A hat tip to Mayor Todd Gloria for highlighting C100’s Municipal Gym project (along with other recent park improvements) in his recent “State of the Park” speech, an occasion brightened by the mayor’s presentation of a Key to Balboa Park to state Senator Toni Atkins, a one-time City Council representative for Balboa Park – who has kept the needs of Balboa Park prominently on her agenda.
I hope that San Diego city residents – who share a deep appreciation for the park – will vote Nov. 5 to support a sales tax boost of one percentage point to generate revenue the city needs to keep up operations and to upgrade infrastructure. It’s never popular to suggest a tax increase, but there are some good reasons to do so now:
1. The City Council’s vote to place the measure on the ballot was unanimous.
2. The anticipated revenue stream of $400 million per year would in great part be used to finance revenue bonds, thereby leveraging the taxpayers’ out-of-pocket expense.
3. General use of these funds is a necessary condition for a 50%-plus-one majority to pass the tax. If specific purposes were required for the revenue, a super-majority of votes would be needed. That said, the ballot language will call for strict accountability, transparency, and oversight.
4. All parks would benefit from such a strong new revenue stream for the city. In particular, the expectation should be that parks will be better supported and cultural groups could take greater advantage of Transient Occupancy Tax monies.
5. Finally, the needs are great. Decades of penny-pinching have led to a ridiculous burden of deferred maintenance that today’s citizens must reckon with.
Balboa Park survives as a cultural and recreational center because all San Diego shares a sense of stewardship that comes from participation and support – and the resulting learning and growing we perceive. Our city needs similar stewardship now. Support for a sales tax to boost our city will build our shared sense of ownership for the positive results that this measure will provide.
The Burnham Center for Community Advancement has issued a followup report to its November 2022 survey of potential strategies to improve the financing and governance of Balboa Park. Dated July 31, 2024, the Balboa Park Community Progress Report notes that decades of deferred maintenance are part of a longstanding pattern of postponing needed investment in the park, with the result that today we are in need of action. All those who have a stake in the park and its management will read this report with interest. Stay tuned this fall for another report from BCCA that will recommend specific actions and initiatives.
Showcasing our region in the World Design Capital year of 2024 are the Bay to Park Paseo, now featuring a series of banners depicting a few of the park’s trees; and, opened August 17, the Exchange Pavilion, a temporary structure in the Plaza de Panama, where public talks on urban design and other topics and events will be presented for the next three months. For more information: wdc2024.org
Ross Porter President
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