The Clairemont Times November 2019 by Clairemont Times

The

Clairemont Times Serving Clairemont, Bay Park, Linda Vista & Kearny Mesa V9.E11

News of the Neighborhoods

by Chris O’Connell

First, there is a meeting about the site with the Mt Etna CCPG Ad Hoc Sub Committee Meeting November 5th at Alcott Elementary. The County and developer are scheduled to appear. This is about the Community Plan Amendment (see below) Second, an EIR report was released for public review last month (see below for more information) if you would like to comment you have until 11/25 to email your comments. The property at 5255 Mt Etna Drive 92117 (near the major intersection of Genesee Ave and Balboa Ave). Without getting deep in the weeds of technical terms about the entire process of how government works, and acronyms after acronyms how about we keep it simple. There are people well versed in all the jargon and terms, however, it can become confusing…. rather quickly. My approach KISC (KISC keep it simple Chris). With that being said, if you would like to learn the entire nuts and bolts

NOVEMBER 2019

What is the Status of the Crime Lab Site on Mt Etna Dr.? Meeting on 11/5 & a hard deadline to submit comments by 11/25

Founded in 2011

and read the official documentation and fancy terminology, I would refer you to www.5255MtEtnaDrive.com. On that website you will find more than enough info and documentation to cure any insomnia, you may be experiencing including a 3,700+ page EIR (Environmental Impact Report) more on that below. The former Clairemont Hospital, which then became the Sheriff Crime Lab property located at 5255 Mt Etna is now vacant and has been and still is owned by the County of San Diego. The County, City and State citing a housing crisis is looking for opportunities, as are private developers, to build new housing. In order for the crime lab property to be redeveloped to the proposed much needed housing a Community Plan Amendment (CPA) is required in order to rezone the property. Rezone: change the use of the property from commercial to residential. What if you lived in that area since say the 1960’s or 70’s or maybe recently a bought house in the half million dollar plus range. The longtime residents probably heard sirens to and from the old hospital, and then the noise kind of quieted down when the property changed to SEE Crime Lab, page 5

San Diego Continuing Education Named Entrepreneurial College of the Year

by Allura Garis

San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE) has been named Heather Van Sickle Entrepreneurial College of the Year by the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE). The prestigious honor will be given in recognition of the institution’s groundbreaking innovation, strong commitment to social justice and equity through entrepreneurship. “We are very excited to be chosen,” said SDCE President, Carlos O. Turner Cortez, Ph.D., “The NACCE award speaks highly to SDCE’s innovative culture and who we will continue to be, a higher education

institution founded on the principles of inclusion, social justice and entrepreneurship, that strives to improve the future of all students.” SDCE provides free career technical education in emerging fields such as Advanced Manufacturing, Health, and Information and Communication Technologies for adult learners, who are among the most diverse in the state culturally, ethnically and academically. “Many middle-skills jobs require more than a high school education but less than a four-year college degree,” said President Turner Cortez. “Upon completion of an SDCE career SEE Continuing Education, page 6

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2 • The Clairemont Times • November 2019

A Note about “A Padres Column” by Major Garrett

From the Publisher

by Chris O’Connell by Chris O’Connell

Happy November those 90-degree days to end last month really brings out that crisp fall weather eh? We’re are lucky to live in such a great weather locale. If I had one piece of advice, I could give the local residents, it’s be informed. A Lot of changes are happening or being planned. From the Mid Coast Trolley, to the PureWater pipeline, which will eventually be digging up streets from Bay Park through Clairemont through University City to UTC. There is also some development news, as you saw on page 1 with the old Clairemont Hospital/Crime Lab. Plus, plenty of other projects popping up on a regular basis. The best way to stay informed is to send an email over to the Clairemont Community Planning Group the email is: ClairemontPlanningGroup@gmail.com and request to be on the email distribution list. Once you are on you

will now receive the monthly agendas for the local planning group meetings. This I feel is the first step to stay in the loop of what is happening locally. Speaking of mail, I came across a piece by the County of San Diego did you know you can stop junk mail being delivered to your house? (see page 14) If you are interested in receiving more news besides just this monthly newspaper sign up for the weekly newsletter at www.ClairemontTimes.com or send me an email: chris@clairemonttimes.com I will add you to the list. If you don’t like the newsletter opt out at any time. Enjoy this edition, and please pass this edition along to someone else for them to read. Thank you for reading & Happy Thanksgiving.

Chris O’Connell, Publisher

Journalists are always on deadline. Major Garrett made his deadline for his November “A Padres Column” no problem. His column was submitted, uploaded, and was being read online from coast to coast before the news broke. Hours later the San Diego Padres made

their choice, they hired their new manager Jayce Tingler. I thought, here’s this great column and the Padres went and mucked it up on me. I got Tingled. I figured, why should this column only be enjoyed by the online readers. Enjoy “Existence is Futile” by Major Garrett on page 10

Clairemont is in Desperate Need of a Gathering Space by Chris O’Connell

Is there a facility in Clairemont or Bay Park that could hold 20 people and up to 200 on the very rare occasion? The ideal space has chairs, a few tables, parking, microphones, overhead projector, restrooms, open on weeknights from say 6pm to as late as 10pm (maybe later) and most importantly FREEEEEE? If so email me or call me. Just imagine what could be

accomplished in such a room. Community members could attend local planning group meetings, and other public meetings, actually stand up and speak in public and have dialogue. Dialogue on major multimillion & multibillion-dollar projects within this community without the constant threat of “time is up, have a seat”. If such a place exists, let me know chris@clairemonttimes.com (858) 752-9779

Potential New Drive Thru Coffee Shop on Balboa Avenue is Put on Hold by Chris O’Connell

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The former Synfast Oil Change building at 6395 Balboa Ave was an agenda item last month at the Project Review Subcommittee CCPG meeting. Unfortunately, the applicant basically presented his “idea” with drawings for the drive thru and sit-down coffee shop, but according to board members it was far too early to move the project forward, with just too many unanswered questions. As such the applicant will be coming back at a later TBD date.

The potential new coffee tenant could be either Starbucks, Peet’s Coffee or Dunkin’.

Clairemont Times Weekly Newsletter Sent to Your Email Inbox The Clairemont Times Weekly Newsletter launched in April. Sign up for the Clairemont Times Newsletter to be delivered to your inbox every Sunday Night. Visit www.ClairemontTimes.com

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4 • The Clairemont Times • November 2019

Working to Clear Low-level Marijuana Convictions by Mara W. Elliott, San Diego City Attorney

People deserve second chances in life, especially when a mistake from the past can have exaggerated consequences on their future. That’s why I’m working to dismiss convictions from the records of thousands of San Diegans who violated now-obsolete laws against possessing low-level amounts of marijuana. These citizens often cannot fully participate in society because they once engaged in an activity that today is legal in the eyes of the courts, the State Legislature, and the voters of California. They may be turned down for a job, or unable to rent a home. Having a criminal record can keep them from coaching their child’s sports team, or affect their ability to obtain a student loan for college. My office is currently reviewing more than 5,000 misdemeanor and infraction convictions from 2009 through 2018, and thousands more before then. Charges will be systematically dismissed to clear conviction records for those who qualify, and records will be sealed. We filed the first motions to dismiss 30 convictions on September 25, and additional motions will be filed on a regular and ongoing basis. Under a bill passed by the State Legislature, prosecutors like myself are tasked with clearing convictions before July 1, 2020.

Campbell’s Corner by San Diego Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, District 2

We are working with the Superior Court, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, and the Office of the Public Defender to develop a streamlined countywide process to identify all eligible individuals. We are conducting a thorough review of convictions documented in the databases of the Superior Court, City Attorney’s Office, and California Department of Justice. Since marijuana became legal in California, people convicted of low-level misdemeanors and infractions for marijuana possession could petition the court to have their records dismissed. However, few took advantage of the opportunity, likely because they didn’t know about it, or perhaps found the process lengthy, daunting, and expensive. Since the City will be proactively dismissing these convictions, the defendants will not have to file a petition, hire a lawyer, or take any other actions. This effort will wipe the slate clean for thousands of San Diegans who can then start over without having to disclose a criminal record on any job, property rental, volunteer, or loan application. When our work is done, thousands of San Diegans will be able to move forward with their lives without this mark on their records. Everyone makes mistakes, and we all deserves second chances. Most use the opportunity to make better lives for themselves and their loved ones. Questions concerning the conviction dismissal process can be sent to CityAttorney@sandiego.gov at the City Attorney’s Office.

Hello neighbors! Though it may feel like summer, fall is here. We’ve done a lot of great work for San Diego in my 10+ months on the job, but perhaps the most important issue facing San Diego was the focus of a City Council meeting a few weeks ago. That’s when we got our first look at the new strategic plan to address homelessness. Fixing our unsheltered crisis has long been a top priority for my office. As a physician, I deeply understand the health risks of homelessness. From veterans living in their cars, young families sleeping on the street to more and more seniors ending up without a roof over their heads. The health ramifications for our unsheltered population are horrifying. The new city plan focuses on housing and health. That includes increasing outreach efforts, dedicating more wrap around services, providing facilities and buildings for use, and improving the way we monitor the progress of these programs. Additionally, the plan calls for five main areas of focus: 1. Implement a systems-level approach to homeless planning. 2. Create a client-centered homeless assistance system. 3. Decrease inflow into homelessness by increasing prevention and diversion.

MTS Releases Free Ride Day Numbers Free Ride Day Attracts More Than 100,000 Additional Trips No matter how you slice the data, Free Ride Day held last month was a huge success for the San Diego Metropolitan System and the North County Transit District as additional riders by the tens of thousands climbed aboard transit for a day of free rides on Wednesday, Oct 2. MTS recorded 391,359 trips on its Bus and Trolley network, a 6.7 percent gain from the 366,896 trips carried on the first Free Ride Day on the same date in 2018. When compared to the average weekday ridership of October 2018 (303,423 trips), Free Ride Day generated 87,936 more trips on MTS services. NCTD services also registered large gains. Its COASTER, SPRINTER, BREEZE and FLEX services generated 47,504 trips, 7.4 percent higher than the 44,227 trips registered on Free Ride Day in 2018. When compared to average weekday ridership in October 2018 (32,394 trips), NCTD recorded 15,110 more trips this

year. Combined, the two agencies tallied 103,046 more trips on Free Ride Day 2019 when compared to the average October weekday ridership in 2018. “Free Ride Day was a tremendous success,” said MTS Chair Nathan Fletcher. “The goal of Free Ride Day is to get new people to experience transit. Whether it’s to get to work, school, run errands or just out to have fun, Free Ride Day demonstrates that there are a lot of people who can take advantage of transit and all the destinations it serves. The end goal for all of these activities is to show that our region has a viable alternative to the car. We don’t want people to totally give up their cars, but if

people can take transit just one or two days a week, our region will take significant strides toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and relieving traffic congestion.” “The astounding number of additional riders on this year’s Free Ride Day really shows that people are willing to try transit,” said NCTD Board Chair Tony Kranz.

4. Improve the performance of the existing system. 5. Increase the production & access to permanent solutions. The short and long-term goals based on the above areas of focus are ambitious and achievable. I hope the recommended leadership structure empowers our City & County to achieve these objectives, which include: • 5,400 (total) units of housing and diversion resources. • 350-500 new crisis response options • Significant investment in housing creation We need a more unified and harmonized system to coordinate all city, county, state, and federal efforts. I am particularly glad the plan emphasizes the importance of unifying with our County partners, especially in deploying the needed medical support along with our City efforts. My office is in the process of planning a community workshop to garner feedback on immediate and long-term needs, promote existing resources, and present the city’s plan for the future. These conversations are incredibly important and I look forward to them. This crisis was not created overnight, nor will it be fixed overnight. However, this plan – which was accepted unanimously by City Council – creates a real roadmap to success. I cannot wait for our region to implement this plan and start making a real difference in the lives of our most vulnerable citizens. Email: jennifercampbell@sandiego.gov Phone: (619) 236-6622

“We’re encouraged by the outpouring of support for this event, and we look forward to continuing to grow the relationship with these new riders. The public did the first part by showing up. It’s our job now to keep them coming back and riding the buses and trains as a part of their daily commute.” The success of the day was due, in part, to the extensive partnerships across the county. All cities, the county, large employers, the Navy and universities worked in concert to encourage ridership. The day was also held in conjunction with California Clean Air Day and the San Diego Association of Government’s Rideshare Week. Lyft and Bird Scooters also joined the day and offered discounts on first and last mile services. “SANDAG is proud to be a part of the success of Free Ride Day celebrated during our region’s Rideshare Week, which was supported by 100 local employers,” said SANDAG Vice Chair and Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear. “Both events gave commuters the opportunity to align with the SANDAG iCommute mission to get solo drivers out of their cars and into a carpool, a vanpool or on transit.”

www.clairemonttimes.com Continued from page 1

a crime lab. Newer residents probably understood it was the “crime lab”, sheriff employees going to work doing CSI activities (CSI Clairemont). For decades the parcel was active with workers with pretty routine schedules. Pretty similar to the two high rise office buildings next door to the crime lab. Again, workers and visitors arrive and leave the property on a fairly routine schedule. The County is proposing housing. The need for the CPA and rezone which would allow 297 units without an affordable housing (AH) density bonus. With AH density bonus 404 units, the county wants to max out the number as much as possible so. Demolish the site and build housing of different types for all ages roughly 70’ high. On November 5th the County and the developer will be meeting with members of the public at an open meeting where all are invited at Alcott Elementary at 6pm this is to discuss the CPA but of course other topics will come up. There is also potential for a follow up meeting at Alcott on November 19th 6pm although that is not a set-in stone guarantee confirmed meeting. This is a big housing project more than likely coming to the community. The hope is the County and the developer keep the lines of communication open to ALL of the public to participate in the process. They said they would, so if you want to be involved, get involved. Important PSA: If you would like to know when ALL the local Clairemont Community Planning Group meetings take place and see the agendas and you have an email address I would urge you to send an email to: clairemontplanninggroup@gmail.com and ask to be added to the distribution list. Ok, so you had a hospital, then a crime lab and now the potential for 400+ new housing units. Some folks are concerned: this is a lot of traffic, this is a lot of new people, this is a big impact to the community, this is 400 + new faucets and toilets, this is a tall building plus more concerns. Why in

Clairemont? Why not in La Jolla or Santee? People are concerned and they have a right to be. Some folks are excited this is new housing, this is needed affordable housing, this will help people out maybe get them back on their feet. This project is in a great location buses nearby a future trolley line a bus ride away, stores and amenities all within walking distance. People are excited because this is helping a housing problem in an ideal spot. What is this EIR document? Long! An Environmental Impact Report basically again (KISC) when a big project, like Mt Etna, in this case involves demo and construction there are impacts. Think of a construction site there is noise, all sorts of noise, there is stuff flying around the air, maybe asbestos there is heavy equipment moving around, big trucks delivering building materials, traffic, etc. etc. Think what is the impact this project will have on the site and immediate area around the site. Then what are the impacts of the project after it is complete? A requirement for an EIR is there also has to be alternatives. An alternative would be no project or redevelopment. Leave well enough alone. Is the County going to let their asset just sit? Another is no project no CPA or rezone. The property gets demolished leveled and is sold to a developer who could put in office space. And finally, a Reduced Intensity Project, this project would bring the number of housing units down and meet objectives. To say this is a quick and dirty summary of the Mt Etna site and where things stand today would be a huge understatement. This summary is painted with a very broad brush, some folks will read it and say you are missing point ABC 123. Yes, I know, if anyone would like to write a better, more in-depth summary feel free send it to me, I will post on our website and give you a star! This is a summary to get you up to speed. For some this will be ok, I did not know that, well now you know. Do you want to know more? Read the report, visit: www.5255MtEtnaDrive.com click around and keep reading. Then show up on the 5th of November at Alcott, and show up again on the 19th, and keep showing up.

GET IN SHAPE IN 2019!

Crime Lab

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Clairemont Woman’s Club by Marge Weber

November is here already with Daylight Savings ending on Nov. 3, Election Day, Veteran’s Day and wonderful Thanksgiving…but don’t forget about us!! We will meet on Wednesday, November 6, at 1 p.m., at the Balboa Community Church (directions below). Our program is presented by Taylor Houston who will speak to us on The San Diego Youth Services/ Storefront Shelter. Refreshments will be served. In October, we had a most interesting speaker from the FACE Foundation (858) 450-3223, who informed us of their mission for pet owners needing financial assistance, with emergency Veterinary care, in order to save the life of an animal, who can then lead a healthy and loving life with their family. The Gourmet Luncheon group indulged at BJ’s in La Jolla. The Book Group discussed “Good Riddance”. Our chairman of the Christian Community Service Agency (CCSA) delivered donations of food, clothing, books, small household items, cat and dog food products to families in need. We also provided children’s toys and school

supplies packed in shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child / Samaritan’s Purse. Our major fundraiser is in the planning phase for the spring, and we have chosen to sponsor, Warrior Foundation Freedom Station. More information on this will be provided in the coming months. Our December meeting on the first Wednesday the 4th, will be a Holiday luncheon for members and guests, great food, great companionship within the Holiday Spirit. We meet again on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 1 p.m. Mark your calendars and plan on attending the first meeting of the New Year. We welcome new members, your background, interests, talents, and desire to be a part of this great community! More information to follow in the December issue of The Clairemont Times. For more information about CWC, visit our website at www.ClairemontWomansClub.com or “like” us on Facebook. You may also call Jackie at (858) 273-7664. Directions: Balboa Community Church at 6555 Balboa Ave. 92111. Please park around the corner in the church parking lot off Mt. Albertine. Entrance to our meeting is under the stairwell.

Retire Your American Flag Properly

Email: chris@clairemonttimes.com

by Chris O’Connell

While out doing drops last month I came across this Official U.S. Flag Disposal Box at the Pacific Beach Library. Turns out libraries throughout the San Diego region now display a flag disposal box. Please properly dispose of your U.S. Flag

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6 • The Clairemont Times • November 2019

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Continuing Education Continued from page 1

training program and entering the workforce, graduates are earning significantly above minimum wage.” “Community colleges can be life

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changing for people. They provide a gateway to the middle class,” said NACCE President and CEO, Dr. Rebecca Corbin. “We are delighted to shine the spotlight on SDCE. They really set the bar high in serving over 40,000 students. They have a number of success stories and are improving and building many innovative projects that support the gig economy.” President Turner Cortez will be presented with the Heather Van Sickle Entrepreneurial College of the Year award during NACCE’s annual conference, Entrepreneurship Explorations, on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, in Newport Beach. “It’s an honor to be a part of the NACCE community. Dr. Rebecca Corbin and her team do amazing work in proactively advocating for career technical education to policy makers on the local, state and national levels,” he said. NACCE recognizes SDCE in the following areas of innovation: instruction, student success resources, community collaboration, career services, and revenue-generating enterprise. Over the last four years, the institution has experienced strategic enrollment growth through the expansion of free distance education offerings and the

modernization of career education including: the development of two new certificate programs, Small Business Planning and Small Business Growth. SDCE implemented dynamic learning communities and maker spaces which includes the state’s only Construction Trades Apprenticeship Readiness Internship for young adults. The trades focused classroom education is taught simultaneously with on-the-job training, students earn their OSHA 10, CPR/First Aid, and Boom/Scissor Lift certifications, qualifying graduates for union apprenticeship programs. SDCE partnered with key community organizations, San Diego Workforce Partnership, Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation and Tech/Hire, to bridge equity gaps in California’s workforce and to ensure students achieve career training placement in priority sectors with precise education and job readiness skills that local employers are looking for. SDCE continues to scale innovative learning through a new fully online educational program, ICOM Academy (Interactive Competency-based Online Micro-credentialing Academy). “Our digital platform could potentially house hundreds of online career options for adults, but initial plans for the fall 2020 launch will have a focus on Small Business Entrepreneurship and Information Technology,” said President Turner Cortez. “These added flexible learning options will enhance career opportunities across the state.” “ICOM Academy has been designed with adult learners in mind,” said Michelle Fischthal, D.B.A., SDCE’s Vice President of Instruction. “The relationship between students and faculty is critical in adult online instruction. ICOM Academy brings this critical piece of learning into the virtual classroom.” www.sdce.edu

For more news and information visit: www.clairemonttimes.com

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The Clairemont Times • November 2019 • 7

Religious Directory

Sundays: Bible Classes 9:00 am Worship 10:00 am Wednesdays: 6:00 pm Dinner 6:30 pm Bible study (all ages)

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Clairemont Lutheran Church www.clairemontlc.org 4271 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92117 Sunday Worship Times 8:30, 10:00 (English) & 11:30 am (Spanish) Sunday School for kids 9:45am Holy Cross Lutheran Church 3450 Clairemont Drive, San Diego, CA 92117 Church (858) 273-2886 Visit our website www.holycrossword.org for additional worship times and special events. Sunday Worship 9:00 am Word and Sacrament Wednesday 7:00pm Northminster Presbyterian Church Sunday Worship Time 10:00a.m. 4324 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego, CA 92117 www.northminstersandiego.com 858 490-3995 Northminster Preschool 858 270-3760

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Advertising Sales Person(s) Wanted If you or someone you know is looking for a p/t or f/t job we are looking to hire ad sales reps. The ideal candidate is someone who is outgoing and ambitious and looking to supplement their income. The hours are very flexible. Sales experience is preferred. Please feel free to call or email Chris O’Connell at (858) 752-9779 or Chris@ClairemontTimes.com. This is a heavy commission sales position.

St. Catherine Labouré Catholic Church www.stcatherinelaboure.net 4124 Mt. Abraham Ave., San Diego, CA 92111 Phone (858) 277-3133 Weekend Mass Times Saturday 5:30pm Sunday 8:00, 9:30, 11:00am, 1pm/Spanish St. David’s Episcopal Church & Preschool www.saintdavidschurch.com 5050 Milton Street, San Diego CA 92110 Sunday Worship Times: 8:00am Holy Communion Rite I (Traditional) 10:30am Holy Communion Rite II (Contemporary) Weekday Worship: 12 p.m. Tues: Holy Eucharist: Rite II (Public Service of Healing) Last Sat of the month at 6:00 p.m. Alive at St. David’s: Non-Traditional, Contemporary Worship Experience

St. Jude’s Novena - Patron Saint of Desperate Causes May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, helper of the hopeless, pray for us.

(state intention) Pray this novena sincerely nine times a day for eight consecutive days, and promise to publish it or otherwise distribute it to others. It has never been known to fail.

St. Mark’s United Methodist Church www.stmarksumcsd.org 3502 Clairemont Drive, San Diego, CA 92117 Phone: (858) 273-1480 Sunday worship: 9:30 a.m. For information on advertising your place of worship in the Religious Directory please call or email Chris O’Connell, Publisher (858) 752-9779 chris@clairemonttimes.com

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8 • The Clairemont Times • November 2019

Squaremont By Bill Swank

Pictured: Bill Swank outside the Buena Vista Garden Apartments on Cowley Way in 1955, with East Clairemont off in the distance.

San Diego Sun masthead (September 16, 1881)

Eclipse of the Sun by Bill Swank

“Suppose you are a woman, happily married, that you have a 21-months-old daughter, and that you know something valuable to the state in a murder trial; but that to reveal what you know will turn a shadow of rumor and suspicion upon yourself and probably cost you your future happiness, your husband and your child. What would you do?” That moral dilemma is from a July 9, 1923 San Diego Sun article by Magner White about a conflicted witness, Army nurse Blanche Y. Jones, and the murder trial of Army physician Dr. Louis L. Jacobs who was arrested for the salacious death of “Miss Fritzie Mann, a pretty,

Fritzie Mann, victim of unsolved 1923 murder

young San Diego dancer in a delicate condition.” Magner White could certainly turn a phrase. He was a resourceful and clairvoyant reporter with the ability to dip

his pen into the future. After spending the summer of 1923 covering two jury trials (one “hung” and the other “not guilty”) for Dr. Jacobs, White would face a perplexing situation of his own. The Sun was an afternoon newspaper. His editor assigned him to cover a total eclipse of the paper’s namesake scheduled for noon on September 10, 1923. How could he write a story in time to hit the streets that same afternoon? What would he do? White was well aware that most accounts of solar eclipses were dull and uninteresting. He knew that he could do better. His lengthy, highly-detailed article headlined, “When it was midnight at midday!” is condensed with these excerpts: “The biggest shadow in the world -235,000 miles high, 105 miles wide, and 75 miles thick in its densest part -- fell across San Diego today, the shadow of the moon as it crossed the face of the sun. The heavenly appointment was carried out as predicted, 120 years since the last time, 120 years until the next time. One hundred and twenty years ago, scared Indians fled over the hills at the sight, or the more civilized ones knelt before the shrines in the comparatively new San Diego mission and received the comfort of padres, wise in the mysteries of the heavens. Chickens, puzzled by the abrupt night, took to their roosts; and cattle stirred restlessly in the yards, the routine of their

(San Diego Union, January 17, 1923)

lives distorted by the happenings in the sky. Animals in Ringling Brothers circus, waiting for the afternoon performance, paced their cages and roared and whined, disturbed by this sudden lighting up within a few hours of morning.

Diego’s waterfront and, in the parlance of a good waterfront reporter, there was something fishy about White’s tale. In 2004, former U.S. congressman and Sun reporter Lionel Van Deerlin laughingly told columnist Don Bauder that for reporter White to beat his deadline, “the story was written in advance of the eclipse.” Tony Perry wrote in a May 22, 2012 Los Angeles Times article that a colleague described White as “a very polite con man and a great reporter.” The Sun editor who had assigned the eclipse story said, “Magner White was a damn fine newspaper man,” but added, “He got cocky after winning the Pulitzer though.” “A third Sun alum: ‘Magner used to joke about never having to leave the office to win a Pulitzer.’” Magner White’s fanciful article may have been the first fraud to win a Pulitzer, but it wasn’t the last… Janet Cooke won the Pulitzer in 1981 for “Jimmy’s World,” a tragic Total eclipse (photo credit: A.E. Douglas, September 10, 1923) story about an eight-year-old heroin addict in the Washington Post. When her credentials fell apart, she no wickedness there now. The saloons have no customers during this admitted the article was fabricated. Cooke was forced to resign and return the prize. sample of absolute night. Painted women Subsequently, there have been several stand in their doorways and look out on the high-profile examples of fraudulent heavens for the first time, perhaps, in years journalism and plagiarism involving with wondering minds. Before the spectacle they are moved inwardly with misgivings. The background of childhood superstitions and those years, long ago, of contact with churches comes to the front. Their poor souls, dormant and obscured by the fast life, begin to scratch inside their broken bodies -- and the pain of that passing experience is sweet, because it is so rare. Ah, it’s lighter now. The gloom is passing. It lifts, speeds by, and again the shadows are lacy. Soon it is morning of the ‘night that came in the day.’ Puzzled chickens flock down from their roosts. Cows go back to their grazing. Street lights are turned off. Frightened children are reassured. San Diego drifts back into its marts and households. Tijuana shakes its languor. The spell is gone, gone for 120 years. When the shadow returns, we shall not see it. We shall be with the Pala Indians of 1806.” If you enjoyed that story, you’re not alone. It won the 1924 Pulitzer Prize for Journalism, the first time Magner White, 1924 Pulitzer Prize for Journalism the award went to a reporter of a (photo credit: Los Angeles Times, May 21, 2012) newspaper located west of the Mississippi River. controversial contemporary issues. We The judges wrote, “in writing about a solar eclipse ... Magner White turned what now live in the so-called “information age.” Cable news, social media and could have been an ordinary story into a masterpiece … White does a masterful job political commentary spawned the concept of “fake news.” of providing a moment-by-moment Magner White’s eclipse story from report.” 1923 is funny and harmless. The long-defunct Sun has been Fake news is not. It eclipses truth. described as “the third newspaper in a two newspaper town.” Today, if the Sun is remembered at all, it is for covering San Noon whistles sounded — the first time a noon whistle ever sounded in San Diego during a eclipse of the sun. Midnight at midday! Paradox of 120 years. But this is terrible awe. Children on the doorsteps catch it and cry out in the darkness. By telephone we get a picture of ‘Quaint Tijuana’ during these three minutes. There is

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The Clairemont Times • November 2019 • 9

Sorry, but Not Sorry by Steven Smith, Sr. Park Ranger City of San Diego

Over the last 4 plus years Rangers and volunteers have been working on transforming the southern Tecolote Canyon Basin. This lower portion of Tecolote was once a way for the Kumeyaay to move from the original mud flats of Mission Bay to the interior areas of San Diego and was filled with a plethora of native flora and fauna following Tecolote’s diverse vegetation habitats. As development began in San Diego the Tecolote basin was transformed from a diverse native habitat to a ranching and agricultural landscape and then later an area for dumping of fill of old road

construction debris. In the late 1960’s Tecolote Canyon, then started to be eyed for development and road construction. That is when local citizens fortunately came to the rescue of the canyon and it was saved and preserved as the canyon you can visit today. Since the preservation of Tecolote there have been many small volunteer efforts to reintroduce native flora back to the

canyon where it was removed for any number of reasons from the past. This is no easy task and requires a lot of work and years of commitment. There have also been some larger revegetation efforts that have done a wonderful job of it, but were part of a well-funded mitigation requirements. This brings us to what we are embarking on today. A Park Ranger and Volunteer lead effort to return the lower Tecolote Canyon Basin back into a native habitat where native species can expand and thrive throughout the Southern California wet and dry seasons. The image at the bottom shows the yearly progress Rangers and volunteers have been making. Area 1 is a .695 acre area that was started by volunteers over a handful of years. Area 2 is a .252 acre area that one Ranger, myself who started working on it with minimal volunteer help and mostly curiosity, desire and experimentation. It is now a near fully native area. Area 3 is a .776 acre area that two Rangers worked on the following year with growing volunteer interest. Area 4 is a .719 acre site from last year’s effort that had three Rangers and lots of volunteer help. And the 2019 area is a 1.58 acre site we just cleared and are planning on planting this coming fall and winter with natives. We recently acquired some new tools to help in the effort and have had a huge gain in volunteer help, so we are emboldened to go bigger and do more.

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When I first started as a Ranger in Tecolote in 2014 I looked at the Tecolote basin filled with non-natives and had a dream that felt unrealistic in that someday

knowing, I am not sorry that I will be adding habitat for native species to multiply and survive throughout the years as well as adding the diversity of year

I would be able to turn the basin back into the type of habitat it used to be before the years of human development sometimes referred to as “progress” had altered it to its current state. Now I see our efforts at about 3 to 4 years away from reclaiming the Tecolote basin from being predominantly a non-native habitat to becoming a thriving native habitat filled with a diverse plant palette that supports the native species throughout the year as compared to the singular bloom and die off of the current non-native monoculture that dominates the canyon basin. This brings me to the title of “Sorry, but Not Sorry”. I know some people value the beautiful yellow and white mega blooms of the predominant Chrysanthemum, Mustard, Radish and Poison Hemlock that have dominated the basin for so many years, but their beauty is short lived and supports little native mammal, avian, reptile and insect life throughout the year. So, while I am sorry to take away the long time feel of the canyon that many people grew up

round blooms of the native flowers that we are more than happy to introduce you to. We would also like to invite you to be a part of the transformation of Tecolote Canyon if you are interested. We do work throughout the year on the project, but you can be sure to meet us every 3rd Saturday of the month for our Weed Warriors events at the Tecolote Nature Center from 9-11 am where we will be doing different activities involving the restoration of the Tecolote Basin. Come volunteer with us, you won’t be sorry you did it. For more information about Tecolote Canyon as well as other canyons in Clairemont and beyond stop by the Tecolote Nature Center at 5180 Tecolote Rd. 92110 and on the web at www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/par ks/osp/tecolote and/or www.FriendsOfTecoloteCanyon.org. Additionally, see page 13 for a list of events happening at the Nature Center this month.

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10 • The Clairemont Times • November 2019

A Padres Column by Major Garrett

Existence is Futile by Major Garrett

Even from across the country I can feel the anticipatory dread. I can hear the acid churning in the preemptively nauseated stomachs of Padres fans. Forget Pepto or Tums. This ache won’t subside. Padres fans have watched the “search” for a new manager devolve into a cursory scan of A.J. Preller’s Texas Rangers Rolodex (look it up, kids, it was a thing a few decades ago…. the Rolodex, not Preller). No Joe Girardi. No Joe Maddon. No Dusty Baker. No Buck Showalter. We dread Jayce Tingler. Which says plenty all by itself. Who in the Hell could be afraid of something called Jayce Tingler? You can’t even say the name with a straight face. Most managers are casually referred to as ‘Skip.’ That’s short for skipper. Skip Tingler? You can get off the floor now. Well, stop laughing first. I don’t want you to lose your balance. Fear the Tingler? We do. With manic, laugh-out-loud bitterness and rage. Because Jayce Tingler sounds like another Andrew Mulligan Green, a somebody nobody ever heard of who brings these assets to the table: can’t command a big salary; won’t talk back to Preller; can’t command a big salary and won’t talk back to Preller. We fear the manager who “interviews well.” One with leadership “intangibles.” One who “knows analytics.” One who “speaks the players’ language.” We’ve been fed that slop before. It will not go down well a second time because we choked on it the first time…not as bad as the players Green managed to a 25-47 second half this season, but bad enough. (I know, management fired Green with eight games to go; but his dreary essence was all over that 1-7 slouch to the finish). There are some baseball minds who believe Tingler may be a manager of the future. The Athletic’s Enos Sarris is one of them (link: https://theathletic.com/1302054/2019/10 /18/sarris-scouting-the-next-wave-of-pote

ntially-great-managers/) Good new managers can be found. The Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and (I’ve witnessed it at close range) the Washington Nationals all have. But we crave a brand name. We crave a winner…a proven winner. Why? Because we sense in our deepest and most fearful souls that there’s something terribly wrong with the Padres culture. We sense it’s too light, too breezy, too wimpy to win. We want a grizzled butt-kicker who will metaphorically – and possibly literally – stomp around the dugout and shake the players out of their SoCal ennui. Culture matters. Ask yourself. Is there a Padres culture? Put another way, is there a Padres Way? Is there something that defines our approach to winning? What do we look for in draft picks? What do we teach in the minor leagues? What are we about as team? What are our imperatives? What is acceptable? What is unacceptable? This franchise is 50 years old and has no identity, no core, no sense of self. We all know this. We keep waiting for it to happen. We’ve heard all about the hot

talent lava. Here’s a news flash. Lava isn’t enough. Potential is ephemeral – the stuff of daydreams, signing bonuses and marketing campaigns. Potential doesn’t deliver victories. And the Padres do not need another marketing campaign. They need victories. Victories achieved at thin margins that separates average from exceptional execution. Is Jayce Tingler the answer? Hell, if I know. Would Ron Washington be better? He’s a winner with a checkered history – confessed cocaine use and infidelity; allegations of sexual assault. That’s a lot to surmount. Do Padres fans want to help or hinder that journey? Does management want to gamble on that fickle intangible? What about Eduardo Perez? Jim Bowden thinks he’s the perfect fit (link: https://theathletic.com/1293391/2019/10 /16/jim-bowdens-managerial-chairs-the-be st-fit-for-every-team-with-a-manager-open ing/). Perez has better name ID and isn’t part of Preller’s prefab preference pack. That by itself reads like an advantage to me. The drama is killing us. It should. The choice matters. Big League. It is the

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biggest choice facing the club since it hired Dick Williams, a move that propelled the Padres to their first World Series. The new manager will have to motivate Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer – or at least prod them to take their leadership roles seriously. Machado and Hosmer must understand young players take cues from their preparation, hustle and execution. The new manager will also have to harness the best of Fernando Tatis Jr.’s talents while protecting the club from his Getty Images volatile, injury-inducing excesses. Lastly, the new manager will have to demand that his starting pitchers prepare better, push themselves harder and snarl if taken out before the 7th inning. With the exception of the occasionally gritty Chris Paddack, Padres starters have the demeanor of a wet rosin bag. They need to be dented jackhammers – pounding the strike zone and daring the dugout to call the bullpen with runners at the corners. I DARE YOU!!! In the end, though, the manager can only do so much. The manager has to fit within a culture and plan. That’s why lesser-known managers have succeeded in Atlanta, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Boston, Tampa and in Washington. Those managers know what they have because the culture has identified players, taught them well in the minors and set

exceptionally high expectations at the Major League level. Players who are traded into such organizations adapt or founder. More than a manager…more than a Washington or a Perez or a (gulp) Tingler…the Padres need a culture that demands more than it demands now. Existence is futile. Competition is about winning. It’s not about being. Being Padres is all we’ve been for too long. What’s more, WE are part of the problem. A very, very, very big part of the problem. Starting with ME. Being Padres fans has become a sickening exercise in self-delusion, myth-making and bargaining. I did it through my childhood (when I didn’t know any better) and through my entire adulthood (when I did). I’m an enabler. I tolerate endless mediocrity. I absorb the taunts of other baseball fans as a goofy badge of honor signifying my perpetually sunny resilience. I wince as I write this. The truth hurts. Big League. It ends now. I’m the problem. I always have been. I show up. I cheer. I buy the gear. I’m a glutton for garbage. Or have been. No more. I’m part of the culture too. Starting now, I’m demanding more. Who’s with me? WHO….IS…? WITH….ME?? Major Garrett was born and raised in Clairemont, is Chief White House Correspondent for CBS News, host of “The Takeout” podcast and author of the book “Mr. Trump’s Wild Ride: The Thrills, Chills, Screams and Occasional Blackouts of His Extraordinary First Year in Office.”

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The Clairemont Times â&#x20AC;˘ November 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ 11

Complete Biking and Hiking Trails in Rose Canyon Opinion Louis Rodolico

Most of the trails in Rose Canyon are power line and sewer maintenance roads, so the current trails do not represent a complete thought. With the removal of the Governor to Gilman connector and the Regents Road Bridge two planned North-South paths have been eliminated. To help mitigate these losses we need new trails like the ones shown on the illustration as red dashed lines. The biggest problem is crossing the train tracks. We missed a golden opportunity with the 2015 cross tracking. To be fair to the community, no one, not even the planning group, knew about the cross-tracking project until bulldozers showed up in the canyon. At that time, we asked SANDAG to add a ten-foot diameter precast concrete tunnel while they had the site under construction, no response. It would have come in handy during the recent canyon fire since firefighters had to run hoses over the tracks not through a tunnel. Amtrak trains were delayed until the fire was extinguished. SANDAG let Amtrak add a paved grade level track crossing without crossing gates. This is the most recent canyon

improvement. There is too much misinformation out there claiming that nothing can be improved in Rose Canyon. There is discussion about building overlook parks at both Regents Road Bridge abutments. If you go to the west end of Governor you will see that an overlook park is a barrier; look but do not enter. Will the final overlook park design forfeit both Regents entrances, like the west end of Governor? The Regents south entrance and the Tony Drive entrance are both steep and dangerous. Both need improvements like the concrete steps in Marian Bear Memorial Park. If the goal is to welcome people into the canyon, then we should be adding trails and entrances. We should be making existing entrances safer in Rose Canyon and we should not be removing access. If we are serious about the Climate Action Plan and welcoming people into Rose Canyon, then we need to improve existing trails and install north/south biking-hiking trails. Louis Rodolico has been a resident of University City since 2001 and is a candidate for City Council, District 1 louisrodolico.com

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12 • The Clairemont Times • November 2019

Administering Your Trust Upon Your Death

The Clairemont Times PO Box 17671 San Diego, CA 92177 (858) 752-9779 Founding Publisher: Chris O’Connell Advertising (858) 752-9779 Graphic Designer: Elaine Hall Contributors: Allura Garis Major Garrett Susan Lewitt Owen Megura Lauren & Josh Rains Louis Rodolico Robert Ross Tanya Sawhney Bill Swank Marge Weber Intern: Owen Megura The Clairemont Times is a free publication published each month and circulated throughout the neighborhoods of Clairemont, Linda Vista, Bay Park & Kearny Mesa. Story ideas, advertising & editorial questions can be sent to

by Dick McEntyre and Chris von der Lieth, Attorneys at Law

You may wonder what is involved when your successor trustee administers your revocable living trust following your death. Here are the primary actions (not necessarily sequential) your successor trustee will need to take: 1. Arrange for the on-going care of your pets; secure your home; and make the final arrangements for the disposition of your body. 2. Order several Death Certificates through the mortuary to be used in connection with closing financial accounts and transferring title to real property. 3. Mail out “Notice to Beneficiary/Heir” letters as required by California law. 4. Obtain preliminary value of your estate to determine whether a federal estate tax return may need to be filed with the IRS (within nine (9) months from the date of your death).

5. Notify the California Department of Health Care Services as required by California law if you received or may have received any benefits from Medi-Cal. 6. Open a new checking account in the trust name (or convert an existing account). This account will be used to pay all of your debts and on-going trust expenses. In this connection, obtain from the IRS a new income tax reporting number (EIN) for the trust which the bank will require, since your trust became irrevocable upon your death. 7. Transfer title to all financial/brokerage accounts from your name into the successor trustee’s name, or close (sell the assets in) all or some of such accounts and transfer the proceeds into the new account in the trust referred to in Para. 6 above. 8. Locate all outstanding bills and pay same from the account referred to in Para 6. above. 9. Make claim for any death benefit(s) payable on your death. 10. As to any personal property in your estate, have an appraisal of such property made by an estate personal property appraiser, and sell such property and deposit the sale proceeds into the trust bank account, or divide such property among the entitled beneficiaries based on value or as otherwise required by the terms of your trust.

11. Obtain date of death values of all other property in your estate. Your banks and brokerage firms can provide the trustee with a statement(s) covering the time of your death and/or a letter providing the date of death value(s) of such account(s). The trustee will probably need to hire a qualified real estate appraiser to value your real property(ies) (needed for income tax basis purposes). 12. The trustee should keep a good record of all trust income and expenses and trust distributions, since an accounting should typically be provided to each beneficiary at the end of the trust administration. 13. The trustee should pay to himself or herself the compensation he or she is entitled to under the terms of the trust; and if none is provided for, “reasonable compensation” as authorized by California law. 14. After all estate expenses and debts have been paid, make the distributions to your beneficiaries called for by the trust. 15. Have an accountant prepare and file the needed income tax returns for you and for the trust. The above statements are not to be taken as legal advice for the reader’s particular situation. Richard F. McEntyre practices law in the area of estate planning and administration, having served the San Diego community as a lawyer for over 40 years. Chris von der Lieth is Dick’s associate lawyer, having worked with Dick for over 6 years. Affordable rates. Highest quality services. House calls available. Our office is conveniently located at 2615 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 101 (Telephone (619) 221-0279); www.richardfmcentyre.com.

The Clairemont Times P.O. Box 17671, San Diego, CA 92177 or chris@clairemonttimes.com Copyright ©2011-19 The Clairemont Times/McSierra Publishing. Reuse of material from this edition or past editions is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher. The opinions in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of The Clairemont Times/McSierra Publishing but instead, of each individual author/contributor. The Clairemont Times is proud to partner and contribute with:

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The Clairemont Times • November 2019 • 13

Very Easy to Grow Ground Covers (continued):

Grasses & Buckwheats by Susan Lewitt

Some bare ground is essential for native ground nesting bees, but how about some pleasant native ground cover such as buckwheat or native grasses for other parts of your landscaping? Several grasses listed on the Calscape website include Clustered Field Sedge, Deer Grass, Spiny Rush, California Brome Grass, Thin grass and Giant Wildrye in previous articles. An ideal candidate, small flowered Needle Grass, was omitted. Small Flowered Needle Grass (Stipa lepida) is a mounding grass growing about

California Buckwheat.

Photo courtesy of Calscape

All four are recommended for bank stabilization, while interior California Buckwheat does well on dry slopes, needing well drained soil. California Buckwheat and Eastern Mojave Buckwheat are fine in loamy, slow to fast draining soil. Eastern Mojave Buckwheat will adapt to many soil types. Sea Cliff Buckwheat needs medium to fast draining soil of clay, loam and sand combinations. These buckwheats, except for Sea Cliff Buckwheat, survive with no summer water, but may need once monthly watering during dryer summers. Sea Cliff Sea Cliff Buckwheat. Photo courtesy of Calscape Buckwheat may need twice monthly watering during the 3’ high and 2’ across with early, yellow summer until it’s established. spring flowers. It adapts to different soils, but prefers clay loam with slow to medium drainage. It is winter deciduous, but doesn’t require summer watering. It can be planted on dry slopes with full sun to full shade alongside other native grasses, buckwheats and golden yarrow. It attracts the Juba Nevada, Uncas Skippers and Common Ringlets. There are four easy to grow ground cover buckwheats (5 including a subspecies), according Photo courtesy of Calscape to Calscape. California buckwheat Interior California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum and Eriogonum fasciculatum var. Use buckwheats in pollinator and bird fasciculatum) is the largest of these gardens, to attracting Gray Hairstreak, species, topping out at about 6’ by 3’ Acmon Blue and Brown Elfin butterflies. wide, while Eastern Mojave Buckwheat Sea Cliff Buckwheat attracts Blue Copper (Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum) and Mormon Metalmark butterflies. Sea is almost as tall at 6’ by as much as 5’ Cliff Buckwheat is an important native across. Interior California Buckwheat butterfly plant, while Eastern Mojave (Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium) Buckwheat is a valued honey plant. and Sea Cliff Buckwheat (Eriogonum Numerous native plants thrive with parvifolium) reach about 3.3’ tall by 3’ buckwheats. California buckwheat and wide. They all have white and pink Eastern Mojave Buckwheat do well with flowers. Additionally, California Brittlebush (Encelia species), Sagebrush Buckwheat, Eastern Mohave Buckwheat (Artemisia species), Sage (Salvia species), and Interior California Buckwheat have Manzanita (Arctostaphylos species), cream colored flowers. California Ceanothus species, Yucca species, and Buckwheat and Sea Cliff Buckwheat Dudleya species, while Eastern Mojave display yellow flowers. Red flowers can be Buckwheat may be planted with seen on Eastern Mohave Buckwheat and Rhamnus species, and Rhus species. Sea Cliff Buckwheat while Seacliff California buckwheat and Sea Cliff Buckwheat is the only one with green Buckwheat like cacti as companions. flowers. Brittlebush (Encelia farinose) Big

Tecolote Nature Center

5180 Tecolote Road San Diego, CA 92110 • 858-581-9944 Park Ranger Office 858-581-9961 Monday – Closed, Tuesday –Saturday 9:00-4:00, Sunday 9:00-2:00

Saturday, November 16 9:00-11:00 Weed Warriors Help is needed in the restoration and revegetation areas. Wear long pants and sturdy shoes. No flip flops please. Bring sun protection and a refillable water bottle. * Arrive early to get a good parking spot. Wednesday, November 20 1:30-3:00 Art & Activities for Kids- Free! Autumn themed nature crafts and activities for kids. Saturday, November 23 8:00 am Audubon Society Birding Walk All skill levels welcome! Audubon volunteers on hand to guide you. Saturday, November 30 8:30 am -10:00 TCIG Birding Walk Join the Tecolote Canyon Interpretive Group (TCIG) on an easy walk in Tecolote Canyon to see and hear the birds of the season. Meet at the nature center entrance. Bring binoculars and dress in layers as it can be chilly in the morning. Canyon Compadres Volunteer Group 9:00 am – 11:00 Every other Wednesday Call Ranger Cameron for dates and locations. 858-581-9961 *The nature center will be closed on Thanksgiving www.sandiego.gov/volunteer-program Activities are posted at www.meetup.com/Friends of Tecolote Canyon Natural Park and Nature Center. Like us on Facebook/Friends of Tecolote Canyon www.friendsoftecolotecanyon.org

Newly planted Sea Cliff Buckwheat Photo by Susan Lewitt

Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), Mojave Yucca (Yucca schidigera), and Sugarbush (Rhus ovata) are good companions for Interior California Buckwheat while Sea

Cliff Buckwheat goes with Chalk Dudleya, California Buckwheat, Giant Coreopsis, Seaside Fleabane and Coast Eriogonum. California Buckwheat has been used as teas to cure headaches, soothe stomach aches, and for colds and laryngitis. Roots were used for wounds, plus dried flowers and roots helped prevent heart problems. To learn more about native plants for general garden use and as ground covers, visit the Calscape website (https://www.calscape.org/). You’ll also learn more at California Native Plant Society’s meetings, third Tuesday monthly, starting 6:30 pm, Casa Del Prado room 101, Balboa Park. CNPS meetings, special events, nature hikes and more: https://www.cnpssd.org/

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14 • The Clairemont Times • November 2019

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The Holidays Are Coming; 5 Tips to Get Rid of Junk Mail by County of San Diego Communications Office

The holidays are coming, bringing friends, family — and unfortunately, more junk mail than you can probably imagine! Want to keep the friends and family but get rid of the junk mail? San Diego County’s Department of Public Works has some tips to help you out. And these tips won’t just slim your mailbox and cut your mail-sorting time. They can also help the environment by saving millions of trees that absorb millions of tons of greenhouse gas a year, and by keeping un-recycled paper from filling up local landfills. Public Works reports that the average American receives 40 pounds of catalogs and direct (marketing) mail a year, about 848 pieces of junk mail per person. With that in mind, here are five tips to help lose a little junk-mail weight and help the environment: Remove your name from mailing lists: • Direct mailer registries- National Do Not Mail List https://www.directmail.com/mail_preferen ce/ • Weekly grocery mailers- Red Plum/RetailMeNot https://www.retailmenot.com/everyday/un subscribe • Weekly coupon mailers- Valpak https://www.valpak.com/coupons/show/m ailinglistsuppression

• DMA Choice is an inexpensive paid service from the Direct Mail Association that removes your name from their members’ direct mail lists. Their members include thousands of major brands.

To permanently opt out from receiving credit and insurance offers, remove your name from the mailing list at OptOutPreScreen.com, or send a written request to each of the three national credit

Removing your name from all categories takes just a few minutes. A credit card is needed to sign up. DMA Choice costs $2 for 10 years of service. https://dmachoice.thedma.org/

reporting agencies in the US: Equifax / TransUnion / Experian Remove your name from specific catalog lists by visiting CatalogChoice.org

To reduce junk mail even further, you can contact companies directly. Ask them to remove your name from their mailing lists or tell them not to sell your name or send promotional materials and be sure you’re signed up for paperless billing. Don’t forget to opt out of receiving a phonebook if you prefer using online search engines to the phone. Use the free service at Yellow Pages Opt-Out! Just enter your five-digit ZIP code to view which directories are distributed in your area, and use your name and address to opt out of the unwanted selections at YellowPagesOptOut.com Follow the easy steps above and you can prevent up to 90% of junk mail from finding its way to your doorstep. Remember, be patient! It may take six to eight weeks to see the results. And always remember, Reduce, Reuse and then Recycle. For more recycling information and tips for how to cut food waste, about residential recycling, where you can recycle, upcoming recycling events, composting and other recycling-related topics, go to Public Works’ Solid Waste Planning and Recycling webpage, https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/ sdc/dpw/recycling.html or connect with them on their Facebook page Facebook.com/CountyofSanDiegoRecycling.

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The Clairemont Times • November 2019 • 15

Community Meetings Open to the Public (Locations & Times Subject to Change)

Clairemont Town Council 11/7/19 (1st Thursday) 6:30pm Clairemont High School 4150 Ute Dr. 92117 Clairemont Community Planning Group 11/19/19 (3rd Tuesday) 6:00pm Alcott Elementary 4680 Hidalgo Ave. 92117 Linda Vista Town Council 11/21/19 (3rd Thursday) 6:00pm Revere Center 6735 Gifford Way, 92111 Linda Vista Planning Group 11/25/19 (4th Monday) 5:30pm Linda Vista Library 2160 Ulric St. 92111

Useful Local Project Websites

Please feel free to call or email Chris O’Connell at (858) 752-9779 or Chris@ClairemontTimes.com. This is a heavy commission sales position.

City of San Diego www.SanDiego.gov For Updates/Documents & General Information on Morena Blvd/Balboa Area www.BalboaStationPlan.org