Por Benny Cartwright

At its final meeting of 2016 on Nov. 15, the Hillcrest Town Council discussed topics related to the environment. We heard from Roger Kube of Surfrider San Diego and Lindsay Richardson of San Diego 350, who both gave informative presentations on the reality of climate change and suggested simple things we can do as citizens to take better care of our shared planet.

One of the standout things from the presentation was the addition of the word “refuse” to the usual mantra of “reduce, reuse, recycle, recover.” Instead of just accepting waste products, we should refuse them. Refuse to purchase products that come in plastic packaging or bottles, and refuse to patronize take-out restaurants that provide such packaging. We can tell these establishments with our dollars that we refuse to purchase such wasteful packaging and our dollars will speak.

Only two restaurants in Hillcrest (Snooze and Burger Lounge) are on Surfrider San Diego’s “Ocean Friendly Restaurants” list. Restaurants that get a spot on the list have instituted self-regulated, ocean-friendly policies that reduce disposable plastic waste. If this is an issue you care about, please consider telling your favorite restaurants to learn more at bit.ly/2fl6Val.

All participants at the meeting received a free Hillcrest Town Council branded reusable tote bag. These are especially important now that the state of California’s plastic bag ban has gone into effect. We still have some of these totes left and would love to give you one! The next opportunity to get one for free will be at our holiday mixer next month (details below).

Our meeting also included the regular time for public comment and updates from public representatives and community organizations. People talked about things like the city’s pipeline project, changes to parking meter times and placement, and the Uptown Community Plan Update that the City Council passed on Nov. 14.

There is a lot going on in the neighborhood so we encourage residents to join us in 2017 to share their priorities for Hillcrest. Our first meeting of the new year will be on Tuesday, Jan. 10, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Joyce Beers Community Center in The HUB shopping center. Not only will there be ample time for residents to share their priorities for Hillcrest in 2017, we’ll also hear from Chris Ward, who by then will have been sworn in as our new councilmember.

With the holidays upon us, we have two chances to celebrate in Uptown! The Bankers Hill Community Group along with the Hillcrest History Guild will host the annual Community Holiday Potluck on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m. at the San Diego Sports Indoor Club, 3030 Front St. in Bankers Hill. This is always a fun party with a great crowd.

Then, on Friday, Dec. 16, from 6-8:30 p.m., the Hillcrest Town Council will host its first-ever Hillcrest Holiday Mixer at Gossip Grill, 1220 University Ave. Everyone is welcome to this casual but festive holiday party, which will include hosted appetizers. We’ll also be giving away more of our HTC reusable tote bags while supplies last. Please join us!

—Benny Cartwright is vice chair of the Hillcrest Town Council.