Man reports attack with hatchet at Glider Port
A man who stopped at the Torrey Pines Glider Port Sunday evening, Aug. 26, was reportedly attacked by another man in the parking lot wielding a small hatchet.
The victim, who had eaten a meal at the Lodge at Torrey Pines on his way back to Los Angeles from a medical conference in San Diego, said he decided to hike down to the beach from the Glider Port, 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive.
The victim called the Village News Aug. 27 and asked to remain anonymous since no arrest has been made in the case. He said he had just parked his Audi convertible when he noticed a man taking photographs of the vehicles in the parking lot. When the man pointed his digital camera at the victim and his car, the victim asked him what he was doing and reportedly said, “What’s your problem?”
The suspect purportedly began cursing and calling the victim “an Italian faggot,” then pulled a small hatchet from his waistband and began advancing on the victim, swinging the weapon.
“He had short beige-ish blondish hair and I thought he was young ” until he came toward me, I realized he was about 50,” the victim told the Village News.
The suspect, who also had a little dog with him, reportedly told the victim he was going to kill him and stood over the convertible, chopping at him with the 12-inch hatchet, the victim said.
Although several people reportedly witnessed the incident, no one offered to help him, the victim said. The victim managed to avoid getting hit with the hatchet until the suspect ran off into the brush when police arrived about 7:50 p.m.
Dana Hoover, a detective with the San Diego Police Department’s Northern Division, confirmed on Aug. 28 that the incident was under investigation.
Although the suspect reportedly had a vehicle in the parking lot, “We did not get a [license] plate at the scene,” Hoover said, and the suspect is not in custody.
The case is being investigated as a hate crime because of the suspect’s use of the term “faggot,” Hoover said. SDPD detectives are trying to coordinate a photo lineup with the victim in Los Angeles, she added.

Planning Commission holds mini-dorm meeting
The City of San Diego Planning Commission is holding a public meeting Thursday, Sept. 6, 9 a.m., to discuss the rooming house ordinance, which was created to stop the spread of mini-dorms citywide.
The hearing will be to recommend the approval, conditional approval or denial of the rooming house ordinance to the San Diego City Council.
If the proposed ordinance is passed, it would define a rooming house as a dwelling where three or more bedrooms are rented under three or more lease agreements. It would also prevent mini-dorms in residential-single (RS) unit zones.
The current proposal would allow existing rooming houses in RS zones to continue to operate as a previous conforming use for seven years, then the property would be required to convert back to a single-family residence.
The Planning Commission will also discuss a second proposal involving occupancy in regard to mini-dorms.
The ordinance would require any dwelling with six or more adult residents to apply for an annual permit. The amendment also requires additional parking per occupant.
Council Chambers are located downtown at 202 C St.
For information call Deputy City Attorney Marianne Greene, (619) 533-5822.

SDPD launches Cold Case website for homicides
The San Diego Police Department has recently launched its Cold Case Homicide web page to help solve open murder cases.
Investigators hope the information about current unsolved murder cases will generate tips and leads from the public.
The site includes an e-mail address for the Cold Case Team and phone numbers for both the Homicide Unit and Crime Stoppers.
Currently there are five homicide summaries, three fugitive descriptions and one missing person search, each with a photo of the suspect or victim, along with a brief description of the crime.
The oldest open case currently featured on the site occurred Jan. 31, 1980, when Nikki Bedke was abducted from the Kmart, located at 7655 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., and later found murdered. Witnesses at the time described a man prowling the parking lot, but police never found a suspect.
The site can be viewed at www.sandiego.gov/police/about/coldcase.shtml. To reach Crime Stoppers, call (888) 580-8477.

County waives animal adoption fees
Due to a seasonal increase in the number of animals currently held at the three San Diego County animal shelters, the county is waiving adoption fees for all cats six months and older and all dogs five years old or older.
The fees cover the cost of spaying or neutering the animal, microchipping and vaccinations.
For information, visit www.sddac.com/adoptions.asp.

BBB warns about phony bridge charities
The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to beware of phony charity scams following the collapse of the Interstate 35 West bridge in Minneapolis.
The BBB reports that scammers, often using names similar to legitimate charities and emergency relief organizations, will solicit funds by phone. Consumers are advised to ask the caller to send written information before making any donation.
The BBB also recommends asking questions, requesting printed literature on the charity’s programs and finances and to be skeptical of any organization reluctant to answer questions about its operations, finances and programs. Cash donations should never be mailed or given to a door-to-door solicitor.
If a consumer has any questions about a business’ legitimacy, call the BBB at (800) 600-7050 or visit www.sd.bbb.org.
The BBB offers free consumer protection and prepurchase information on more than 101,000 local businesses. Potential donors can also visit the BBB Giving Alliance at www.give.org for detailed reports on charities and relief organizations.

Plastic bags: recycle, reduce, reuse
As of July 1, a new logo in grocery stores reminds customers to return their plastic bags for recycling. The nation’s first statewide plastic bag recycling program gives California residents the opportunity to easily recycle carry-out bags.
The new California law, AB 2449, requires large grocery stores and retail pharmacies to provide bins for the collection of plastic bags. The customers are asked to return the bags empty, clean and dry. The initiative for the new law goes back to the Progressive Bag Alliance (PBA) that partnered with the California Retailers Association (CRA) and the California Grocers Association (CGA).
The PBA is working with grocers to facilitate the at-store recycling around the country.