6 San Diego Uptown News | Feb. 4-17, 2011


OPINION/NEWS


3737 Fifth Ave. Suite 201 San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 519-7775


PUBLISHER David Mannis


(619) 519-7775 x101


dmannis@sduptownnews.com EDITOR


Lauren Ventura


(619) 519-7775 x103 lauren@sduptownnews.com


ASSISTANT EDITOR Rick Braatz


(619) 519-7775 x102 rick@gay-sd.com


REPORTERS & COLUMNISTS Charlene Baldridge Joel Berlin


Jeff Britton Elena Buckley


Patricia Morris Buckley Dani Dodge Lauren Duffy Michael Good Erin Goss “Dr. Ink”


Letters to the Editor


What's the deal with San Diego's transit issues?


My name is David Feldman. I’m a local resident of Talmadge. I received a copy of Uptown News at my door last month that ran two articles on its front page liter- ally side-by-side. One was about the progress with implementing dedicated bus lanes in the Metro San Diego area, and the other was


about the proposed parking struc- ture at Balboa Park that Irwin Ja- cobs has recently funded in a very high-profile way. I was surprised to see that neither of these articles referenced the other issue? To my mind, I find them incredibly inter- related. I know that the dedicated bus lanes are intended to help the parking situation mainly in the Park Boulevard corridor, which ironically runs straight through Balboa Park. For all of the inordi- nate amount of money that seems


to be allocated towards this park- ing structure in Balboa Park, I have yet to hear any talk in this plan of increasing public transit services


to Balboa Park. I was wondering if it›s just me or if that is really the reality of the situation? In my own cursory analysis of San Diego's transit system, it seems painfully obvious that the logical next step and most useful expansion of our transit service would be to extend our trolley lines from downtown into Balboa


Park. Not only would this connect two very central and heavily traf- ficked areas (especially by our important tourism industry), but given that the tracks already run up to the edge of the park in the East Village, this should be one of the least expensive upgrades avail- able to make to our trolley.


Sincerely, David Feldman


Beatrice Kemp Brook Larios Scott Marks David Nelson


Cynthia Robertson Dave Schwab Peggy Scott Ron Stern


Glenda Winders John Philip Wyllie


PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Body


Michael D. Pawlenty


DIRECTOR OF SALES MARKETING


Mike Rosensteel (619) 519-7775 x108 miker@sduptownnews.com INVITED YOU’RE STEERING COMMITTEE KICK-OFF


SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIRPORT LAND USE COMPATIBILITY PLAN


The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority is in the process of updating the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) for San Diego International Airport (SDIA). SDIA is the primary commercial airport for the San Diego region and it is critical that it remain viable to serve our growing region and contribute to San Diego’s economy. The ALUCP for SDIA will play an important role in ensuring that new development in the vicinity of the airport is compatible and safe, and that SDIA can continue to meet the region’s aviation needs.


The Airport Authority is hosting a kick-off to a series of Steering Committee meetings that will provide a forum for public input during the planning process. The Steering Committee meetings will allow interested members of the public to review technical information and provide input in the development of ALUCP policies. Each meeting will focus on a specific topic so participants can attend meetings of specific interest to them. Meetings are open to all who are interested in participating.


Date: Topic: Time:


Location:


Wednesday, February 23, 2011 SDIA Operations and Environs 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.


Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Airport/Liberty Station 2592 Laning Road San Diego, CA 92106


For more information, please visit www.san.org/alucp. For questions or comments, please contact (619) 400-2457 or alucpcomments@san.org.


© 2011 San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. All rights reserved.


Lyric Opera puts North Park Theatre up for sale


By Margie Palmer SDUN Reporter


One of North Park’s most


prominent redevelopment projects, the Birch North Park Theater, has been put up for sale. Lyric Opera General Manager Leon Natker said that because the theatre is an important cornerstone to the community, it’s important that the right buyer- not just “a buyer” take control of the property. “The reopening of the Birch


North Park Theatre in 2005 is part of what helped bring North Park back to life,” Natker said. “It’s in no one’s interest to see this thing close or to see a ‘for rent’ or ‘space avail- able’ sign on our window. It would kill the neighborhood.” The theatre, now 82-years-old


has been an important centerpiece for the revitalization of the commu- nity and has been “a key compo- nent to the renaissance we’ve seen in North Park,” said San Diego City Councilmember Todd Gloria. “It’s the most classic example


of how redevelopment dollars have been put to work in District 3.” Gloria said the positive effects of


renovating the once defunct theater can still be seen throughout the surrounding area. Natker agrees, stressing the


reason for placing the theatre up for sale is not because Lyric wants to leave the neighborhood.


see Opera, page 16 Business Improvement Association


SENIOR ADVERTISING CONSULTANT Sean Eshelman


(619) 519-7775 x105 sean@sduptownnews.com


ART DIRECTOR Louis Guzman


(619) 519-7775 x111 louis@sduptownnews.com


PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Becah Corbin


(619) 519-7775 x111 becahuptown@gmail.com


ACCOUNTING (619) 519-7775 x112


accounting@sduptownnews.com OPINIONS/LETTERS


San Diego Uptown News encourages letters to the editor and guest editori- als. Please e-mail both to letters@ sduptownnews.com. Include phone number and address for verification.


We reserve the right to edit letters for brevity and accuracy. Letters and guest editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or staff.


SUBMISSIONS/NEWS TIPS


Press releases and story ideas are welcomed. Send press releases, tips, photos or story ideas to news@sdup- townnews.com. For breaking news and investigative story ideas contact the editor by phone or e-mail.


DISTRIBUTION San Diego Uptown News


is distributed free, biweekly, every other Friday. COPYRIGHT 2011. All rights are reserved. Printed in the United States of America.


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