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Aug 24, 2011 – A call to action has been sent out to all East County and San Diego residents by the San Diego Foundation to preserve and improve our beautiful city throughout the foreseeable future. “Our Greater San Diego Vision,” is an ambitious initiative aimed at getting the community involved in preserving the San Diego way of life for the next generations.
A diverse group of 150 “Ambassadors,” from throughout the county and who emulate the diverse nature of San Diego, will direct the program through their communities as they look to kick start community participation, enabling their community’s voice to be heard. Task forces have spent the summer developing options to address the needs in four key areas: economic development; education; housing, transportation and cost of living; and cultural and community amenities.
East County residents will have their chance to shape the future at their workshop on Tuesday, September 13 at Sonrise Church in Santee from 1-4 p.m. Following the workshop the ideas will be presented to the public to prioritize and choose the ideas that best represent their values and vision for the region’s future. In 2012, the results will be published as a vision for the future and will be implemented by the Center for Civic Engagement.
The involvement of the public represents a dramatic shift from previous planning committees. The program will be implemented by the people and for the people, rather than a political committee locked behind closed doors.
“The program has great potential to be radically more inclusive and transparent than past efforts,” said Alpine Ambassador Joe Sterling.
The program will look to focus on improving the county’s economic, social, and environmental aspects over the next 50 to 100 years. According to Sterling, “Each community plays a special role in the region now, even if it is not well defined. It is vital for every community, especially those in East County, to have a vision for their future and the role they wish to play in the region over the coming decades.”
“My suggestion is that communities and citizens should get involved in every way they can. East County is always under represented,” said Sterling. “It is important for communities to find their voice and to participate so that it is heard. If East County communities don’t participate in such processes, the resulting visions and plans do not reflect local priorities, which nearly always generates upset for everyone. This is an opportunity for each community to clarify their dreams and communicate their unique contribution to the region.”
Those looking to participate could do it in a variety of ways ranging from partaking in coming up with an idea to improve the future of East County to simply liking the program’s Facebook page. The program is looking to engage over 100,000 San Diegans in sketching out a viable plan for the future.
According to the San Diego Foundation, the work on Our Greater San Diego Vision began in 2010 with research that revealed 78 percent of residents feel a long-range plan is needed to guide the region’s future.
"With the region poised to grow 40 percent in the next 40 years-close to adding the current population of the city of San Diego-we need to start a successful planning effort now to preserve the quality of life we love for future generations," said Bill Geppert, chairman of Our Greater San Diego Vision.
The San Diego Foundation is the main vehicle driving Our Greater San Diego Vision, but the program is also supported by a slew of coalition partners from across the region; including the Leichtag Family Foundation, Qualcomm, Bridgepoint Education, Cox Communications, the Legler Benbough Foundation, and community leaders Malin Burnham, Ron Fowler, Joan and Irwin Jacobs, Connie Matsui and Buzz Woolley. The vast array of donors has provided the program with nearly $2 million in funding.
Learn more at http://ourgreatersandiegovision.org/.
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