Voters KOed paid beach parking in the ’90s
I recall in the early 1990s the issue of paid parking at the beach was resoundingly defeated and the idea was put to rest by then city manger Jack McGrory. The consensus then and now is our beaches shall remain free for all to enjoy.
I would like to add a couple of important facts. This pay parking plan affects Garnet Ave., the surrounding neighborhoods as well as the beach from PB Drive north to Missouri St., but it does not include pay parking at Belmont Park parking lots, nor South Mission Beach parking lot, not Mission Bay Park parking lots, not Tourmaline beach parking lot, making this plan unfair in its implementation. If this plan is not revenue-driven, as a spokesperson at Discover Pacific Beach informed me, then it is a Garnet Ave. parking plan. I must ask why is the beach pay parking included?
I have lived in PB for 35 years, use the beach daily, own a home and on my street the daily parking situation remains good but will be severely impacted with this plan. Living in PB means a few days a year we will have crowds of people visiting the beach, which is understandable. So 360 days a year parking in my neighborhood is fine.
As details of this plan emerge, it looks as if Garnet Ave. may have an employee parking problem and if that is the case let me do your next parking study ($25,000) and perhaps I can solve the problem ” otherwise Garnet Ave. should address its own problems without impacting its neighbors.
Jim Ferries, Pacific Beach

Betrayal and shame at core of Iraq war
When I reflect on the 4,000 American war dead in Iraq, only betrayal comes to mind. When someone joins the military, they do so trusting that they will only be sacrificed when there is a clear need to protect our nation and the Constitution. That trust has been betrayed in many ways.
The first betrayal was when the Bush administration conjured up a multitude of false reasons to invade Iraq. The second betrayal was by most members of Congress, who jumped on the war bandwagon and sent our troops to die for corporate profits.
The third betrayal was by us, the American citizens, when we surrendered our rational thoughts to the fear dumped on us by our leadership and then blindly sought vengeance for 9-11 in a war that had nothing to do with 9-11.
The fourth and most sinister betrayal came from those of us that cheered for war yet failed to join to fight ourselves. We let our valiant troops do our dirty work while we enjoyed our barbecues, parties and war profits. Our “Support the Troops” magnets now oxidizing on the side of the road is all the real support most Americans have shown for our troops in Iraq, even now, as some of them are deployed for the fourth or fifth time.
We all know the truth now ” that Iraq was about something other than self-preservation. So where’s the shame for what we’ve done? When will we decide to end to the killing?
Dave Patterson, San Diego Veterans for Peace, Ramona

Ban changed some of best things about beach
Last week I went to the beach and noticed something had changed. My friends were all missing!
We used to go to the beach, have a few beers and watch the sunset after a long day at work. It was very relaxing and a sort of mini-vacation; shorts on, toes in the sand, cold beer and a chance we might see a green flash at sunset.
The alcohol ban has changed some of the best things about the beach. The fact that I cannot enjoy a beverage of choice is ridiculous. This “trial alcohol ban” is for one year, but the citizens of San Diego have no idea how the City Council plans to monitor its success or failure.
The real story about the alcohol ban is how it was pushed through the City Council with no clear metrics or published rules to monitor it. I call on the San Diego City Council to let everyone know how they are going to be able to vote in one year on a senseless new law.
Larry A. León, Pacific Beach