Kudos for appropriate coverage
Both local newspapers carried notice of our annual Christmas Parade. One carried only a mean-spirited editorial diatribe about the event’s name. The La Jolla Village News warmly and enthusiastically endorsed our proud community tradition. A supplement, showing the parade route and day’s events, was thoughtfully included with each paper. Kudos and thank you to the Village News for appropriate coverage of our historic La Jolla Christmas Parade!
Kay Guarino, La Jolla

No sensitivity seen
Regarding Mr. Trego’s letter, Nov. 30 (“May have to deter harbor seals,” Village News, page 8): I do not believe in the sensitivity of those who are determined to remove the harbor seals from Casa Beach/Children’s Pool. There are well-documented instances of local divers and swimmers alarming and flushing harbor seals off the beach even with the presence of the rope barrier. The rope barrier is not yet up, and this afternoon (12/1) two men snorkeling flushed three small seals off a rock close to the water line and proceeded out to Seal Rock to flush the seals resting there. A small number of men go daily to sit on the beach and swim there and encourage other less-informed members of the public to do the same. This is a critical time as many of the harbor seal females are pregnant, and increased harassment has previously resulted in stillbirths and can lead to mother/pup separation.
Secondly, people who are at the beach 24/7 working to protect this colony have never seen people feeding harbor seals off the sea wall. This remains an exceptional opportunity to see these wild marine mammals exhibiting normal behaviors in this environment, which offers a unique educational opportunity which would benefit children far more than its use as a wading pool.
Judith Lawrence, San Diego

Get real
I am disgusted but not surprised by Kent Trego’s most recent letter to the editor. First of all, his insistent lies about people feeding seals from the sea wall are getting old. I have spent countless hours for the past year and a half at Children’s Pool, as Mr. Trego knows, and not once have I ever seen a single person trying to feed the seals. Throwing things down to the seals, even a seemingly appetizing fish, would only cause them to flush ” these wild harbor seals will never eat out of anyone’s hand. Get real, Trego.
Secondly, I am sickened at the claim his swimming buddies will “be sensitive to the message of the advisory rope.” If they had even a shred of decency or compassion, they would respect the idea of the rope by staying behind it. With my own two eyes I witnessed our first pup of the 2006 season scared into the water at the ripe old age of three days by a regular swimmer, who happens to be a retired doctor. Perhaps this man no longer lives by the oath “Primum non nocere.”
The heartlessness displayed by the selfish individuals who want to claim this tiny beach for themselves is astounding. In the spirit of the holiday season, I implore everyone to remember it is better to give than to receive ” give the seals some peace during pupping season; find another beach to swim at and leave the innocent babies and their mothers alone.
Rebecca Stanger, Pacific Beach

Go after real issue
From the comprehensive article “Opponents, proponents dissect Prop A results” (Village News, Nov. 30, page 1), I think it is clear that the new board must go after the real issue!
The real issue is whether San Diego voters want to expand San Diego or concentrate on staying within our “limits” of: water; sewage processing; freeways; city services! Instead of expanding, make the “quality” of what we have much, much better! After all this, the possibility of making Miramar an all-civilian airport as the Marines go after a better all-military airport, outside the city, can be still reviewed.
Walt Tice, Pacific Beach