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Parks and Wreck
BY HIRAM SOTO
Thursday, October 21, 2021
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BLOWN AWAY. That’s how we felt with the amazing community response to the launch of ThePowegian.org. Thanks for the countless emails of support and to those who donated!
Let’s get started with what you need to know.
FIRST UP: What’s going on with STARRIDGE PARK and WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? Here’s a breakdown:
Poway promised neighbors in 1987 (and reaffirmed it in 2004) to never let Starridge Park, a small community park with a few parking spaces, be a sports park for organized sports.
To the dismay of neighbors, and with little to no warning, the city declared Starridge a temporary sports park; it will now host organized softball games for the next few years.
Pat Diaz, a neighbor, called out the city for breaking its promise. City ignored neighbors. Powegians are now divided between supporting neighbors or a local softball team displaced by renovations to the water treatment plant, which closed down their park.
HERE’S OUR TAKE: Regardless of where you stand on this, most people would agree the city needs to consult constituents with decisions that impact their neighborhoods, especially when it breaks a long-standing commitment. If the city can do this to one group of neighbors, it can do it to you too.
We reached out via email to Chris Hazeltine, Poway’s City Manager — former Parks and Rec Director for Carlsbad — to get his take. He unfortunately did not respond by print time. Neighbors of Starridge Park are meeting this Sat. at 10 a.m.
UPDATE ON THE FARM: Last November, voters in Poway approved Prop P by over 60%. Its passage allowed The Farm project to move forward on the defunct StoneRidge Country Club.
C.H. Currier took a stroll through the property and spoke to Kevin McNamara about where the project stands now. SPOILER ALERT: The land has been prepped and construction is ready to begin “soon.” READ ABOUT IT HERE.
SPEAKING OF UPDATES. Councilmember Dave Grosch, who is scheduled to retire in 2022, responded (after numerous emails) on whether he is timing his retirement so that the City Council can appoint someone to replace him before the 2022 elections to give preferred candidates a leg up. This is what he said:
“I will be serving out my term of office.”
—Councilmember Dave Grosch (Oct. 20, 2021)
It's worth remembering Mayor Steve Vaus and the City Council, including Grosch, appointed Councilmember Caylin Frank to represent Poway just three months after she moved to Poway. This following the retirement of Councilmember Jim Cunningham. It's the City Council’s MODUS OPERANDI to get ahead of voters and ensure developer-approved politicians make it to City Council — a reason why Poway has been overdeveloped.
WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN WITH BRIAN PEPIN, a former lobbyist for a Sacramento developer, who is running for Grosch’s seat? We are WORKING ON A SERIES AROUND APPOINTMENTS in Poway to find out. If you want to help us get to the bottom of it, make a donation today!
FINALLY: Big Shout Out to Poway High Student Senior Brandon Armas.
He sent us a letter he wrote to Mayor Steve Vaus asking why it has taken 25 years for the city to fix Espola Rd.
His letter reads in part:
“Everyday I drive to school from Silverset and there is always heavy traffic or possible accidents at the intersection. It is very dangerous how there are two lanes merging to one as soon as the drivers turn left onto Espola headed towards the school.”
Till next time!