Homeless make LJ less antiseptic
Alyssa Ramos’ article concerning homeless people and public benches (“Village’s homeless population makes headlines,” Village News, March 13, page 3) is insensitive, biased and unreflective of the views of many La Jollans.
I have lived in La Jolla all 18 years of my life and I have never felt threatened by a homeless person, much less a homeless person sitting on a public bench.
Ms. Ramos refers to the homeless as “bums,” while (Esther) Viti labels them “undesirables,” suggesting that they are the dirt ruining the beauty of our pristine beach town. In my opinion, they add to La Jolla by making it less antiseptic and more representative of an average city that is not littered with millionaires.
I hope that Ms. Viti can find better ways to improve La Jolla than by denying the impoverished people their right to sit on public benches.
Jonathan Westman, La Jolla

Promote civility
It was a dark and balmy night as I walked from the Village over to Vons.
Actually, it was Thursday night around 7:30. A photo shoot was taking place at the yet-to-open Bamboo Express on Hershel. Around the corner on Wall Street, diners were mingling outside the freshly reminted Wisk ‘N Ladle ” a good sign for a restaurant with many a reincarnation ” and across the street, there wasn’t a vacant stool or table at the Burger Lounge.
An unseen moon made the early evening clouds luminous against a dark sky. Jack’s was lively and the piano sounded inviting. People gathered out front; valet parkers were busy.
On Girard, families pushing strollers were window-shopping. Warwick’s, the quintessential La Jolla merchant, was holding an author’s reading. The warm golden glow from inside illuminated the sidewalk.
Groups of patient diners waited outside Sushi on the Rock. The Spice and Rice Thai Kitchen was filled to capacity. One could see some major renovation taking place inside the once enticing BoDanica. The Vons lot was filled. A young homeless kid ” all of about 18 ” crouched down against Vons huge, east-facing wall. He’s the kind you’d take pity on and want to call his mother but not bully him off a bus bench.
The Village seemed, on this night, to be working ” and working quite well.
Now, if only some of those folks at Promote La Jolla could get their act together and stop pushing paid parking that no one seems to want; open the books and disclose financial interests of volunteers in the name of transparency and shed itself of those wing nuts who embarrass the rest of us. Volunteer bus bench sitters? Give us a break! Take a deep breath, and let’s promote civility.
Chuck Buck, La Jolla

Never seen Children’s Pool
Unless you are real old, you have never seen the Children’s Pool. It is currently buried 9 feet under a sand dune.
When Ellen Scripps had the sea wall built as a gift to San Diego and the children in particular, it protected a pool of calm seawater extending its 100-yard length. There was a natural beach maybe 25 feet wide. The stairs to that original beach are three stories, but only two are visible today.
The sluice gates designed to allow flow were shut in 1931 to build up the beach and mistakenly never opened again. Folks correctly say Children’s Pool is not a good place for children to swim anyway, and just so, as the sand dune forces one to enter the water unprotected by the sea wall. The city is under a court order to remove the sand and restore the gift to the children.
Good.

Don Perry, La Jolla