on hillcrest's future: your chance to shape your neighborhood

why you should care about the uptown community planning group

From the Uptown Community Planning Group Instagram; Source: UCPG, @uptowncommunityplanning.

hey y’all, 👋

ever walked down university avenue and thought, "damn, this street could use a glow-up"? or maybe you've wondered why there's a random stop sign in the middle of your block? or why there aren’t any public restrooms in hillcrest?

well, i'm about to introduce you to the group that has a say in all that and more: the uptown community planning group (ucpg).

what's the tea on ucpg?

alright, mi gente, grab your cafecito because this tea is piping hot! the uptown community planning group (ucpg) isn't just another boring committee - it's the result of a revolution in community representation that's spicier than your abuela's sofrito.

let me break it down for you: once upon a time (like, not that long ago - as recently as may 2024), we had this group called uptown planners. let's just say they were about as diverse as a loaf of wonder bread. we're talking mostly older, wealthier folks who were all about keeping things exactly as they were. new bike lanes? affordable housing? improved public transit? ay bendito, you'd think we were suggesting privatizing social security!

The board of Uptown Planners, mostly old and white. Source: It’s a joke I’m making. It’s a mean one but I stand by it.

but then, came vibrant uptown. these folks were younger, more diverse, and had a vision of uptown that was as bold and colorful as a pride parade float. the fight to become the official community planning group was intense. we're talking debates, council meetings, more drama than the line outside flick’s. but in the end, vibrant uptown won the day, transforming into what we now know as ucpg.

so what makes ucpg so special? well, honey, let me tell you:

• they've got seats reserved for renters and property owners in every neighborhood. that's right, no more "i got mine, so who cares about you" attitude.

• businesses and nonprofits get a say too, because it takes all kinds to make a community thrive.

• they're all about that density, baby! more housing means more fabulous people can afford to live in our gayborhood.

• they're actively working to be diverse af, better representing the true colors of our rainbow community with active outreach efforts.

now, ucpg advises the city on everything from where to put those new bike lanes (yasss, eco-friendly queen!) to how tall buildings should be (reaching for the sky, just like our dreams). and that fancy new plan hillcrest everyone's buzzing about? you better believe these folks had their hands and smarts all over it.

on preserving hillcrest’s queer culture

why should you care?

1. your voice matters: whether you're a long-time resident or a newbie, your perspective is valuable.

2. shape the future: want more affordable housing? better transit? safer streets for your drunk walks home from rich's? this is how you make it happen.

3. protect what matters: hillcrest's lgbtq+ heritage is unique. being part of ucpg means you can help preserve our queer history while we build our future.

how to get involved

1. run for a seat: yeah, you! candidate registration is open until july 20, 2024 - that’s TOMORROW. it's your chance to be the leslie knope of uptown.

2. register to vote (not the same as voting in regular elections): if running isn't your thing, you can still vote. registration is open until august 20, 2024, the day of the election.

   1. please note this is different than being registered to vote in primary, general, and other elections. ucpg has its own election systems! YOU WILL need to register.

3. volunteer to help with elections: they need help with the election. it's like being a poll worker, but easier. and takes less demand on your time, too!

   1. the next election committee meeting is virtual and is on august 7, from 1-3pm.

on how to get involved in hillcrest

This is a map of Uptown, the area covered by the UCPG. Hillcrest is just one neighborhood out of many that are part of it! To vote and run in the UCPG elections, you have to live within the Community Plan Boundaries in dashed red. Source: UCPG website.

so, you wanna vote? here's the 411

listen up, because this is important! to vote or run in the ucpg elections, you gotta prove you're part of the uptown fam. (see the map above) here's what you need:

1. for the locals: bring a photo id that screams "i live here!" this can be:

   1. driver's license

   2. passport

   3. employee id

   4. even your gym membership card (finally, a use for that thing!)

2. no photo? no problem! bring a recent document with your name and address, like:

   1. utility bill (yes, that overpriced sdg&e bill is good for something)

   2. bank statement

   3. anything official from the government (they love sending mail, use it!)

how to vote like a pro

1. sign up online to confirm you're eligible. it's like rsvp-ing for the hottest party in town, except this party shapes our future!

2. do your homework! learn about the candidates. who's got the best ideas? who's more likely to actually show up and do the work? choose wisely, mi gente!

3. cast your vote on august 20, 2024!

listen, mi gente. i get it. community planning might not sound as thrilling as a night at gossip. but here's the thing: this is how we build the hillcrest we want to see. it's how we ensure that as our neighborhood grows, it remains the vibrant, inclusive, queer-friendly place we know and love.

let me be your guide with my endorsements

and to make it even easier for you to get involved, i'm going to be your guide through this process. once candidate registration closes, i'll be diving deep into each and every one of those fierce individuals running for a spot on ucpg.

i'll break down their backgrounds, their platforms, and their visions for our fabulous neighborhood. and you know i won't hold back on spilling the tea! 🍵 but most importantly, i'll be sharing with you who i'm endorsing and why. consider it your exclusive vip pass to the ucpg elections! 💅

so what do you say? are you ready to step up and shape our future? to be the change you want to see in our gayborhood?

let's do this. let's show san diego what a truly inclusive, vibrant community looks like.

our uptown. our future. our time to shine. 🌈✨

with pride and determination,

edgard 🏳️‍🌈✊🏽

p.s. if this fired you up, share it with your uptown/hillcrest fam. let's flood that planning group with more queers than a pride parade!