Editorial: A bike plan for Hillcrest

By Council President Todd Gloria

Hillcrest will be home to first-rate bike facilities.

How they will function and how they will look remains a topic of much discussion in your neighborhood, in my office, and at the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).

At my insistence, SANDAG involved the community very early on, instead of coming to you all for neighborhood input only after their professionals developed project proposals. While I have heard some concerns that the number of meetings and presentations by SANDAG staff have been excessive, I appreciate the focus on community input and I assure you that every comment made and every question asked will generate an exemplary project in the end.

Since I kicked off the first community advisory group meeting for SANDAG’s Uptown Bike Corridor almost two years ago, neighbors in Bankers Hill, Park West, Hillcrest, Mission Hills and Downtown have all brought forward concerns and desires from general to specific. Some folks have clear opinions of which streets are better for bicyclists. Many people, especially business owners, are understandably concerned about losing parking as part of bike improvements. Others convey the need for the project to visually match the character of the neighborhood.

Bicycle facilities in San Diego have historically been meant for occasional recreational riders. For the first time, the City of San Diego is working from a Bicycle Master Plan, and SANDAG has an approved Regional Bicycle Plan. The improvements called for in both will make bicycling a far safer and more viable transportation option, instead of merely a fun way to exercise. The Uptown Bike Corridor is among the first projects given the green light from the SANDAG Regional Bicycle Plan. As is often the case with firsts, there have been some hiccups and misunderstandings throughout the planning process. I ask for your continued advocacy, input and patience to keep the project moving forward to its eventual implementation.

I have participated in multiple community meetings, have heard from many neighbors and receive regular updates from my community representatives. I understand very clearly the concerns and priorities of the Uptown community members regarding the Uptown Bike Corridor. I want a successful project implemented. For me, that means minimal impacts on residents and businesses. I am looking for solid data and feedback from SANDAG to ensure they are taking the community’s concerns and preferences into account as they work to analyze possible configurations.

At this time, SANDAG is examining several aspects of the corridor to find ways to make it successful for alternative transportation and for the community itself. They have suggested they will have further information available about the project’s status this fall, and I continue to work closely with them.

As SANDAG’s analysis continues, I appreciate the efforts of J.M. Frost to propose his own conceptual design for Uptown Bike Corridor. From my initial review, I have some concerns about traffic counts and transit operations, and have asked SANDAG to evaluate the proposal. I will be meeting in September with SANDAG leadership to again convey the community’s concerns about parking, design and maintenance, and to insist that SANDAG give proper consideration to the desires of the community when further finalizing its plans for the corridor.

I can assure you that your concerns have consistently been made very clear to SANDAG throughout the project’s planning process, and I will continue to advocate for the community’s preferred elements. I appreciate the work of SANDAG staff and leadership, and the participation and dialogue of the community members. Working together, we will create a bike plan that is implementable and makes long-term sense for bicyclists and the communities of Uptown.

—Todd Gloria is the San Diego City Council President and the council representative for District 3, which encompasses Uptown, Greater North Park, Greater Golden Hill and Downtown San Diego.

Editorial: Say ‘yes’ to water bond or suffer the consequences

By Jim Madaffer

“Serious drought. Help save water.” 

We see lit-up signs with these five words everywhere in California. More importantly, we feel the effects of this “serious” drought and mandatory water restrictions that have come with the problem. 

But to say it’s a “serious” drought is an understatement. The country’s most populous state is suffering through the most severe drought in modern history, with scientists warning of a “megadrought” if California doesn’t take action. 

Investing in our water infrastructure is crucial for a state that supplies half the country’s fruits, vegetables and nuts, and will be home to 60 million people by 2050.

The state Legislature made tremendous headway this month when it passed a $7.5 billion water bond package to be known as Proposition 1 on November’s ballot. The deal is the largest investment the state has proposed since the $1.75 billion State Water Project in 1960.

The money will go toward dams, groundwater, recycling, water quality and watershed improvement — and more, throughout the state — all designed to improve and stabilize California’s water supply.

 In San Diego, we’ll benefit from the passage of the ballot measure in a number of ways, including: 

• $1.5 billion for water recycling and water treatment technology
• $52.5 million for regional water management projects
• $100 million for water-use efficiency projects
• $17 million for the San Diego River Conservancy

The future of California’s water supply is now in the hands of its citizens. Voters have the responsibility of passing Proposition 1 in November, or we must suffer the consequences of a drying Golden State. 

—Jim Madaffer is a San Diego County Water Authority board director, former San Diego City Councilmember and president of Madaffer Enterprises. He uses water daily.