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Toni Atkins Named Majority Whip
Freshman Assemblywoman Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) has been named Majority Whip of the state Assembly by Speaker John Pérez (D-Los Angeles). It’s a key position in the Democratic Caucus leadership. Atkins, a former member of the San Diego City Council, was elected to the 76th Assembly District seat in the November election. The district includes the central and northern San Diego communities of Clairemont, Bay Park, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Tierrasanta, Serra Mesa, Hillcrest, University Heights, North Park, South Park, Linda Vista, Mission Valley, City Heights, Old Town, Normal Heights, Mission Hills and Downtown San Diego. “Assemblymember Atkins prioritizes working families,” said Pérez. “She has been a fierce advocate for jobs, and I look forward to working with her to get California back to work.”
Atkins also was appointed vice chair of the Housing and Community Development Committee; and a member of the Health, Government Organization, Veterans Affairs, and Judiciary Committees.
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It’s no longer the North Park Inn. And it’s no longer an eyesore on University Avenue. After a 16-month renovation, the building that once was an inn has become a new residential housing center for graduates of Pathfinders of San Diego’s Shelter Plus Care recovery program for homeless men. Funded by the U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and administered by the San Diego Housing Commission, the Shelter Plus Care program provides affordable housing and supportive services to chronically homeless individuals with disabilities. “The Housing Commission values the opportunity to create partnerships that bring vital projects like these to life to help stabilize the lives of formerly homeless men,” said Housing Commission President and CEO Richard C. Gentry.
The Inn was acquired by Pathfinders in 2009 with the help of matching $2 million land acquisition and renovation loans provided by the San Diego Housing Commission and Redevelopment Agency. The total project cost
Located at 2625 University Ave., the 27-year old building was in an unsafe state of condition. The new facility will contribute to the improvement of the surrounding neighborhood which has had problems with street crime and other illegal activity. Improvements to the property included reconfiguring the building’s units into 14 studio and four two-bedroom apartments. A smaller building was converted into the organization’s new office and will also provide meeting space for the facility. Seventeen of the units will have restricted rents.
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Councilman Todd Gloria has been chosen by his colleagues as chair of the City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee after serving as a committee member for two years. The first meeting of the committee is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Jan. 26 on the 12th floor of the City Administration Building. Gloria will also chair the Ad Hoc Committee on the Redevelopment Agency of the city of San Diego, which was created to examine the overall operations and structure of the city’s redevelopment activities and make recommendations on designating a permanent executive director of the redevelopment agency. Gloria said the committee will meet for the first time by the end of January.
“Both the budget and redevelopment remain two of the most critical issues facing San Diego,” said Gloria. “I look forward to working with the members of both committees to make demonstrable progress to strengthen our city.”
Gloria will represent the city of San Diego on the Metropolitan Transit System board of directors, the SANDAG Transportation Committee, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the San Diego Consortium Policy Board and will continue as an alternate on the SANDAG Public Safety Committee.
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The San Diego Museum of Man will join 164 other cultural institutions as an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, a national program that develops collaborative partnerships between local organizations and the Smithsonian to share Smithsonian Institution resources. Harold Closter, director of Smithsonian Affiliations, will formally present the museum with its Certificate of Affiliation.
“Having been identified as an Affiliate of the Smithsonian is an indescribable honor and one that the museum will cherish and utilize for a long time to come,” said Executive Director Micah D. Parzen. “Our goal at the Museum of Man is to increase and diffuse knowledge, which perfectly aligns with what the Smithsonian has accomplished for more than 150 years.”
The Museum of Man is one of only two institutions in Balboa Park in association with the Smithsonian, the other being the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
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Bill Pollakov of the Bikes for Kids Foundation in La Jolla gives a presentation to third graders at Ben Franklin Elementary School just before telling them that all of them will receive free bicycles — and helmets — courtesy of the foundation. The foundation, formed by Pollakov and his wife, Debbie, were planning to give away a record 4,500 new bikes to disadvantaged children this year. Presentations also were made at Normal Heights Elementary and Adams Elementary School. The new bicycles were manufactured in China and were specifically ordered by the Bikes for Kids Foundation.
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A crowd of thousands visited the first SoNo Park Holiday Fest in December to enjoy homemade and restaurant prepared chili, musical entertainment and arts and crafts vendor. The event was put on by San Diego Ceramic Connection, which holds the annual chili cookoff and pottery sale, and by McKinley Elementary School, which holds its annual Arts & Crafts Fair. The two events were combined, with proceeds benefiting McKinley’s art and music program. Among those attending the event were Councilman Todd Gloria and freelance writer Erica Jansma (pictured).
