OUR READERS WRITE: Recent La Jolla Light letters to editor: Vote for a Rec Center bocce ball court!
Please help bring bocce ball to the La Jolla Recreation Center! The La Jolla Park & Rec, Inc. board is planning a facility upgrade and (has shown) three possible renovation plans. One plan includes the addition of a bocce ball court. We need your vote to include a bocce court!
Why add a bocce court? Bocce allows people of all ages, genders and disabilities to participate; bocce is a simple sport to learn and play; a bocce court is an inexpensive addition and requires little maintenance; and bocce fosters community involvement.
Got questions? Call Vito Formica at (858) 456-9071. The La Jolla Park & Rec, Inc. board meets 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at La Jolla Rec Center, 615 Prospect St. reviveljrc.org (Take the survey at reviveljrc.org/survey and add bocce court!)
Vito Formica
County: Tips for removing human waste from sidewalks
One morning last week, as I headed to my car for work, I spotted a pair of blue plaid boxer shorts filled with human excrement in a corner of my driveway. In light of the current Hepatits A outbreak in San Diego, how do I get this potentially hazardous “artifact” removed from my premises? I assume it was left by a homeless individual.
Susan Boyer
Editor’s Note: La Jolla Light put your question to Michael Workman, director of the County Communications Office, and he got back to us with this statement for publication from the Health Department:
“We recommend that precautions be taken:
Any person handling feces or other bodily fluids should always wear gloves.
Clean up visible debris using disposable absorbent material (paper towels or other type of disposal cloth) or with an instrument such as a shovel.
Spray feces and soiled items with a disinfectant approved for Hepatitis A.
Discard feces/soiled items carefully in an impervious plastic bag and discard in trash.
Disinfect the area and any instruments used in the removal. Application of a disinfectant must be per the label requirements.
Do NOT wash area with hose and allow water to go into storm drain.
Gloves should be discarded in a plastic bag and placed into trash.”
Regarding short-term rentals: Just enforce laws already made
The La Jolla Light article in the Sept. 28 issue on the proposal by City Council members Ward, Sherman, Kersey and Alvarez to regulate short-term vacation rentals, fails to focus on the central issue. Such rentals, as City Attorney Mara Elliott opined last March, are “prohibited” and “unlawful.”
Therefore, it would be better for the vast majority of San Diego citizens if, instead of amending the Municipal Code to benefit AirBnB, VRBO and those individuals who wish to turn their residences into cash cows, the Council were to enforce the existing prohibition.
If the San Diego Municipal Code is to be amended, whether by the proposal of the all-male quartet or the less generous one of Council member Barbara Bry, it should be accomplished only after a thorough examination of the effects — financial, social, cultural, moral — on ALL the citizens of San Diego, not just those fortunate enough to be owners or managers of dwelling units large enough to be offered as short-term vacation rentals.
Watson Branch
Attorney at law
‘Acceptable’ home plans should be approved
First, I am a land-use and real estate lawyer with Peterson & Price, A.P.C., not an architect, as stated in the Sept. 28 issue story on the Dolphin Place project before the La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee (DPR), although being an architect would be fun.
Second, I note that on nearly all other matters Corey Levitan reports upon, the decision of the DPR is clearly stated, usually in the first sentence. In this case, for some unknown reason, that key piece of information was left out.
The DPR previously recommended denial of the home and the matter was set to go before the La Jolla Community Planning Association. We asked to be returned to the DPR, so that we could explore additional modifications to address DPR concerns and recommendations. Based upon meaningful changes and modifications that DPR members acknowledged, the DPR UNANIMOUSLY recommended approval, with one abstention.
Neither the La Jolla Community Plan nor the San Diego Municipal Code provide for the protection of 100 percent of a neighbor’s panoramic and sweeping private views. The proposed home was designed and specifically re-designed to limit the private view impact to the up-slope neighbors.
A proposed home that is 1) consistent with character and scale of the vast majority of homes in the area (including the immediate neighbors), 2) designed to be sensitive to and minimize private view impacts, and 3) in compliance with all of the applicable rules and regulations of the Community Plan and the Municipal Code, should be approved.
Matthew A. Peterson
Reminiscing: A day in the life of a Junior Lifeguard
This casual photo of lifeguard Fran Blankenship is of interest because it clearly shows the perch clinging to the sandstone cliff in the background. It had a small seat for the lifeguard on watch and the front was open for quick access. The view of The Cove’s main swimming area was excellent.
As a Junior Lifeguard, I was often assigned to be on watch from the perch while Senior Lifeguards sat in comfortable chairs. They were close enough to tell me what I should do. I still remember when Fran cupped his hands like a megaphone and said, “Junior! Over by the rocks. There’s a couple under a blanket. The blanket is flapping around. Go do something about it!”
Puzzled by the instructions, I climbed down and headed, a bit slowly, toward the blanket, which was still flapping up and down.
“What am I supposed to do?” I thought. “Pull off the blanket? No. Tug on the corner? No. Throw some sand on it? Of course not.” Then I decided. I walked up close to the blanket and speaking in a deep authoritative voice said, “I’m a lifeguard! You have to stop and come out of there! Now!”
Nothing happened. I repeated my order. Nothing happened.
Thinking like a Senior Lifeguard, I took action and grabbed a corner of the blanket and gave it a big jerk.
I was startled and jumped backward to avoid something rapidly rising in the air. Much to my surprise, up flew two large seagulls, still clutching morsels of picnic leftovers in their beaks.
Junior Lifeguards really hate it when beach crowds break into laughter and shouting as we lifeguards do our best to protect the public from big waves and rip currents — or, well, do whatever Senior Lifeguards think will be amusing.
I still wonder. Did the Senior Lifeguards know the leftovers under the blankets were just for the birds? Or did they believe that people were under the blanket and — well, I never asked them as I climbed back into my perch. But, yeah! They knew.
Senior Lifeguards do those things to Juniors. But not me when I’m a Senior. Well, maybe if it’s a quiet day and Junior needs a break from saving beautiful young ladies.
Kenneth Haygood
Here’s a shout out for Bower’s Jewelers!
I’m not sure if you publish letters that praise local businesses, but if so, I would like to give a sincere shout out to Bower’s Jewelers for their fabulous customer service.
Recently, I stopped by to inquire about fixing a tangled mess involving my daughter’s delicate silver necklace and an emoji keychain that spontaneously became tangled in her backpack. After numerous failed attempts to remedy the situation myself, I finally tired of looking at the mess on my desk and asked Larry of Bower’s Jewelers if he could take a look at it.
He graciously agreed and spent the next 30 minutes painstakingly separating the two items, all the while patiently teaching me the tricks of the trade as I will, no doubt, need these skills for future spontaneous entanglements involving my teenage daughter’s jewelry.
As if the service were not extraordinary enough, Larry did this for FREE! And, although I offered repeatedly to pay for his time, he kindly refused any compensation. I walked out thinking the world needs more people like Larry.
And, although Bower’s was already my go-to jeweler, this reaffirmed that the world still has many kind hearted, dedicated, service oriented individuals. Thank you, Bower’s employees for making La Jolla sparkle!
Kat Peppers
Trash cans must be put away after trash day
I’d like to follow up on an issue I submitted to our City offices on March 24, 2017 — with several follow-up attempts through City Council members and the Code Compliance department. The issue still has not been resolved.
Many residents along Nautilus Street in La Jolla continue to store (permanently locate) black, blue and green refuse containers near the curb — in plain sight — seven days a week. This is in violation of San Diego Municipal Code Section 66.0105, which clearly states: “Containers should be stored in a secured location that is not visible from public right-of-way.”
This issue is an unsightly blight on our neighborhood and everyone who travels up and down Nautilus Street. Perhaps these residents can be shamed into correcting the situation.
Dr. Charles Weber
Tell it like it is
The front-page article in the Sept. 28 issue about the short-term vacation rental rules presented at the La Jolla Town Council meeting (by Corey Levitan) was the most well-written article I have seen in the La Jolla Light in 40 years!
Gina Dronet
Inga got it right
Right on, Inga! I agree with your poke at “smart” appliances in last week’s issue. I had a washer that lasted more than 25 years with dials that would allow individualized washing and solid mechanical moving parts. When I had to replace it, I got “false” dials with sensors (ugh!) behind them! Sensor lifetime, maybe three years, according to friends with “new” replacement appliances!
However, it’s not all the fault of the sensors and electronic equipment. These were made to fail early or become obsolete (therefore unrepairable) by the companies that made them, so we would be forced to buy new equipment every few years!
Ina B
People are funny ...
I appreciated seeing the La Jolla Light story last week by Ashley Mackin Solomon on the filled-doggy bags just dropped along La Jolla streets, because I daily walk my housing complex (up by UCSD) for great exercise and I pick up litter along the way. I don’t know why folks leave their bagged dog waste on the streets; I suspect they don’t want to carry it along with them the remainder of their route.
Dave Travitz
Correction
In a story Sept. 21 on the Development Permit Review committee meeting, it was reported a neighbor complained about a proposed mixed-use building at 5785 La Jolla Blvd. “because it required a bigger loading zone.” As presented, the proposal allowed no loading zone.
What’s on YOUR mind?
Letters published in La Jolla Light express views from readers in regard to community issues. To share your thoughts in this public forum, e-mail them with your name and city of residence to editor@lajollalight.com or mail them to La Jolla Light Editor, 565 Pearl St., Suite 300, La Jolla, CA 92037. Letters reflect the writers’ opinions and not necessarily those of the newspaper staff or publisher.