Councilmember Todd Gloria held his final community coffee of 2009 at Balboa Park’s Hall of Champions this morning. Constituents from City Heights, North Park, Hillcrest and Fairmont Park attended. Gloria opened the gathering by discussing this past Wednesday’s council vote which approved the cuts in Mayor Sanders’ 18-month budget and encouraged everyone to come to City Hall on Monday to express support for individual programs, services and departments for the final vote. Todd said he continues to hope that a planner’s position in Developmental Services that specifically works with historic designation will be spared. San Diego activist Mel Shapiro led off the Q&A session by asking why CCDC’s redevelopment agency was not subject to the same cuts that were made to the general fund. Gloria explained that these funds are regulated separately. Other residents expressed concerns about quality of life issues in their neighborhoods.
