sandlot.” Admission is free. Workshop on Accessible Design The American Society of Landscape Architects, San Diego Chapter, is offering a free workshop on Accessible Design. Attendees will learn about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and integrating design accessibility into their projects. The workshop will cover play structures, play areas, trails, parks, and outdoor developed areas. 1-3 p.m., with check-in at 12:30 p.m. at the Mission Valley Library Community Room, 2123 Fenton Parkway. Register at bpt.me/4273781

Saturday, Aug. 10 Soldiers and Citizens This wildly popular festival celebrates literacy and the literary works of Mark Twain and other 19th-century authors. Excerpts from famous works will be depicted by costumed San Diego actors at a variety of park venues throughout the day. Old Town State Historic Park. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Gay Men’s Book Club The Gay Men's Book Club will meet on Tuesday, August 13, to discuss this month's selection, "What Belongs to You" by Garth Greenwell, a novel about a gay American teacher's erotic and edgy relationship with a hustler he meets in a public rest room in Bulgaria. Anyone interested in novels, memoirs and plays with gay themes is welcome to join the club. 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mission Hills-Hillcrest Library, 215 W. Washington St. Contact Ron Alsop at ronald.alsop@gmail.com or 908-347-3877 for more information.

Thursday, Aug. 15 Summer Family Fun with Arty Loon Arty Loon's magic and zany antics are sure to get you laughing and clapping. This show is the last one being offered as part of Mission Valley Library's summer reading program. Visit sandiegolibrary.org for more information. 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Community Room inside Mission Valley Library.

Live Electronic Music Workshop Attendees will learn the elements of production and live performance with twotime Grammy Award nominee Ramon Amezcua from Bostich-Nortec Collective. Open to novice, intermediate, or advanced level musicians. Limited to 20 participants. Free with early registration. 6:30-9 p.m. IDEA1, 899 Park Blvd.

Tuesday, Aug. 13 OASIS presents: ‘Georgia O’Keeffe: Her Early Years’ Georgia O'Keeffe is one of America's best known and admired artists, but what do we know of her early life and work? Join scholar Aniko Makranczy to explore her childhood in Wisconsin, her mother's great influence, her art education and the impact of William Merritt Chase and Arthur Wesley Dow on her work. We will also discuss O'Keeffe's years of teaching in Virginia and Texas and her experimentation at this time which greatly influenced her later work. This presentation is free and open to the public, and there is no need to pre-register. 12:30-2:30 p.m. at the Community Room inside Mission Valley Library.

Wednesday, Aug. 21 Flexible Fleets Webinar SANDAG will host a series of five, 45-minute webinars to discuss its “5 Big Moves.” These strategies set the framework for a bold new transportation vision for San Diego Forward: The 2021 Regional Plan, which will enhance connectivity, increase safety and sustainability, and improve quality of life. Join us to learn about the Next Operating System (OS), a digital platform that functions as the brain of the entire transportation system to connect smart infrastructure and different modes of transportation — passenger vehicles, buses, ride-sharing, delivery trucks, autonomous vehicles, bikes and scooters, and more. The Next OS will turn data into real-time actionable information for transportation operators and travelers. The webinar begins at noon. Register at SDForward.com/webinars.

Friday, Aug. 16

Friday, Aug. 23

Comedy Special Filming Comedian Phil Johnson will be filming his fourth comedy special entitled "Burning Sensation" on Friday, Aug. 16, at the Comedy Palace, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.

Ryan Gosling Weekend Rooftop Cinema Club goes ga-ga for Gosling with a fun themed night like none other with the screening of the romance-comedy “Crazy. Stupid. Love.” on Friday, Aug. 23, and “The Notebook” on Saturday, Aug. 24. Rooftop Cinema Club opens nightly at 6:30 p.m. and films begin at 8:30, providing guests ample time to arrive early and enjoy the social in “Social Cinema,” including amazing sunsets, fantastic food, top-shelf drinks and classic table games. Manchester Grand Hyatt. Tickets start at $17.

Saturday, Aug. 17 A history of the Balboa Park Carousel Local nonprofit Friends of Balboa Park will be hosting a historical lecture about the

Swim & Spin Saturdays Kimpton Solamar Hotel is partnering with Fit City Adventures to offer mermaid core and spin rooftop fitness classes at Upper East Bar. $25 per class. Mermaid core at 9 a.m. Spin at 10 a.m. 435 Sixth Ave.

Monday, Aug. 12

movement can be a metaphor for finding balance in life and overall health. Taught by internationally renowned dance improviser and Founder of Improvisation Project Network, Patricia Maldonado, the Experiential Movement Lab will help attendees explore how physical movement is connected to life balance and overall health. The series reveals how people can break the sedentary patterns in daily life that lead to physical and creative atrophy. Attendees will learn to eliminate fear and self-doubt in their interactions with the world around them, using movement as a catalyst for identifying one’s greater purpose. IDEA1, 899 Park Blvd. 7-3:30 p.m.

historical significance of the iconic Balboa Park Carousel and Friends’ plans for its future. The event will feature prominent local historical architect David Marshall, President of Heritage Architecture & Planning and board chairman of nonprofit Friends of Balboa Park, who will be highlighting the landmark, one of the oldest of its kind in the nation, for its architectural and historical significance for San Diego. 6-7:30 p.m. at the Balboa Park Carousel. $20 includes carousel ride. RSVP at bit.ly/2Zln3ZF or events@friendsofbalboapark.org Sunday, Aug. 18 Summer in the City: A Downtown Music Festival and Celebration Summer in the City is a unique summertime music festival and celebration in support of Voices of Our City Choir and the work it does with San Diego’s homeless/unsheltered residents. It will be a fundraising event featuring local bands, auctions and giveaways in support of the San Diego Homeless Community. 4-9 p.m. Quartyard Event Space, 1301 Market St. Tickets are $25 for adults. Free street parking.

Monday, Aug. 19 The Experiential Movement Lab This workshop explores how physical

Sunday, Aug. 25 Bike the Bay In its 12th year, San Diego’s iconic Bike the Bay event pedals back into town on Aug. 25. Offering riders from all over the U.S. a rare opportunity to cycle across the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, Bike the Bay welcomes cyclists of all abilities. Participants will travel through five cities along the Bayshore Bikeway to take in the region’s breathtaking sights. For the second time, participants will also have a chance to embark on an optional off-road portion, adding natural habitat and undeveloped areas to the list of “awe” moments that riders will experience. The ride starts and ends at the Embarcadero Marina Park South, 200 Marina Park Way. Staging of riders begins at 6:30 a.m. Register at bikethebay.net.

Wednesday, Aug. 28 San Diego Downtown Democratic Club We will be holding an endorsement meeting with the Democratic primary candidates for District 78 of the California Assembly and the nonpartisan Office of City Attorney of the City of San Diego. We meet at the cabana on the sixth floor of the Harbor Club, lobby entrance on J Street and Second Avenue at 6:30 p.m. Please RSVP to: info@sddowntowndems.club

San Diego Uptown News August 2-15, 2019

PUZZLES / NEWS

sdnews.com

FROM PAGE 1

30th STREET

Puzzle answers on page 14

Uptown Crossword Classics

want no bike lane or any parking loss. While Option A eliminated all parking to make way for the bike lane, Option B from Howard to Upas streets would have made a floating parking lane to act as a barrier between moving cars and bicycles. “North Park Main Street voted for Option B for the northern segment of the plan — Upas to Howard — because improved mobility is a top priority for our organization. We have concerns about the magnitude of the impact that Option A will have on our businesses. Option B is a middle ground and allows for cars and bikes to coexist safely by providing onstreet parking and a protected pathway for bikes. This design is being implemented in other areas of San Diego and we are encouraging the city to implement it in North Park as well,” North Park Main Street Executive Director Angela Landsberg said in an email to Uptown News. Floating parking, which provides a barrier between moving cars and bikes, was recently installed on Sixth Avenue and Beech Street in Downtown San Diego. Landsberg is working with the city to find a solution that will not harm businesses or residents. However, bike activists worry 30th Street is simply too narrow for that method to actually ensure safety for cyclists. Each of the lanes would need to be at the city’s minimum standard of width if Option B was used. Despite the loud pushback, many

North Park residents rally to save parking on 30th Street. City Council District 3 candidate Stephen Whitburn is in the back talking to people. He remains undecided on the issue (Photo courtesy SoNo Neighborhood Alliance) of the original proponents of the bike lane still have unwavering support for the plan to bring more travel options to the area. They have approached business owners to discuss the bike lanes and urge them to take down the negative signs. In addition, they have organized a “Safe Streets for All Family Ride” on Sunday, Aug. 4 at 11 a.m. to call for the implementation of the bike lanes. “We're starting to see some really positive benefits from J Street and I think Sixth Avenue will [be] the same. It’s also about safer streets for everyone. It's really about completing the streets and making streets more complete for people who bike, walk and run. There's real benefits in having multiple safe modes,” said Andy Hanshaw, San Diego Bike Coalition’s executive director in a phone interview. He said every study he has seen showed positive benefits in adding bike lanes to business districts. John Pani, the owner of Waypoint Public, is in support of the fully-protected bike lanes. “As a business owner on 30th Street, I would say that it's not without risk to take away parking. There's

evidence of places where biking has been made a part of the landscape and there has been positive benefits to businesses and communities and so forth. It might seem like just taking a bunch of parking spaces away could be a negative, but there's some decent evidence out there that the impact won't be as scary or detrimental as one might think,” he said in a phone interview. For Pani and Stucky, North Park is already a quickly changing place and if the city does not proactively adapt, then those changes will be for the worse as more density is added and businesses bring in larger crowds from across San Diego. “I wouldn't say that because it's harder to park today than it was 10 years ago, I wouldn't want what's happened in Kensington or North Park to happen, in terms of the growth. I just think it needs to happen in a smarter way. I think that adding in the bike lanes is potentially a step in that direction,” Pani, a Kensington resident, said. For those opposed to the bike lane, many of them long-time residents, see 30th Street, pg 14

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30th STREET another city intervention is eroding the landscape they have known for years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Parking is already very challenging,â&#x20AC;? Gutierrez said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I understand that the younger crowd, that live in the new apartments â&#x20AC;Ś can walk to the bars and stuff, but the basic people that live in North Park have bought homes and lived here for decades. Those people â&#x20AC;&#x201D; their optometrist is on 30th, their

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dentist is on 30th. They're used to 30th Street the way it is. They're comfortable with 30th Street. What will keep them from shopping and going to appointments on 30th Street is lack of parking,â&#x20AC;? Sexton said. Gutierrez fears added density and removal of parking minimums in new developments will make it worse. Stucky agrees, although he sees a different solution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I don't think if there's going to be a whole bunch of more density and housing going in on 30th Street, it's going to work for everyone to drive in their car and be guaranteed a free

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parking spot on 30th. So we need to start thinking about if this density's coming in, which everything suggests that it is, how can we still get around? Bikes are part of it, pedestrian walking is part of it, transit is part of it, but you know,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to do something new or else it's going to change for the worst.â&#x20AC;? Much of the conflict surrounding the two-mile stretch of protected bike lane is embroiled in the very story of North Park: what was once considered a slum is now one of the most booming business districts in San Diego. For many benefiting from the increased pull to the neighborhood, bike lanes threaten to upend a status quo they are benefiting from. Some fear that those bike lanes will hurt business and send North Park back to the way it was 30 years ago. Others see bike lanes as a way for the trajectory of growth to continue as more people using different modes of transportation access the booming area. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kendra Sitton can be reached at kendra@sdnews.com.

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POLITICS/NEWS

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the run for his advocacy in the doses of medication, which opposition party. tests show are failing to help. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People were looking for Bakala is frequently frustrated because he is treated my dad to kill him, to do some office and Bakalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deportation ofthings,â&#x20AC;? 15-year-old Emanuel like a criminal and housed said in a phone interview. with criminals despite commitficer Michael Morris. Since St. Lukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first met the The family reunited and esting no crime â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the detention caped to Brazil. Then they decenters he has been in often family and started helping their asylum cases, Constantin has alcided to travel to the U.S. but serve as a county jail or federready had a few new victories. He nearly died in a shipwreck off al prison as well even though was granted an emergency stay the coast of Costa Rica. When he is classified as a low-level of removal and won the right to a they made it to the U.S. border, detainee. new hearing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the first one he Bakalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suffering continHe said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The problem is will have with a lawyer. ued as he was placed in that the guards confuse the jail The last time the family was detention. and the detention center, and together was 20 months ago in â&#x20AC;&#x153;The whole reason worst of all, we are not crimiTijuana when they presented nals, we are immigrants. This that the family risked themselves at the San Ysidro is an error of ICE for mixing their lives, I mean they Port of Entry for asylum. While thought they were going immigrants in the same place Constantin Bakala has been separated from his the rest of the family was evento be killed but also they family in immigration detention since November as criminals.â&#x20AC;? tually released in San Diego risked their lives over eight 2017. (Photos courtesy St. Lukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Episcopal Church) Colin Mathewson said months to make it from Bakalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story of real persecupending their court dates, Brazil to the United States, his family while in detention. He tion illustrates why international Bakala was separated from his family â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a common prac[was because] they thought was at an Alabama facility earlier laws of asylum were set up origitice at the time. He has been they'd be finding a safe place this year where inmates staged a nally and why the U.S. has followed transferred to jails throughto be,â&#x20AC;? Colin Mathewson said hunger strike because the food was them for decades. out the nation while trying to in a phone interview. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Instead so inedible. In another jail, doors in â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we can't grant a family prove he will be murdered if he itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just been this continuing need of repair were welded while like Constantin's asylum, there's is returned to the Democratic nightmare for them.â&#x20AC;? inmates were inside the buildings, something seriously wrong with Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to Terri Mathes, subjecting them to noise and heat the way that we're living out the who communicates with without proper ventilation. values that the country is founded Mathewsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband and Bakala daily while he is defellow pastor Colin Mathewson Since some facilities keep de- upon,â&#x20AC;? he said. said it is important to reunite Constantin Bakala and Annie Bwetu Kapongo tained, Bakala is worried the tainees locked in for 23 hours a Bakala wrote on June 11, the family, as Annie Bwetu trauma of the journey here in day without a chance to exercise, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Without liberty, there is no value Kapongo has been a single mother She suffered a miscarriage in addition to the long separation Bakala developed high blood pres- in even the greatest treasure. I was throughout this time while facing the aftermath of the attack. from a parent will have lasting psy- sure. At one point, a nurse at a new imprisoned in the Congo and now her own trauma from her experiIt has been a long journey filled chological effects on his children. facility refused to tell the kitchen I find myself imprisoned in anothence in the DRC. with more traumatic events out Emails sent by Bakala to Mathes to accommodate the low-salt diet er country where human rights â&#x20AC;&#x153;They're struggling financial- of the DRC and to the U.S. As the and in notes she has taken based on he was prescribed at the previ- should be respected.â&#x20AC;? ly, emotionally, psychologically. It Union-Tribune reported, the fami- their correspondence show Bakala ous detention center. Instead, the would just really be good for the ly was robbed, poisoned and their has dealt with more than the emo- 48-year-oldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health has suffered as â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kendra Sitton can be reached at whole family's well-being if he was dog was killed while Bakala was on tional pain of being separated from he has simply been put on higher kendra@sdnews.com. FROM PAGE 1

ASYLUM

FROM PAGE 7

VOTE CENTERS policy changes break down barriers to voting, and bring us closer to the ultimate goals enshrined in the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The vote-center model increases ease and accessibility for voting, particularly for communities that have been historically disenfranchised.

with them,â&#x20AC;? Colin Mathewson said. According to a Feb. 27, 2019 article published by the San Diego Union-Tribune, when her husband was kidnapped for his work teaching youth how to peacefully demonstrate, Bwetu Kapongo went to the police for help. While locked in a room smelling of urine, three policemen reportedly beat and raped her despite her pregnant state.

Most unfortunately, whenever discussions around expanding voting access is raised, there is always pushback from those who falsely believe voter fraud is rampant. This is simply not true. Ordinary voters are not conspiring to commit voter fraud. Ordinary voters are not the ones abusing the system, and claims of voter fraud are red herrings for those who wish to oppress and disenfranchise voters.

As part of vote center implementation, increased voter turnout should be a primary focus of the pilot program. A robust education and outreach campaign can help ensure a seamless transition with the various pilot locations. An advisory committee can help guide implementation of vote centers throughout the county. We know that the vote center works. Other counties started with a pilot program, similar to

what I have proposed for 2020. All voters will be able to visit their regular polling location, or try out one of a handful of vote centers. The results of the pilot program, along with the feasibility study, can help us identify what we need to tweak for future election cycles. We can scale up vote centers across the county for 2022, but we need to take these initial steps to figure out what works. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s build and implement a voting

model that makes it easier to vote and enfranchises voters. We should all agree that more people voting is a good thing, and voting makes our democracy stronger. San Diego is a better place when everyone has the right, ability, and ease of participating in the democratic process. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Supervisor Nathan Fletcher was elected in 2018 to represent District 4 on the County Board of Supervisors.

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San Diego Uptown News August 2-15, 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

From alley to gallery North Park Main Street transforms unlikely spaces with art installations

MICHAEL KIMMEL Psychotherapist Author of "Life Beyond Therapy" in Gay San Diego 5100 Marlborough Drive San Diego CA 92116 (619)955-3311 www.LifeBeyondTherapy.com

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The environmental planning group Walk Score recently named North Park one of America’s Most Walkable Neighborhoods with a Walk Score of 89/100. This summer, the ‘hood known for its craft beer and chic boutiques is giving visitors even more reasons to walk about. Spearheaded by the North Park Property and Business Improvement District (NPPBID), a program managed by North Park Main Street (the local business improvement district), a project dubbed Interchange has commissioned a series of temporary, site-specific art installations woven into the fabric of North Park. Created by six San Diego artists, these projects transform the community’s existing architecture to generate art encounters in everyday existence. The project transforms unlikely settings for art — like an alleyway, empty storefront, and vacant lot — into neighborhood galleries. “Business and commercial property owners in our community receive services above and beyond what is provided by the city, including graffiti and litter removal, sidewalk pressure washing, and beautification projects,” said Angela Landsberg, executive director of the NPPBID. “Creating art exhibits like Interchange is just one of the many things we do to create a more economically vibrant community by attracting customers to the streets of North Park to enjoy our many unique shops and cafes.” In her tenure as executive director of NPPBID, Landsberg has expanded the popular SDCCU Festival of Arts in North Park and the neighborhood’s Thursday farmers market. She also introduced an innovative program where a full-time homeless outreach coordinator works to connect people living on the streets with access to housing and other resources needed to improve their quality of life. “Our goal is not to shuffle people off, but to make meaningful, lasting, and positive change in their lives,” she says. Like North Park’s other cultural endeavors, the Interchange project seeks to facilitate meaningful exchanges throughout the community: between artists and the built environment, between artwork and observer, and among community members. By activating oft-overlooked spaces, the artwork creates unexpected moments of discovery. Awakening their senses and empowering them to engage in the act of looking, observers connect more deeply with the world around them. The circuit of dynamic installations serves to enhance shared public spaces, encourage cultural tourism, strengthen the neighborhood’s local identity as an arts and culture destination, embed art and artists more deeply into the community, and enhance citizens’ pride and sense of place. Artwork will be unveiled across the community throughout the summer and a free one-hour guided tour is set for Saturday, Aug. 3, which begins at 10 a.m. at North Park Main Street, located at 3939 Iowa St. “Interchange recognizes artists

as essential in shaping community life and art’s ability to rethink urban space as a platform for creative expression and shared cultural dialogue,” said Landsberg. Participating artists include Robert Andrade, Ashley Fenderson, Xuchi Naungayan Eggleton, Scott Polach, Derek Weiler, and Allison Wiese. “We selected these artists because their work reflects the spirit of

sdnews.com Free one-hour guided walking tour Saturday, Aug. 3 10-11 a.m. Meeting Spot: North Park Main Street 3939 Iowa St., 92104 North Park,” said Landsberg. “It is thoughtful, provocative, and edgy. These artists all have something very special to say and we are honored that they’ve chosen to use our community as their canvas.” For more information, visit: interchangeprojectsd.com and @interchangeproject

Painted Bluff by Ashley Fenderson (Photos courtesy NPPBID)

The Man Who Sold His Shadow by Derek Weiler

Painted Bluff by Ashley Fenderson

The Man Who Sold His Shadow by Derek Weiler