Editorial: ‘Thumbs’ for September
From the Rancho Bernardo News Journal:
THUMBS UP to the Rancho Bernardo Business Association and all who joined it in sponsoring Rancho Bernardo’s 50th birthday party in Webb Park on Sept. 22. The free, six-hour event included a number of activities and entertainment for all ages. This was a terrific way to celebrate the community’s milestone.
THUMBS UP to Rancho Bernardans Oscar Teel and Jeffrey Woodson for their efforts, along with sponsorship by state Sen. Joel Anderson, to recognize the Tuskegee Airmen with a three-mile stretch of Interstate 15. The long-overdue honor is well deserved and a first for the group that served honorably and heroically while facing prejudice at home and in the military.
Teel and Woodson, members of the Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Tuskegee Airmen chapter in San Diego, said the freeway recognition near MCAS Miramar will hopefully inspire young Americans to learn more about the airmen. The signs will go up as soon as $8,000 is raised. To contribute, mail a check written to “Tuskegee Airmen – San Diego” with “Tuskegee Airmen Highway Project” on the memo. Send to Tuskegee Airmen – San Diego, Gen. B.O. Davis Jr. Chapter, P.O. Box 893711, Temecula, CA 92589-3711.
THUMBS UP to the California legislature for passing and Gov. Jerry Brown for signing Assembly Bill 1522 that prevents violent sexual assault victims from being forced to pay spousal support to their ex-husbands or ex-wives who committed the crime against them. The bill was inspired by a San Diego woman who was ordered to pay her ex-husband support while he was being tried for raping her and later ordered to pay part of his legal fees even though she was the victim.
Among the bill’s advocates were District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, who introduced the bill. There was already a law preventing spousal support in cases of the attempted murder or solicitation for the murder of a spouse.
THUMBS UP to the County of San Diego for making available the free county mobile app SD Emergency, designed for iPhone, iPad and Android phone and tablet. During an emergency, such as wildfire, earthquake or terrorist attack, it provides information such as county updates, emergency maps and shelter lists. A pre-emergency section provides emergency preparation information and instructions. Download the SD Emergency app at www.sdcountyemergency.com, the Apple App Store and Google Play stores.
THUMBS DOWN to everyone who has yet to trim back their brush, trees and other vegetation, which if they do so could lessen the damage and spread of wildfire and would assist firefighters in their efforts. As we approach the fifth anniversary of the Witch Creek fire that destroyed hundreds of Rancho Bernardo and Poway homes, now is not the time to be lax in wildfire deterrent efforts.
THUMBS UP to the hundreds of volunteers who worked so hard to make the 2012 Poway Days so successful. Starting with the parade and food-packing event on Sept. 8 and concluding this past Saturday with the rodeo and Sunday with the Tour de Poway, the community again pulled together to make the 50th annual Poway Days a fun and memorable month. Well done, everyone!
THUMBS DOWN to Beryl Flom of the San Diego chapter of the League of Women Voters. As the moderator of the Sept. 27 City Council candidates forum, she ruled that questions and candidate comments regarding the controversial Poway Unified School District bond issue would not be allowed. Her position was that the bonds were not a “city issue.” We disagree. The bonds are a relevant topic for two reasons. First, one of the candidates is a former school board member whose role in the bond matter has been called into question. Other candidates and members of the public are within their rights make him to account for decisions made as a school board member. Second, the payment of school bonds affects the tax rates of property owners from a good portion of the large district, including everyone in Poway.
THUMBS UP to the news that Poway’s crime rate continued to dip, by 2 percent this time, during the six-month period ending June 30. The city retains the title of safest among cities patrolled by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Successful law enforcement results from a combination of factors, including quality personnel, good communications between the department and the city, and citizens who do their part by keeping their homes and vehicles locked up and by reporting suspicious activities.
THUMBS UP to the folks at City Hall for saving taxpayers $4 million through the refinancing of the bonds used to build the city office building and council chamber building. About $17.7 million in “certificates of participation” were sold in 2003 with the provision they could be financed this year, and again in another 10 years. Interest rates are a bit lower now, so the city (meaning the taxpayers) will save $200,000 per year. An added piece of good news: Standard & Poors gave the city an AA+bond rating, the highest type of rating these type of bonds can receive. Pretty impressive.
THUMBS UP to the County of San Diego for making available the free county mobile app SD Emergency, designed for iPhone, iPad and Android phone and tablet. During an emergency, such as wildfire, earthquake or terrorist attack, it provides information such as county updates, emergency maps and shelter lists. A pre-emergency section provides emergency preparation information and instructions. Download the SD Emergency app at www.sdcountyemergency.com, the Apple App Store and Google Play stores.
On a related note …
THUMBS DOWN to everyone who has yet to trim back their brush, trees and other vegetation, which if they do so could lessen the damage and spread of wildfire and would assist firefighters in their efforts. As we approach the fifth anniversary of the Witch Creek fire that destroyed hundreds of Rancho Bernardo and Poway homes, now is not the time to be lax in wildfire deterrent efforts.
From the Poway News Chieftain:
THUMBS UP to the hundreds of volunteers who worked so hard to make the 2012 Poway Days so successful. Starting with the parade and food-packing event on Sept. 8 and concluding this past Saturday with the rodeo and Sunday with the Tour de Poway, the community again pulled together to make the 50th annual Poway Days a fun and memorable month. Well done, everyone!
THUMBS DOWN to Beryl Flom of the San Diego chapter of the League of Women Voters. As the moderator of the Sept. 27 City Council candidates forum, she ruled that questions and candidate comments regarding the controversial Poway Unified School District bond issue would not be allowed. Her position was that the bonds were not a “city issue.” We disagree. The bonds are a relevant topic for two reasons. First, one of the candidates is a former school board member whose role in the bond matter has been called into question. Other candidates and members of the public are within their rights make him to account for decisions made as a school board member. Second, the payment of school bonds affects the tax rates of property owners from a good portion of the large district, including everyone in Poway.
THUMBS UP to the news that Poway’s crime rate continued to dip, by 2 percent this time, during the six-month period ending June 30. The city retains the title of safest among cities patrolled by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Successful law enforcement results from a combination of factors, including quality personnel, good communications between the department and the city, and citizens who do their part by keeping their homes and vehicles locked up and by reporting suspicious activities.
THUMBS UP to the folks at City Hall for saving taxpayers $4 million through the refinancing of the bonds used to build the city office building and council chamber building. About $17.7 million in “certificates of participation” were sold in 2003 with the provision they could be financed this year, and again in another 10 years. Interest rates are a bit lower now, so the city (meaning the taxpayers) will save $200,000 per year. An added piece of good news: Standard & Poors gave the city an AA+bond rating, the highest type of rating these type of bonds can receive. Pretty impressive.
Related posts:
- Rancho Bernardo residents’ efforts honor Tuskegee Airmen
- Emergency app available from county
- June 5 primary candidate profiles
Short URL: http://www.pomeradonews.com/?p=29133
Posted by Steve Dreyer
on Oct 3 2012. Filed under Editorial, Opinion.
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