HOME COURT: A weekend ritual grew from a humble tennis class 22 years ago.
READERS CHOICE AWARDS: READERS Beach & Bay Press readers C H O I C E have selected their favorite AWARDS local businesses. 2 0 1 0
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Move it or lose it Locals must keep an eye on their cars when they park on the streets BY DEBBIE HATCH | BEACH & BAY PRESS Jake Kattai has a convenient life. The seven-year Pacific Beach resident lives four blocks from the ocean and walks three blocks to work. He can purchase most of what he needs inside the parameters of Pacific Beach, which means he rarely has the need to drive his car. In fact, Kattai prefers to walk or ride his bicycle most places. Although his father is a police officer in central California, Kattai, like many state residents, discovered one law the hard way. California Vehicle Code 22651k dictates that vehicles cannot be parked in the same location on any city street for more than 72 hours — or it can be impounded. If a vehicle is parked in the same location for more than 72 hours it is considered abandoned. Therefore, every city, including San Diego, is subject to the enforcement of this law. “We have areas in communities where there is just no parking,” said Det. Minnie Ramos, code compliance supervisor with the San Diego Police Department’s Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Unit. In 2009, 10,165 vehicles were impounded in San Diego for violating the 72-hour law. From Jan. 1 through May 1 of this year, 2,960 vehicles had already been impounded. Residents know that parking is tight in the beach communities, especially around holiday weekends. With families preparing for summer vacations, the law is something to keep in mind if one is planning to leave a vehicle parked on the street for longer than 72 hours at a time. Kattai shares a 2-bedroom apartment with a roommate and both have a car. The apartment offers one parking spot inside a single-car garage. Last fall, Kattai walked from his door to the street thinking that he would get into his car
A NEW FIELD OF DREAMS? Mission Bay High could see new stadium by 2014 BY ANTHONY GENTILE | BEACH & BAY PRESS When the Mission Bay High School (MBHS) football team opens its season at home next month, the defending Division IV champs will already have scored a win. On Aug. 3, the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education voted to bump up long-overdue improvements to the school’s stadium with voter-approved Proposition S funding to the beginning of 2014 — more than a year ahead of the originally scheduled start date. “That which seemed so far away is now going to happen,” said Jennifer Tandy, public relations director for Friends of Pacific Beach Secondary Schools. “It’s a reality now, and not just a dream, thanks to the school board and the community supporting it.” Tandy said the new stadium’s start date was moved up from May 2015 because MBHS parents and students advocated for equitable Prop S project dates. Board members themselves paid a visit to the stadium between April and June. “All board members, at one time or another, actually came to visit the field and realized this is a priority,” Tandy said. “It was after a lot of discussion and visits that this actually happened.” Concerns abounded. From no field lighting to limited seating, and from a dirt track too small to host meets to a grass field that doesn’t match that of other schools, there is a laundry list of issues with the current stadium at MBHS. School district trustee John de Beck said the need is there for a new athletic facility at the school, which he estimates would cost between $10 million and $15 million. “I regret that there has been a delay,” de Beck said. “The main thing is
Improvements to Mission Bay High School’s athletic field — funded by voterapproved Proposition S money — have been moved up to 2014 because of parent PHOTOS BY PAUL HANSEN | Beach & Bay Press and community advocacy.
to make sure the field is safe for kids, so there aren’t any potholes and there aren’t any places where kids can break their legs running around or actually playing a sport.” In addition to player and fan safety, Tandy said having a lit stadium would create a strong sense of community on Friday nights. The Buccaneers currently can’t host night games, and the football team had to play two “home” games in last year’s playoffs at San Diego High School during its title run. “We are very excited about the renovation coming to the Mission Bay High athletic facilities. With a new stadium, new field and lights, Mission SEE STADIUM, Page 4
SEE TOWING, Page 4
A local’s local looks to retirement after 33 years BY DEBBIE HATCH | BEACH & BAY PRESS Joe Randazzo is nearing his 68th birthday and has been the proprietor of the Chevron Gas Station, located at 1575 Garnet Ave., since 1967. As a small business owner he has been privy to environmental regulations and economic shifts over the past 33 years. Randazzo was born in Michigan and moved to San Diego in 1953. For the most part, he has enjoyed being a small business owner. From the cash-only days to credit
card-accepting pumps, he has witnessed many changes. In the company’s early years it was a garage and filling station serving cars at reasonable rates. The full-service station shifted into a gas station and food mart because it became difficult for the small business owner to keep up with the mandates and fees associated with the environmental regulations, Randazzo pointed out. “It’s been so long that I don’t remember the other way,” Randazzo said when trying to think of when he closed the maintenance portion of his shop.
While Randazzo currently sees his business improving, he did fall prey to the lagging economy like many others. He credits the boost in business to either the improving economy or people’s acceptance of the situation that the country is in. “Competition in the whole industry has changed,” Randazzo said. He said larger companies own most gas stations in the beach area, which typically assist franchises when new equipment needs to be installed or
OBITUARIES:
HOMES:
MUSIC:
Two prominent Pacific Beach women left their marks on the community.
PB’s favorite alternative home furnishing store is Underground Furniture.
Alternative rock, engaging jazz and good ol’ rock ’n’ roll.
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Joe Randazzo prepares to ride off in his restored 1970 Chevy Impala after 33 years of
SEE RANDAZZO, Page 4 running his Chevron station at 1575 Garnet Ave.
PAUL HANSEN | Beach & Bay Press
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