Does your block need some sprucing up?

Chula Vista Serves Launches Love Your Block, Sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation

Thanks to the generous support of The Home Depot Foundation, Love Your Block will provide 20 competitive mini-grants comprised of a $500 Home Depot gift card for each grant award. 

Each winning neighborhood group will purchase the needed supplies for their local improvement project and can request city services as available to support the effort.

“These mini-grants encourage groups of community members to identify priority projects and develop volunteer-fueled solutions,” said Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox. “Love Your Block engages residents in revitalizing their neighborhoods one block at a time. Engaged neighbors can act as a powerful force to improve their neighborhoods and prevent crime, while increasing community involvement and improving quality of life.”

For the purpose of the Love Your Block campaign, a block is defined as a minimum of 10 residents in proximity to one another within the City of Chula Vista. The group must be volunteer-led. Eligible groups include neighborhood, tenant and block associations as well as community garden groups, school, and church-based groups.


Each group must have a detailed and realistic action plan for engaging residents to carry out a physical transformation of their block. Residents must implement and complete their volunteer project between September 2011 and the end of November 2011. Grant recipients must also commit to providing before/after pictures as well as measure specific impact, i.e., number of trees planted, number of pounds of trash collected, number of pounds of mulch distributed, square footage of graffiti removed, number of green spaces/gardens created, number of physical resources created , and number of volunteers engaged.


Potential Projects include, but are not limited to:

• vacant lot clean-up
• weeding
• litter removal
• graffiti removal
• fence replacement/painting
• pet waste bag dispenser(s)
• tree planting (not in city right of way)
• community garden development (per city policy)
• yard sharing (private property only)
• mural painting (private property only)
• safety/security lighting/improvements (private property only)
• water conservation measures, i.e., installation of low flow sprinklers
• energy conservation measures, i.e., installation of motion detector lighting

Visit the Chula Vista Serves website to download the application.

Apply! Add your Voice to Chula Vista Boards and Commissions.

Applications are being accepted now for various vacancies on Chula Vista Boards and Commissions.

These include Planning Commission, Charter Review, Growth Management Oversight Commission (GMOC), Ethics, Library Board, Arts & Culture, and many others.  

Applicants are required to live in C.V. and be registered to vote. The Mayor usually fills these seats quickly as they become available. 

Applications are kept on file for two years for consideration. If you have applied and not sure if you're still on file - call the City Clerks office or REAPPLY - it's easy.

Got to:

http://www.chulavistaca.gov/City_Services/Administrative_Services/City_Clerk/Boards/vacancies.asp

Get involved! Lend your voice! Make your imprint in the future of our city!

Democracy’s High Price of Admission

I was once told that someone would have to raise/spend upwards of $7000 to win a seat on Chula Vista City Council. That was years ago, before the political parties and special interests groups invested so heavily, and I am sure the price tag has increased significantly. 

The idea that a seat could literally be paid for like an new suit at Macy’s shocked me at the time - call it political naivety.  

So the recent story that a group of “activists” were paid to show up at a recent council meeting to show “public” support for an item .... well, let’s just say I wasn’t surprised.  

I wish I could say I was disappointed, let down, and/or disgusted ... but the truth is, I’m none of them.  Why? Because I have worked in politics - for a short, but long enough - time to know that democracy has a price of admission. 

There is an actual monetary cost. The money it takes to win an election, to make campaign donations that secure you the ear of your elected, and to afford all the VIP networking events that prove you are someone important - someone worth listening to. 

Then there is the cost of time. The time that’s needed to show up at public meetings and get your opinion out there, to serve on city commissions and other advisory boards, and to stay informed on the issues, all while marketing yourself and building your base - the bigger your base the larger your influence. 

IF you can afford the full price of admission, you can be sure to play an influential role in democracy.  IF all you do is vote and passively engage on issues, democracy will be an elusive thing.

Upset, enraged by the paid “activist?” No, not me.  I’m actually more curious as to the reaction and outcry of the public.  One of my core beliefs is the “potential” power of the public to change this dysfunctional democracy ... but it remains a potential unless we are willing to invest, actively engage and accept the norm no more.

I’m in .... are you?  

Like us on Facebook and subscribe to the blog feed and let’s see if we can realize the potential in Chula Vista.

Z

Mom on the school beat - Entry #2

School is now in full swing. Looked like a war zone at Target & Office Depot on Friday. My older two needed spiral notebooks large enough for them to glue papers into it ... I guess that's effective. Whatever happened to PeeChee Folders?

Met early last week with Rancho Del Rey Middle School Principal. As you recall, our last conversation was not very kumbaya. However, new year new start. Was a great conversation about new approaches for getting parents involved and providing better for kids. 

Getting ready to send out my introduction e-mail to the long list of HS & RDRM teachers. Great way to connect and have it on record too. 

Now about the traffic – do people just forget how to drive and all courtesy is lost when driving to school. Going south on Paseo Ranchero & Heritage to Olympic is nuts. There are illegal u-turns, left turns, right turns, intersection blocking, near misses – auh ya ya.

-PC

Library at Otay Ranch Town Center is One Step Closer

The council will be considering approving a lease with the mall for a temporary library on the east side of the city.  If approved, the new mall library would open to the public late 2011.

At a lease of $1/year, it’s a great deal for the city.  The space will be the three empty spaces on the west side of the food court.  Wi-fi will be available and extended out to the food court.  Library hours will increase to 35 hours/week, from the six that were offered at the Eastlake HS shared library.

The lease would be temporary for five years, with an option to cancel after three.  So if the economy improves - the mall could want their food court back.  

The city does have a  controversial plan for a larger, permanent library - but this comes at the expense of a smaller one promised to residents of Rancho del Rey.

On the whole, I think most residents will be excited about the temporary library, the mall location, expanded hours and wi-fi.  The long-term plan will need to be worked out between the city and its residents. 

For other policy/civic geeks like me ... the question of what constitutes “real” public space is now open for debate.  Public space on private property .... will/should types of public use be restricted?

Take for instance the upcoming elections. Libraries have hosted candidate forums in the past. With that comes the good and bad of politics, but all are protected under free speech and contributes to real and much-needed civic dialogue and participation. 

What happens if demonstrators/campaign staff make shoppers feel uncomfortable? 

Seriously, I don’t want someone bugging me with flyers/stickers/buttons while I’m enjoying a night out with the family ... but then again, what a great location to reach out to everyday citizens to see what they want, what they feel, and get them involved.

It will be interesting to see how the mall handles this very fine line ....

If the lease is approved and the project moves forward - that is ....

Mom on the school beat - Entry #1

How did I get here so soon?  

I now have a child in each of our fine school levels – elementary, middle school, & high school.  And like most families, each child is wonderfully unique – personally, socially and academically. Keeping up is almost a full time job.  Thank goodness for a common school calendar!

The transition from CV elementary to SUHSD middle was a shocker. Our elementary was family. Teachers kept me in the loop. Families and kids knew each other. Kumbaya!

Middle School

In middle school, students - all in that awkward age of discovery and change - are housed in the thousands. And even more maddening, the middle school teachers all have various methods of communication.

That first year with my oldest, I needed a spreadsheet for each teachers preferred mode of contact: e-mail, school notes, website, phone, hours. He had up to seven teachers and sometimes the teachers would switch out mid-year. In eighth grade, he had three different math teachers.

As a point of reference – I was the kind of student that had an organized pencil case, various colors of highlighters, underlined with a ruler and never ever missed homework- the thought would have sent me into panic. 

My oldest is a kind-laidback-athletic-earth-loving-easy going-child. He has been known to successfully complete an extensive report but yet forget to turn it in. Conversation went something like this: “Yeah I forgot. But I did it. You know I did it. So, the important thing is that I learned something. Why stress?”

High School - "HS"

My son spent his sophomore year in a small parochial school – where I got weekly on-line updates on each class. As a parochial school alumna, it was an environment I was familiar with – but it wasn’t my son’s.  

Fast forward to this week – re-enrollment at HS was great start. There were a series of stations – from reception to nurse and so on. We were greeted warmly by principal.  Met with the new assistant principal. Then the final step was with counselor where - with husband, son and myself -  figured out classes, college track, etc. 

I'm looking forward to what will probably be a busy year. As a parent, I'm not here to be a pain ... really ...  but I do believe in being aware and partnering with teachers in order to support my kid’s education at home. Not getting responses and learning until the report card’s comment section that homework was incomplete or not turned-in is often too late.  So yes, it’s timely communication and a partnership: Parent, teachers and administrators.

And for sure we can't forget the student. For my oldest, more is on the line now – like driving, extra circulars, social life – 'cause in our home these are all privileges directly connected to academics.

"It's like life kids: don't do the work, don't get paid." My kids hate when I say that ... LOL ...  I think it's a pretty good mantra.... 

PC

The State Budget Trickle Down . . .

We welcomed the month with a signed CA State budget. And by all accounts – loaded with some very hard decisions. Lot’s of cuts and reductions – how could we not? But of course there will be some trickle downs - and families feeling it here in our community …

In San Diego County, there are some great outreach campaigns for mental health. It raises awareness – and with yet another murder-suicide incident – it’s timely. BUT mental health programs are getting trimmed significantly – with possible more to come. So where will families go for help?

South County’s only runaway and homeless shelter for youth is temporarily suspended. No more funds. Casa Nuestra – a haven for almost 20 years for shelter, crisis counseling, and when possible family reunification – is not available for local families. South Bay Community Services has temporarily changed the population turning Casa Nuestra into a foster youth transitional housing – creative and appropriate as many homeless youth are or should have been foster youth. But yet it leaves South County short … the closest help for families and teens’ needing help during troubling times is in downtown San Diego.

And there are many more effects– childcare, elderly and disabled, higher education … and on.

Unfortunately, CA budget is also based on monies that aren’t actually guaranteed. So, it’s like budgeting your home finances for the year based on a possible large bonus or raise. Remember “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”? Luckily that story ended up okay – Clark Griswold apparently got his pool …

We may just see more cuts.

PC

Chula Vista Youth Sports and Marijuana

Okay, so it’s not what you think but it did get you to click on the link :)

On July 12, 2011, the City Council will be making decisions on both items --- so if you feel strongly about either now is the time to have your voice heard.

All youth sports could soon be impacted by higher fees.  We outlined the fee increases in a previous blog and other media also picked up on the story.  

Parents, coaches and players came out in numbers at the last council meeting to urge the council not to raise fees.  The item was tabled to give the city more time to see if additional money could be found.  

Tuesday night (July 12) the council discusses the results and will decide whether fees will need to be raised or not.

Medical marijuana has become much more prevalent in recent years due to the research supporting its medicinal benefits.  But there still remains huge controversy and debate over research, need and access issues.

Chula Vista will be considering whether to allow marijuana distribution in the City and exploration of approving medical marijuana collectives.  It appears that there is little, if any, support to allow medical marijuana dispensaries.  

Distribution - Collectives - Dispensaries ... What’s the difference?  I actually don’t know and will be tuning in to find out.  

If you feel strongly on either issue and want your voice to be heard - now is the time.

Contact your Mayor & Council today.

If you’re just curious to learn more about the issues and the decisions, you can watch the meeting online.  No need to watch the entire meeting, just click on the agenda item you’re interested in and there you go!