Donna Jones

As the “Voice of Downtown,” the Downtown San Diego Partnership’s priorities include advocating for both a new City Hall and the redevelopment of C Street. In strongly supporting development of a new Downtown civic center complex we have adopted guiding principles reaffirming our long-standing position that any future development must provide convenient citizen access to government, protect taxpayers and promote civic identity and pride. It also must serve as a catalyst in the redevelopment of Downtown’s core and the C Street corridor.

At the Partnership, we believe the Gerding Edlen Civic Center proposal has been thoroughly vetted through an open, public process and should be approved by the San Diego City Council. Moreover, the project’s iconic design, extraordinary green features and plans for development on the surrounding blocks conform to the objectives of the Downtown Community Plan. In achieving this, the Gerding Edlen proposal reinforces the Civic/Core District as a center of business and municipal activity and saves taxpayer dollars.

Of vital importance to the Partnership is continuing — and even spurring — the economic development of Downtown, now home to 7,000 businesses and 75,000 employees but has the infrastructure to accommodate many more of both. To that end, we have taken a leading role in investigating the feasibility of a business attraction and retention program. Our collaborative approach calls for both advocating and promoting the advantages of locating business Downtown.

In addition, the Partnership played an integral role in advocating for incorporation of all applicable Downtown census tracts into the San Diego Regional Enterprise Zone. Redevelopment is an important civic tool and has proven itself to be tremendously positive for both Downtown and indeed the entire region. As a national success story, Downtown continues to be San Diego’s most significant redevelopment effort, but its revitalization is far from complete.

While promoting commerce is the Partnership’s most important task, Downtown is not all business. I take immense pride in the Partnership’s social and educational advocacy. Along those lines we will persist in our efforts to secure a year-round homeless facility as well as advocate for homeless shelters throughout all of San Diego. We have produced and distributed more than 20,000 social service directories, this year making them bilingual. These directories are especially popular with social service providers and enormously helpful for those in need of vital social services.

Expanding the array of educational options for Downtown residents and business also is a priority for the Partnership, whether it is an elementary school for the growing residential population or greater continuing education offerings for employees looking to improve themselves professionally.

Downtown’s role as the center for San Diego culture also is a priority. The Partnership has distributed nearly 10,000 full-color art maps showcasing Downtown’s public art and cultural organizations and we look forward to supporting them as they grow and mature.

Despite the many challenges that have presented themselves this year, Downtown remains the region’s crown jewel. As the Downtown San Diego Partnership transitions in the next few months to a new president, and I am succeeded as its chair, the organization will remain at the forefront of the 92101 renaissance through advocacy, promotion and investment in Downtown.

Donna Jones, a partner with the law firm of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, is the 2008 chair of the Downtown San Diego Partnership.