Town Council seeks trustees, hears plan to keep spending local
By Pat Sherman
Debra Rosen, CEO and president of the San Diego North Chamber of Commerce (SDNCC), spoke about her organization’s efforts to convince cities and school districts in the region to spend more of their revenue locally during the Sept. 5 La Jolla Town Council (LJTC) meeting.
Though the SDNCC focuses primarily on cities north of State Route 52, Rosen said she is reaching out to cities and merchant organizations throughout the county to garner additional partnerships in the effort.
In launching Think Local First, Rosen said SDNCC worked with elected officials at the city, state and federal level to underscore the importance of keeping dollars in the region.
“Those paychecks go right back into the local commerce to create more sustainable communities,” she said. “If we keep shoveling money outside the region, communities in the other states benefit from our dollars.”
SDNCC sent Public Records Act request to each of the cities and school districts in North County San Diego seeking to ascertain how much of their expenditures beyond $15,000 were going outside the region, Rosen said.
“We had some school districts spending up to 50 percent of their budget outside of the region,” she said. “Fifty percent of their general fund is made up of your money through property taxes. When we’re investing in the schools, they need to be investing back … in local commerce.”
SDNCC is working with local school districts to create a collaborative that would collectively increase the districts’ purchasing power, as an incentive to increase their local spending, she said. More online at
In other Town Council news
Trustees sought
: The LJTC is seeking three new trustees to fill vacancies left by recently departed board members Sonia Olivas, Deborah Arnau and Greg Phillips.
Interested candidates must have attended at least three LJTC meetings, be at least 16 years old, and either reside in or own a business in La Jolla. Candidates must submit a short biography to office@lajollatowncouncil.org
Professional Building virtual office vacancies
: Henry Chiu, a member of the Kiwanis Club of La Jolla and owner of La Jolla Professional Building, noted that he has just a few vacancies left in his building at 1150 Silverado St., where the LJTC also rents space. But those who wish to forgo the overhead costs associated with maintaining and leasing a full-time office may utilize his “virtual office space” service, which includes use of his receptionist and fully furnished rooms to meet with clients periodically at an upscale address.
Chiu purchased the building in 2010 and has since made renovations that include installation of solar panels and a telecommunications system that can support as many as 1,500 phone lines. The first floor is reserved for psychologists, social workers and others in the mental health profession.
“I provide a total service office,” Chiu said. “It’s a flat rate for everything — utilities, phone, conference rooms, even the receptionists.”
Chiu is currently offering one month of free service with the purchase of every six months of service. For more information, contact him at (858) 222-8720 or virtual@ljpb.biz
La Jollan to be saluted
:
Glen McFadden Rasmussen
will be honored for his work with the Boy Scouts of America 6-9 p.m. Nov. 7 during an event at La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Tickets are $80 and up.
Rasmussen, an attorney who serves as La Jolla Community Center’s board chair, is being honored with a “Good Scout of the Year” award during the event (chaired by LJTC trustee Charles Hartford and wife, Rebecca).
For tickets or more information, contact Laura Scheid at laura.scheid@scouting.org or (619) 298-6121, ext. 222.
Postal Service audit
: Sarah Czarnecki with the office of Congressmember Scott Peters (D-52nd) noted that the U.S. Office of the Inspector General is conducting an audit of the way the United States Postal Service (USPS) has been handling the sale of its buildings and properties, including La Jolla’s historic Wall Street post office, which it intends to sell.
The audit should be complete in early November Czarnecki said. For more information,
There are currently about 1,000 post office buildings across the country listed on the National Register of Historic Places (which includes La Jolla’s post office). More than 50 of these buildings have either been sold or are on the market. Though the USPS plans to sell La Jolla’s post office, it is not yet on the market because the USPS has not found a suitable location to relocate services to within the Village of La Jolla, Czarnecki said.
According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, “The lack of a transparent and uniform national process from the USPS — one that follows federal preservation laws when considering disposal of these buildings — is needlessly placing the future of many historic post office buildings in doubt.”
Affordable Care Act
: Czarnecki also noted that Peters’ office is providing, upon request to interested community groups, forums on the Affordable Care Act (aka “Obamacare”). “We had the 47th attempt to repeal or defund the Affordable Care Act this week (but) it’s the law of the land,” Czarnecki said. “It’s been passed by the House, the Senate, (and) signed by the President and approved by the Supreme Court. It’s not perfect, but we’ve got to work on how to fix it as opposed to taking it away completely.” To request a forum, call Peters’ office at (858) 455-5550.
Scam alert
: Sterling McHale with the office of County Supervisor Ron Roberts advised people to beware of a con in which someone is fraudulently using the official county government seal to target veterans. The county is working with the sheriff’s and district attorney’s offices to investigate the fraud.
Prescription drug card
: McHale also spoke about the San Diego County Free Discount Prescription Card, which individuals or families can use at 60,000 participating pharmacies to save up to 75 percent on prescriptions, and up to 60 percent on vision and dental care. For more information, visit coast2coastrx.com or call (619) 531-5544.
Dance fundraiser update
: La Jolla Dancing with the Stars organizer Nancy Gardner said individual tickets and tables for the dance competition fundraiser at Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, are selling fast.
Tickets for the event, 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, are $175 per person or $325 for two.
Auction items, such as vacation rentals, are still needed, Gardner said. All donations are tax deductible.
Sponsorship in the event program is available for $500 a page or $250 a half-page, she said. For more information, call Gardner at nancy@cmcfinance.com or (858) 456-3000.
Parade photographer needed
: La Jolla Christmas Parade organizer Ann Kerr Bach noted that the parade committee is seeking a professional photographer to donate his or her time during this year’s event, 2 p.m. Dec. 8. E-mail Kerr Bache at akbsma@me.com
Also, registration is open for parade entrants through Oct. 27. For more information, visit
Splash Bash
: A membership drive ‘Splash Bash’ will be held noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 at the community swimming pool at Coggan Family Aquatic Complex, 800 Nautilus St. Activities include inner tubes, inflatables, open swim, hot dogs, sliders and ice cream. Information:
or (858) 456-0945.