Don’t give in to developers
The following is an open letter to the La Jolla Community Planning Association.
I was born and raised in La Jolla, and am the third generation to live in my house in Bird Rock. My grandparents bought it in the 1940s when they relocated from the Pacific Northwest. My paternal grandparents settled in La Jolla in 1922, my grandfather John Telford was a contractor who built many local houses and my father was a master carpenter who also helped build many homes here. La Jolla has always been home to me, even when I moved away for college and work. I returned back home two years ago with my husband and daughter to afford her a better quality of life, and a better public school education. She is now the fourth generation in my family to call La Jolla home.
Since my return I have been saddened to see many local institutions disappear, John Cole’s most notable among them. But closer to home, Bird Rock has changed considerably. As Mac-Mansions rise up around our small Spanish Revival home, views are lost, ancient trees are razed, and the character of the neighborhood has already been changed forever. Each block seems to boast even more gigantic homes, and each day I see trees and shrubs torn out and replaced with stone or concrete.
With the advent of SeaHaus (a more ridiculous and pretentious name I could not imagine) there has been an increase in traffic and density. Even on Bellevue, my neighbors who face west have lost their ocean views. I know that progress is inevitable, but the reason that people love the Bird Rock neighborhood, is because it IS a neighborhood. It is not a community of condos and businesses but a real neighborhood with architectural character, beautiful old trees that provide shade and host a variety of bird life and a village atmosphere. At least it used to be.
Like many of my long-time neighbors (several have been neighbors for over 30 years) my hope is for the preservation of Bird Rock. Please do not give in to developers’ interests and change the zoning ordinance. La Jolla is unique and special ” please do not allow it to look like Anyplace U.S.A. Please separate the wishes of actual residents from those of developers (most who do NOT live here) who stand to profit from eroding the quality and charm that make this community so vibrant and desirable a place to live.
Anne Telford, La Jolla

Present counts, not past
Thank you for including coverage of the March 15 candidates’ forum in last week’s La Jolla Village News (“Candidates quizzed at congressional forum,” March 23, page 1).
However, I have to take issue with your reporter’s method of identifying the candidates’ occupations. Some are identified with their current occupations or positions and others by former activities. For instance, Brian Bilbray is identified as “former Congressman,” when he is actually currently employed as a lobbyist in Washington. Mr. Bilbray may well advertise himself as a “former congressman” in his campaign literature (lobbyists being out of favor in the 50th Congressional District these days), but your reporter should have checked the facts before filing this story.
Please continue covering events leading up to the Special Election on April 11. It is of great importance to all of us in the 50th.
Elizabeth Hansen, La Jolla

Think of the consequences
My name is Tom Remillard, I am 15 years old, and I am a resident of University City, San Diego. I want to speak up, and let you know that there has been a problem with people throwing objects out of car windows in our neighborhood. I recently got caught for throwing water balloons out of my friend’s car window, and so did my friends.
I want people to know that it was a stupid thing to go do. I know that there have been many cases of kids throwing rocks at cars which in fact killed someone.
So, I just wanted to let other kids know, that the next time you think it will be fun to throw a water balloon or any other object out or at a vehicle, think of the consequences your actions may cause, and think of the people you’re affecting.
Tom Remillard, University City

Kick the litterbutts
Councilmen Peters and Madaffer are to be commended for taking a leadership role on banning smoking at San Diego parks and beaches (“City will seek to ban butts at beaches,” Village News, Feb. 9, page 1). According to I Love a Clean San Diego (ILACSD), more than 1.8 billion cigarette butts end up littering our beautiful city annually. Cigarette butts are a major source of litter. Littering is also illegal. Additionally, about 60 percent of the butts end up in our ocean, bays, lakes and streams. Marine animals, as well as toddlers at the beach, often mistake cigarette butts for food.
As a longtime beach resident, I am tired of cleaning up after others who think the beach and our community is their ashtray. The new litter trend we are now seeing in Mission Beach is discarding the empty cigarette packages in addition to the butts on the beach.
Litterbutts are no longer tolerated in many Southern California beach and park areas. It is time for the City Council to also make our San Diego beaches and parks cleaner and healthier for all.
Kendal Wild, Mission Beach

An open letter to George Bush
Thank you for your address at the Cleveland City Club on March 20. In that speech, you clarified the purpose of the war on terror in Iraq and worldwide. You also mentioned the threat against Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East and our ally. You stressed that America would intervene militarily against Iran and its President Ahmadinejad, who threatened to “wipe Israel off the map.”
I humbly beseech you, Mr. President, not to be unduly influenced by special interests and take any hasty military action without consultations with the United Nations and our allies, France, Germany, England, and Japan. There is no guarantee that they would participate in any further spreading of the Middle East conflict. As you know, Israel has a nuclear bomb arsenal and the world’s third largest air force and would not hesitate to use both if threatened.
America is already perceived by half the Muslim world as a tool of Israel. Taking a hasty military action against Iran would only exacerbate that feeling, worsen the quagmire in Iraq, further bankrupt our Social Security, medical and educational systems, and increase the Homeland Security problem here in the U.S.
Enough American blood has been and is being shed worldwide already.
May God bless America.
Alfonso de Bourbon, Goodwill Ambassador, La Jolla
(The writer of this letter was San Diego’s Goodwill Ambassador to Alcala de Henares, its sister city, in 1983.)

Jewish Film Festival appreciates ccoverage
We are writing to thank the La Jolla Village News for its exceptional coverage of the 16th annual San Diego Jewish Film Festival. Our individual ticket sales exceeded goals with the total number of ticket-holders, pass-holders and underwriters exceeding 20,000. Such a box office success would not be possible without the support generously provided by you along with other outstanding radio, TV and print media outlets throughout San Diego and the region.
Our efforts to provide a world-class international cinema experience came to fruition due to a variety of factors. Leading the list is the international roster of festival participants, including over 40 community partners and co-presenters, more than 20 guest speakers and panelists ranging from filmmakers, actors and film subjects to local scholars and consulate representatives. The buzz about many of the programs carries on today (and beyond), thanks to the inclusion of this broad-based community.
Special attractions like the San Diego premier of “The Aryan Couple” and the San Diego return of “Protocols of Zion”; our free Teen Screen and School Day films; a new FlixMix package for young adults; the burgeoning Joyce Forum for emerging filmmakers; an appearance by Hollywood producer John Daly, Israeli film star Moshe Ivgy, folk music legend Peter Yarrow, and activist Michael Meeropol, were some of the major highlights. The total line-up of 38 features included documentaries and short-subject films from 11 countries, and 11 Israeli films opened new worlds of information and provided unique programming for our entire community.
Finally, the Audience Choice Awards were enthusiastically voted on by our attendees, with Best Feature going to “Live and Become” directed by Radu Mihaileanu, “A Cantor’s Tale” directed by Erik Greenberg for Best Documentary, and “West Bank Story” directed by Ari Sandel for Best “Joyce Forum” Short. This award helps spread the fine reputation of San Diego’s Jewish Film Festival at home and abroad.
Thank you again for your support.
Judith Friedel, chair
Francine Ginsberg, co-chair
Joyce Axelrod, Joyce Forum and SDJFF founding chair
Jacqueline Ann Siegel, producer
Patti Malmuth, publicist