Protect yourself from identity thieves
Tens of thousands of personal records are lost or stolen regularly. People should protect their information and not rely on those holding the information to do so. The best way to do this is by not providing it in the first place.
Merchants today make extra money by selling customers’ personal data to third parties. Obviously, they can’t if you refuse to give them the information.
For example, even when we pay cash for a car, dealers ask for our Social Security number. I refuse to provide it, as it is not needed for the purchase.
Read the fine print on new credit card offers ” some of them contain well-concealed authorization to sell all your information to other companies.
Cell phone companies will request your Social Security number when establishing service. Refuse to give it. They want your business, and won’t likely deny you service. (Also, keep in mind that when your cell phone or Internet provider offers you a “free” upgrade, they’re really trying to extend your contract another 12 months).
Even nonprofits routinely request personal data they don’t need. Medical offices give new patients a form to complete, which usually asks for a Social Security number. Leave that space blank ” you won’t be denied service.
The San Diego Community College District still uses students’ Social Security numbers for course enrollment forms, rather than creating alternative numbers, as do other college districts. Don’t give your real number.
Just because an organization you’re dealing with asks for your data, you don’t have to provide it. Don’t count on others to protect your financial privacy and prevent identify theft.
Bill Collins, Pacific Beach

Leave Lindbergh well enough alone
This airport situation has become like a broken record. I will vote to keep Lindbergh Field to remain in the same exact spot. Just leave well enough alone.
Number one, somebody was not using their head by allowing this Corky McMillin to right away begin to use the Navy Training Center (NTC) to build dwellings. This land could have been used to enlarge the runway for our airport. Or it could have encouraged the Marines to move next door where the Navy left and utilize that land for another landing strip.
Not only that, but the situation concerning the houses McMillin was allowed to build has contributed to the wall-to-wall traffic in the Midway, Sports Arena and Rosecrans areas. That’s another problem that has been created and having to second-guess what to do to correct this traffic problem.
Now these people that supposedly use their head have not come to any sensible conclusions. Lindbergh Field is an ideal, perfect location already.
Pauline O’Malley, Point Loma

How about military airport in the desert?
If the airport authority came to the conclusion that the best airport solution would be for the military to vacate Miramar, they would not be able to put such a choice on the ballot in a military town. With around 12 military installations and 24 military housing areas in the county, San Diego certainly fits that definition. In addition, the country is at war with terrorism. However, they could try to achieve that result by putting joint-use on the ballot and hoping that the military would elect to find another home should the voters vote for it in November and then all of the local politicians get behind it.
What we need to do now is pass it and see that our politicians are on board or voted out of office the next time they run for re-election. Politicians have more experience with compromise than Department of Defense officials.
The airport authority identified Camp Pendleton, Campo/Boulevard and Imperial County as possible sites for a civilian airport. Wouldn’t they be suitable sites for a military airport? The military could relocate to one of those sites without the need for a high-speed rail line or concern about how far they are from downtown.
During the past five years, several statements from the airport authority made one wonder if they had the guts to select the best location; however, in the end, they did indeed select the best site. Now it is up to us, the voters, to make that choice a reality.
Don French, Ocean Beach