Friday, October 09, 2020

CoViD-19 San Diego & California Stats | 8 More Community Outbreaks in SD | Mayoral Candidates Discuss The Future of Balboa Park | State Loosens Household Mixing Guidelines

California Tower as seen from San Diego Zoo Skyfari (Taken 9.20.2020) 

I guess we've been breaking the law for months now. Today, the State changed the public health order to allow outdoor home gatherings for up to three mixed households, while recommending keeping the same 'bubble' and continuing to require distancing and mask usage. This revision is funny in hindsight because they were allowing mixed households when restaurants reopened and we all know how that went. Anyway, I guess the past 4 weekends of birthday gatherings at my parents house were all illegal, even though we followed all the things. 
Today was a low key Friday and I was hoping to do one massive music post because there's a lot happening, but I couldn't get around to it. The mayoral candidate discussion on the future of Balboa Park was interesting but the focus on philanthropy from both candidates is definitely a red flag. For me, there are so many other city issues that make Bry a non-starter for me at all, so Gloria still gets my vote, but I hope the future council and greater community involvement can thwart any of their "world-class" big ideas. 
We also had taco night and watched On The Basis of Sex about RBG to add to our raging day. I'll hopefully get that music post up, but in the meantime, if you want to keep up with Casbah stuff, you should make sure you're signed up for the newsletter. You can do that at CasbahMusic.com on the right side of the site, especially if you've changed email addresses. I hear there will be an email purge soon. Anyway, today's data, news, and notes on the Mayoral candidates discussion about Balboa Park are after the jump. 

  • California COVID-19 Stats:
    • 3,806 New Cases/838,606 Total Cases (0.5% increase)
    • 67 New Deaths/16,428 Total Deaths (0.4% increase)
    • 2.6% 14-day test positivity rate
  • San Diego County Stats
    • State Data:
      • 291 New Cases/49,468 Total Cases
      • 6 Deaths/819 Total Deaths
      • 7.0 cases/100k population (Based on week ending 9/26, Assessed on 10/6. Unadjusted Case Rate Using Linear Adjustment)
      • 3.5% Test Positivity (Based on week ending 9/19, Assessed on 9/29)
    • County Data:
      • San Diego County COVID-19 Update – 10-9-2020 - County News Center
      • 357 New Cases/49,823 Total Cases (Today's reporting includes a batch of prior tests)
      • 2 New Daily Deaths/821 Total Deaths
      • 3% Daily Test Positivity/3.3% (7-day avg after 7-day lag)/2.9% Test Positivity (14-day average)
      • 6.5 cases/100k population (Based on week ending 9/26, Assessed on 10/6. County is reporting unadjusted case rate per 100,000 excluding prisons)
      • Case Investigation is 96%
      • 8 New/37 Community Outbreaks (7-day)
        • 5 in businesses
        • 3 in restaurant/bar settings
  • Universities:
    • SDSU COVID-19:
      • 408 on-campus | 749 non-residential (13 visitors) | 1,157 total
      • Please note: Of the 6 confirmed cases added to the total case count today, Oct. 8, 3 are new cases. The remaining 3 cases were previously reported to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), but only recently identified, through continued cross-referencing between San Diego State University and HHSA, as having an SDSU-affiliation. 
    • Check other stats: UCSD COVID-19USD COVID-19CSU San MarcosPLNU
  • COVID-19:
  • Other Reading/News:
  • Voice of San Diego Town Hall: Mayoral Candidates Discuss The Future of Balboa Park (Watch It Here)
    • Mayoral Candidates Todd Gloria & Barbara Bry 
    • Hosted by VOSD, Friends Of Balboa Park, Balboa Park Conservancy
    • Statement from Betty Peabody of Friends of Balboa Park:
      • There are 2 large and important organizations. "Who speaks for the trees?"
      • Non-binding MOU was signed to join into one organization
      • Boards and staff of both organizations will be combined
    • Not invited: Balboa Park Heritage Association
    • Both candidates agree on a non-profit conservancy for the park
      • Bry: a regional treasure, should be collaborative with park, City, County, and region
      • Gloria: vision for conservancy should have graduated responsibility. Brings up private philanthropy.
    • Privatization:
      • Gloria: is and always will be an asset of the city of San Diego. Engaging philanthropic partners. "Tasteful recognition" of philanthropic contributions. Would not support hotel on lands, and it is illegal and against city charter. Plaza de Panama project is dead. Would not advocate to bring it back. Keeps bringing up "Committee of 100". Says his Jacobs support was in an effort to increase access to park. 
      • Bry: Restaurants are private enterprises that we want in the park. Was against Jacobs plan. Against hotel RFP. 
    • No Specific/Dedicated Funding:
      • Bry: Park should speak with one voice. Can leverage what surrounds the park. Waiting to see if Measure C "is legal or not", saying it passed. 
      • Gloria: There's a marketplace for philanthropy but wouldn't donate direct to City of San Diego. 
    • RED FLAG!!:
      • Both candidates support an expansion of convention center and believe Measure C has passed and should pass. 
    • Philanthropists Role In Balboa Park
      • Bry: Jacobs has been one of the most important people in San Diego. But Plaza de Panama plan should've been a "bottom up" approach, not letting philanthropists dictating the City's needs. Faults Sanders and Council for putting Irwin Jacobs in a terrible position. Combination of failure of Bicentennial celebration and the parking structure turned people of
      • Gloria: It's a cautionary tale on philanthropy, they'll back away from the way Dr. Jacobs was treated. Projects were supported by many 'stakeholders'
    • Why did Centennial fall apart?
      • Bry: Simpler, using existing organizations in the park
      • Gloria: Citizen volunteers came forward to adopt gardens, a lot still happened, but it was too many mayors who shifted the goals of Centennial
    • Should County be more active in governance and funding?
      • Gloria: Need a change at County Board before seeing real change or contributions. Would ask County to step up responsibilities with regard to homelessness which would improve the 
    • "Activate the Plaza de Panama" with a Ferris Wheel:
      • Bry: Inappropriate commercial venture for the park
      • Gloria: Would struggle with this venture. There are less costly, less intrusive ways to support the activation and institutions. City could expand leases, like World Beat Center hasn't had a lease in years. 
      • Both candidates support Food Truck Fridays and other activations
    • How would you improve traffic/ped safety/wayfinding?
      • Gloria: Shuttles needs to service more of the park. Safety is important. Safety concerns at Cottages and 
      • Bry: Improve shuttle system. Don't be too lazy to walk. 
    • Cobblestones/ADA Accessibility:
      • Gloria: Obligation to make more accessible for mobility, technology, and language. Failure is not a reason to stop trying.
      • Bry: Work with Conservancy and community to know which parts need to be a priority with deadlines. "Everyone figures out a way to say no. There's no sense of urgency."
    • Starlight Bowl/Palisades Area:
      • Gloria: Reclamation of that Palisades parking lot, Comic Con Museum will be transformational. Find a new life for the Starlight Bowl. 
      • Bry: Palisades is an example of doing the right thing.
    • Zoo Tax Subsidy: 
      • Bry: Would hope visitors of Zoo utilize rest of the park, bringing them into the conversation
      • Gloria: We can always ask the Zoo to do more. The Zoo is a leaseholder and we have an obligation to support the animals and plants of the Zoo. 
    • Grand Vision for the Park?
      • Bry: Balboa Park is the People's Park, for everybody of all ages and abilities. Unified voice. Identified revenue. Philanthropy to address issues of park.  
      • Gloria: A world-class experience for all visitors and locals: maintaining gardens, trees, feel safe, well-lit. Invite philanthropists: Restoration, reactivating parts of park Better connections between Balboa Park and Downtown, Focus on East Mesa (Morley Field)

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