No stamp of approval
As president/CEO of the Port of San Diego, I want to bring to your attention a significant action taken last week by the Board of Port Commissioners, a policy decision that went virtually unreported by most of the media outlets in the city.
In a unanimous decision, the commissioners took a strong stand against a proposed ballot initiative that threatens the very vitality of the San Diego Unified Port District’s maritime operations and the many waterfront businesses and industry that are within the Port’s jurisdiction.
Had media been at the board meeting on Tuesday, May 6 they would have heard the persuasive arguments of a diverse group of leaders from business, industry and labor whose very businesses and livelihoods are threatened by this vague and misleading initiative. They also would have noted the conspicuous absence of the initiative’s proponents, although they were invited to the meeting.
Just by its very name, “The Port of San Diego Marine Freight Preservation and Bay Front Redevelopment Initiative,” the proponents would have you believe this initiative has the stamp of approval from the Port. Nothing could be further from the truth.
To sum up the sentiment of our commissioners and many of the businesses and industry interests that we represent, this is a misleading plan to build hotels, restaurants and even a sports stadium at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, a land grab, pure and simple.
This initiative not only threatens the economic vitality of the Port of San Diego’s maritime operation but it threatens the economic vitality of the region.
In the past five years, the Port has processed tens of millions of tons of cargo. Much of the region’s building material, including sand, cement and lumber, come through the Port. In all, this represents $1.6 billion to the region’s economy. More than 14,400 jobs are tied to the cargo operation. The average pay is $54,000.
Before signing any petition or casting a ballot, I would ask your readers, viewers and prospective voters to educate themselves about the Port and its region-wide importance.

Bruce B. Hollingsworth, President/CEO
San Diego Unified Port District

Human harm, human help
First of all, thank you for your efforts to protect these harbor seals.
While I fully understand the reasoning for not interfering with animals in the wild, I was happy to learn the seal pup entangled in a fishing net was rescued by local residents, and these people should be considered heroes. Humans caused this event in the first place, and hopefully the media awareness of this event can cause some beneficial discussion of mandating fishing nets that do not cause so much harm on the environment.
Brian Van Steen, Canada

Everybody wants to rule the world
I moved here from New York almost two years ago to enjoy the endless summer days that California has to offer. It continues to be quite an experience to live in this beautiful place, and
I have already gone out and purchased a kayak so I could begin exploring the ocean. I love the great outdoors, and I have always been very interested in marine life and the amazing mystery we call the ocean.
Upon purchasing my kayak, my boyfriend and I have become regulars traveling along the coast of the La Jolla beaches, and walking along the gorgeous landscapes. I noticed while walking one day that there was a small area called “Children’s Pool,” and all I remember was seeing many beautiful seals sunning themselves on the tiny beach.
I thought it was such a wonderful sight to see, and I grabbed my camera to take pictures to capture the beauty. I noticed a stand with a few volunteers behind it trying to raise money and awareness to protect and save these seals. I was intrigued to learn more, and I asked why they were stationed there. They went ahead to tell me that people were trying to gain access to use the beach as a tourist attraction, and as another beach for people to come swim in. Apparently, certain people do not want the seals to be taking over the beach so they can go there and swim themselves.
All I can say is how completely selfish are those who want to drive away the seals so that they can have their fun without inconvenience. I cannot believe the ignorance some people have. It breaks my heart to know that some people do not care about anyone but themselves, and don’t believe that these seals belong at the beach that they want to swim at. Here is my advice: “Go to another beach!” There are so many places that people can swim that are not inhibited by seals or sea lions, go to one of those beaches!
What gives people the right to come in and decide that they are more important than the seals (also God’s creatures, by the way), and think it is okay to take over an area that is not that big and important to begin with. With the endless beaches that line the California coast, I don’t see why the seals can’t be left alone.
People have already destroyed enough of this world with their pollution, hunting, and global warming; the least people could do would be to leave well enough alone, and let the seals have the minuscule 100 feet of beach.
I just don’t understand the people who think that they own the world! I will continue to support this cause, and I can only hope that people listen and agree that we don’t need to take over every beach and overcrowd everything beautiful this world has to offer. I know that the seals happen to be a major attraction to La Jolla in the first place, so please, leave them alone!
Mariesa Lefko, Oceanside

Law and a pup’s predicament
The article “Seal pup saved, but federal law broken?” (Village News, May 8, page 7) brings to mind an unsettling image: for three days a seal pup on a city beach, a fisherman’s net encasing the animal’s neck, families with young children helplessly looking on.
According to Jim Milbury, the spokesman for the federal agency which manages marine mammals, the city of San Diego, upon discovery of the pup’s predicament, could have taken immediate steps to help the animal.
According to Mr. Milbury, federal law allows the city, or the city’s designee, SeaWorld, to help distressed seals that beach themselves at Children’s Pool.
Joe Cordaro, a wildlife biologist, is quoted in the article as saying that he believes that the public should be upset because the whole harbor seal colony is at risk because of the state ruling prohibiting the city from maintaining Children’s Pool as a seal refuge.
Mr. Milbury says that the quotes attributed to Mr. Cordaro do not reflect the federal government’s policy or viewpoint with respect to Children’s Pool beach.
Federal authorities have been unable to substantiate, says Mr. Milbury, that seals at Children’s Pool, including mothers and pups, have ever been harmed at Children’s Pool as a result of human actions.
And furthermore, according to federal wildlife biologists, the harbor seal population has increased dramatically since the enactment of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the population of harbor seals is now considered by them to be both robust and healthy.
Regarding the individuals who cut the fishing net from the seal pup’s neck, the city council should publicly thank them. If their action, freeing a pup from a fishing-net noose, is a violation of law, then the law, as the Charles Dickens character Mr. Bumble says, is an ass, an idiot.
Finally, the city needs to come up with a plan how to manage Children’s Pool before the start of the summer season. It’s obvious to everyone, including the federal government, that the city’s current plan of encouraging seals and humans to share the beach is not working.
Tom Sauer, La Jolla