San Diego Reader

A town meeting took place Thursday night, February 12, at Casey's Place in San Carlos. The purpose of the meeting was to publicize the financial plight of Casey's Place, a privately owned, not-for-profit community center located near the corner of Navajo Road and Jackson Drive. The meeting was attended by over 100 people, including San Diego city councilmember Marti Emerald.

The half-hour-long meeting inside the 20,000 square-foot facility began at 7:09 p.m. with introductory remarks by founder Casey Kinslow. He soon turned the microphone over to staff member Ed Stanfield, who delved into the details.

Using PowerPoint slides, Stanfield explained the fiscal problems facing Casey's Place. The center, a community fixture since 2000, is four months behind on rent, which costs $10,000 per month. The facility's income barely covers other monthly operating expenses and salaries. The difference has been made up by donations, often from Kinslow and his wife Jan.

The Kinslows are no longer in a position to finance the operation themselves, and they are seeking support from the community in the form of donations and suggestions on improving the center's financial performance. Stanfield explained that the programs currently being offered which include before- and after-school programs, summer camps, and a few others keep the center busy only eight hours per day. The center's ultimate goal is to generate enough revenue to cover all of its expenses so that donations can be used to benefit the community through programs such as scholarships for local students. Find out more at caseysplace.com.