Infrastructure’ story was missing a big fact
I always thought a news story should include all of the facts. Sebastian Ruiz’s story about the infrastructure bonds left out some very important information (“Aguirre refuses to sign off on mayor’s infrastructure bond,” May 8, Beach & Bay Press).
The 12 percent interest rate for two years on the bond is for interest-only. This is an adjustable rate with a balloon payment due at the end of the two-year period.
This is exactly the same kind of thinking that forced many homeowners into foreclosure. An interest only bond/loan is never a good investment. There have been many financial experts besides Aguirre who are opposed to this bond. Mayor Sanders needs to find a better deal, or cut some other expenses to make the repairs.
Readers need to be given all of the facts, especially on a front-page news story, in order to make an intelligent decision. Our elected officials need to be fiscally responsible. Since we are facing a recession there is no guarantee that the city would be able to refinance this bond at a more favorable rate. This is just like the pension fiasco!
Isabelle Piccini
Pacific Beach
MBHS athletes use a variety of buccaneer logos
In these times of serious budget cuts, as well as amid controversies over such new programs as Mission Bay’s Marine Corps JROTC this year, I was a bit amused by Mr. Schmidt’s comments and concern over the “new logo” of Mission Bay High School (“Let’s bring back the original MBHS pirate,” Beach & Bay Press, May 1).
As the principal of Mission Bay for only a little over two years, I was unaware of the details of any change in school logo. So I did a bit of research, and this is what I learned. Mission Bay High School and its athletic teams currently use a variety of “buccaneer” logos, including the rather feisty buccaneer with a saber depicted in the newspaper.
I do acknowledge that the large buccaneer head on the Grand Avenue face of our building is different from one displayed many years ago, in that it no longer features a knife in the pirate’s teeth. I have found nothing written about exactly when or why this logo was changed.
The Mission Bay principal at that time (2001) “initiated the logo retreatment.” The repainting was completed as a part of the bond-funded district renovation at that time. I have located no evidence, written or otherwise, that there was much discussion of this change among the staff, students or community.
I do understand that the district Board of Education adopted its zero tolerance policy that same year and suspect that the two events may have been related.
At the present time, our very competitive athletic teams use a variety of buccaneer logos to represent them. There is no one logo for Mission Bay High School.
On another note, I was contacted recently by one of the alumni who requested that they be permitted to use their old logo on shirts to wear at Homecoming 2008. I have absolutely no problem with this and look forward to welcoming all Buccaneers back to Mission Bay for homecoming 2008. Go Bucs!
Cheryl Seelos
Principal
Mission Bay High School