![\"Assembly](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/toni_color.jpeg\")
<\/a>According to the 2013 Defense Manpower Data Center report, California is home to the largest active military population in the nation with 168,820 active service members in residing in our state. California is home to more than 30 federal military bases and installations, which employ approximately 350,000 Californians, both military and civilian.<\/p>\n
That is why the Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) process poses a particular threat to California. Started by the federal government as an efficiency measure to ensure our military can respond to shifting defense needs, the Base Realignment and Closure process has undergone five rounds since 1989.<\/p>\n
In previous BRAC rounds, California lost more federal military jobs than all other states combined. And more than any other region, San Diego faces the possibility of being disproportionately affected by further base closures.<\/p>\n
The greater San Diego area contains three of the top five military bases with the highest employment numbers in California: Camp Pendleton, San Diego Naval Base and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.<\/p>\n
Twenty-two percent \u2014 or nearly 317,000 jobs in San Diego County \u2014 are concentrated in the military sector. Whether the field is engineering, health care, information technology or food services, the military employs San Diegans.<\/p>\n
Last year San Diego\u2019s military sector brought $25.5 billion in direct spending to San Diego County. This defense-related spending will result in nearly $39 billion of gross regional product for San Diego County, which amounts to nearly 20 percent of the total GRP.<\/p>\n
With federal defense officials calling for another round of base closures perhaps as soon as 2017, it is important that we support a cohesive and coordinated effort to maintain California\u2019s military bases and the strategic defense and economic powers that they create.<\/p>\n
The Military Council created by Gov. Jerry Brown continues to effectively coordinate efforts to retain and bolster California\u2019s vital role in our nation\u2019s defense. As Californians, now is the time to stand together with the Governor\u2019s Military Council and our service members.<\/p>\n
And let\u2019s be clear \u2014 California still has a lot to offer. Our educated, tech-savvy workforce is a great resource for the cyber defense initiative that has become so necessary in our modern world. Our diverse landscape provides unique opportunities for a variety of different specialized training bases from air ranges to sea ranges. Our location on the Pacific coast means that we are strategically placed to respond swiftly to conflict in the Pacific Theater. Our private sector contains many thriving businesses that work in symbiosis with the military; and our unique quality of life makes our service people glad to stay in our beautiful state.<\/p>\n
You can do your part to ensure California keeps its competitive edge in the next round of BRAC closures by voicing your support to your local elected officials and civic leaders and by supporting organizations like the San Diego Military Advisory Council and San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. as they implement proactive ways to keep California\u2019s military sector at the forefront of the nation.<\/p>\n
Together, we can call on President Barack Obama and members of Congress to remember the harmonious partnership that exists between the U.S. military and the great state of California by preserving our bases.<\/p>\n
\u2014Toni G. Atkins is the Speaker of the California State Assembly. For more information, visit her website<\/em>,\u00a0asmdc.org\/speaker\/<\/a>\u00a0where you can sign up for her e-newsletter or get the latest news on legislation and other activities. You also may follow her on Twitter, @toniatkins<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Not just any \u2018old gas station\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Regarding the story on Kensington Commons [see \u201cKensington Commons, urban living fitting into a community,\u201d Vol. 7, issue 9<\/a>]: There\u2019s mention of an old gas station at Adams and Marlborough. That was my gas station for years \u2014 totally convenient, easy entry and exit, easy to see before going in if there might be a wait, nice cashier who punched the credit card, etc.<\/p>\n I left San Diego in 1995, returned four years ago, happy to see my favorite gas station \u2026 except now it\u2019s gone; replaced by Kensington Commons. K.C. is attractive and probably a plus for the neighborhood, but I really miss you \u2026 old gas station.<\/p>\n Bet I\u2019m not the only one.<\/p>\n \u2014Mrs. Margaret Walker, handwritten and sent via U.S. mail<\/em><\/p>\n In the April 24 \u2013 May 7, 2015 issue of San Diego Uptown News, within the body of Lucia Viti\u2019s article on the Kensington Commons project, a caption under the lead photograph on the front page describes \u201ca desolate, but high profile corner of Adams Avenue,\u201d and further on page 9, again a captioned photograph references \u201can old gas station on the corner of Adams Avenue and Marlborough Drive.\u201d<\/p>\n Such a dismissive description to the hundreds of faithful and steady customers of what was a virtual institution and necessity integrated within a realistically accepting and fair, balanced society gives short shrift to those of us with automobiles \u2014\u00a0meaning virtually everyone \u2014 who found this \u201cdesolate corner\u201d to be what it might more accurately be described as \u2014\u00a0it was an automobile \u201cservice station,\u201d where one of the best mechanics on earth, Jacob, could do absolutely, positively everything for the many customers of this \u201cold gas station,\u201d from change a flat, to replace the glass, keep engines in tune and replace old, worn-out engines.<\/p>\n All such services were rendered competently, honestly, cheerfully, and with an expertise I have never encountered anywhere else in my 70 years, 30 of them as a customer of the Kensington Auto Center.<\/p>\n To be sure things change and the face of an old established neighborhood with it, but for as long as the inhabitants of Kensington and its environs have the aggregate number of four wheels on the ground that we do, perhaps it would be fairer and kinder to use a respectable name and call a \u201cservice station\u201d what it was \u2014\u00a0we all used it and will miss it.<\/p>\n And for those faithful and grateful patrons of the now gone \u201cservice station,\u201d you can still find Jason with all his attributes unchanged and intact at 2912 Adams Ave.<\/p>\n We miss him.<\/p>\n \u2014Steve Hallock, handwritten and sent via U.S. mail<\/em><\/p>\n Your article [\u201cKensington Commons, urban living fitting to a community\u201d], which reads like a real estate advertisement designed to market the property it describes, cries out for a more objective response. In it, the developers of the project boast that Kensington Commons \u201cadds value and fits perfectly,\u201d that its architectural details \u201cadd character and sparkle to the already sparkling Kensington\u201d and that \u201cnow everyone is pleased.\u201d<\/p>\n We profoundly disagree, not only with the biased viewpoint of the article, but also with the delusional, overarching statements of the developers, who are, naturally, infatuated with their own creation.<\/p>\n Based on our completely un-scientific survey of people we know who live and\/or work in Kensington, we have yet to talk to anyone who is happy with this monolithic, out-of-scale block, one which would be more at home in a North County shopping center than at the heart of a 100-year-old village community. The best that most people can muster is that \u201cit could have been worse.\u201d The claim that the structure \u201cmaintains Kensington\u2019s village identity\u201d is, like much else in the article, based on wishful thinking.<\/p>\n As for the ersatz \u201cSpanish Colonial\u201d features that supposedly add so much charm to the edifice, they are so minimal as to be barely noticeable; skinny little tile eyebrows, too-small, cheap-looking lighting fixtures, tasteless ironwork and phony arches that are pastiches of genuine Mission Style architecture. Meanwhile, numerous large, hideously ugly sliding windows visually dominate the facade and little effort has been made to integrate the building with its surroundings. No doubt, economies had to be made to make the project profitable, at the expense of aesthetics.<\/p>\n It is truly a tragedy that this building will probably stand at the heart of Kensington for the next hundred years. Future generations will undoubtedly look upon it and ask, \u201cCould it have been worse?\u201d<\/p>\n Hugh & Frances Kamen<\/p>\n A response to \u201cReckless on two wheels\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n In the letter from Nick Beck [see “Reckless on two wheels,” Vol. 7, Issue 9<\/a>] there were some questions and statements that I’d like to answer.<\/p>\n I am a bicycling instructor trained by two national organizations, and most recently have been contracted by the California Highway Patrol to instruct their officers about bicycling.<\/p>\n People bicycling in California are subject to many of the same responsibilities for behavior in traffic as drivers of vehicles; see California Vehicle Code 21200 [tinyurl.com\/1pkq<\/a>].<\/p>\n Traffic signs and signals apply to people bicycling too. And by the same law, people bicycling have the same rights in traffic as drivers of vehicles. It is unfortunate, and sometimes brings tragic results, that too many people do not know or understand that the rules of the road apply to everyone \u2014 bikes, cars and walking. As our government and health officials are encouraging people to try other travel modes \u2014 transit, walking and bicycling \u2014 there will be some confusion about how best and lawfully to share our public roadways. Let me touch on just a few areas of misunderstanding.<\/p>\n Bicycling is legal on all public roads except some limited access roadways, most but not all freeways are closed to bicycling but are to have alternative routes for bicycling. More sharing of our public roads among people bicycling and people driving motor vehicles is going to mean re-examining some old beliefs for some people; roads are not only for motor vehicles.<\/p>\n People bicycling are to follow the same rules for movement as drivers of vehicles; ride on the right along with other traffic, stop and yield at stop signs, obey traffic signs, signals and laws, use a light and reflectors at night, etc. Enforcement as well as education can help and encourage us all to get along more safely.<\/p>\n While bicycling slower than other traffic is to occur as far right at “practicable” per CVC 21202, there are many circumstances identified in that law when a person bicycling may lawfully occupy a full lane, seemingly in the way of others. Competent bicyclists have learned they are not required nor should they ride “… on the extreme right of any roadway.”<\/p>\n I encourage Mr. Beck to look up CVC 21202 to learn for himself the situations when riding far to the right is not required. Sharing the road does not mean only side-by-side sharing. When the available lane is too narrow for a motor vehicle and a bicycle to be next to each other in that lane, the person wishing to overtake should not do so in the same lane, but should wait behind for a safe opportunity to change lanes and pass. We encourage bicyclists to be as courteous as reasonable and to move aside when it is safe to share the lane side by side. Only on a two-lane road, when delaying five or more vehicles, are slow-moving vehicle drivers and bicyclists required to move aside when there is safe place to do so.<\/p>\n I encourage anyone considering using a bicycle in San Diego traffic to take advantage of information about bicycling’s best and lawful practices. A local source for this information is from the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, sdbikecoalition.org<\/u><\/a>. The California Department of Motor Vehicles also provides Fast Facts information at\u00a0tinyurl.com\/ofxfann<\/a>.<\/p>\n See you on the road!<\/p>\n Jim BarossLetters<\/h3>\n
\nCABO president
\nREA president
\nNHCPG chair
\nEC\/LCI\/CSI<\/p>\n