SAN
DEGO—Except for another helicopter rescue of a mountain climber who probably
twisted his ankle or lost his nerve in Mission Trails Regional Park, which
Nancy and I view from our back yard, it was a quiet morning at home. In the
afternoon, however, I went to City Hall to attend a meeting of the policy
committee of the Historical Resources Board I shot some photos of some
familiar sights between the City Hall parking structure and the committee
room—sights that City Hall employees see so often, they probably don't
notice anymore.
There is a better view from the City Parking garage than
from many exclusive homes in San Diego; strange
but true, as the view of San Diego Bay from the 8th floor of the structure
shows. Looking down into the
Concourse from the 8th floor, near the elevators, one an see the San Diego
Civic Center, home of the San Diego Opera, and a sculpture known as the bow
wave--which are shown in the show from the front and from the
side. Looking out from the Civic Center Concourse, one can see the bank
buildings that make B Street into
a corridor. Turning the other way, one can see a billboard advertising
coming events, including the "State
of the City" Address that Mayor Jerry Sanders will give in three days.
A sidewalk mural recalls the fact that the European discovery of our area came
in 1542 when Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed into port on September 28 and
claimed the area for Spain. (He named it San Miguel and it wasn't until
its rediscovery in 1602 that it was renamed San Diego by Sebastian Vizcaino.)
The bow wave sculpture is in background.
The City Hall Building does not stand out for its architecture,
but there is at least a sense of history here.
A former mayor, Charles Dail, is remembered for his works, as is the founder
of New Town San Diego,
Alonzo Horton. If you look through the door of the City
Administration Building, you can get a peek at
a portion of the front car of the San Diego Trolley line. It is
red. It runs along "C" Street.
The City Seal is imprinted on a window-- looking out over the Concourse and on
the floor of the entry way.
Following my Historical Resources Board meeting, I
watched the swearing in ceremony for David Rubin,
a former deputy district attorney who was elected as a judge last June.
Presiding Judge of the Superior
Court Janis Sammartino administered the oath in the presidential ballroom of
the U.S. Grant Hotel.