What’s the rush?
Councilman Scott Peters’ letter in the La Jolla Village News was misleading and unfair (Council Corner, “Working toward a common good,” April 6, page 8).
Blaming La Jollans who are opposed to a sweeping zoning change with vandalism and arson ” without any credible evidence ” is not only divisive, but puts up a smokescreen to hide the real issue: whether La Jollans want three-story buildings and a 30-percent increase in density in the downtown village and Bird Rock.
Such revisions to our zoning laws would have a significant and permanent impact on La Jolla. Traffic and parking would worsen dramatically, our schools would become more overcrowded, older buildings would be replaced with three-story condo complexes, and we would all decry the loss of the marvelous and unique character that makes La Jolla such a special place.
This proposal is barely two months old, and has already raised legitimate concerns with citizens all over La Jolla. There is growing opposition both to the proposal itself, and to the way it has been fast-tracked ” without any well-publicized community workshops, let alone consensus on how to proceed.
Nevertheless, Scott Peters wants the proposal to be voted on as soon as possible. And the La Jolla Community Planning Association (the CPA), which is the local association responsible for providing meaningful review and recommendations on land use, has announced it will vote on the density increase proposal at its May 4 meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the La Jolla Recreation Center.
What’s the rush? Major land-use changes should not be made in haste. Our current zoning laws were the result of extensive community participation, with the expert assistance of city planners. We have a great La Jolla today because of these efforts, and should be working to ensure that future generations can enjoy La Jolla as much as we now do. This will require time, patience, and trust that our community has the wisdom to understand the issues and the right to participate in making such important decisions for our beautiful town.
Elena DuCharme, La Jolla

Community participation unwelcome?
This evening, April 6, 2006, we attended the La Jolla Community Planning Association meeting at the La Jolla Recreation Center. We have lived in La Jolla for 32 years, on Mount Soledad overlooking the Shores. And because we are particularly concerned with the constantly burgeoning traffic through our formerly quiet residential neighborhood, with the attendant safety issues and now with the proposed increase in density causing yet more traffic, it is our intention to become members of the La Jolla CPA.
Attendance and registration at a minimum of three meetings of the La Jolla Community Planning Association within a calendar year are a requirement of membership; therefore we attempted to register our attendance, to “sign in,” at this evening’s meeting. There was no “Sign In” document available to us or to the large group of at least 200 citizens who also wanted to register their attendance. Inasmuch as registration is a prerequisite to membership, one can only reasonably conclude that the La Jolla Community Planning Association does not welcome community participation in the La Jolla CPA organization.
After repeated requests for a “Sign-In” document, one lined, legal size, yellow pad of paper was finally distributed and eventually, (reluctantly) augmented by two more pads of paper. After a great many people had, per instructions, printed their names and addresses, we were then informed that in addition to our printed names, a signature would be required. Certainly the La Jolla CPA Trustees were determined to discourage registration.
Additionally, when we politely approached Ms. Yvette Marcum, La Jolla CPA President, and asked her to specifically explain the absence of the Sign In/Registration documents, she replied, “Well, I didn’t do it on purpose,” and when we responded that it certainly appeared that the absence of documents and the obvious reluctance of the Trustees and Ms. Marcum to accommodate us would indicate a very purposeful motive, she replied: “Get out of my face,” followed by an obscenity.
The La Jolla CPA meeting this evening was well attended, primarily because the community believed there would be a discussion of density and zoning issues affecting La Jolla. Ms. Marcum had, at a previous community forum, unequivocally and explicitly stated there would be a discussion of density and zoning issues at this April 6 La Jolla CPA meeting. And unquestionably this would have been a contentious meeting. However, had Ms. Marcum and the Trustees welcomed the community, been prepared with proper sign-in documents, explained the absence of the density and zoning discussion from the agenda and encouraged public comment and civil discourse, much could have been accomplished.
Moreover there ought to be community discussion about what appears to be a conflict of interest: Trustees who have a significant economic interest in amending the PDO and who do not represent the interests of the community. Indeed, a proponent of the proposal that has generated our concern, Mark Lyon, is now secretary of the La Jolla CPA.
The conduct, the arrogance and the complete lack of propriety demonstrated by the Trustees of the La Jolla Community Planning Association and President Yvette Marcum at the meeting this evening are unacceptable and do not reflect the values of the La Jolla community
Joseph J. and Nancy Anne Manno, La Jolla

Drivers would not stop
I have recently returned from a week in La Jolla. My husband and I had difficulty crossing La Jolla Boulevard and some streets in the Village because drivers would not stop for us, even in marked crosswalks, even if we were in the middle of the street. That is not what we are used to here in the Seattle area where drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks.
Some drivers stopped, but most did not. Your drivers need to be educated! BE KIND TO TOURISTS!
Patricia Allison, Federal Way, Wash.

Just like school-yard bullies
I am astounded by the ongoing events concerning the seals at Casa Beach. These animals have been harassed, frightened and literally chased off the beach.
I am disgusted that some people are intentionally harassing the seals because they feel they are more entitled to the beach than the seals. While it would be simple for these people to walk down the street to the next beach (there is no shortage of other beaches in the area I assure you), instead they continue to try and frighten the seals from the one beach which is vital to their survival.
This harassment has resulted in the deaths of newborn seals as their mothers are too frightened to stay and care for them. The mentality of these people reminds me of school age bullies. We should be helping to protect the seals from these people by immediately re-establishing barriers which keep people away from the seals. The city and the federal agency charged with the enforcement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act has done nothing to protect the seals and for that they should be ashamed.
Chief Seattle once said: “When the buffalo are all slaughtered, the wild horses all tamed, the secret corners of the forest heavy with the scent of many men, and the view of the ripe hills blotted out by talking wires. Where is the thicket? Gone. Where is the eagle? Gone.”
Someday we may ask: Where are the seals? Gone.
Erika Mijuskovic, San Diego