Wednesday, Oct. 16 - Tuesday, Oct. 22 2019 Weekly Print Edition
Vol. 106, Issue 10 www.thedailyaztec.com
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
- Read on page 12 -
SDSU offers $68.2 million for the Mission Valley site by Michael Cline ASST. NEWS EDITOR
After San Diego State announced it had broken a confidentiality agreement with the city over their Mission Valley discussions, the public negotiations between the university and the City of San Diego over the site officially began when SDSU presented a formal purchase agreement offer to the San Diego City Council. The university’s formal offer — $68.2 million for the 132-acre Mission Valley site where SDCCU Stadium lies — was presented to the council on Oct 14. At the council meeting, SDSU President Adela de la Torre said the university was acting in the public’s best interest with its offer. “We can all agree that the voters of San Diego chose SDSU as the
best steward for this public land because of the clear benefit to San Diego,” de la Torre said to the council. “Today, our offer not only complies with everything in Measure G, we believe it goes above and beyond in providing tangible benefits and physical amenities for the residents of our great city.” THE PROPOSAL JMI Realty CEO John Kratzer, a member of SDSU’s Mission Valley negotiating team, detailed SDSU’s offer in his presentation to the council. He said the total value of the public-use development is a $150 million investment by the university. “We think it represents a fair and equitable package,” Kratzer said. That $150 million price tag
includes $30 million to build a 34-acre River Park. SDSU will also pay $578,000 annually and in perpetuity to maintain the park, which will remain city property. In addition to the River Park, the university will construct open recreation spaces and hike and bike trails throughout the SDSU West expansion project. And as part of its offer to purchase the land as is, SDSU will take responsibility of all existing stadium operating, maintenance and improvement expenses, which currently costs city taxpayers between $7 million and $15 million annually. SDSU will take on those annual costs upon the sale and transfer of the land. SEE MISSION VALLEY, PAGE 2
Fire near College Area leads to local road closures, evacuations by Katelynn STAFF WRITER
Robinson
At 2:40 p.m. university police released a campus-wide email stating they were assisting San Diego fire departments with a fire located off of Fairmount Avenue and Montezuma Road. Fairmount Avenue was temporarily closed in both directions along with most other roads in the area between the Interstate 8 and El Cajon Boulevard, according to the SDSU urgent alerts website. There were no threats to the university, SDSUPD spokesperson Raquel Herriott said. Off-campus mandatory evacuations were issued to the areas near 4600-4700 Constance Drive and Natalie Drive in the Talmadge Area,
but all evacuation orders were lifted at 5:50 p.m. Air quality at SDSU was not impacted and classes remained open, according to the SDSU alert updates. Officials were notified of the fire around 1:40 p.m. on Tuesday after they received a call that some trees were in flames near the intersection of Aldine Drive and Fairmont Avenue, according to an email from San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokeswoman Monica Munoz. She said the department is currently unaware of the cause of the fire, but that investigators from the metro arson strike team will investigate. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported, Munoz said.
NASA and allies celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day by Jadyn Brandt STAFF WRITER
In the United States, the second Monday in October has historically been known as Columbus Day. However, the Native American Student Alliance honored Indigenous People’s Day instead. On Oct. 14, members of the Native American Student Alliance, local tribes and allies gathered in front of Hepner Hall to commemorate and celebrate Indigenous people across the globe. The rally began with speeches from members of NASA. Members of various tribes in the San Diego area also spoke and performed traditional songs. The rally focused on the
stories, experiences and history of the Indigenous people. “Our motives are to make space for us to have our narratives heard, celebrate our resiliency and show the true history and ongoing legacy of colonization here in San Diego,” interdisciplinary studies senior and NASA chair Lane Yazzie said. Members of NASA passed out fliers to attendees and passersby with instructions on how to be a strong ally of Indigenous students and community members. Listening and learning, showing up to support, acknowledging the land you occupy and investing in Indigenous resources were four ways NASA sought support. “November is Native
American Heritage Month,” Yazzie said. “That’s one of those aspects of showing up and showing out and supporting us through that. There’s a lot of opportunities to support us in coming to our events, (being an ally) is a continuous process.” NASA believes the celebration of Indigenous peoples is especially relevant to San Diego because of the city’s history. “San Diego has the most tribes out of any city in America,” American Indian studies sophomore and NASA secretary Skylar Beasley said. “19 tribes of people have lived here for thousands of years. Even in California, there are SEE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, PAGE 2
Members of NASA, local tribes and allies gathered in front of Hepner Hall.
Photo by Jadyn Brandt
