It’s all about student safety
THUMBS UP to the Poway Unified School District Board of Education for allocating $486,000 to upgrade campus video security systems at six schools and the district office. By fall, improved systems will be in place at all district high schools and middle schools and at the Design 39 Campus in Del Sur. Systems at elementary schools will be improved as part of a second phase of work to be completed later.
THUMBS UP to political newcomer Caylin Frank upon her selection to fill the Poway City Council seat vacated when Jim Cunningham resigned on June 6. True, she and her family moved to Poway in March and she’ll have a steep learning curve regarding municipal issues. But she has a solid background in government as a top aide to retiring county Supervisor Bill Horn. Frank will serve until November, then likely run for the final two years of Cunningham’s term. We could make the argument that the seat did not need to be filled, or that other qualified candidates were passed over. Instead, we will watch Frank carefully over the next few months to see how she does.
THUMBS DOWN to shortcomings on display at Poway City Hall regarding glitches in two big construction projects. Someone was asleep at the wheel and neglected to double-check plans for retaining walls needed for a new pedestrian pathway along Espola Road. The oversight resulted in an unplanned $877,000 expenditure for more masonry and related construction. Then the city disclosed that most of the concrete poured for the decking around the swim center in Community Park failed to meet design specifications and will delay completion of the $3.8 million renovation project until after Labor Day. What the heck is going on?
THUMBS UP to the hard-working, all-volunteer Rancho Bernardo Spirit of the Fourth Committee for another excellent day of community activities capped off by the 49th annual parade and evening fireworks. This year the parade, coordinated by Myrna de la Peña, saluted veterans of the Korean War. More than 65 entries participated, including five local high school bands.
THUMBS UP to voters who made the effort to cast ballots in the June 5 primary election. Only about four in 10 county voters bothered. The hope here is that the November mid-term general election, with a number of important local contests on the ballot, will attract more interest and an improved participation rate.
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