(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, CA) Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) announced that Governor Schwarzenegger signed four of her bills into law, which focus on protecting the San Diego River and open space in the City of San Diego, granting property tax relief to registered domestic partners, and building a new Dept. of Motor Vehicles office in Hillcrest. 


"I'm grateful for the governor's support of these sensible bills that will improve the lives of thousands of San Diegans," said Kehoe.  "Passage of this legislation proves that government is responsive and can address the challenges facing our community."

Senate Bill 754
This law allows a private developer to construct a DMV facility at no cost to the state and provide retail, commercial, and residential space at the Normal Street site.


"The Normal Street DMV office is an old, outdated building sitting in a sea of asphalt," said Kehoe. "A modern facility will make a trip to the DMV more pleasant and a redeveloped site with housing and retail will make the street corner an attractive hub of activity and a better fit for the neighborhood."


Kehoe included a provision in the bill to ensure that the Hillcrest Farmers Market will continue conducting business at the Normal Street location.

Senate Bill 373
This law makes it more difficult to sell or exchange almost 7,000 acres of city-owned park land, and saves the City of San Diego an estimated $1 million in processing costs.


"Protecting our urban canyons has been a priority of local residents, community groups, and environmental organizations throughout the city," said Kehoe.  "This law enables residents and the city to realize their longstanding goal of protecting these areas."


The protected parcels include 3,365 acres in Mission Trails Regional Park, urban canyons in Bankers Hill, Kensington-Talmadge, and Mid-City, and land in Rose Canyon, Rancho Mission Canyon, 32nd Street Canyon, and 34th Street Canyon.  The law requires the city to release a list of protected lands by Jan. 1, 2008 and prohibits the city-owned lands from changing hands unless a vote of the people is held.  The old policy permitted the property to be sold or exchanged by a vote of the San Diego City Council.

Senate Bill 419
This law further protects the San Diego River by empowering a state agency, called the San Diego River Conservancy, to better preserve the 52-mile water route. 


"The San Diego River is an historic landmark and this law ensures its place as a state and local treasure," said Kehoe. 


The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2008, and strengthens the conservancy's governing board, expands the agency's jurisdiction beyond the current half mile range on either side of the river, and adds cultural and historic resource protection to its mission.  Kehoe created the San Diego River Conservancy under a 2002 law. 

Senate Bill 559
This law provides relief to registered domestic partners who paid discriminatory property taxes prior to Jan. 1, 2006.  It rolls back the tax increase assessed against couples after they separated or a partner died and the property changed hands.  When real estate transfers between married spouses, the property is not reassessed.


"Domestic partners who built a home together should not be squeezed by property taxes any more than other loving families," said Kehoe.  "These committed couples should not be penalized simply because one of them dies or the partnership ends."   

The governor previously signed Kehoe's legislation (Senate Bill 10) to reform the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority on Oct. 5.  To view the text of all the bills signed into law, visit www.senate.ca.gov and click on "legislation."