Other items in this column include:
*GSA will refurbish Edward J. Schwartz Federal Office Building
*Political bytes
*Coming our way
*Recommended reading
SAN DIEGO – Students at the San Diego Jewish Academy were given poker chips recently, not for gambling but instead for designating their charity of choice as part of the school’s Tamchui initiative – Tamchui being an Aramaic word meaning “community collection pot,” according to Jason Edelstein, the school’s public relations consultant.
Having raised $7,168 through donations from the students’ families as well as from the Chortek and Weisman families, 8th grade students listened to presentations during the week before Chanukah from Feeding San Diego, San Diego G’Mach, Ride Above Disability, A Bridge for Kids, and the Jewish National Fund. Subsequently, the 8th graders summarized those presentations to the rest of the K-12 student body.
Given poker chips, each student placed one in a cannister bearing the name of the charity of his or her choice. After the chips were counted, and pro rata shares were computed for each charity, checks signed by the Head of School Chaim Heller were presented to their representatives on Friday, Jan. 17.
The totals were: Ride Above Disability $1,740.22; Feeding San Diego $1,306.44; A Bridge for Kids $957.04; Jewish National Fund $829.62, and San Diego G’Mach, $829.62 for a total charitable contribution of $5,702.32.
The difference between the money raised and spent was $1,465.88, which Edelstein said was used to cover the expenses of the charity drive, which included “teaching resources and other materials required to run this program. There’s a whole experiential education component to this.” That figured to a fraction over 20 percent of the funds raised.
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GSA will refurbish the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Office Building
The federal General Service Administration (GSA) plans to refurbish the downtown San Diego Edward J. Schwartz Federal Office Building, which was named for a longtime U.S. District Court judge and member of the San Diego Jewish community. The 21-month project will include strengthening the overpass between two sections of the office building, under which Front Street traffic passes. The project will begin Jan. 25, 2020, and continue until June 2021. Front Street in the vicinity of the Federal Office Building will be closed to traffic. Both pedestrian and vehicle traffic will be detoured.
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Political bytes
*San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, a candidate for mayor, said state Senate Bill 330, and a newly-revived version of SB50, “are working to end single family zoning and let investors build four-plex units in single-family neighborhoods; ignore parking and affordable housing requirements; and completely ignore California environmental protections under CEQA.” She said the bill has been advancing because “many politicians are unwilling to stand up to the billion-dollar special interests.”
*San Diego Unified Port District Commission Rafa Castellanos has announced that over 1,200 people have contributed to his campaign in the 1st county supervisorial District, brining his total to $451,000, with $350,000 of that still on hand. His campaign consultant, Dan Rottenstreich, commented. “Rafa Castellanos is building the kind of people-powered campaign necessary to effect real change on protecting clean water, strengthening gun safety, and opposing Trump’s dangerous agenda.”
* Poway Mayor Steve Vaus, campaigning in the 2nd county supervisorial district, says his priorities will include keeping communities safe from crime and fire; encouraging development of new housing; maintaining infrastructure; and protecting and expanding open space.
*Escondido City Councilwoman Olga Diaz, campaigning in the 3rd county supervisorial district , comments that changes are needed: “Too often, people in powerful positions forget the community they were elected to serve. Families are sleeping on the streets and in their cars while corporate-owned housing sits vacant. The climate crisis remains unaddressed. The cost of fire-related damage in 2018 set a new record yet sprawl continues. Coastal erosion goes unmitigated. The list goes on.”
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Coming our way
*Coastal Roots Farm at 411 Saxony Road, Encinitas, sponsors a Tu B’Shvat Food Forest Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 9. The theme, “Trees of Change,” will honor “the critical role trees play in the health of our planet and in recognition that our actions make an impact,” according to spokesperson Kesha Dorsey Spoor. Activities at the pay-what-you-can festival include tree care opportunities including mulching and seeding; hands-on educational activities on topics including climate responsibility, compost, and nutrition; food forest tours; kids zone including crafts, petting zoo, and the opportunity to become a Junior Food Forester; and live music, libation station, and local kosher and vegetarian eats. Proceeds will fund food distribution serving Holocaust survivors in need; low income families at the Vista Community Clinic, and food-insecure families at Camp Pendleton.”
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Recommended reading
Three stories in today’s San Diego Union-Tribune:
* Jews, Christians, and Muslims clean up Balboa Park to honor Martin Luther King Jr.
*Micah Bernstein, 9, named national ambassador for children’s cancer charity.
*Jewish Family Service reaches Alzheimer’s patients with the music they have loved.
The Times of San Diego carried an op-ed piece by Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina, extolling the climate action record and plans of former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Democratic candidate for President.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com