San Diego Uptown/Downtown News, May 1st, 2020 by San Diego Community Newspaper Group

VOLUME 21 ISSUE 5

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Columbia • Core/Civic • Cortez Hill • East Village • Gaslamp/Horton Plaza • Little Italy • Marina

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D3’s expert communicator

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KENDRA SITTON | Downtown & Uptown News

Davis campaign calls community

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New symphony space soon A father shows his child an orange he just picked up from the free fruit swap (Photo by Kendra Sitton)

‘Overlooked’ City Heights neighborhood comes together

FASHION P. 5

KENDRA SITTON | Downtown & Uptown News

One of San Diego’s most diverse neighborhoods has often been “overlooked” even during normal times according to residents. City Heights residents, the majority of whom are Latinx with significant Laotian, Vietnamese, Somali and Cambodian communities, had the potential to slip through the cracks in the pandemic response. However, local organization are offering innovative services to ensure that does not happen.

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with more barriers to accessing healthcare. As of April 27, at least 83 people in City Heights have been sickened with the virus — 122 people per 100,000, which is also higher than the County rate overall of 94.1 cases per 100,000 people. Local business associations, businesses, and community groups are trying to keep people safe during the pandemic through free masks, food

Car protest calls for rent cancellation

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Already, City Heights has been one of the more hard-hit neighborhoods in San Diego. According to a SANDAG study, just under 25% of people in City Heights were unemployed on April 11 – the third-worst rate in San Diego County. City Heights’ jobless rate is only surpassed by Logan Heights and San Ysidro. Even before this current economic crisis, City Heights residents were on average low-income and many are refugees and immigrants

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In one Golden Hill house, all eight of the residents have suffered loss of income since stayat-home orders began. Five have lost their jobs entirely while another three have had their hours severely cut. They were unable to make April rent and do not know how they will pay for rent in May. The difficulties they are facing spurred two of the housemates to participate in a caravan calling for rent cancellation.

The City Council Stephen Whitburn hopes to be elected to faces significantly different issues than the one he campaigned for leading up to the March primary. He will face off with Toni Duran in November to see who will represent District 3 during what is projected to be the recovery phase of a pandemic and recession. With the possibility of a Democratic supermajority on the City Council and a guaranteed Democrat in the mayor’s office, political chatter for months has been on what progressive policies San Diego might enact that would have been impossible just a few years before. Now, the city is going to face a major budget deficit that could risk many of those policies being implemented. Whitburn believes his background in communications and nearly 20 years of living in District 3 has prepared him for this moment.

CAREER

“I think that my background prepares me well for this situation particularly (given the situation that we're in). Having been director of the American Cancer Society in Southern California, not only was I involved in public health care, I managed a multi-million-dollar budget. Having worked with the American Red Cross in Public Affairs after 9/11, I understand what it takes to recover from a crisis situation,” Whitburn said in a phone interview. Whitburn started his career as a radio newscaster in Wisconsin, where he grew up. He came to San Diego on vacation and decided to make a permanent move to the city when an opportunity came his way. Soon after the move, he worked in public affairs for the American Red Cross in the wake of 9/11. He stayed in the nonprofit sector after that and worked as the executive director of San Diego Pride and the director of the American Cancer Society. His stint at Pride was marred when he was terminated by the board, although staff urged to have him reinstated, kicking off a conflict

Cars with signs calling for rent cancellation ahead of the protest (Photo by SEE RENT PROTEST, Page 9

Kendra Sitton)

SEE WHITBURN, Page 15

FEATURE sdnews.com Sarah Davis’ Assembly campaign transitions to community wellness calls

San Diego Downtown News May 2020

KENDRA SITTON | Downtown & Uptown News

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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Assembly District 78 candidate Sarah Davis has converted her campaign volunteers from doing door-to-door outreach to checking in with isolated community members via phone. Campaigns across the county have made similar moves and now the San Diego Democratic Party has followed suit by organizing phone banks to do wellness checks. This is madepossible using voter information the campaigns already have on hand that is typically used to raise support ahead of an election. “Our biggest drive on this is just making personal contact and reaching out to folks because we know that isolation is incredibly challenging and really difficult for people,” said Davis in a phone interview. In addition to checking in, the campaign compiled a list of resources so volunteers can connect residents with relief programs if they mention any specific issues. When they began piloting the effort, the campaign was able to use 17 volunteers to make 200 calls just within the first day of the launch, according to campaign volunteer Danny Avitia. They initially called seniors but have since expanded to all age groups in the community,

although they still have an emphasis on reaching seniors. According to Avitia and Davis, the top issues they are hearing about are stir craziness, food insecurity, issues paying rent and healthcare. The move away from doorto-door canvassing ahead of November is significant for Davis because that is how the campaign built grassroots support to get her through the primary. Prevailing in November will be difficult as she faces Council member Chris Ward, who is more well-known in the community because of his role in city government. Despite the mechanics of her campaign changing, Davis said the priorities remain the same: universal single-payer healthcare, affordable housing and climate justice. “This crisis has made it abundantly clear that housing, health care that is tied to employers and tied to private insurance companies is dangerous all on its own. It’s something that I am absolutely passionate about changing,” she said. She believes that this crisis also demonstrates that health care systems and production can be changed quickly. Meanwhile, Davis described e her current circumstances

Sarah Davis and her daughter make check-in calls. (Photo courtesy Sarah Davis) as being an adjustment period, both politically, professionally, and personally. Her family’s furniture store has completely shut down. She is sheltering in place with her daughter and her partner’s two kids while switching to distance learning. To have the phone interview, she said she was cloistered in what she said was not quite a closet with the door closed. Davis hopes the people thrust into childcare and elder care roles will realize how essential these workers are in the future.

“We’re seeing exactly how important that is to our economy and how vital all those workers are,” Davis said. “I personally am one of 3 million plus, now more, [unemployed]. I applied for Medi-Cal for myself, so I’m right there with everyone else,” she said. “All the stuff that folks are facing across our county, across our district, I definitely have going on at home as well.” —Kendra Sitton can be reached at Kendra@sdnews.com.

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San Diego Downtown News May 2020

Music to our eyes Art on the Land By DELLE WILLETT Last fall, the San Diego Symphony Board of Directors unanimously voted to begin construction on Bayside Performance Park. With the first concerts scheduled for summer 2020 (this could change with the coronavirus) the new venue, now known as The Shell, will provide San Diego with a world-class destination that serves year-round as an event space and landmark waterfront attraction. Located in the Port of San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina Park South on San Diego Bay, the new upgraded park and venue will feature a permanent, highly innovative, architecturally striking and acoustically superior 13,000-square-foot outdoor stage that will allow the Symphony to present a wider variety of musical presentations and enrich the patron experience with improved sightlines, an expanded concession area and permanent restrooms. The Shell is the creation of an international, award-winning team, including Burton Landscape Architecture Studio of Solana Beach. Burton Studio created the plans that will introduce refined site detailing and regionally appropriate landscaping to frame the venue and provide a cohesive visitor experience throughout the embarcadero Marina Park South. Matthew MacLeod, a partner at Burton Studio, said the team enjoyed the process of creating a unique family of details for this project. “We worked hard to incorporate the themes of music and composition into the park’s new physical identity,“ he said. “These concepts provide a natural organizational framework for the space while also distinguishing it as a unique open-air venue on the west coast.” Burton Studio has configured the renovated space with two special features that will speak to that idea.

The seating area will be terraced in a rhythmic fashion and shaped with a series of concentric arcs in order to elevate patrons and dramatically improve sight lines to the stage. The position of these new terraces also improves views of the surrounding bay and downtown skyline, allowing the venue to better engage its context and punctuate its waterfront location. Additionally, Burton Studio accented the venue perimeter with a sequence of internally lit customized benches. The benches will form a cadence of subtle beacons that welcome visitors and guides them along the new waterfront promenade with a soft glow. Burton focused the site design not only on the performance venue but also on an ethos of continuous public access and engagement with the rest of the park space. “The new pavilion will be a remarkable addition to the San Diego skyline, and we wanted to make sure that it is very approachable,” explained MacLeod. A new twelve-foot-wide pathway carries pedestrians along the water’s edge and completely around the performance venue. In order to strengthen the promenade’s connection to the southeast portion of the park, they reconfigured the plaza space adjacent to the fishing pier to provide a more generous circulation path along the water.

An angle of the symphony showing Coronado in the background (Photos courtesy Burton Studio) The path now flows more smoothly to the other park amenities, which include new fitness stations, an improved basketball court, picnic tables, and a number of new shade trees. “Looking at the venue itself, we endeavored to create iconic moments on the site that relate directly to the sculptural pavilion architecture,” said MacLeod. The rear portion of the pavilion embraces the “sunset steps,” which are accessible from the promenade on the west end of the site. These wide steps are open to the public and provide an exceptional waterfront opportunity to watch the sun sink below the horizon beyond our beautiful city. On the opposite end of the venue space Burton Studio took advantage of an opportunity afforded by the terraced landform of the venue seating area. They introduced a classical dual staircase that provides access to the top of

A side view of the future symphony

the seating area and is a sculptural backdrop in itself for a new plaza space. “Our hope is that this space becomes equally important as a stage for San Diegans to host gatherings, weddings, and to create memories that are rooted in this space for years to come.” As MacLeod explained, the waterfront location of the venue, while dramatic, is not unprecedented. What is unique is the way the space opens to the outdoors and its neighboring architecture. The San Diego climate provided a rare opportunity for the consultant team to develop this space into an incredibly connected experience along the waterfront. The bay will be a shimmering backdrop for guests seated within the venue as well as a textured mirror for the architecture when viewed from the water. The proximity of the San Diego skyline and the bobbing ship masts in the marina will add to

the drama of the venue and further identify it as uniquely of this city. “Upon completion, The Shell will truly be San Diego’s answer to the Sydney Opera House: a cultural icon and testament to our city’s commitment to the arts,” said MacLeod. Burton Studio is an acclaimed landscape architecture practice that has crafted numerous iconic projects across the globe. Their portfolio includes several significant destination projects, including the Montage, Laguna Beach; Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora; and Msheireb, the recently transformed central district of downtown Doha, Qatar. —Delle Willett has been a marketing and public relations professional for over 30 years, with an emphasis on conservation of the environment. She can be reached at dellewillett@gmail.com.

A rendering of the symphony main stage seating

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FASHION

San Diego Downtown News May 2020

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Modern fashion styling Fashion Files By DIANA CAVAGNARO Liese Hoffmire is a fashion stylist and the creative director for her business, Liese Victoria. Fashion styling can include working for individuals, fashion houses and brands of clothing. Hoffmire said of her day-to-day responsibilities, “I create concepts, storyboarding, coordinating teams, directing and producing editorials, look books, and catalog shoots.”

Hoffmire got started on the road to fashion because she wasn’t seeing any styles she liked. She began doing DYI projects and taking sewing classes in Seattle where she lived at the time. Although she was passionate about fashion, she was not good at sewing so she made the decision to go into merchandizing to work on visuals. She received a degree from Seattle Central College and was working at a printing press to supplement her income. When the crash came in 2008, she was laid off. She decided to take a

Working with team (Photo by Matt (Photo by Wendy W. Smith)

Doheny)

Liese Hoffmire (Photo by Natasha Hoffmire)

Photoshoot with Howard Max for the Salk Institute Fashion Gala (Courtesy photos)

break and moved to San Diego. Jumping back into fashion, she enrolled at Mesa College in the Visual Merchandising & Styling Program. At that time, she was fortunate to get her work experience with fashion icon Dame Zandra Rhodes. This was a great experience that taught her many things including fashion show production.

Photoshoot by Danny Suhendar for a fashion film he was creating as a project (Courtesy photos)

Among the favorite fashion events Hoffmire has worked, was a fashion show during ComicCon at Groom for Men, located Downtown. “This was one of my favorite fashion shows and I remember that people from the convention center would come in and watch. The biggest fashion shows were at The Headquarters at Seaport District. Red Carpet runways were set up in the open-air corridor surrounded by boutiques and specialty shops,” Hoffmire explained. As fashion stylist and creative director, she has done styling editorials with “FINE Magazine” and other publications such as “ENVI,” an online publication from Japan. In 2017, she decided to move back to Los Angeles and get her Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Merchandising online from Southern New Hampshire

Connecting generations through technology 2. Video Chat Video chat makes you feel as though everyone’s in the same room. Use apps like Skype or FaceTime to have a video conversation from virtually any device, and share life events such as graduations or weddings.

Four easy ways tech can help grandparents bond with younger family members Grandparents: a word often associated with presents, special outings, yummy food and unconditional love. Yet many Americans don’t talk to, or see, their grandparents as often as they’d like. Here are four ways technology can help you connect with your grandparents.

1. Messaging Apps A recent study revealed that 73% of grandparents own smartphones. Messaging apps like WhatsApp or Talkatone are a great introduction to texting for grandparents. With messaging apps, you can send and receive text updates, photos and videos in one place. When there’s time for a longer conversation, you can use these apps to chat for free, as most don’t use cell minutes.

3. Gaming and Creativity Apps Apps like Magisto and PhotoFunia allow you to personalize photos and videos. Looking for some friendly competition with your grandparents? Try a gaming app like Wheel of Fortune or Minecraft. Or keep your grandparents updated with an app like Keepy, an interactive platform for sharing school projects and artwork. Use family tree apps like Ancestry to discover photos and stories together as you navigate your family history.

4. Social Media Start a private Instagram account where you can post photos and videos. Grandparents have lots to share as well, so encourage them to make their own Instagram handles and record their stories. This can be a unique way to learn about your grandparents’ past, pass down family memories or share family recipes.

Snapchat is another option for sending and receiving custom pictures or videos with a variety of fun filters and lenses.

How to Help Your Grandparents Only 44% of grandparents identify as tech-savvy. Teaching non-tech-savvy family members how to use video chat and social media can be a bonding experience. You can also set your grandparents up with useful home features like the SURE Universal Remote, which allows them to control their TV and other devices from their smartphone. Less tech-savvy grandparents may not realize they can watch their cable TV content from their mobile device or schedule DVR recordings with apps like Cox Connect. Giving your elders the power to connect helps build relationships with the people you love most, and that’s priceless at any age.

(Photo by Wendy W. Smith)

University. Continuing on with her education, she received her Master’s Degree in Merchandising and Product Sustainability from the University of Arkansas. For the past five years she has been doing her favorite project which is the San Diego County Fair Fashion Show. Since then, she has worked on many memorable editorials. She remembered one project with photographer Danny Suhendar in Escondido. The models were shot to look like famous artists. It was intended to be for a gallery showing and included mixed media with painting images on canvas. Other memorable photo shoots were outdoors with photographer Natasha Hayes and one with fashion designer Territa Torres at Old Town. Hoffmire was the Creative Director for an extravagant event with the Salk Institute which was a collaboration between fashion designers and scientists. She worked with the models, hair and makeup for the photoshoot. Currently she is the senior stylist for the business Stitch Fix where she virtually styles men women, and children all around the US. The looks can be casual business to special occasion. She also has begun teaching merchandising courses at Mesa College. I asked Hoffmire what her favorite thing was about her job. She said, “I love the Team Work and Collaborating with other creative professionals”. For more information about this talented stylist visit her Instagram at @bellablankxo. —Diana Cavagnaro is an internationally renowned Couture Milliner based in Alpine, California. Learn more about our hat designer, teacher and blogger at DianaCavagnaro.com.

San Diego Downtown News FEATURE 5 May 2020 Librarians weigh in: What digital books to check out sdnews.com

KENDRA SITTON | Downtown & Uptown News

Last week, April 19-25, was National Library Week where people celebrate the great work libraries do in their communities to further literacy. While libraries are currently closed to the public, San Diego County Libraries and San Diego City Libraries have many resources online through the Libby app and Cloud Library. Both library systems are currently letting people apply for digital library cards during the pandemic so residents can access these online resources from laptops, phones, tablets and other devices. Even though librarians cannot make book recommendations in person right now, we checked in with them to find out what the community should be reading right now.

CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK (AGE 4-8)

“Who Wet my Pants?” by Bob Shea and Zachariah Ohora On a camping trip, a bear who would never admit to having a

bathroom accident accuses his animal friends of wetting his pants. Thankfully, the bear’s understanding camping companions accept him — accidents and all. Submitted by Karen E. Reilly, Branch Manager, Mission Valley Branch Library

MIDDLE GRADE NOVELS (AGES 8-12)

“Lalani of the Distant Sea” by Erin Entrada Kelly This cinematic novel feels like both a traditional folktale and contemporary story of resilience as Lalani--a smart, fatherless girl on a remote island-- struggles to save her village and her people from sickness and despair. Filled with magic, treacherous villains, and a difficult journey, “Lalani of the Distant Sea” will have young readers longing for an island of their own. Submitted by Karen E. Reilly, Branch Manager, Mission Valley Branch Library “Taran Wanderer” by Lloyd Alexander Taran, the assistant pig-keeper who wants to be a hero, goes

questing for knowledge of his parentage, hoping that his journey will ennoble him in the eyes of Eilonwy, the princess with the red-gold hair. Accompanied by several loyal friends, Taran begins his search when three wily enchantresses of the Marshes of Morva send him to consult the Mirror of Llunet for the answers he is seeking, cryptically promising that \”the finding takes no more than the looking.\” During his adventures he meets Craddoc, the shepherd, and the common people of Prydain, whom he comes to respect and admire. With their help, he continues his mission to learn the secret of the Mirror and the truth about himself. Submitted by Jennifer Geran, Branch Manager, City Heights/ Weingart Library

YOUNG ADULT

“Wilder Girls” by Rory Power Promoted as a thrilling YA page-turner, this book is a timely read for anyone who’s also been binge watching pandemic-themed shows on Netflix. Wilder Girls is

Ebook readers (Stock image provided by Mission Valley Library) about an all-girls boarding school that devolves into quarantined chaos after an unknown disease called “the Tox” rips through the school causing many painful mutations in the girls (i.e. gills, glowing hair, hands with scales). The main themes in the novel are the bonds of love and friendship between the protagonists, and the idea that waiting for someone to save you might not always be the best idea. Submitted by Sandy Chase, Youth Services Librarian, North Park Branch “Unwind” by Neal Shusterman In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would \”unwind\” them. Connor’s parents want to

be rid of him because he’s a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev’s unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family’s strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. In “Unwind,” Boston Globe/Horn Book Award winner Neal Shusterman challenges readers’ ideas about life — not just where life begins, and where it ends, but what it truly means to be alive. Submitted by Jennifer Geran, Branch Manager, City Heights/ Weingart Library SEE LIBRARY BOOKS, Page 8

OPINION Estate Planning during the coronavirus pandemic San Diego Downtown News May 2020

DAN WEINER | Attorney

Who will look after my kids if my partner and I are hospitalized with Covid-19? Who will make my health care decisions for me if I’m on a ventilator, sedated, and unable to make those decisions myself? Would I want to receive aggressive medical treatment in all circumstances? Who will pay my bills and manage my finances if I am on a ventilator? Who will inherit my money and assets if I pass away? As coronavirus continues its rampage confining us to our homes and causing unimaginable devastation to thousands of families, many of us feel a sense of urgency around these questions that was not the case before coronavirus. So many facets of our lives are beyond our control right now, but the answers to these questions are not. If we fail to answer them ourselves by making a plan, the State of California’s plan will be imposed on you.

That could mean that your relatives are fighting about who should be making your medical decisions and what kind of treatment you receive; your children could be raised by someone who you never would have chosen; a former spouse could inherit your retirement accounts because you forgot that they were named as beneficiary on those accounts. The only way to avoid unintended consequences is to plan ahead by making a will, possibly a trust, an advance health care directive and a financial power of attorney. But how can you accomplish this when the world has closed down? The answer to this really depends on your circumstances. If you’re single, have no children, and have very little in the way of assets, it may be that using online software to make a basic will, power of attorney and advance health care directive is all that you need. However, anyone that does not fit into the categories listed

How new runners can stay safe during COVID-19 STEVE STONEHOUSE | STRIDE San Diego

With millions of Americans going stir-crazy at home during quarantine, many are turning to running and walking as outlets for their physical and mental well-being. To get started on a new run or walk routine, here are some tips to stay safe while following the rules of social distancing. The first tip can be hard to fathom, but it is necessary and that’s no headphones. Whether it's cars, cyclists, other runners or bad guys, hearing what's going on around you is far too important to pass up. If you must have your music, which I completely understand, turn the speaker up on your phone and listen that way. The second piece of advice is if you have a dog, take them with you! When our routines change, so do the routines for our pets. The more exercise we can give our pets, the more equipped they'll be to handle the stress and anxiety of these unique times. Also, bad guys don't like to deal with dogs. They're loud and dangerous when they need to be, which is great for safety purposes. I may be in the minority here but I never like to wear a lot of reflective clothing or gear while I run. I completely understand the value of "standing out" if you run early in the morning or late at night,

but I always felt that I'd rather see you, and be able to get out of your way instead of drawing a lot of attention to myself and hoping you steer clear of me. I'd rather have that responsibility and control than giving it away. I don't want to scare everyone, but social distancing can make us vulnerable at times. Historically, we've been told "there's safety in numbers" (which is 100% true) and now we're in the unique situation that we're being told to "keep our distance" and "don't gather in groups". This confusion can cause us to make bad decisions if we're not careful. I think it's important that we focus on the "and," not the "or." It's definitely possible to run with a partner, spouse or friend and still keep six-to-10 feet from each other on the trails or road. Be smart, hold your friends and family accountable to staying healthy. The roads and trails are big enough for all of us to stay healthy, stay fit and stay at a distance. —Steve Stonehouse was brought on to the corporate STRIDE team in September of 2019 to scale the in-studio experience, design the STRIDE run coach certification and overall coach T&D. He is currently the director of education for STRIDE San Diego.

above should work with an attorney. Continuing with the retirement accounts example, you may decide to make a Will online leaving your retirement accounts to your children rather than your ex-spouse. Without the benefit of legal advice, you would not know that your retirement accounts will go to your ex-spouse, regardless of what your Will says. If they are named as beneficiary on the accounts, that will trump what it says in your Will. DIY estate planning is riddled with pitfalls such as that one. If you decide you need to work with an attorney, what are your options now that many estate planning attorneys are not able to meet with clients due to the current social distancing restrictions? Our firm is one of many that has converted to a fully virtual practice almost overnight. All of our planning sessions are held via Zoom. Signing meetings take place in clients’ driveways; everyone wears masks and gloves

and maintains social distancing protocols. Prior to the pandemic we were holding regular live presentations to educate the community about the risks of failing to plan. We have now switched to bi-weekly webinars. These are designed to give you all of the knowledge and information that you need to empower you to put an estate plan in place that will protect your family and give you peace of mind. Details of our upcoming webinars can be found at DRWevents.com. It can feel very confronting to tackle head on issues that most of us would rather not think about. One of my clients is an emergency medicine physician who is on the front-line treating patients suffering with Covid-19. We expedited his plan for him given the circumstances. He summed up what this is all about in three words: peace of mind. —Dan Weiner is a licensed attorney who runs an estate planning practice.

America’s forgotten epidemic MARCEL GEMME | Addicted.org

Before COVID-19, substance abuse was the most significant public health emergency in America for over a decade. Our country poured massive amounts of funding into prevention and treatment programs, and overdose deaths were the statistics that plastered the headlines. But throughout the last couple of months, the conversation has shifted more and more to the coronavirus, to the point where it's virtually the only topic covered. America's drug epidemic has fallen by the wayside. Unfortunately, this is only true as far as the media is concerned. In truth, the drug epidemic is raging on, perhaps worse than ever, with the arrival of the coronavirus. But everything is happening so fast with COVID-19 that we don't have all the data in yet. There have been, however, a few startling things that have emerged so far. Several communities have reported spikes in drug overdose deaths, sparking concern among officials, and prompting some people to speak out on behalf of those struggling with addiction. The coroner's office in Columbus, Ohio, saw 12 overdose deaths within 24 hours recently. In Jacksonville, Florida, the fire and rescue department reported a 20% increase in emergency calls related to drug overdoses. And four counties in New York so far have acknowledged increases in overdose deaths since the beginning of March.

The reason for this increase in substance abuse is likely the increase in stressors that COVID-19 brings. The Disaster Distress Hotline, a crisis hotline run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, experienced a 338% increase in call volume between February and March. Compared to March of 2019, they're at an 891% increase. With an unemployment rate higher than the Great Depression and the health and financial hardships American's are experiencing, it's not hard to imagine why the stress exists for many. People cope with stress differently, and for some, especially those with a history of substance abuse, that can mean using drugs or alcohol. Researchers at USC are raising concern over the sharply increased sales of alcohol since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Sales for alcoholic beverages rose by 55% in late March when compared to last year's sales for the same period. This increase was especially true of online sales, given social distancing measures. Of course, we can't track illicit drug consumption in this manner, but it is definitely possible it has increased too. So, this factor of COVID-19 increasing substance abuse rates makes the problem clear. But it's only half of the problem. The other half is that those who use drugs are at higher risk from COVID-19. Should they contract it, their immune systems are less SEE EPIDEMIC, Page 7

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EDITOR Kendra Sitton

WEB / SOCIAL MEDIA Kendra Sitton

kendra@sdnews.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jeff Clemetson x130 Tom Melville x131 Dave Schwab x 132 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Diana Cavagnaro Steve Doster Marcel Gemme Dave Schwab Summer Stephan Steve Stonehouse Dan Weiner Sandee Wilhoit Delle Willett

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Mike Rosensteel (619) 961-1958 miker@sdnews.com Heather Fine, x107 BUSINESS CONSULTANT David Mannis (619) 961-1951 david@sdcnn.com ACCOUNTING Heather Humble x120 accounting@sdnews.com PUBLISHER Julie Main x106 julie@sdnews.com

OPINIONS/LETTERS: San Diego Downtown News encourages letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please email either 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: Press releases and story ideas are welcomed. 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. DISTRIBUTION: San Diego Downtown News is distributed free on the first Friday of every month. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.

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POLITICS / OPINION Tips to stay safe in the age of remote working Epidemic sdnews.com

District Attorney News By SUMMER STEPHAN As more people than ever are working remotely because of the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, the cyber protection typically offered by the office computer is lacking. Hackers know this and are working overtime to access vulnerable computers. That’s why it’s important to be aware of cyber hygiene and how we can improve and safeguard our personal computers. Working from home can present unexpected challenges, such as we saw with ‘Zoombombing,’ when bad actors hacked into Zoom video conference meetings to cause trouble. When using telework/remote conference applications, make sure it has robust security features and that those features are enabled so that unwanted people don’t show up in your remote meetings. Below are tips to help you maintain computer safety. Strengthen your personal security: • Always use a strong password. Hint: not the name of your pet or children. Instead, use a combination of letters upper and lower case, numbers and symbols. • Have anti-virus software on all devices. • Safeguard home Wi-Fi by having the network encrypted with the WPA2 security option. Instructions on how to do this on your home network can be found online through a simple web search. • Never use a public Wi-Fi network to complete job assignments. • Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to further protect your home network. Some employers may even have corporate VPNs that you may use to access your company network.

• If your company has a VPN, personal or sensitive information

always use it. • If possible, keep your personal devices separate from the devices used for remote work. • U s e M o b i l e D e v i c e Management software so that you can remotely wipe or delete sensitive information if the device is stolen or lost. • Always be vigilant when working with sensitive information. Look around your workspace and block any sight lines from nearby windows or hallways. Keep your computer and other devices up to date: • You may be used to having your work computer updated by the office IT department, however, with your personal computer only you are responsible for keeping it up to date. • Be sure that all your computer’s programs are up to date and that all your devices have the latest security patches. • All other devices, like routers and tablets, should be up to date as well so that your home network can be thoroughly safeguarded from hackers. • Encrypt removable media on your devices so that they can be protected in case the device is stolen or lost. Use two-factor authentication: • Two-factor authentication is when a website or app has the user enter two passwords to log in. One password may be a normal password you enter at a login screen and the second may be random number code sent to your smart phone or a fingerprint scan. • If you have the option to use two-factor authentication, always use it. Avoid Phishing Scams: • A phishing scam is when a fraudster attempts to use an email or text message to try to obtain

from you. • Be observant when you receive an unexpected email or text message. Scammers often send emails or text messages that look like they’re legitimate, even posing as a coworker or supervisor. • If you get an email from a co-worker asking you click on a link or transfer sums of money, call the co-worker to verify before acting. • Never click links in unsolicited emails or text messages. • Do not give out personal identifying information in response to an unsolicited email, text message, or phone call. • Look out for spelling mistakes, suspicious email/web addresses, and immediacy. Most phishing scams try to instill a sense of immediacy and panic to scam you into acting. As many of us are now working from home, it’s all the more important to practice good cyber hygiene so you can be sure that your remote office is safe as your real office. —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.

San Diego Downtown News May 2020

CONTINUED FROM Page 6

capable of fighting off the virus. Substance abuse also leads to secondary health conditions that increase the risk of mortality from the virus. Those who use drugs sometimes smoke them or smoke cigarettes or vape. This habit means their lung function is compromised. With the virus attacking the lungs, they have a higher likelihood of having complications and requiring hospitalization or even death should they contract it. We're also discovering that treatment services for substance abuse are the virtual antithesis of social distancing. Rehabs are either vacant or are wondering what to do, and the people who need treatment services are in a catch-22 about whether they should risk entering

treatment or continuing to use drugs. Individuals depending on medication like Suboxone and Methadone have been given up to a month's worth of medicine to take home. Due to Coronavirus, clinics abandoned standard practice of administering daily doses to prevent abuse, giving people the opportunity to use more drugs and risk dying. COVID-19 is a real threat, but let's not forget about America's drug epidemic. —Marcel Gemme has been helping people struggling with substance abuse for over 20 years. He first started as an intake counselor for a drug rehabilitation center in 2000. With drug and alcohol problems constantly on the rise he utilized his website, Addicted.org, and community outreach as a way to spread awareness. His primary focus is threefold: education, prevention and rehabilitation.

Quote of the week Newspapers continue to reign supreme, however, in the delivery of local news. If you want to know what’s going on in your town — whether the news is about the mayor or taxes or high school football — there is no substitute for a local newspaper that is doing its job. A reader’s eyes may glaze over after they take in a couple of paragraphs about Canadian

tariffs or political developments in Pakistan; a story about the reader himself or his neighbors will be read to the end. Wherever there is a pervasive sense of community, a paper that serves the special informational needs of that community will remain indispensable to a significant portion of its residents. —Warren Buffet

San Diego Downtown News May 2020

Library books CONTINUED FROM Page 5

FEATURE / HISTORY / FINANCE Not exactly the favorite son! SANDEE WILHOIT

“Call Down the Hawk,” by Maggie Stiefvater This turbulent and haunting novel focuses on three brothers — Declan, Ronan, and Matthew Lynch — and their intricate family of secrets. The middle brother, Ronan, is a dreamer — a young man with the incredible talent of pulling things from his dreams and turning them into realities. Meanwhile, a mysterious group prophecies that these dreamers will bring about the end of the world and secretly begins to hunt them. A large cast of characters and epic plot make this novel impossible to put down. Submitted by Karen E. Reilly, Branch Manager, Mission Valley Branch Library

ADULT

“Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi Gyasi takes a critical look at the participation of West African tribes during the 19th century slave trade and follows that impact through the descendants of half-sisters Esi and Effia; two women with vastly different life experiences. I feel like this is one of those novels, rooted in our tragic history, that everyone should read. Submitted by Sandy Chase, Youth Services Librarian, North Park Branch

“Girl Waits With Gun” by Amy Stewart Constance Kopp and her sisters are oddities in their 1914 New Jersey community: unmarried, managing their own farm, and trying to avoid entanglements with their neighbors. But when a wealthy local bully tries to extort money from them, Constance comes into her own, learning to fire a gun and ultimately getting work as a then unheard-of “lady cop.” Submitted by Karen E. Reilly, Branch Manager, Mission Valley Branch Library “My Man Jeeves” by P.G. Wodehouse Who can forget our beloved gentleman’s personal gentleman, Jeeves, whoever comes to the rescue when the hapless Bertie Wooster falls into trouble. “My Man Jeeves” is sure to please anyone with a taste for pithy buffoonery, moronic misunderstandings, gaffes, and aristocratic slapstick. Submitted by Jennifer Geran, Branch Manager, City Heights/Weingart Library “Simple Organizing Wisdom: 500+ Quick and Easy Clutter Cures” by Good Housekeeping This book has many welcome nocost tips for purging, straightening and storing your belongings, so that your home goes from chaotic stress-maker to visually peaceful oasis. Submitted by Karen E. Reilly, Branch Manager, Mission Valley Branch Library

Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation

David Llewelyn, a Welsh immigrant, arrived in San Diego in 1869, and like many others, immediately set out to make his fortune. Quite successful, he built and operated a number of stores, including several cigar emporiums. When he died in 1896, he left his son William only $10, and left the remainder of his estate to his daughter, Hannah Elizabeth Allen, making her a “woman of means.” Perhaps sensing his father’s favoritism, William had already partnered up with E.M. Rankin, and the pair operated a brick kiln, which supplied thousands of bricks for local construction in the 1870s and 1880s. In 1884, William acquired the property on 5th Avenue from James Findla. He began construction of the Llewelyn building in late 1887. Although the architect is unknown, the architecture is unique in the Gaslamp, as it is the only building sporting French Provincial characteristics. Those include a Mansard roof and highly arched windows with ornately carved moldings and elaborate cornices. Mansard roofs have slopes on four sides and sit on a flat foundation. The arches and cornices were constructed of pressed metal and the windows, four on each side of the building, were double sashed. The three-story building itself was constructed of brick bearing walls on a concrete foundation with no basement. Llewelyn Building 1887 722 - 728 5th Avenue Architectural Style - Victorian/ French Province Architect – Unknown

There is, however, a crawl space beneath the first floor. The elaborate roofline features intricately carved lentils, and includes a large lightwell (skylight) opening to the second floor to provide illumination and ventilation. On the ground floor, a large central doorway led to a central staircase. The door and interior window trim were molded redwood. The interior doors were hinged, although some of the larger rooms also had pocket doors. Ceilings on the second and third floors are 14-feet high. The building originally incorporated gas lighting. When the structure opened, William Llewelyn installed a shoe store, which he operated until 1906. The building, which was constructed for “general merchandising,” included as early tenants the San Diego Trucking Company, two architects: Mr. Pare and Mr. Kennedy, Bachman and Hooker — cement construction, and a cigar store. In 1906, Anker Western Wear founded their company in the building, and remained until May 1, 1973. In 1906, the upstairs levels were converted to a series of hotels. The first hotel was the Dunlop. In 1915, Llewelyn sold the southern half of the building to Mrs. Emma R. Southerland. Unfortunately, each hotel that followed the Dunlop became more and more unsavory, and by 1917, the current hotel, the Louis Hotel, was known as a “cat house.” When charges were brought against Southerland as the owner, she said she did not own a “cat house,” promptly tried to have the charges dropped. The tenant manager, Mrs. Ollie Thomas, was told to leave. George M. Sears, the police officer who originally filed the suit testified that the Louis Hotel had a general reputation as a “house of ill-fame and a house where prostitution

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The Llewelyn Building (Photo by Tim Trevaskis) was allowed and encouraged.” He went on to state that tenants such as Myrtle Allen and Josephine Alvarado, who had been arrested for prostitution twice before, continued to live there. After much more testimony, Judge C. N. Anderson ordered the two owners, Llewelyn and Southerland, “to absolutely desist and refrain from using the said premises for purpose of lewdness or prostitution, and from permitting such a nuisance on said premises.” In 1919, Southerland sold her interest in the property. Llewelyn died in 1921, and left the property to his wife, Mrs. Emily Llewelyn. Sadly, the Louis was followed by the Coronado Hotel, the Welcome Hotel and the Utah Hotel, and the illicit activities continued. The downstairs storefronts became the Aztec Bar (closed due to abatement of nuisance), a pawnbroker, a loan office, the Telephone Bar and Wimpey’s Café. When Anker Western Wear moved out in 1973, that space became the Lux Adult Theater. An unfortunate downward slide for such a lovely building! Still lovely, but now very notorious. In the latter 1970s, the late Zondra Schmidt, a Gaslamp pioneer, purchased the building

and operated the hotel, now called the Neptune, as a low-income residential facility. She later recounted her surprise when opening what she thought to be a storage area and finding many, many lockers. Apparently, the property had also been a “locker club,” where servicemen could keep and change into civilian clothes when they came to enjoy the various types of entertainment that the then Stingaree had to offer! The Llewelyn went through an extensive restoration in 1981, and then opened its doors as a hostel catering to international travelers upstairs, and a restaurant on the street level. In 1992, Osteria Panevino opened its doors at the location, and bills itself as the oldest restaurant in the new Gaslamp. Adjoining it on part of the original property is another popular restaurant, Asti. USA Hostels continues to operate upstairs. These elegant restaurants and lively hostel do much to mitigate the notorious reputation of this grand old building! —Sandee Wilhoit is the historian at the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation. She can be reached at swilhoit@gaslampfoundation.org.

College Financial Aid during coronavirus pandemic Uptown Money By STEVE DOSTER As college students are finishing up this semester at home, many are beginning to think about how to pay for college next fall and spring. Millions of people lost their jobs or their businesses were shut down. Parents are struggling to pay the bills. Making matters worse, financial aid is based on your family’s income from two years ago. This means the financial aid you qualified for is most likely not enough based on your income today. There is hope! You can appeal to get more financial aid after experiencing job loss or decreased income. With the coronavirus

pandemic, many parents and students are in this situation. Call the college financial aid office right away. Let them know about your income changes and ask about the appeal process for more financial aid. Typically, you will need to write an appeal letter explaining your circumstances and why you require more financial aid. Be specific and concise, outlining dates you lost your job or had to close your business and the amount of financial impact to your family. Gather documentation such as copies of layoff notices, medical/dental bills, bank and brokerage account statements. Include this documentation with your appeal letter. Focus on the financial impact to your situation. Don’t ask for a specific increased amount of financial aid.

Allow the financial aid office to determine the amount. Be polite! College financial aid administrators make the decisions on these appeals. Be sure to thank them. We are all in a tough spot working from home and under abnormal conditions. Financial aid administrators are in the same boat as the rest of us. During your initial call to the financial aid office, inquire about grants from the CARES Act and how their college is going to award this money to students. The CARES Act included $14 billion in funding for colleges called the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). Some colleges are giving the same amount to each student, while other colleges are distributing these monies on an emergency aid

basis. Find out how your college is handling the money they receive from the CARES Act. Your college financial aid office needs to know that you have been impacted by this pandemic and that you are need of additional financial aid. Otherwise, they will not know your financial situation has changed and will help those they do know about. Contact them today! —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 www.rowling.com/blog.

NEWS

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San Diego Downtown News May 2020

Rent protest CONTINUED FROM Page 1

“I feel like we shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent with our unemployment check and buying food or necessities,” explained Veronica Marquez. “It’s impacted all of us personally.” The protest on Saturday, April 25 brought together between 25-40 cars to drive through Downtown San Diego with signs calling for rent cancellation. It was part of a national day of action organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL). Other groups in San Diego such as the San Diego Tenants Union have also called for a rent strike but were not a part of the caravan. Landlord groups including the Southern California Rental Housing Association have publicly opposed the rent strike, saying it would harm rental property workers and affect the housing supply.

The caravan begins (Photos be Kendra Sitton)

Anzy speaks about the group’s demands.

Unlike other weekend protests against the orders meant to mitigate the damage of the pandemic, these protesters supported safety measures but want additional action to make it financially possible for people to stay home. They also tried to maintain social distancing by keeping households in separate cars and only having two designated

late fees. Housing advocates are worried this will eventually lead to an eviction backlog amid San Diego’s already-present housing crisis once the moratorium is lifted, a worry echoed by Marquez. “To expect us to pay several months’ worth of rent, when this is all over is sort of unacceptable. We’re not going to be able to come up with that kind of money,” Marquez said. Other countries have already taken radical action during this unprecedented crisis. Italy forbade banks from accepting mortgages and Canada has instituted a Universal Basic Income (UBI). Many countries also have healthcare for all, whereas sickened Americans face potential hospital bills. The protest called for the government to go further in helping people survive the economic fallout of coronavirus. “We want you to know that in the wealthiest country in the world, we know that this is

Police officers discuss the protesters plans. No citations were issued during the caravan.

people with PPE tape signs to all the cars. “Rent takes up probably a third to a half of everybody’s income for one of the most essential things that we need to survive — a house, especially now during a public health crisis. It wasn’t hard to see that once people started being laid off, this became the central struggle,” said spokesperson Juliana Musheyev. Rent cancellation means for a set amount of time, tenants would be rent free and not accrue debt. At no point would they need to pay back the missed months of payments, unlike under the eviction moratorium. This policy would, at least in proposals supported by PSL San Diego, also include mortgage cancellation so homeowners and small landlords would also have relief. Currently, the only coronavirus-related rent protections in the City of San Diego are an eviction moratorium and suspension of

Designated people taped signs on each of the cars

Some protesters brought their own signs with messages, in this case to support hazard pay for essential workers

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possible. What we’re demanding, although it seems radical and unprecedented, we know that it’s possible because things that have happened in the last few weeks — we never thought they could happen,” Musheyev said. Last week, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar introduced a bill that would cancel rent and mortgage payments for a year with a relief fund for landlords. With the bill unlikely to be approved in the Senate or by President Trump, local organizers are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to institute the policy in California. “They’ve been forced to provide us with nominal protections like the moratorium on evictions. We are here today to express that this is not enough to protect people in unstable housing situations. More action is urgently needed,” said Anzy, a protest organizer, in a rousing speech to attendees before the caravan left. She chose to keep her last name off the record for fear of doxxing. Nearly a third of Americans, 31%, did not pay rent between April 1 and April 5, according to data from the National Multifamily Housing Council. Since then, unemployment has only increased. With May here and another rent payment due, tenants stand to fall further behind. More caravan protests are planned from other organizations on Friday, May 1. —Kendra Sitton can be reached at kendra@sdnews.com.

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NEWS sdnews.com Despite decreased ridership, group says continuing mass public transit is crucial for essential workers San Diego Downtown News May 2020

essential workers in the region According to Circulate San commute to work every day by Diego, a regional nonprofit tranAt an April 23 joint remote public transportation. sit advocate, nearly 25% of the press conference, Circulate San Essential Transit uses Census region's essential workers do not Diego and Metropolitan Transit data to analyze how much of the own a vehicle and 30% of San System argued mass transit is San Diego region’s transit rider- Diego County's highway maincritical to getting essential work- ship comprises essential workers tenance workers rely on public ers to their jobs while adding bus and finds that 35 percent of usu- transit daily. and trolley service will continue al transit ridership are essential “Our report identifies that esduring the pandemic, though at workers. The report noted those sential workers of all categories reduced levels. 16,000 essential workers com- continue to rely on public tranThe conference came in re- prise 35% of those who normally sit,” said Colin Parent, Circulate sponse to a white paper report re- commute aboard MTS and North San Diego’s executive director. leased that day by Circulate San County Transit District vehicles, He added, “Special trips that are Diego, which found nearly 16,000 according to La pre-pandemic data. necessary by people and workers 20SDG16324_Pipeline Safety Print Ad__SDCNN Mesa__RUN: 03_27_20__1/2V 4C__TRIM: 6.1” x 10.96” DAVE SCHWAB | Downtown & Uptown News

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to hospitals, work, and other essential jobs are happening on transit.” MTS is the public transit service provider for Central, South, Northeast, and Southeast San Diego County. MTS Marketing director Rob Schupp noted MTS buses, post-pandemic, are carrying less than a third of the usual ridership, and the trolley is carrying 60% fewer riders than usual. “MTS is really fortunate to have a great leader, Nathan Fletcher, and a mayor who have been outstanding in giving direction to make sure our essential services continue,” said Schupp adding, “We’ve taken a tremendous hit on our ridership.” “We were doing really well, making all the right moves to get ridership back,” added Schupp. “This is devastating for all of us, but we’re going to continue to provide ridership to 70,000 workers a day getting to work and making special trips. Our priority really has been to keep our riders safe and our operators employed.” Noting buses now utilize reardoor boarding with no cash accepted by masked and gloved bus drivers, Schupp pointed out no bus

or trolley lines will be cut, while admitting service reductions will translate into longer wait times, while still getting people to essential services. Circulate’s Parent said their report was put out to inform the public about the facts of trolley ridership to counter those saying “Let’s shut everything down.” Noting he believes “social distancing is going to remain with us for a while,” Schupp said, “Right now we’re doing all we can to make sure that only essential trips are being taken, and that our vehicles are being sanitized.” Schupp admitted there were some difficulties initially in responding to the COVID-19 crisis which has since been overcome. “We’ve had difficulty getting masks for all of our drivers, that’s been a struggle,” he said. “But we have enough of supply now to get us through quite a while. We’re looking in the future to providing lots of hand sanitizer. We’re really encouraging people to wear masks or bandanas that really covers your nose and mouth.” —Dave Schwab can be reached at reporter@sdnews.com.

The 215 route is typically one of the busiest bus routes in San Diego but has decreased ridership since the pandemic began. (Photo by Kendra Sitton)

You can also stay safe by knowing the signs of a gas leak: See-Hear-Smell. If you suspect a gas leak: immediately evacuate the area and call 1-800-411-7343 or 911 from a safe place. Your safety is our highest priority.

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San Diego Downtown News FEATURE May 2020 11 15th annual youth photography Preschool teacher delivers exhibition deadline extended sunflowers to students sdnews.com

photography and be recognized St. Vincent de Paul Preschool has had to dissolve its program for their talents. and lay off teachers, but have The San Diego Museum of “We understand that the proPhotographic Arts (MOPA) has cess of being juried in and then managed to stay connected in new extended its deadline for submis- that exhibited in the museum ways. Teachers have been maksions to its Annual Juried Youth has really given [the youth] a lot ing videos of themselves reading Exhibition to May 22 due to the of confidence in their artwork and books aloud and providing tips coronavirus. MOPA typically their vision and their voice,” Lane like how to wash hands. Spanish works with teachers who are ad- said. She explained that many stujusting to distance learning and dents in school have always had may not have had time to submit the same sounding board: their at the previous deadline. peers, parents and teachers “who are always telling them that they’re talented and you should be doing this more. They are built up in these c o m mu n it i e s , which is fantastic, but what’s really exciting about the youth ex h ibition at MOPA, is it proA photograph in last year’s juried youth exhibition. vides a platform Rayann Velanzuela, “Crescendo,” 14, Bonita Vista High beyond t hat. School. (Photo courtesy MOPA) They’re getting recognition for “Everything else we’ve kind of their work from people they don’t changed at this point is just open- know and that are also in the widing it up to be more accessible to er art world in the community. I allow people more time, because think that it’s a huge confidence everybody is navigating around builder for them.” some pretty difficult things right In addition to the youth exnow so we wanted to make sure hibition, some of the youth proto provide ample time for people,” grams have been moved online. explained Chantal Lane, who is On MOPA’s Facebook page, they overseeing the exhibition. are uploading a youth-oriented Lane launched the exhibition in video that is less than 10 minutes 2006 before leaving the museum long each week covering a topic a couple years later. She returned or activity that requires no spefive years ago as the museum’s cial equipment so creatives can manager of youth and visitor en- be stimulated at home. Find these gagement and has been leading videos at facebook.com/MoPASD/. the program again. It was important to Lane and the museum —Editor Kendra Sitton can be to continue the event in its 15th reached at kendra@sdnews.com. year. Because of the milestone anniversary, the theme for this year How To Reduce Potential Quarreling Among Your Beneficiaries is “Growing Up.” By: Dick McEntyre and Chris von der Lieth, Attorneys at Law “We were thinking about how As unfortunate as it is, the beneficiaries of this program has changed and one’s estate often wrangle over the disposition of the property the decedent has passed on -transitioned and grown up over sometimes even to the point where they become the last 15 years. It inspired estranged from each other. this idea and we’re wanting the While such dissension may never be entirestudents to think about what it ly eliminated (the desire for acquisition is in our human nature), it may be muted by our means to grow up — the differdoing the following: its sale) to each of several beneficiaries -- for ent ways to think about it or give (1) “Spell out” in your trust or will the indi- example -- “an equal value of your tangible perus kind of a snapshot into their viduals who are to receive particular items of sonal property to each child,” specify in your your real or personal property -- that is, to the trust or will that such property is to be journey of growing up,” Lane said. extent you have specific desires as to any such appraised, and then divided, piece by piece, The exhibition is juried by exproperty. In this connection, it may be of future based upon that value -- perhaps with the perts and selected photographs help if you advise each of your beneficiaries added provisions that the successor trustee of now what he or she is to receive in the future. If your trust or executor of your will is to take will be on display at the Balboa you don’t tell them now, surprises later can lead into account in such distribution the particular Park-based museum, although to a big dispute. For example, one of your chil- preference(s) of any beneficiary as to a particthere are plans to make it virtual dren may even later question your competency ular item(s) of such property, with the trustee if need be. The exhibition is also in making the gift you did, or challenge your or executor to make the ultimate determinadisposition as being made under the undue tion. In this connection, where you don’t want being postponed past its usual influence of one of your other children. such trustee or executor to have to carry the opening in the fall. The extensive (2) Where you do not have a specific objec- burden of having to make any particular allojuried process is done by artists tive as to whom should receive any particular cation of such property, you could provide that item of property, be sure to give the successor all such beneficiaries would have to come to a connected to the museum and trustee of your trust or executor of your will mutual agreement as to who gets what, before other experts whose experience the right and power to sell such property and such property would be distributed. aligns with the theme. Last year, distribute the proceeds. There’s no perfect solution to prevent the occur(3) Where your concern is to give an “equal rence of dissension among beneficiaries, but a neuroscientist was brought on value” in the property itself (not proceeds from implementing the above suggestions could help. to jury the “Dreamscape”-themed works. The jurors are given a ratThe above statements are not to be taken as legal advice for the reader’s particular situation. Richard F. McEntyre practices law in the area of estate planning and administration, having served the San Diego ing system for photographs based community as a lawyer for over 40 years. Chris von der Lieth is Dick’s associate lawyer, having worked with on certain criteria before a final Dick for over 6 years. Affordable rates. Highest quality services. House calls available. selection process. Our office is conveniently located at 2615 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 101 (in Mission Valley just The exhibition is a way for loeast of Bully’s restaurant) (Telephone (619) 221-0279); www.richardfmcentyre.com. cal youth to think creatively about KENDRA SITTON | Uptown News

lessons, prayers, and meetings have been moved to Zoom so students can interact in real time. In addition, one preschool teacher kept the spring growth project for the 4-and-5-year-old Viking class going even though it was interrupted by the closure

of the school. Despite her job loss, she took it upon herself to keep the seedlings growing and then after a few weeks of growth, delivered them to each of her 23 students. Here are photos of the children with their growing sunflowers.

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sdnews.com

Then hospitals began requesting the masks and volunteers delivered hundreds. Since then, the group has expanded their reach to anyone in the community who comes to pick up masks. The Little Saigon Association is able to make and distribute hundreds of masks per day using an all-volunteer network and without raising any funds. All material to make the masks is donated. Volunteers with a variety of experience levels turn material dropped off at their door into masks. Those masks are then left outside for a different group of volunteers to pick up and bring to the business center in Little Saigon where the masks can be distributed. Free masks To pick up 1-9 free masks, stop by 3412 Central Ave. To receive more than 10 masks, email Contact@LittleSaigonSanDiego.org

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Two leaders in the Little Saigon Association are coordinating the pickup and distribution by text, phone, Facebook and email each day. Although their time has been busy, Su Nguyen said the community has come together in a way he has never seen before which has filled him with hope.

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KIDS

San Diego Downtown News May 2020

Camps

sdnews.com

Join Junior Theatre virtually this summer and experience the wonderful world of Performing Arts! Campers will participate in acting, dance, singing & specialty classes during week-long online sessions all summer. Musical Theatre and Advanced Acting conservatory camps are also available. To register or for a list of camp dates, descriptions & pricing visit juniortheatre.com or email registration@juniortheatre.com.

Summer Explorers at Gillispie Gillispie School invites all students to join it's exciting 2020 Summer Explorers Program filled with exploration and discovery! To keep your child fully engaged in purposeful learning and warm-weather fun, Gillispie Summer Explorers offers an 8-week Parent Toddler Exploration Program (PTEP) for children ages 20-36 months and moms/ dads/caregivers, an exciting, weekly Early Childhood Camp for students ages 3-4, and a diverse array of Elementary Camp Classes for kids in Grades K-6. Elementary camp class offerings are held in one-week sessions and include gradelevel readiness, LEGO construction, robotics, arts & crafts, music, swimming, theater, engineering, sports, and more. For more information, contact Summer Explorers Director Erica Hurley at summer@gillispie.org or (858) 459-3773.

FEATURE

sdnews.com

San Diego Downtown News May 2020

Whitburn CONTINUED FROM Page 1

that eventually resulted in reforms at SD Pride. Outside of his formal work in news media, communications, and nonprofit leadership, Whitburn has been heavily involved in the community. He was elected as the vice chair of the North Park Planners and has served on several boards. He was a part of the city’s medical marijuana taskforce and helped expand the city’s landmark Human Dignity Ordinance protections to include more than just gay and lesbian people. “Our amendment coalition succeeded in also adding protections for people who are transgender. I've always been proud that we were able to accomplish that,” Whitburn said. He has been on other LGBT advisory groups, including for Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Sheriff Bill Gore. This is not Whitburn’s first run for City Council. In 2008, he lost to Todd Gloria in the general election. Whitburn said, “I was unsuccessful that time but my feelings about the issues, about wanting to support the community have never faded, they have always been there.”

COMMUNICATIONS BACKGROUND A major flaw Whitburn sees in city government is the breaks in communication between officials and residents. Projects that could benefit the community face opposition because community members were not consulted in the early stages of planning. “One of the things that I think hasn't happened in San Diego is city government really soliciting and respecting the opinions of

Stephen Whitburn with supporters holding signs. Note: this photo is from before social distancing practices began. (Courtesy photos) neighborhood residents prior to making decisions. I’ve seen that happen over and over again in the last 20 years,” he explained. “I am really committed to working very closely with District 3 residents to make sure that decisions are made collaboratively with neighborhoods. I think that will solve a lot of our problems.” To that end, he is already trying to make himself available to community members. His personal cell phone is listed on his campaign website and many community members have already reached out to him. Advocates in Golden Hill brought him to several community meetings because of their concern about a 24-hour liquor store being added to a “troubled” intersection. Surprisingly, Whitburn said no one has misused or trolled his phone number and he intends to keep it available to the public if he is elected. “I really am happy when people have a question or if someone wants to let me know about a concern that they have in their neighborhood,” he said. Whitburn comes across as warm and open when he talks to people, often turning conversations to focus on the voter rather

than himself. When coronavirus began to spread in the area, he helped care for a friend who tested positive for the virus. Whitburn developed flu-like symptoms of his own but was not tested because his fever went away within a few days. That he is the type of person who would care for someone without health insurance with a life-threatening virus will probably not surprise people who have interacted with him on the campaign trail.

PRIORITIES

Even with promises to communicate with neighborhoods, there will be cuts in city services due to budget shortfalls that will not please everybody. To address that, Whitburn emphasized that San Diego needs to lean on funds from the federal government at this time, although the $248 million provided to the city under the CARES Act are supposed to only go towards direct relief for the coronavirus, not budget deficits. Even whether that money can be used for efforts like housing homeless individuals in the Convention Center is still unclear. With budget cuts ahead, Whitburn believes public safety is a top priority for the city.

“We have to maintain our public safety, our police, our fire and other essential services like that,” he said. Beyond that, he agrees with the city looking into reducing hours at community centers, libraries and reducing tree trimming. “None of that is good, those are all very important, but don't rise to the level of making sure we have public safety.” In addition, he said addressing homelessness by connecting people to housing and services is still a top priority. “We have always had a moral obligation to help our brothers and sisters who are suffering on the streets,” Whitburn said. “All of those priorities remain the same. The challenge of course is going to be funding them because of the loss of revenue to COVID-19. We’re gonna really lean on the federal government.” Even when San Diego had a strong economy with low unemployment, Whitburn campaigned on bringing good jobs to the city. He noted that District 3 has more restaurants than any other part of the city, so has been harmed by the shutdown, even though it was the right thing to do for public health. Other major employers

like hotels, the San Diego Zoo, the Convention Center and the airport have less revenue. “Recovery is going to start here in District 3 and I'm ready to help lead the city through this challenging time,” Whitburn said. “I'm ready to get to work and really try to help our city recover from this.” —Kendra Sitton can be reached at kendra@sdnews.com.

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San Diego Downtown News May 2020

City Heights CONTINUED FROM Page 12

“We care for each other. We love each other,” Nguyen said. “I see Mexican people coming here [picking up] masks for their coworkers. I see African American people come here and bring the fabric to donate to the organization. Some people bring food to help volunteers.”

WHAT’S THE BUZZ

The City Heights Town Council is doing several things to support residents during the crisis. “Since City Heights is one of the more overlooked communities, I would say, in San Diego, it’s especially important for us to act as that liaison between the San Diego City Council and the neighborhood,” Chardae Jones, a board member, said. The Town Council is able to connect residents to services or government officials. For instance, Jones reached out to the Office of Council member Georgette Gomez on behalf of a woman without internet access or an email to City Heights Town Council The next City Heights Town Council is on Tuesday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m. RSVP at chtcmaymeeting.eventbrite.com. Follow them on social media at facebook.com/ chtcsd/ and Instagram @cityheightstowncouncil

What’s the Buzz promotion of Cafeina Café (Photo courtesy City Heights Town Council SD on Facebook)

contact them. Gomez’ office then helped the women via phone. In addition, The City Heights Town Council is using its social media platforms to raise awareness of mom-and-pop shops that are still operating and giving back to the community. On Instagram, the group shares information on the owners and how to support the business in their “What’s the Buzz” campaign. “We really want to highlight those stories of those local businesses who are going above and beyond to still maintain their businesses during this time,” said Ben Mendoza, a community activist volunteering with the Town Council. “We want to make sure that we’re really playing that pivotal role of connecting community members with those local businesses.” Some of the small family businesses may not have their own social media so the Town Council is giving them access to a new

FEATURE platform. Mendoza and Jones worry that many of the businesses owned by refugees and People of Color (POC) will not be able to survive a long shutdown, or even a short shutdown. “It’s definitely concerning to me as a resident that we might lose some of the uniqueness that makes City Heights special if these businesses are forced to shut down and larger businesses come to take their place,” Jones said. She knows of a leader in the Somali Business Association who has helped Somali-run businesses apply for grants and loans they may not have been aware of or struggled to apply for because English is not their first language. Other businesses may not have that help. Mendoza sought out Cafeina Cafe to highlight in one of the first What’s the Buzz posts. They said, “I don’t want to see local businesses run by POC folks to fold because I think that one of the crown jewels of City Heights is the fact that we have so much diversity within our businesses.”

CAFEINA CAFÉ

Cafeina Café is a City Heights coffee shop owned by Andrew Benavides and his partner. He actually worked in the medical field before opening his shop so had Cafeina Café 7 a.m.-4 p.m. daily 4011 46th St.

sdnews.com friends at local hospitals requesting that he donate coffee and pastries. When word spread, he had more requests than he was able to fill out of his own pocket. The City Heights Business Association stepped in and gave funds so Benavides could keep delivering to local medical centers. He has been able to pivot his business for takeout and delivery partially because he had no employees so all the money that comes in can go straight towards paying bills.

Andrew Benavidas (right) delivers coffee to healthcare workers. (Photo courtesy Cafeina Café on Facebook)

“Even though we try not to encourage people to come out, we always do appreciate people that do show up. We’re gonna have our doors open, just in case you need coffee,” Benavides said. He appreciates the work of the Town Council and other groups that are highlighting small businesses during the crisis. Benavides has already seen some stores owned by City Heights residents shut down completely. “Hopefully they can make it, because I do feel that the way people look at City Heights like, ‘Oh City Heights is upcoming; let’s go to City Heights now,’ people might take advantage of the situation,” he said. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the economic fallout of the pandemic could speed up gentrification in some neighborhoods. Benavides grew up in City Heights and has already seen it change significantly.

FRUIT SWAP

The businesses are closed and events canceled at the activated space Fair@44, so the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Free fruit swap Every Wednesday Drop-offs 10 a.m.-noon Free pick-ups: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (or until supplies last) Fair@ 44, El Cajon Boulevard, between Fairmount and 44th

Association decided to launch a free fruit swap in the empty space. “[Fair@44] has acted as a resource to the community for now over three years. We figured ‘how could we continue to utilize this platform as a resource to the community knowing that there are just essential resources that people need at this point?’” said Beryl Forman, marketing and mobility coordinator of the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association. Every Wednesday, people with fruit trees and other produce they cannot consume drop off their spare food at the lot. Some of that fruit would go to waste if it was not given away and many San Diegans have fruit trees. Volunteers then divide all of the produce into smaller bags that are handed out to people walking, biking and driving past the spot in the early afternoon. “Fruit is a simple thing that brings joy to people. It’s healthy and it’s just a basic essential here that we can offer to people in the community,” Forman said.

Bags of fruit being handed out (Photo by Kendra Sitton)

In the first week they launched, the volunteers handed out 200 bags of produce. They included items like oranges, lemons, potatoes, and even a papaya. “There’s so many people that need help and all of us that can do something, why not? I just think it’s a blessing to be a blessing,” said Tracy Allen a volunteer who runs 9to5Not Business Solutions. The program is sustained by people donating their spare produce. Like much of the help being offered, neighbors are looking out for each other to make sure nobody gets left behind. —Kendra Sitton can be reached at kendra@sdnews.com.

Volunteers at the fruit swap (Photo by Kendra Sitton)