Compromise Ends Recreation Fight : Casa Familiar Will Operate Part of San Ysidro Facility

An angry struggle over the future of a San Ysidro recreation center ended in compromise Tuesday when the San Diego City Council agreed to turn over operation of part of the city facility to a community organization.

In a 6-1 vote, Casa Familiar, a well-known San Ysidro social-services organization, won the right to lease and run one of two buildings in the city-owned recreation facility on East Park Avenue. Councilwoman Judy McCarty was the lone dissenter.

After hearing vehement opposition to the plan Monday from senior citizens, the council retained authority to operate a nearby senior-citizens center that was scheduled to be turned over to Casa Familiar along with the recreation building.

Casa Familiar supporters were equally adamant that the organization, which they said better represents the needs of the area’s largely Latino population, should operate the facility.

Before Tuesday’s compromise, the tussle became a political struggle pitting Councilman Bob Filner, who represents San Ysidro and opposed the lease, against Casa Familiar leaders, who twice demonstrated their ability to attract hundreds of San Ysidro residents to council meetings to support them.

Filner had the support of the city’s Park and Recreation Board and the council’s Public Facilities and Recreation Committee. Casa Familiar had the backing of Mayor Maureen O’Connor and other council members who had approved exclusive lease negotiations with the agency in April.

The recreation center lease was seen as an alternative to leasing the larger, newly renovated San Ysidro Boys’ Club to Casa Familiar. Last year, the city purchased and volunteers renovated the Boys’ Club, which had been devastated by vandals.

In October, the city requested proposals from agencies interested in running the Boys’ Club. But, when Casa Familiar was the only organization to apply, the city manager’s office recommended that it be rejected because it lacked a specific fund source and had no experience operating such a facility.

Casa Familiar plans to add counseling and youth leadership instruction to the recreational programs now being operated by the city, said Andrea Skorepa, Casa Familiar’s executive director.

The lease agreement calls for the city to give Casa Familiar $40,000 to help operate the programs.