About that homeless issue

Re: “North Park Forum to tackle homeless issue” [Volume 7, Issue 22 or bit.ly/1S8h9RZ]

Glad to see these conversations happening in North Park. Homelessness is a tricky issue. We’re talking about real people’s lives — the homeless are human beings — and it’s unconscionable that we allow so many people to be unhoused in the wealthiest nation on Earth.

The current situation is not good for anyone (the homeless or the neighborhood’s residents) and hopefully with more community members coming together to discuss solutions (homeless folks included in the discussions) we can make some real change. I look forward to attending this and learning how we can replicate such efforts in Hillcrest, where the problem is also spiraling out of control.

—Benny Cartwright via Facebook

Yes we do have a homeless issue but more then half of the homeless want to be homeless so they can do drugs and drink. They pee and poo quite often out in the open, and then there are the meth heads that try to break into the security gate at our apartment complex and they also have stolen our bikes and done a lot of damage to our locks on our gates.

It’s sad they need intervention and help. It would be nice to see the police stop and talk to people more; I think that would be a start.
The hill between 3995 Georgia St. and 4009 Georgia St. seems to be a hangout for homeless and drug addicts; also cross dressers selling sex for money. Yes it’s really sad.

—Steven Foster via Facebook

Piggly Wiggly memories

Re: “Grocery stores and piggies” [Volume 7, Issue 22 or at bit.ly/1Wl8vQC]

Thank you for the article about the Piggly Wiggly stores by Katherine Hon.

When our family consisted of four children and one on the way, my father Charles Ruane was a produce buyer for Piggly Wiggly.  A huge load of oranges fell on him and though he was rushed to the hospital, he died shortly after of pneumonia. There was no such thing as antibiotics at that time. I was 1 year old and my younger sister, Thecla, was born after his death in 1938. My older brother, Chuck, can remember riding with our Dad on a produce-buying ride one time. I did not have the wonderful gift of knowing this well-thought-of and dearly loved man.

The management of Piggly Wiggly made sure that deliveries of corn flakes, tuna, peanut butter and other items were sent to our home to help with our family needs. There was no such thing in those days as welfare, etc. but this management did all they could to help and it was greatly appreciated. They even had my older brother of maybe 7 years old help to bag potatoes for some spending money, and I got to come along and was given some spending money also for a “little assistance” with the potato bagging. This store was located on 3200 block of Thorn Street.

I have a picture of the entire Piggly Wiggly staff dated July 7, 1935 taken in Balboa Park and it includes my Dad. There are maybe 150 people in the picture.

—Fred Ruane of University Heights via email  

Praise, and a news tip

I volunteer at Logan Elementary every Thursday. …

The Oct. 23—Nov. 5 issue of San Diego Uptown News was read and thoroughly enjoyed by my husband and me. We liked learning more about Paras News and the Piggly Wiggly stores’ history, too, but we particularly liked the editorial and the letters to the editor.

You do the community a real service in allowing ideas and opinions to be shared. [smiley face] So enough of all that. On to the real reason I’m writing to you — with a maybe/perhaps scoop!

For several years, McKinley Elementary has held a fundraiser like no other. It’s called the Jogathon and students collect pledges, for each lap them commit to run, from family, friends and neighbors. Last year they raised nearly $45,000 to support the enrichment programs they enjoy. This year’s event, held Oct. 22, will probably top that. I think it’s a story many in the community would like to hear more about.

—Pat Taylor via handwritten letter

Project is an award-winner

Re: “Project review: North Park Post Office” [Volume 7, Issue 22 or visit bit.ly/1knqzxb]

The North Park Post Office received a Merit Award for Architecture on Oct. 29, 2015 from the San Diego Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The esteemed jury comprised of Anne Schopf, FAIA; Susan Jones, FAIA, LEED BD+C; Donald R. Horn, FAIA, LEED Fellow; and John Chau, AIA, LEED AP formed a demanding and disciplined assessment of the project and we (FoundationForForm Architecture & Development) hope that North Park is proud of the distinction.

—Craig at FoundationForForm Architecture & Development via Facebook

Responding to Leo Wilson

Re: Metro San Diego CDC supports separated bicycle lanes [Volume 7, Issue 22 or bit.ly/1P3rzSK]

Leo Wilson is currently suing the city on environmental grounds, saying the conversion of an auto lane to a bike lane on Fifth Avenue creates congestion (it hasn’t). Now that he wants to remove the bike lane and replace it with angled parking, he is somehow unconcerned with these imagined traffic impacts. Clearly parking is more important than the safety of residents and commuters.

People on bikes deserve continued safe access to businesses on Fifth Avenue, where the city’s existing buffered bike lane is set to become a SANDAG protected bike lane. Wilson’s Fourth Avenue suggestion has been repeatedly rejected, because it requires installing costly lights at every intersection for bikes travelling against one-way traffic.

—Paul Jamason via Facebook 

It would be nice if Uptown News added some context to this PR piece. The author, Leo Wilson, is suing the city over the buffered bike lanes on Fourth and Fifth.

His proposed solution of two-way cycle track on Fourth would be incredibly difficult to implement considering the number of intersections on Fourth. These facilities in other cities are located on streets with minimal crossings.

This should not be treated as a serious proposal.

—Jeff K via Facebook 

Two-way track on one-way downhill street? Dangerous … and Leo Wilson doesn’t want people on bikes visiting businesses on Fifth Avenue? Leo Wilson, time to leave.

—Rog via Facebook

I have fond memories of my bicycle when a young boy and would wish everyone to enjoy their bicycle safely. Bike lanes are surely part of the overall solution.

Recently I met not one but two riders (separate incidents) going the wrong way on one-way streets — one was in the dark and I almost killed him. Fortunately he had a (very dim) light on his bicycle; I have encountered numerous bike riders after dark who do not have lights or even a reflector on the back. Failure to stop at signs, riding on the sidewalk (with their pet dog on a leash and through pedestrian traffic), and such seem to me dubious practices.

Please allow me to suggest:

1) Licensing bicycles (with an appropriate fee, using the money for bicycle related projects only), and requiring appropriate safety gear such as lights and reflectors in some form. (Back in the day, when I was a boy, the Fire Department did the licensing of bicycles.)

2) Requiring a bike helmet; the reduction in injuries and medical costs argue strongly in favor of this. When driving, I am required to wear a seat belt.

3) Putting in real bike paths even though it will require time and money (and cost parking spaces) to implement. Design this from the ground up and put real money behind it — do it right.

4) Issuing citations to bicycle riders who fail to obey the law. I do not pretend that this would solve all the issues – I don’t know everything.

However integrated planning with the major issues in mind does seem to me a good place to begin.

—W.D. Snell via Facebook