I was honored to give my State of the District address Monday, April 27 at the Old Town Theatre. It was a great night because I was able to share it with so many District 2 neighbors and community leaders. I want to thank all of you for your support. For those of you who couldn’t make it, here is an excerpt: All of us are fortunate to live in such a beautiful city — a place that attracts tourists from all over the world. But this isn’t a city without problems. It needs strong leadership. Now more than ever. As your councilmember, my mission is clear: to passionately guard San Diego’s tax dollars, protect our beaches and bays and provide effective, consensus-driven neighborhood and citywide leadership — transparently, ethically and with results for the citizens of San Diego.  Three years ago, I gave my first State of the District speech. At the time, the depths of the problems at City Hall were surfacing: the costly lawsuits, the unfunded pension obligations, the delayed audit reports, the mismanaged and misused tax dollars. We’ve started to rebuild San Diego. We’ve made some significant reforms, and our progress has helped lay the foundation the City lacked. But we’ve only begun. Plenty of hard work lies ahead. You can’t build a strong city without healthy communities, which is why my staff and I are working every day to improve the great neighborhoods in District 2. With their help, and yours, we were able to get a lot done for the residents of District 2 last year. And this year is going to be even better. In Point Loma and Midway: Two months ago, I voted against the so-called “Destination Lindbergh Plan,” which calls for spending about $4 billion but does not address the airport’s fundamental problem – it has one runway and it’s never going to have another. I am extremely concerned about the impact the plan would have on residents in Point Loma and Mission Hills. And I will continue to oppose it. Last year, we broke ground on the second phase of NTC Park. Phase I is already a big hit in Point Loma, and I can personally attest to that. I’ve been there for more than a few “jumpy-themed” birthday parties – hosted by 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds. When fully completed this fall, this 46-acre park will be the largest bayside park built since Mission Bay Park. Also in Point Loma, nearly a mile of Chatsworth Boulevard was repaved last summer, smoothing out busy daily commutes for thousands of drivers on one of the Peninsula’s busiest streets. You know it’s an important fix when your pastor — whose church is on Chatsworth — thanks you for the work at the beginning of Sunday service. This summer, we expect to break ground on a road construction project that will thin traffic at Midway Drive and Sports Arena Boulevard, which, as many of you know, is among the most congested intersections in San Diego. And this fall, residents and business owners will begin updating the community plan for Midway. The plan is expected to help us decide how to write Sports Arena’s next chapter and reduce traffic congestion. In Ocean Beach: The OB Library celebrated its 80th birthday in October; I want it to serve the community for at least another 80 years. As many of you know, I fought to save this library last year when budget cuts threatened to close it and others, along with rec centers. Libraries and rec centers are cornerstones of our neighborhoods, and I will continue to defend them. Numerous Obecians — who are passionate about maintaining OB’s free-spirited appeal — also are working on the Ocean Beach Gateway Park at Sunset Cliffs and West Point Loma Boulevard. Over the past three years, I have directed $185,000 — including $100,000 just last month — from state and federal grants that have been matched by the generosity of local residents and businesses. It is my intent to break ground later this year. Please continue to send me your comments and questions, which I plan to answer in future editions. You can e-mail Beacon editor Kevin McKay at [email protected] or me at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.   — City Council Pro Tem Kevin L. Faulconer represents District 2. Read San Diego Council Pro Tem Kevin L. Faulconer’s State of the District address: www.sandiego.gov/citycouncil/cd2/pdf/090427sotd.pdf View web cast: http://granicus.sandiego.gov/ASX.php?publish_id=640&sn=granicus.sandiego.gov.