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PeninsulaBeacon.com THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2011
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
www.SDNEWS.com Volume 26, Number 11
Council cobbles plan to spare libraries, rec centers, fire pits
For HTHI students,
losing Obama
Competing ideas have same goal, different approaches BY PATRICIA M. WALSH | THE BEACON
visit still had a ‘unifying’ effect
The citizens of San Diego have spoken — and they’ve been heard. On the heels of petition drives and outrage from Ocean Beach to La Jolla, city residents made it clear libraries, recreation centers and fire pits are essential services and not excess fat to be trimmed to close a projected $56.7 million deficit in the city’s $1.1 billion 2012 operating budget. And their message apparently did not fall on deaf ears when it comes to a majority of the City Council. The outcry to save neighborhood services reverberated throughout City Hall. There are now two
rescue plans on the table as the council moves toward a June 6 or 7 final budget showdown. One plan is from District 2 Councilmember Kevin Faulconer, who is also chairman of the City’s Audit Committee. The other plan comes from a group of councilmembers that includes Tony Young, Todd Gloria, David Alvarez and Lorie Zapf. Both plans — which spare libraries, recreation centers and fire pits — target estimated savings of $13.5 million. In his original 2012 budget, Mayor Jerry Sanders proposed eliminating $14 SEE BUDGET, Page 7
High Tech High International (HTHI) students brim with pride even though they received disappointing news the school had not been chosen by President Barack Obama for a visit to deliver their commencement speech. This group represents just some of the many HTHI students involved in the “Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge” hosted by the White House. Pictured are, from bottom left, Rachel DeNoble, Katie Ho, Will Stocker, Marissa Wong, Daniel Meyers, Rishika Daryanani, Marisol Jenkins, Adam Burnier and Cat Bagg. PHOTOS BY JIM GRANT I THE BEACON
Seniors discover discipline, focus and pride in real-world test BY JOSH SELIGMAN | THE BEACON
New permitting requirements and fees could force community Fourth of July fireworks shows like this one over the Ocean Beach Pier to be scaled back. COURTESY PHOTO BY JOE EWING
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After working and waiting for three months, High Tech High International (HTHI) students and staff learned May 10 that President Barack Obama will not speak at their commencement ceremony. Despite the disappointing news, HTHI students continue to hold their heads high with a distinct sense of accomplishment. HTHI ranked among the top three schools in the nation for the honor after competing against more than 450 other schools nationwide in the challenge to host the president in what is called the “Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge.” “It’s been a whirlwind and we’ve been excited to participate in the contest,” said senior Rishika Daryanani. “I’m disappointed that our school wasn’t highlighted, but we are so lucky to be highlighted with [the winning schools].” The Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge asked U.S. high schools to demonstrate how they equip their students academically and empower them to graduate from college and join the workforce. HTHI is one of nine in a system of High Tech High charter schools established in 2000 with the goal of developing the academic, citizenship and professional skills of their students. According to the required final video HTHI students submitted to the commencement challenge judges, HTHI students have a 100 percent graduation rate and a 93 percent
New over-water fireworks permit requirement ignites controversy OBMA officials fear July 4 celebration will lose some crackle BY KENDRA HARTMANN | THE BEACON
HTHI students discovered discipline and focus in a real-world test of the “Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge.” The students continue to hold their heads high after finishing in the final three schools nationwide to be considered for a visit by the president. Some of the many HTHI students involved in the challenge have a little fun this week, despite the disappointment. Shown here, they are: Will Stocker, Daniel Meyers, Cat Bagg, Marissa Wong, Rachel DeNoble, Katie Ho, Rishika Daryanani and Marisol Jenkins.
two-year college retention rate. Even with these impressive strengths, Obama selected Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tenn., as the winner. The White House will, however, send NASA administrator and former astronaut Charles F. Bolden Jr. to speak at HTHI’s commencement. “It’s a big honor to get anybody from the White House to come,” said sophomore Jacob Mandel. “And no other school [in San Diego] gets to say, ‘Hey, Obama was thinking of coming here.’”
In February, when the challenge began, HTHI’s senior class took charge and applied to compete in the challenge. Daryanani and classmate Marisol Jenkins spearheaded the application process, which included writing three essays and producing a two-minute video. The team included more than 90 seniors. In early April, HTHI ranked among the top six schools, and students got to work on their next assignment: a three-minute SEE HTHI, Page 5
Organizers of fireworks displays in San Diego recently became the first in the country to be required to apply for and purchase an annual permit to celebrate the Fourth of July with pyrotechnics — and the move has sparked an explosion of debate. On May 11, the San Diego arm of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board voted unanimously to require a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit — at a cost of $1,450 — in order to allow organizers to lawfully discharge pollutants present in fireworks to comply with the federal Clean Water Act requirements. “It’s complete baloney,” said Denny Knox, executive director of the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association, the group that organizes the fireworks display at Ocean Beach Pier. “It’s a pay-toplay thing, and it will squeeze out all the little guys like us. This is a great tradition and the vast majority of residents enjoy it. So it’s sad to see some of
these things going away.” The permit requirement, effective June 1, applies to displays over any body of water in the region and requires organizers to collect, remove and manage the debris created by the fireworks. It does not, however, require water quality and sediment monitoring to determine the extent to which the pollutants actually contribute to the degradation of surface water health. Environmental groups, which pushed for the permit regulations, contend fireworks contribute chemicals and other pollutants to surface waters. Though the move by the water quality control board was seen as an important step in recognizing the issue, the general consensus among those who lobbied for regulation was that the plan still doesn’t go far enough. San Diego Coastkeeper, which has been involved in lobbying for permits that require monitoring of coastal waters during fireworks displays, had hoped to see a SEE FIREWORKS, Page 6
Announcing the 17th Annual Peninsula Beacon AMATEUR Photo Contest Who Has The Best Photo of the Peninsula Area? Enter your best photo portraying the Peninsula area taken in the past year. Photos will be displayed at the Beacon booth during the June Ocean Beach Street Fair. The public will vote for their favorite pictures. Prizes will be awarded for the top 3 photos & winning photos will be published in the Beacon.
HURRY! Deadline for entries is Tuesday, June 21, 2011 Photos taken over the past year (June ‘10–June ‘11 may be entered!
Entries may be dropped off at our new location: The Beacon Offices 1621 Grand Ave. @nd Floor., Pacific Beach (Above Wendy’s Restaurant) or Mailed to: The Beacon ATTN: Photo Contest,1621 Grand Ave., Ste C San Diego, CA 92109