Hillel dog-and-pony show
Attention Council District 1 constituents:
Your City Council Representative, Scott Peters, now president of the City Council and in his last term in office, could care less about you and your neighborhoods. He is giving back to the “big bucks” that got him re-elected, but he is still trying to make it appear that fairness prevails by arranging and attending prolonged “dog and pony shows” put on for you and by you.
Pamela Colquitt, University City
Let’s play charadesThe following is a copy of a letter to District 1 City Councilman Scott Peters. Re: Hillel Hearing on May 9, 2006, Site 653After I watched your performance at the above hearing on TV, I have nothing but contempt for you as my representative! How could you ignore a cash purchase offer at $1.3 million with a steady property tax flow (which would make the community happy) in favor of a backdoor deal for $940,000 to a religious group that will be tax-exempt forever (and the community does not want)?The volunteers who work for planning and community groups don’t get paid for their time and efforts; yet you side with paid flunkies from an interest group for students who do not live or invest in our community.Your mind was clearly made up before this charade on May 9, 2006. The 24 conditions you imposed are only enforceable with the help of the neighborhood groups you seem to despise.You and city staff get compensated for the time spent on these charades that are called “Public Hearings.” Please explain to me which “Public” you represent? Certainly not the citizens, residents and property owners of La Jolla and University City.Your arrogance and contempt for our community is breathtaking.

Ingrid E. Varon, La Jolla
Voters can tellCongratulations to the residents of the 50th Congressional District (which includes much of La Jolla and University City). You aren’t being taken in by the National Republican Campaign Committee attack ads against Francine Busby ” polls show her popularity has risen since the ads started running. In fact, many Republicans are embarrassed by the ads, which make ludicrous statements about Busby, a member of the Cardiff School Board.Republican school board member Andy Brown calls the claims “outrageous and untrue.” Bill Boyer, one of the Republican candidates in the Special Election, said, “Ms. Busby has my apologies…I am embarrassed to acknowledge the Republican endorsement trailer on the ad.” Even Busby’s opponent in the June 6 election, Brian Bilbray, has “expressed mild disappointment.” Of course, what he should do is acknowledge publicly that the ads are preposterous, but ” in the meantime ” what’s really important is that we voters can tell truth from really bad fiction.
Elizabeth Hansen, La Jolla
Why a lawsuit was brought against CPAA lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court on May 4 against the La Jolla Community Planning Association, Inc., (the “CPA”) a quasi-governmental corporation, which acts as the City of San Diego’s official advisory planning board for La Jolla. This lawsuit was brought by La Jollans for Clean Government, Inc., a watchdog group created by La Jolla residents to investigate corruption and conflict of interest in local city-sponsored boards and committees. The lawsuit was brought after years of self-dealing, conflict of interest, secret meetings, document falsification, vote trading and other types of corruption being carried on at the local level by many of the trustees and officers of the CPA.Over the years, La Jolla residents have made many attempts to regain control of the CPA from the land-development interests who dominated it, but were thwarted at every turn by the illegal actions of the CPA board. Some of these actions included destroying or altering membership and sign-in lists, canceling official meetings when officers realized that they would not win an election, allowing non-La Jolla residents to vote as members and serve as trustees, harassing and threatening those attempting to reform the CPA, and manipulating votes so that projects being promoted by members and trustees would be approved. After years of attempting to work within the CPA system without success, the concerned residents realized that the only action left for them to take was to ask the courts to force the CPA to obey the law.Information regarding the lawsuit, La Jollans for Clean Government, Inc., and other aspects of the CPA are on-line at www.LaJollaWatchdog.org, the official Web site of La Jollans for Clean Government, Inc. Over the past several years, San Diego’s city government has suffered from a reputation of being secretive, corrupt and incompetent. This unwelcome notoriety has led to reforms in city government that we believe should be carried out at the community level as well. La Jollans for Clean Government hopes that this lawsuit will finally bring accountability and transparency to an organization that has a long history of being corrupted by greed and conflict of interest, the La Jolla Community Planning Association.
Steven W. Haskins, Esq.,
La Jolla resident and Attorney for La Jollans for Clean Government, Inc. Why so over-eager?I am very impressed with the letter from Erika Mijuskovic (“Just like school-yard bullies,” Village News, April 13, page 8), which indicates her anger concerning the seals issue. I am 100 percent in her favor and agree with everything she is upset about.Why are these people so over-eager to constantly annoy the seals? Apparently the seals love this little area and it is really a shame humans are getting their thrills by disturbing them.I am also wondering why the federal government hasn’t done anything to protect the seals from ongoing harassment. There is a possibility the seals hog this very spot due to being safe from sharks. Beyond this spot, the human race has the entire freedom of the all the beaches. So why not just leave the seals alone and select another area for whatever you decide to do?We are so fortunate to have the seals so close by and we need to appreciate our sea life we have available here in San Diego.
Pauline O’Malley, Point Loma
Keep Lindbergh FieldThe Airport Authority makes much of the apparent dire straits which Lindbergh Field currently is said to be approaching. This mantra has been repeated since I arrived in San Diego more than 20 years ago. With much wailing and gnashing of teeth, we are assured that the airport will overflow its capacity soon; the Airport Authority’s Web site states that the airport “will be unable to meet air transportation demands as early as 2015.”Why, then, does a very recent forward-looking report on airport capacity from the FAA not include our airport? Use your favorite web browser to go to http://www.faama.org/news/mts/MTS0504.pdf, and you’ll find a document published by the FAA manager’s association in 2004. Therein, you’ll find an article entitled “INSIGHT: FAA’s Office of Airports takes a long, well-researched look at airport capacity through 2020.” And on page 9, you’ll find a long list of airports which have a capacity problem, or are predicted to develop one by 2020. And nowhere on that long list will you see Lindbergh Field. As an all-too-frequent traveler, I pass through many of the nation’s busiest airports, and Lindbergh is far better than most in terms of vehicular access and passenger handling.Furthermore, according to FAA records, the “on-time” status of flights in and out of Lindbergh compares well with other busy national airports. Simply put, San Diego doesn’t need a new airport. Financial considerations also weigh against it. At a time when our fair city is facing the consequences of financial mismanagement, it is not encouraging to read, on the Airport Authority Web site, that the cost of a new airport and all of the associated requirements “is unknown at this time.” The site claims that our local tax dollars would not be used to build a new airport; but read carefully ” airport users would pay towards the cost, and local residents would have to foot the bill for new roads, light rail, etc. I look forward to being able to check the box next to “keep Lindbergh Field” when the opportunity to vote comes this fall.
J L Whitton, University City
Misunderstood opossumNow that spring has officially “sprung” and baby animals are being born in our backyards, we need to be cautious when dealing with the wildlife that surrounds us.Because constantly developing neighborhoods and businesses are taking over previously untouched land, wild animals are forced to live in closer proximity with humans. With few alternatives available, they have no choice but to enter our homes, parks, and even downtown areas in search of food and shelter. Among these animals are the commonly misunderstood opossum, who wants nothing more than to raise her family in peace.
When you see opossums, give them their space. Opossums are very private, and any sudden movement could startle them, causing a baby to fall off of his mother’s back. If you leave them alone, they will leave your yard and find a safer place to forage for food. Keep your animals and opossums safe by keeping your animals inside at night. Dogs and cats and other companion animals can be injured if they encounter wild animals, but they might prey on opossums, as well.
Always remember to drive slowly at night and give wildlife a “brake.” If you find an injured opossum, raccoon or other animal, contact your local wildlife rehabilitator or call your local shelter immediately. To find more information, including a list of wildlife rehabilitators near you, visit www.HelpingWildlife.com.
Katrelya Angus, Sierra Madre, CA.