The Neighborhood Watch group for the open space/park area atop Pasatiempo Ave in the Del Cerro community of San Diego teamed with law enforcement last summer to place a camera atop the hill adjacent to the open space/park area.

It monitored activities in keeping with the same regulations and rights guaranteed by our Constitution that also governs San Diego's Smart Streetlights program. Illegal activities were recorded and passed to the San Diego Police Dept and Patrick Henry High School resource officers for enforcement actions.

Parallel to this camera effort was successfully petitioning City Council to pass a new ordinance 63.0120(e) prohibiting park access after dark. This took a great deal of effort and the ordinance was unanimously passed and went into effect on Sept 5th. While the city struggles to get the signage in place, we had a sign made and placed it at the entrance to the open space alongside a new Neighborhood Watch sign.

We are currently waiting for the city to install (7) additional signs which we believe will work in unison with the security camera.

If you frequently walked the hill, it is easy to see what a positive impact the camera had to the cleanliness and overall well-being of the park area to the east and open space to the west. The total absence of empty liquor/cannabis containers that used to be found every day on the sidewalk and adjacent space was a relief to many who enjoy the parks with their family and pets.

In fact, the camera did such a good job that many of us felt it was no longer needed, and the job was done. We were wrong. In recent weeks there has been increased activity like what we all were experiencing prior to installing the camera. In fact, a few incidents are far more serious than any we have witnessed previously.

This news report from CBS8 highlights just some of the issues we were experiencing.

Your tax deductible donation* will help ensure the Neighborhood Watch group’s efforts are adequately resourced so they can continue to help abate the illegal and dangerous activities that degrade the safety and well-being of our community. Most notably are the extreme fire dangers that go hand in hand with the smokers along with the inevitable number of drivers under the influence who partake in cannabis and alcohol consumption as they are driving to and from the park.

Our goal of $1,200 per month ($7,200) will support current operations through the end of June 2025 at which point our provider plans to have a less expensive unit that can be permanently placed and not so much an eyesore. We ask that you (anonymously…but, of course, if you want to drop $7,200 in the tip jar, we’d love to know who you are!) pledge what you can commit on a monthly basis so we can rely on continued support.

All funds collected cover expense-related fees and do not compensate any volunteer's time or efforts helping keep our community safe. Thank you for your donation!

*Neighborhood Watch has partnered with the Friends of Del Cerro (FODC); a 501(c)(3) organization chartered to support ideals that benefit the beauty and safety of our community. All donations go to FODC and as such are tax deductible.