Letters

And don’t dis Boston! Despite occasional ice ages, it’s a very nice place that actually has a public transit system that works very well. I lived there for two years in the 1970s, and did not even need a car.

HEAR NO EVIL

The president of California State University–San Marcos made a smart decision in uninviting Michael Moore to speak on campus [“Big Man Off Campus” by Ron Donoho, Journal, November]. Though most say there is a “freedom of speech” issue, I think the real issue is the law that prohibits use of public funds for the purpose of political advocacy in election campaigns.

The president of CSUSM was obviously protecting herself and her campus from legal action and/or an audit by the state. Moving Michael Moore’s presentation to the Del Mar Fairgrounds allowed college students from all over Southern California to attend in a safe, neutral environment, as opposed to a college campus. I think things worked out for the best.

LINDSAY CAMPBELL
SAN DIEGO

THAT’S COLD

You embarrass San Diego. You have so much advertising it’s annoying trying to find and follow articles. And don’t dis Boston [“Weathering a San Diego ‘Winter’ ” by Thomas K. Arnold, November]! Despite occasional ice ages, it’s a very nice place that actually has a public transit system that works very well. I lived there for two years in the 1970s, and did not even need a car.

And in case you haven’t noticed, there are very few people in the water at the San Diego beaches after September.

LEWIS BRACKETT
SOUTH BAY

LIFE & DEATH

Tom Blair’s ode to Ron Reina [“Sudden Death,” I on San Diego, December] made me reflect and reflect about my own times with Ron—mainly with a marketing group for the Old Globe and as an auctioneer for events I worked on. I got sadder and sadder. But the sadness lifted, because his indomitable humor charged right through it.

He demanded positivism, didn’t he? I hope he has an audience somewhere. Thanks for “Sudden Death.”

ELIZABETH ZONGKER
LA JOLLA

SITUATION COMEDY

I’ve said it before, but I must say it again . . . Forgive me, Father, for I have laughed. Forgive me, Mayor Murphy, Supervisor Roberts and Councilmember Frye, but Ron Donoho nailed it [“Mayberryby- the-Sea,” Journal, December]. We really have to learn to do it right.

My only fear: that business as usual is dead, long live business as usual. Okay, enough literary license. Thanks for a tight, pointed and funny piece.

PETER JAMES MACCRACKEN
SAN DIEGO

HEARTLESS

I just read a letter in your magazine from someone who left San Diego for Seattle [“Road Rage” by Ann MacPherson, Letters, November]. Why would she leave San Diego if her “heart” was here?

People drive over the speed limit everywhere. She says the highways are small in her city, so people drive slow. I’m sure it’s like the town of Mayberry where she is now. If they had the same freeways we do, they’d drive over the limit up there as well. What bothered me most was her bashing all San Diego drivers by saying the speed limit is 65, but everyone here goes 80. Sometimes you need to keep up with traffic.

Have you ever been on Interstate 805 North and had to go around someone in the fast lane doing 65, backing up traffic?

So people in her town wave to let you get by? So people are not as nice in San Diego as they are in her new hometown? She should stay in Seattle. People who leave San Diego (but say their hearts are here) always seem to have some type of gripe about this wonderful city.

JONATHAN ESPARZA
OTAY RANCH

UNSAFE AT HOME

I read your recent article on San Diego’s safest neighborhoods [“Safe at Home” by Margie Farnsworth, September], and I did not see eastern San Diego and the unincorporated areas of San Diego listed. But I will provide some information about my area of El Cajon.

We have no city police. We rely on a county sheriff, who hasn’t enough money to operate and only has one patrol car for the whole area. A 911 call could result in a wait of 45 minutes, if they respond at all. I’ve heard of waits of 11/2 hours. An ambulance once took 45 minutes to get to my home, which has a city address —there is no post office—but no city benefits.

As we can see by the Cedar firestorm of 2003, there is not much in the way of fire protection. I knew that, and saved my home with a garden hose with the few minutes of water pressure left. As I yelled to a policeman in the road evacuating [people]—to inform him where it was burning—the policeman responded, “Yes, we know; there’s nothing we can do.” As far as crime goes, it seems to be an outlaw area. When I approached the sheriff about a family member with illegal guns, drugs and mental problems, I was told to go home. That no drug laws were broken—“prove it.” Child protection got involved—witnessing this family member acting strange “within” a city limit— only to ask me all that was going on. I was relieved to find some help. But not for long; the worker witnessed it all and later disavowed all the evidence.

And then there’s the matter of the very high cost of living. My house is now six times its value five years ago. But who can afford to move elsewhere?

J.B.
EL CAJON

SINKING FEELING

In response to your story about Sea- World [“Looking Back and Ahead” by Larry Edwards, December], I would like to mention the complete inhumanity of sea mammals being forced to endure all in the name of profit.

It is an atrocity that SeaWorld continues to operate considering the damage being done to its formerly free main attractions.

JANETTE MEJIA
ENCINITAS

PERFORMANCE ANXIETY

I am shocked that you have put SeaWorld in such a nice position. They have no consideration for others. They have permanently deafened the ears of their neighbors so foreigners can take a single night to see pretty lights explode in the air. With these fireworks, the lovers of the moon do nothing but sit inside and think of other days when their night light shone bright for them.

I duly note that they are “nice” people, who make sea lions and orca whales flip around in their minuscule tanks (compared to their natural habitat) just to get some cash. I know that they “help endangered species” and that they “make a habitat for them just like in the wild.” Yes. And they put on a cute little hat and a pretty little voice to make us believe them.

Do you have a dog? Would you like to see your dog, because of its oh-so-rare breed, shipped off to Wisconsin so people can ogle him/her in his/her little container? Well, of course your dog would have a cute little collar, a squeaky toy and nice food that makes his hair shine. But would he be able to run with you in the park? Stick his head out of that car window and feel the wind?

Or more closely related, how about a fish that you simply adore? They take a little net, haul him up into a truck and dunk him in some clean water. You can visit him there at SeaWorld, and see the little placard that describes things you never

JASMINE
SAN DIEGO

ERRATA

Due to a production error, photo captions on pages 88 and 89 for the “Suite Dreams” feature in our December issue were transposed. The hotel suite on page 88 is the Omni San Diego; on page 89, the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. Omni San Diego Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter

Letters Welcome San Diego Magazine invites letters from its readers. Send comments to Letters to the Editor, San Diego Magazine, P.O. Box 85409, San Diego, CA 92186-5409 or to tblair@sandiegomag.com (e-mail) or 619-230-0490 (fax). Letters must be signed to be considered for publication. Please type or print your name, as well, and include a daytime phone number. E-mail should include the writer’s full name and city. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and to excerpt them.

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