GET TO KNOW OUR NEW COUNCILMEMBER
Plus, Get to Know Our New Park in Mission Valley
Raul Campillo Answers LV Update Questions
The votes are in and it appears our new District 7 councilmember will be Raul Campillo. District 7 comprises the communities of Linda Vista, Mission Valley, Serra Mesa, Grantville, Allied Gardens, Del Cerro, Tierrasanta, and San Carlos.
Voters got to familiarize themselves with each candidates’ views on the issues during the long campaign, however, we thought our readers would now benefit from learning more about the personal side of our elected officials. Though these are highly partisan times, it’s still possible for people to form a bond over shared personal interests. In that vein, we temporarily set aside politics and asked our new councilmember-elect a series of questions designed to let local residents know more about the person that will be serving Linda Vista and its neighboring communities. He was kind enough to answer our questions.
Here is what Mr. Campillo had to say:
Do you have a favorite book—either one you have enjoyed for a long time, or a more recent selection? If so, can you explain what it is that you like about this book?
My favorite book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo. I read it in 10th grade and have re-read it seven times. It’s the story of a shepherd boy who has a dream and sells everything to go seek out what his dream told him, across Spain, the Sahara Desert, and Egypt, learning lessons from every individual along the way. It’s a parable about perseverance, faith, and trust, and it shaped my worldview. I always have two copies in my home, and if a guest says they have never read it, I give them one, and I go get another for myself later. It’s that meaningful to me.
Do you have a favorite restaurant in the Linda Vista/Mission Valley area? What do you like about it?
I really enjoy Mr. Peabody’s for hamburgers, Kiko’s Tacos for ceviche, and Rose’s for donuts. Each place has very nice and generous people working there. A new favorite of mine: Tandoor on Mission Center Road has really good curry and naan.
Do you have a favorite historical figure—perhaps someone that has inspired you, or someone that you just find interesting?
My family is originally from the Imperial Valley and has a history with César Chávez. The number of people he inspired is remarkable and he had a lasting impact in California for all workers, not just farm workers. I also have always been inspired by Muhammad Ali for his courage to take his athletic success and build it into a platform for political activism, while always being personable, humorous, and honest.
Do you have a favorite musical group or genre?
My parents exposed me to classic rock growing up, so I always loved Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, and Eric Clapton. I admire all four Beatles and know their work from after their time together as well. But from my brother, I learned to love rap music and love the historical development of funk, R&B, and hip-hop.
Do you have a favorite professional sports team that you follow?
When I was a kid, I knew every Padres’ batting average and what they had done the previous night, and it was fun following Gwynn, Caminiti, Finley, and Ashby. I love the Padres. Outside the US, I am a big FC Barcelona fan.
Do you have an all-time favorite movie?
The Godfather Part II
Any additional comments you would like to make to our readership?
I look very much forward to serving Linda Vista. Living just blocks from LV, I have seen first-hand how the area has been overlooked in the past by our elected leaders. I want the residents of Linda Vista to know that my door is always open to them and that I will strive to have an office that serves every part of my district equitably. I plan to hire a diverse staff that is familiar with the unique needs of every community in District 7, and when I hire a community representative who covers Linda Vista, I hope your readers will familiarize themselves with that person so they can quickly contact him or her if the need arises.
The Linda Vista Update wishes to thank Raul Campillo for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish him good luck in his new duties.
Meet the New Park in Mission Valley
If your next shopping excursion to the Fashion Valley Mall gets too stressful or tiresome (once the pandemic is over), don’t worry because you now have a beautiful place to rest and re-charge.
The new Town and Country Neighborhood Park— along the San Diego River and adjacent to the Fashion Valley Trolly Station—possesses the potential to serve as a pleasant oasis for harried shoppers (once the pandemic is over) and anyone else seeking refuge from the usual hustle and bustle of Mission Valley.
The park is actually broken up into two parts, with the smaller part located on the north side of the river at the corner of Fashion Valley Road and Riverwalk Drive. You can sit there before or after riding the bus/trolley and rest up before continuing your commute. Or you can sit there while taking a break from your riverwalk exercise routine, whether it be jogging, walking or cycling. An interesting feature of the park is a Dero bicycle Fixit station. According to the Dero web site, “the Fixit station includes all the tools necessary to perform basic repairs and maintenance, from changing a flat to adjusting brakes and derailleurs. The tools are securely attached to the stand with stainless steel cables and tamper-proof fasteners. Hanging the bike from the hanger arms allows the pedals and wheels to spin freely while making adjustments.”
The larger part of the park is located on the south side of the river and can be accessed from the Fashion Valley Mall parking lot/Trolley station by a newly remodeled bridge. This new stretch of grass sits adjacent to the Town and Country Hotel parking lot. The park is designed in a linear fashion—long and narrow like a trolley. A perfect layout for tossing a frisbee with a friend or family member. It comes with plenty of benches and tables, as well as a water fountain. This is the place to go when you’ve exhausted your desire to be a big spending bourgeois capitalist shopper (once the pandemic is over), your legs are tired from moving from one mall store to another (once the pandemic is over), and you prefer to adopt the simple-living reflective spirit of a Henry Thoreau. Spend some time relaxing in this park, and you’ll eventually be ready to head back into the mall for another session of hectic shopping (once the pandemic is over, of course).
Interesting art work at the park includes several cylindrical pieces that tell the story of San Diego’s founding and mention several other of our city’s tourist venues (for the benefit of the Town and Country Hotel tourist customers).
The design and locale of the park effectively emphasizes the interplay between nature and commerce that helps define Mission Valley’s uniqueness.
KITTENS ADOPTED
We are happy to report that the three kittens we were fostering for SD Humane Society (reported in this post: https://lindavistaupdate.substack.com/p/enjoy-boba-at-sharetea ) were all adopted. As we expected, they proved irresistible and were adopted as soon as they were available. But don’t worry, there are still plenty of great kittens and cats available for you at SD Humane Society.
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