Brief summary of redistricting concerns

Park Village DADS,
Like many of you, I didn't understand how the new district realignment was to affect Park Village or if it even mattered. Based on my research and interviews with those who know, here are 4 brief reasons we need to oppose this district realignment. Believe me, it is of serious concern.
1.    All PQ parks south of Hwy 56:
Canyonside Park currently falls under the purview of PQ as our main community park. This means that city/tax money designated to be spent for maintenance and upgrades is then determined, under city guidelines, by PQ residents. If Park Village and the other neighborhoods south of hwy. 56 are annexed with Kearny Mesa, then they, not us, will determine what maintenance and upgrades are important to them. This is our largest and most utilized park. Mira mesa already has their own. Do you want others to determine our parks future use?

2.    Fire and police response time and service:
Fire services, for the most part, likely will not be affected because fire districts are based on response time and distance. However police response is a different matter. The police allow input by city councilmembers to help with community areas of concern. If we are annexed with Mira Mesa, our community needs will be influenced/minimized by the needs of the larger city council district to our south with higher crime rates. Penasquitos will no longer look out for our needs.

3.    Camino Ruiz bridge across Penasquitos Canyon:
Yes, I confirmed  it is back on the Master Plan for our community! For years Penasquitos has successfully eluded Mira Mesa's bid to continue Camino Ruiz traffic north from Mira Mesa, across Penasquitos Canyon, connecting to Park Village Road. We have been able to defer this because we have been represented by a separate council district than Mira Mesa. If we are annexed with Mira Mesa, our voice will be that of a minority and the desires of Mira Mesa will overrule ours.

4.    The racial makeup of our voting district is of little concern to me and I believe this is the case with most of my neighbors.  Park Village is a true melting pot that is defined more by economics and family interests than it is by race.  However, one demographic does define Park Village, which is the ratio of kids to adults.  District 5, which North PQ will be a part of (and we won't), has a ratio of 0.34 children for every adult, one of the highest in the county.  The ratio on District 6, which is where Park Village would be assigned is 0.25.  Mathematically, this means that households with children would be less represented in District 5.  I think most Park Village-ites would agree that the prevalence of families and the school focus define us as a community.
 
The only way to fight it at this time is to show up in mass to the city district redistricting committee tomorrow 4pm. City Concourse, Silver room, 202 "C" St., Second floor. Take 163 South into downtown, turn Right on Ash St., Left on "C" St. and straight into the parking structure.

Thanks,
Paul Hoover, Park Village resident and former Park Village D.A.D.S. President