Officials should put city ahead of personal gain
In this world of “gimme, gimme, gimme” no one seems to care what the cost will be. The Union wants more benefits, all the employees want salary raises etc.
The city of San Diego is in a bind, our credit rating low and no money put away, yet no organization is willing to reduce their benefits, or employees their salaries. Every day I read where some high-ranking official in the school system gets a substantial hike in salary which of course they don’t refuse.
Do think of the wonderful climate, which is free and envied by many states, the beaches, and the many services we are fortunate to enjoy but will go down the drain if a cut back in expenses is not instigated.
Is it not possible that can give something back, tighten our belts so to speak for the good of our beautiful city. The pride and satisfaction we will feel in our part of bring San Diego back to solvency.
Ada May Powers, Point Loma

Clarifications on Nichols Street maps
Thank you for publishing the informative article entitled, “Fencing Over Access, Beach Access Point Of Contention,” by Blake Jones, July 05, 2006.
We are happy to hear one of the adjacent property owners is willing to restore the public’s access to the beach.
The opposing attorney stated “when the land was dedicated to the city as a paper street, the transaction was never accepted and recorded with the county.”
This statement is not correct. Nichols Street is shown extending to San Diego Bay on all legal maps filed in San Diego County and the United States. La Playa is the second subdivision in San Diego. Old Town was the first. Both neighborhoods were surveyed and subdivided by Cave Johnson Couts in 1849, while California was still a territory of the United States.
The plan of La Playa and the Port of San Diego, surveyed and drawn by Cave Johnson Couts for the Ayuntamiento or Town Council in 1849, is part of the public record.
Charles Pooles incorporated the La Playa subdivision and changed the lot numbers in his United States boundary survey of San Diego entitled, “Map of the Pueblo Lands,” Miscellaneous Map 35, dated 1856. A copy of this historic, legal map is on file at the County of San Diego and is frequently referenced in land transaction.
Also, all Assessor’s Parcel Maps and historic Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps show Nichols Street extending to San Diego Bay.
In addition, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo giving the United States the territories of present-day Arizona, California, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado, Nevada and Utah was signed in 1848, not 1884.
Katheryn Rhodes and Conrad Hartsell, MD, La Playa

Soledad cross more historic and religious
It appears the issue on the cross on Mt. Soledad is a anti-religion hang up that made an issue out of a purely historical symbol when it was created. I am sure it is no big issue with those of us who are vets. Perhaps the issue of religious faith would have resulted in some other symbol today, such as giant flame. At the time, the statue of a woman represented Liberty. And yet no big issue is made of it’s gender relationship!
The real issue is public land. Perhaps a grateful public might wish to deed the property to a vets organization and so a “historical” landmark can be left in place!
Walt Tice, Pacific Beach

Here’s the reason for the fireworks delay
We have had a number of inquiries about the delay during the OB Fireworks. The real reason for the delay (and why our fireworks weren’t in sync with the music from KYXY) was that the Fire Marshall stopped the fireworks for almost 5 minutes. Apparently, there was a kayak and possibly some folks on surfboards that came too close to the pier and the fireworks ignition area. So, hopefully next year the people in the water will keep their distance so that the fireworks can go off as planned.
Many have also asked why we no longer have the OB waterfall effect that we had a number of years ago. The Fire Marshall asked the firework’s company to refrain from doing the waterfall effect because there were too many boaters and surfboarders trying to paddle up to the waterfall. The risk of burning someone was just too high.
So . . . We really hope you all enjoyed the fireworks even though they weren’t exactly timely but . . . isn’t that just so “OB”. Have a great summer!
Denny Knox, Executive Director Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association

SeaWorld fireworks a tradition to keep
I have lived in San Diego since 1989, mostly in Pacific Beach, Point Loma, Mission Beach and now finally in Hillcrest. One of the best things during the summer in San Diego is the SeaWorld fireworks. They are one of many unique things that make San Diego great. I know when they are going off at night, it is 9:50 p.m. and I don’t even have to look at the clock. At least once a week I like to run outside and watch them. And when people visit from out of town, it is great when they go off and we always need to pull over in the car and watch.
Don’t let those whiners complaining about the noise that lasts 10 minutes at the most, get away with stopping them. I’m sure many more people love them as much as I do. They are a San Diego tradition.
Rob Vahoviak, Hillcrest

Fireworks solution: pressurized air
On Sunday, July 9th on the 11 p.m. news on Channel 10 (KGTV) Fred Blankinship stated that Sea World would give people free CD’s of fireworks that you can play for your pets during the day. Therefore, playing the CD for your pet during the day to help your pet get over the noise anxiety which we know will only upset our pets we will not only have our pets upset during the day but then again at 9:50 when the real fireworks start up.
However, they did not have mention a remedy for the people that are trying to sleep. I guess they just have to deal with it.
I really do not think this is the solution to the problem
I would like to see Sea World convert to the pressurized air cannons just as Disneyland did, as I am sure several other residents that live in the surrounding area.
Beverly Kaye, Loma Portal