Padres plan to renovate left field
As part of their multi-million dollar plan to improve Petco Park, the San Diego Padres announced the details regarding renovations of left field for 2015. Included in the changes are enhancements to their video display system, known as the “jumbo tron,” which after upgrades will be the third-largest in Major League Baseball. Additional improvements include updates to the left field seating area below the video display, with two new rows and an increase of 171 total seats. The overhang above will be recessed and raised to allow better viewing angles for fans in the lower seats.
New program grants free admission to participating institutions
On the first full weekend of each month, Bank of America and Merrill Lynch customers can now take advantage of a free program, “Museums on Us.” By showing a credit or debit card from either financial institution (along with photo ID) park visitors will get free general admission to participating museums, aquariums and more. In San Diego, Birch Aquarium at Scripps (2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla), the Museum of Photographic Arts (1649 El Prado, Balboa Park) and the San Diego Museum of Art (1450 El Prado, Balboa Park) are part of the program, which has 150 participating locations nationwide. To see upcoming “Museums on Us” dates and a full list of participants, visit museums.bankofamerica.com.
Martinis Above Fourth brings two sirens to stage
Asian Film Fest offering discounts to library members
In conjunction with the San Diego Public Library’s annual One Book, One San Diego reading program, the San Diego Asian Film Festival is offering library card holders a discount for tickets purchased for this year’s 15th annual festival. Attendees may show their library card at the host box office at Ultra Star Cinemas in Hazard Center, or use discount code SDLIBRARY for tickets purchased online and get a $2 discount off any general admission ticket. This year’s One Book selection is “Monstress” by Lysley Tenorio, a book filled with short stories set in both the Philippines and California. For more information about the San Diego Asian Film Festival visit sdaff.org. To learn more about the One Book, One San Diego program, visit sandiegolibrary.org.
Chargers Blood Drive
First Rapid Transit bus now in service
The MTS Mid-City Rapid Transit Bus debuted on Park Boulevard in early October, offering a speedier bus route with its own dedicated traffic lane. The “Rapid 215” will run from San Diego State to Downtown San Diego. Earlier this year, Voice of San Diego reported that while a rapid transit bus system is considerably less expensive than other “high-end transit,” the mid-city line only reduces travel time by 10 to 22 percent during peak hours, which equates to shaving four to 11 minutes off a rider’s daily commute.
SANDAG eventually plans to turn the route into a light-rail transit line by 2035, according to its Long-Term Transportation Plan, but the agency is currently fighting a lawsuit that claims the plan does not meet state-mandated greenhouse gas-reduction targets. The “Rapid 215” runs seven days a week from 5 to 1 a.m., picking up every 10 minutes during rush hour.
Local minimum wage increase now up to voters
The minimum wage ordinance passed earlier this year by the City Council will now require passage by San Diego voters in June 2016. After a successful petition campaign led by the right-leaning San Diego Chamber of Commerce to block the ordinance, the City Council was forced to either rescind the measure or put it on a citywide ballot; they chose the latter. “Minimum wage opponents delayed the implementation of the minimum wage increase by funding a deceitful referendum campaign,” stated Council President Todd Gloria, who authored the ordinance, in a press release. “The result is that 172,000 San Diegans will have to wait at least two years to get these necessary raises that will help them keep a roof on their heads and food on their tables. I look forward to a campaign based on facts, rather than the lies told during the signature gathering process.” The ordinance would raise the minimum wage to $11.50 over a three-year period and guarantee employees the right to earned sick leave. Meanwhile, the statewide minimum wage, currently $9 per hour, will bump up to $10 per hour on Jan. 1, 2016.