Neighborhoods
City Life
Life in the City
About Us
Life in the City
-by Sandra Simmons
From the end spring new beginnings.
Pliny the Elder (23 AD - 79 AD)
With the end of 2005, a new era is beginning. Welcome to 2006 and all that it
means for Downtown.
We have a new mayor, a new form of government and, soon, will have a new representative
of District 2 on the City Council.
Hopefully, our newly elected decision-makers will be able to effect remedies
to their predecessors’ past transgressions.
We have a new Captain and officers at the San Diego Police Department’s
Central Division who bring us not only new ideas, but also the willingness to
work together to make our community safe.
We have a new CCDC Board Chair, who believes in economic development and a balanced
housing plan and, soon, will have two new CCDC Board members.
The newly elected and appointed decision-makers seem to share a commitment to
be dedicated contributors to our rapidly evolving Downtown. They share a spirit
of cooperation and desire to work together to make our community truly “world
class.”
And, soon, our new citywide elected officials will be deciding on a new Community
Plan to guide the course of our Downtown redevelopment for some years to come.
Indeed, 2006 is fraught with new beginnings that are indicative of the dawning
of a new era that will offer many opportunities. Won’t you take this opportunity
to make new neighbors your new friends? To extend a hand to someone in need?
To mend old fences? To recommend a solution to make all our lives better? To
smile more?
I muse…Doesn’t every moment begin a new beginning?
I asked neighbors what they hope will result from the era just starting, and
their responses were illuminating.
Jesse Campanaro of Park Place is hopeful for the beginning of the renovation
of the Historical Old Police Headquarters and adjacent property.
Gary Smith of
Park Row hopes that small-minded
people avoid picking apart the
recommendations for the revised
community plan lest we end up with
no plan at all.
Richard Walker of
Pinnacle Museum Tower has a passion
for our Downtown, which he recently
made his new home and where he
will soon open a gourmet pancake
house. He looks forward to playing
a part in the goodness of a tight-knit
community.
For some of us, beginnings may mean change and change is frightening. For me,
all beginnings are hopeful. Let us celebrate and make the most of the beginnings
of 2006! Happy New Year! - January 2006