Pinched parking lot is unsafe
Has anyone noticed what a horrendous and dangerous experience it is to park at the Brueggers/Starbucks parking lot? I witnessed a mother and her child barely step out of harm’s way the other morning. They were loading their trunk and a car almost ran them over, without even noticing!
The funny thing is I don’t fault the driver, as the spots are so tight and the lot so crowded with cars of all sizes and with people coming and going it is very challenging to see, even when looking. I have circled the lot many times for parking at different hours of the day to no avail, and even the best of drivers in the smallest cars have parking challenges.
I think the lot is unsafe and the property manager should think about what they can do to make it safer (new lines, new parking structure, etc.) so that kids and adults alike can park and shop at ease.
Just my opinion.

Susanne Scherman, La Jolla

Olympic swim team only
I would like to voice my opinion on the fate of seal beach. I think it is a crime against nature to force the seals off this beach. In my opinion this is what makes San Diego so great! It’s the first place all of my friends and family from back east want to see.
Come on, how many places in the U.S. can you see such a beautiful sight? Not to mention the ridiculous amount of money it will take to clean it up, $5 million! As a citizen who is paying outrageous water bills, etc., I can’t believe this is even an issue!
And as far as this being a “children’s pool,” the only way I would let any children swim in the strong current at this location would be if they are on the Olympic swim team! I think this city is sadly going downhill.
Arlene Goulart, San Diego

Olympic dreams
The following is a copy of a letter sent to Council President Scott Peters.
My name is Julia Cooper and I am the chairwoman of the Committee to Improve Swanson Pool. I read with interest and some satisfaction your recent column on the Voice of San Diego site regarding South UC. I am told by activists in the community that improvement of Swanson was one of your goals when you first took office. It would be terrific if you would go on the record supporting our efforts.
A meeting is scheduled for Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at University City High School. The purpose of the meeting is to generate community input.
I am sure that you are aware of the unhappiness in South UC over the Oct. 1 closure of the pool for maintenance. These continued closures of not just Swanson, but pools all over the city, seem grossly unfair to the communities involved. Ditto cuts in library hours. Given the scope of our financial problems in San Diego, the moneys saved by these actions are only a drop in the bucket. Not to mention that they are visited on the backs of constituencies that have little or no voice ” our children.
The committee is exploring various options for improving Swanson, from simply enlarging the pool to eight lanes to completely rebuilding.
Besides swim lessons, rec swim, rec water polo and lap swim usage, it would be terrific if the UC High aquatics teams could utilize Swanson as their home pool. They cannot now because it is not a regulation competition pool for either swim or polo. My two daughters are both swimmers so I have a double interest in the issue. UCHS pays $50 an hour to the JCC for pool time for three seasons of aquatic sports. We are allotted only four lanes for swim practice! We are the first to get booted for other users. The athletes at our local public school deserve better.
I recently attended the American Swimming Coaches Association World Clinic, which was held at the Town and Country Hotel. I happened upon a conversation in the trade show area that got my attention.
How would you like to have, as a positive legacy to the district, the pool that is holding the 2008 Olympic Trials? The pool in which world records will be broken? We can get one. I am pursuing that avenue of inquiry and will be happy to provide more details when I have them.
Thank you for supporting our efforts.
Julia Cooper, University City