The Issue
Southern California neighborhoods built after World War II
were designed primarily for cars. People who would like to
walk to the store, a transit stop, or for recreation frequently
find the walking environment unpleasant or dangerous. The
San Diego region ranks third in the nation (behind New York
and Miami) in the percentage of traffic fatalities that are
pedestrians (22.5% - double the national average of 11.4%).
Sidewalks commonly abut a busy street, or there is no sidewalk
at all. Intersections are too wide, or make no provision whatsoever
for pedestrians. A generation ago, children walked to school;
today this is rare, due largely to poor walking conditions.
One result is a drastic reduction in physical activity and
a burgeoning obesity epidemic and its associated diseases
like diabetes and hypertension. See
our slide show on how this problem arose and what we can
do to fix it.
What We Do
WalkSanDiego is a regional, grassroots organization formed
in 1998 and dedicated to making our neighborhoods more walkable.
Through our educational events, training, advocacy, and work
with local governments and SANDAG, WalkSanDiego is working
to reclaim our streets and blocks through improved streetscape
designs, accessible walking paths, and traffic calming measures. See our current projects and past
accomplishments.
Help Your Own Neighborhood
WalkSanDiego can't be everywhere at once, so we rely on neighborhood
leaders and concerned citizens to help diagnose walkability
problems and request local government action to change dangerous
streets and intersections. We've provided tools to help you. Peruse the publications at the bottom of the Home Page to see what we mean.
Support Our Work
You can help change the world of walking by becoming a WalkSanDiego
member, through corporate sponsorship, or by volunteering.
All contributions are tax-deductible. See
more information
Staff
Ken Grimes, Executive Director kgrimes@walksandiego.org Ken Grimes has worked throughout his career in the public and nonprofit sectors to strengthen local communities and improve the quality of life, particularly for low income residents. He has extensive experience helping neighborhood groups work in partnership with local government and increasing community participation in decision making. As Executive Director of one of the largest community based nonprofits in Wiltshire, England he led a team of community development specialists delivering social, economic and environmental programs funded by European, regional and local government agencies. In this capacity he served on the boards of a number of regional and national organizations in the UK, and worked with nonprofits and public sector agencies in Russia, Japan and Brazil. A former housing planner at the San Diego Housing Commission, he played a leading role in developing and implementing the Housing Trust Fund, and the citywide inclusionary housing program. He has co-authored a number of articles on housing and community development which have appeared in the Journal of the American Planning Association and other planning publications. He received his Masters degree in City Planning from San Diego State University and holds an undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of Bath.
Kristin Mueller, Program Manager kmueller@walksandiego.org Kristin Mueller is WalkSanDiego's first full-time Program Manager and runs our Next Steps Initiative in Chula Vista to conduct community outreach and engagement among low-income, predominately Spanish-speaking residents to create a more walkable Chula Vista. Kristin received her Master of Public Health degree from San Diego State University. She worked on various research and community projects with SDSU and UCSD with a focus on the promotion of physical activity and nutrition. Kristin joined WalkSanDiego after completing a year abroad as a Fulbright Scholar where she conducted HIV prevention and research activities in Oaxaca, México, a truly walkable city!
Cynthia Offenhauer, Administrator coffenhauer@walksandiego.org Cynthia has had extensive experience working in organizations in administrative and bookkeeping support roles. She prefers living in urban areas, living in both in Boston and San Diego while raising a family. Most days she walks, cycles or use mass transit for both commuting and pleasure. She and her husband are active in sustainable living pursuits and enjoy the beach and sailing in their spare time. Mayor Jerry Sanders recently recognized them as "Urban Environmentalists" and featured their native plant garden in a press conference he held at their home. She is a graduate of Saint Louis University with a degree in Social Work and attended the Advanced Study for Business Program at Radcliffe College in Cambridge, MA.
WalkSanDiego Board of Directors
Andy
Pendoley, Chair Fundraising Committee Chair apendoley@walksandiego.org Andy Pendoley has applied his experience in social marketing,
strategic planning, and public involvement to the urban
planning, public transportation, and public health fields.
Andy believes in creating livable communities that support
a variety of cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds,
as well as providing a safe, healthy, and vibrant environment.
He completed his Masters in Communication at SDSU in
Spring 2006.
Andy Hamilton,
Vice Chair Communications Committee Chair ahamilton@walksandiego.org Andy Hamilton has worked on transportation, land use,
and air quality issues at the San Diego Air Pollution
Control District since 1994. His work includes promoting
alternatives to motor vehicles, including walking. From
1986-1993, he did similar work as a staff scientist
at the Conservation Law Foundation in Boston. Andy holds
a bachelors degree in Biology from the University of
Kansas, a masters degree in Ecology from UC Davis, and
a masters degree in Urban & Environmental Policy
from Tufts University in Boston. Andy is the author
of the District's publication, Tools for Reducing
Vehicle Trips Through Land Use Design and WalkSanDiego's SlowDown! Taming Neighborhood Traffic.
Chad Spoon, Secretary cspoon@walksandiego.org Chad Spoon is a Research Coordinator for Active Living Research. He received his master of regional planning degree with a specialization in transportation and land use management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining Active Living Research, Chad worked with Active Living by Design in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he assisted with their community partnerships. His interest in active living stems from his pedestrian and bicycle planning background. Chad helps manage the grant review process and offers ongoing technical assistance and training to grantees.
Cindy Musser, CPA, Treasurer cmusser@walksandiego.org As Treasurer, Cindy Chairs the Finance Committee and holds responsibility for overseeing and monitoring budgets and financial controls. She joined Gatto, Pope & Walwick, a San Diego firm of Certified Public Accountants in 2003. Her financial experience as an Audit Supervisor includes compilations, reviews and audits, general business advisory services and computerized accounting system consulting; her tax experience includes income tax planning and preparation for individuals and corporations. She is a firm believer in active lifestyles and the importance of making walking a safe and viable option for all San Diegans. A native Californian, Cindy grew up in Visalia, CA and is a graduate of CSU, Fresno, Class of 1995. Cindy enjoys traveling, walking, running and reading and also serves as Treasurer on the Board of Trustees of Coastlands Church.
Amanda Wilson awilson@walksandiego.org Amanda Wilson is a research coordinator for Active Living Research (ALR). Amanda received her Master of Science degree from the University of Florida. Before moving to San Diego, she was the assistant event director for Bike Florida, an annual, weeklong bicycle and tent camping tour. With an undergraduate degree in Health and Exercise Sciences from Gettysburg College, her main interest is in how recreation administrators, health organizations and advocacy groups, like WalkSanDiego, can work together to promote policies that support safe, accessible, places for walking, bicycling and physical activity.
David
Hopkins dhopkins@walksandiego.org David Hopkins retired after 22 years as an engineering
manager for San Diego Gas & Electric Co. Prior to
that, he was a marketing manager for General Electric
Co. He has been active in disability organizations and
is legally blind. Dave was a member of the advisory
committee for the City of San Diego Street Design
Manual, and several SANDAG transportation committees.
Since he cannot drive, he has a great deal of experience
using the San Diego transit system and is an enthusiastic
supporter of making San Diego a truly walkable city.
Dave has headed up WalkSanDiego's efforts to improve
street lighting in the City of San Diego, perhaps the
nation's darkest major city at night.
Tina Zenzola tzenzola@walksandiego.org Tina Zenzola is owner and director of Safe & Healthy Communities Consulting (SHCC), a firm dedicated to creating healthy community environments and re-introducing public health as a priority in land use and transportation planning decisions. For over a decade, Tina has helped local governments link with public health partners and bring the health message to their Smart Growth and community design efforts. Tina is a nationally recognized leader in the healthy built environments movement. She authored key national reports on public health and community design and serves as a consultant to national, state and local level planning and public health agencies. On the local front, Tina helped develop the City of San Diego's Pedestrian Master Plan and is a consultant to the LISC "Neighborhoods First" project. Tina served as WalkSanDiego's first Executive Director and has been a board member for over five years. Tina also served on a number of city and regional committees, including the SANDAG Bike/Pedestrian Working Group and Walkable Communities Advisory Committee. Tina has a Master of Public Health degree from the UCLA School of Public Health.
David Schumacher dschumacher@walksandiego.org Dave Schumacher has worked on public transportation and land use planning issues for nearly 25 years, first with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board and now with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) where he oversees the transit planning section. He is a strong believer the role walking and public transit can play in creating a more sustainable transportation system; he practices what he preaches by walking to work twice a week and taking transit the other days. He recently served as chair of committee on High Occupancy Vehicle Systems for the Transportation Research Board. Dave holds a Bachelors degree in Geography from San Diego State University and a Master in City and Regional Planning from the JFK School of Government at Harvard.
WalkSanDiego
Advisory Council
Nico Calavita,
Ph.D. Professor - Public Administration, City Planning
Graduate Program, San Diego State University Nico Calavita has taught at SDSU since 1980, including
courses in the History of Urban Planning, Urban Design
and Planning Implementation. He is also an adjunct professor
in the Urban Studies and Planning Program at UCSD, where
he teaches a course in land use planning. He has written
extensively about urban growth and affordable housing.
His articles on the politics of growth, inclusionary
housing, and housing trust funds have appeared in the Journal of the American Planning Association, Housing
Policy Debate and the Journal of the Associate
Schools of Planning. He writes regular commentaries
in the San Diego Union and Los Angeles Times on growth and housing issues. He is Co-chair of SALUD
(Scholars for Active Living through Urban Design).
Hon. Mary
Sessom Mayor, City of Lemon Grove Mary Sessom resides in Lemon Grove with her husband,
Steve, and her two teenage children, Jared and Anna.
Prior to being elected to the Lemon Grove City Council
in 1994, she was active in her community serving as
PTA president and Vice President of the Lemon Grove
Education Foundation. Outside of the city, and based
on her 20 years as a lawyer, Ms. Sessom served as a
Judge Pro Tem of the Superior Court (1990-1991), Past
President of the Foothills Bar Association (1995) and
was appointed by San Diego County Supervisor Dianne
Jacob to the Board of Trustees for the San Diego County
Law Library (1995-1996). Ms. Sessom was elected Mayor
of Lemon Grove in 1996, and was re-elected in March
2000. Not only is she the city's first directly-elected
mayor, but also its first female mayor. When not working
at City Hall, she teaches at Cuyamaca Community College.
She serves as a director for SANDAG and is a member
of the Salvation Army Ad Hoc Committee for the Kroc
Community Center. Ms. Sessom has been a Soroptimist
since 1993. For recreation, she studies Tai Chi and
holds a red belt and an honorary black belt in Tae Kwon
Do.
Michael
J. Stepner, FAIA, FAICP, FIUD Principal, Stepner Design Group
Michael Stepner has over 30 years of experience in leading,
managing, and participating in comprehensive planning
programs and the development of public policy. He is
a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a
Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners,
and a Fellow of the Institute for Urban Design. Currently,
Mr. Stepner serves as Director of Land Use and Housing
for the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation.
Previously, he was the City Architect for the City of
San Diego and has served as an advisor to the cities
of Washington, DC; Seattle, Washington; Orlando, Florida;
Kingman, Arizona; Coronado, California; National City,
California; Liverpool, England; and others. He is internationally
recognized for his leadership and innovation in community
planning, public participation, visioning and, particularly,
for his reliable follow-through to implementation. He
served as the Dean of the New School of Architecture
& Design and continues that association as an adjunct
professor in addition to lecturing at various colleges
and universities throughout the country. Mr. Stepner
has received numerous awards from community and professional
organizations for his accomplishments in the planning
field and is listed in Who's Who in America.
James
Sallis, Ph.D. Professor - Psychology, San Diego State University James Sallis is a professor in the Department of Psychology
at San Diego State University, where he has taught since
1992. He is also an adjunct professor in the Department
of Pediatrics at UCSD. He has taught courses on "Physical
Activity and Public Health" and "Risk, Risk-Taking,
and Lifestyle Change." Dr. Sallis is a member of
the International Advisory Board for Physical Activity,
Sport and Health Policy Research Centre of the Flemish
Government in Belgium; the Board of Advisors for Kalsugan
Community Services and Filipino-American Wellness Center
in San Diego; and the Scientific Advisory Council of
the Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center at the
University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver,
Colorado. He has written extensively on health and physical
activity issues for families, children, students and
patients. He currently heads the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation's Active Living Research project aimed at
understanding neighborhood design components that promote
routine physical activity.
Linda
Scott LKS & Associates
Linda Scott was the 2003 President of the San Diego
and Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Public
Works Association, and past recipient of that organization's
award for Outstanding Service in the Private Sector.
Linda has an avid interest in making communities work
better. She is a past chair and current member of the
Scripps Ranch Planning Group and a recipient of the
Scripps Ranch Civic Association's Community Service
Award. She works as a Project Manager for McGill Martin
Self, Inc., specializing in the implementation and financing
of public infrastructure. She was a member of the SANDAG
Walkable Communities Advisory Committee.
Kathleen
A. Garcia, ASLA Director, Wallace Roberts & Todd LLC Kathleen Garcia, a registered Landscape Architect, practices
planning, landscape architecture, and urban design throughout
the country. She is a Principal in the nationally recognized
firm of Wallace Roberts & Todd LLC, where she is
the director of the San Diego office. Ms. Garcia holds
a mayoral appointment in San Diego as a Planning Commissioner,
the sole landscape architect to have served in that
capacity. Ms. Garcia was the former chair of the Citizens
Committee on Urban Form & Environment for the Strategic
Plan 2020 (City of Villages) and has continued with
its direction as a Planning Commissioner. In addition
to her citywide appointment, Ms. Garcia also serves
on the Board of Directors for the Southeastern Economic
Development Corporation (SEDC). A native Californian,
Ms. Garcia is a graduate of UC Berkeley and Harvard
University's Graduate School of Design.
Mark D.
Rohrlick Principal, Westmark Development, Southern California Mark has been involved in real estate in Southern California
for more than 20 years. Mark is responsible for managing
planning efforts for large community acquisitions for
Westmark Development. Previously, Mark managed Lennar
Communities' development activities in San Diego County,
including The Bressi Ranch, a unique, walkable community
in the City of Carlsbad. Mark is a member of the Board
of Directors for the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, a
member of the North County Board of Directors for the
Building Industry Association (BIA) of San Diego County,
and is also a member of the Presidents Council of the
BIA. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University (1982),
and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.
Mark also holds a private pilot's license and a California
State General Engineering Contractors License.
Monica
Zech Media Chair Native San Diegan Monica Zech spent 29 years in broadcasting,
the last 18 years as an award-winning traffic reporter
for radio and television. She now works as the Public
Information Officer and Safety Educator for the City
of El Cajon Fire Dept. She has spent endless hours as
an injury prevention speaker and researcher, delivering
weekly safety lectures to schools, local groups and
military bases. Monica is professionally and personally
aware of pedestrian safety issues in San Diego. The
pedestrian safety issue became especially important,
and personal, when Monica's own father was killed as
a pedestrian on June 5, 1992, in the city of La Mesa.
For many years, Monica has been delivering pedestrian
safety lectures to senior groups, company safety meetings,
and local schools. Those interested in a safety talk
can contact Monica through her web site at www.monicazech.com.
Ramona
Finnila Principal, Finnila & Associates Ramona Finnila served as a City of Carlsbad councilperson.
She was the Mayor Pro Tem from 1996-98 and 2004. Ms. Finnila
provided council leadership for Carlsbad's Livable Streets
and Livable Neighborhoods initiatives to increase walking
within the city. Ms. Finnila has been involved in the
Carlsbad community since the late 1970's. She was a teacher
and counselor at the Yamaha Music School in Carlsbad from
1977-81. She took many leadership positions within the
Carlsbad school district throughout that time. In the
late 1980's she became involved in several regional government
committees, and in the 1990's served as Vice Chair of
the SANDAG Transportation Subcommittee, along with several
other SANDAG committees. Ms. Finnila has served on the
Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Commission, the Juvenile
Justice Panel of the Police Dept., and the Carlsbad Unified
School District/City Council Coordinating Committee.