The battle over Balboa Park, the new design for the Panama bridge and the controversy over the Plaza de Panama project, is going on today, Monday, November 14th down at City Hall.
Preservationists have mobilized their forces this morning to the City Council Chambers.
Meanwhile, SOHO (Save Our Heritage Organization), is claiming in a recent email to its supporters that the Independent Budget Analyst Report is out for the Plaza de Panama project reveals what they describe as a “bombshell” – that the report shows that “that is that it is indeed a naming rights agreement designed for Irwin Jacobs.”
SOHO wants San Diegans to check out a section of the project agreement that states that the City has given to the project committee “naming rights for multiple Project elements,” despite SOHO’s statement that the “2012 Agreement did not grant the Committee naming rights for completed Project elements.”
Here is the SOHO statement:
Preservation Action Alert!
IBA Report Exposes Plaza de Panama Naming Rights Gambit
The Office of the Independent Budget Analyst Report is out for the Plaza de Panama project. There are may significant problems the IBA’s report has revealed, as you will read.
We would like to bring your attention to a bombshell, that will shock but not surprise many, and that is that it is indeed a naming rights agreement designed for Irwin Jacobs.We draw your attention to 1.19 Donor Recognition (beginning on page 9)
The City agrees that the Committee will shall be entitled to naming rights for multiple Project elements.
2012 Agreement did not grant the Committee naming rights for completed Project elements.
Read Plaza de Panama Project and Proposed Cooperation Agreement
Read Proposed Financing Plan for Plaza de Panama Project in Balboa Park
We draw your attention to 1.19 Donor Recognition (beginning on page 9)
The City agrees that the Committee will shall be entitled to naming rights for multiple Project elements.
2012 Agreement did not grant the Committee naming rights for completed Project elements.
From the Plaza De Panama Cooperation Agreement 2016 Supplemental Information Related to Section 1.19 Donor Recognition
“As discussed in the body of our report, the November 2016 Plaza de Panama Cooperation Agreement includes a new clause-1.19 Donor Recognition-which was not in the 2012 Agreement. This clause entitles the Committee to naming rights for the Centennial Bridge, Centennial Road, the Rooftop Park, and physical features within the Rooftop Park.
Per this section the naming rights would be subject to Mayoral approval (“which shall not be unreasonably withheld”) and “the design and location of donor recognition features shall be subject to City approval.” No other guidelines, criteria, processes, Park and Recreation Board or City Council role are discussed in the agreement.”
Do we want our great national landmark, our Balboa Park, defaced forever and irreparably after 100 years, all for one man’s ego? Really? San Diego, we are better than this.
Fight for Balboa Park. Call, email, and come down to city hall if you can.
Write to the City Council to oppose their approval of this project.
Attend and testify before the City Council on Monday, November 14 at 2pm (202 C Street, 12th Floor). If you do not wish to speak, you can cede your comment time to SOHO, but you must be present to do so.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
KPBS reports: The San Diego City Council voted 8 to 1 on Monday to spend $49 million to close off portions of Balboa Park to car traffic and build an underground parking garage. City Council President Sherri Lightner was the lone “no” vote on the plan.