Tired of dirty politics
To my fellow business owners:
Over the past six months, La Jolla has been afflicted by a debate over whether community leaders should impose paid parking on the Village. While people of good conscience can differ on the merits of paid street parking, I strongly object to the tactics employed by parking meter advocates, including repeated false and personal attacks directed at my business. Those favoring meters attempt to discount my objections through public and hurtful proclamations that range from the accusation that Warwick’s contributes to the parking problems in the Village to statements that we do not give back to the community. It is simply too generous for me to suggest that these people are speaking out of ignorance.
These are the facts. I have 41 employees, full-time and part-time. On any given weekday we average 22 employees, with a smaller weekend staff. The store purchases 13 parking passes a month from PLJ, which are provided, at no cost, to the full-time employees who drive to work on the weekdays. An additional 11 employees arrive to work by other means. On any given day, about four employees are required to park in the residential neighborhoods that offer free all-day parking. No one parks in the limited time spaces. This practice “” to protect community parking for customers “” has been a hardline Warwick’s practice that goes back to my childhood.
Not only do the parking meter advocates mischaracterize my parking policies, they cynically suggest that I am callous to charitable community causes and am indifferent to efforts to draw customers to La Jolla. In fact, the store actively promotes the community, advertising regularly on public radio and in the Union-Tribune. We average two (free) evening events a week, showcasing notable authors, politicians and celebrities which attract people from all over San Diego. I particularly resent the accusation that the store gives nothing back to the community. I invite those people who have made such accusations to find out about our “Year of Giving.”
I highlight these false attacks because they are representative of the “win at all costs” tactics employed by some parking meter proponents, even when winning comes at the expense of the truth. So, next time a parking proponent spins a yarn, please remember, their “facts” are often fiction.
Nancy Warwick, La Jolla
The caring side of La Jolla
On Feb. 16, our beloved family cat went missing. We posted “Lost Cat” signs in neighborhoods bordering the bike path, where the cat had last been seen, and we e-mailed several friends and families from our children’s schools.
The community response was overwhelming. Within hours of posting signs, we received multiple calls from strangers who had spotted cats matching the description. Parents from our kids’ schools sent e-mails and offered to post signs. Our neighbors knocked on our door every time they saw an orange cat.
Some residents of Gravilla Place stopped us and offered sympathy when we were there posting signs. A dog walker named Nicole offered to search the bike path and pass on flyers to the local homeless who walk the bike path. Finally, a few days later, we received a call from an out-of-town visitor who had seen a sign, and this call led us to our cat, who was confused and lost a mere four blocks from our house and was hiding under a car behind La Jolla High School.
At the last moment when we couldn’t locate the cat, yet another stranger ” a woman going for an evening walk ” helped us find him. We continue to receive calls and e-mails from people inquiring whether we’ve found our cat. We would like to say thank you to everyone involved in the search. In spite of the local conflicts we read about in the newspaper regarding the seals, development and so forth, La Jolla is a community of caring and thoughtful people who look out for each other.
We have been deeply touched by the kindness of strangers, friends and neighbors. As I write this, our cat is stretched out purring on the sofa, and our two young children are happily at school, knowing their beloved pet is waiting for them at home.

The Patton family, La Jolla

Attorney Peters blames lawyers for his decisions
Now, let’s see if I understand this. Councilman Scott Peters, a soon-to-be termed-out member of our City Council, now wants to run for city attorney.
Mr. Peters, well trained, qualified and licensed as a California attorney, has blamed improper legal advice from a prior city attorney, Casey Gwinn, as the reason why he voted to approve illegal pension benefits to city employees, himself included, and also phony data to the Security Exchange Commission regarding the financial condition of the city.
So, if attorney Peters could not tell the difference between proper legal advice and improper legal advice, why should the taxpayers of our city trust him to give proper legal advice to the City Council?
Lou Conde, Sail Bay