Letters

CCDC in positive light, continued props to Jason Mraz and a special thank you from Trevor Trek and Tom Willis.

STRIKE OUT

In your November issue, Ian Trowbridge was quoted attacking Centre City Development Corporation, suggesting it should be closed down [“Cynicism, Criticism and San Diego’s Redevelopment” by s.d. liddick]. Trowbridge was and is way off base, and his comments belong in the trash can.

CCDC has received some negative publicity recently on possible conflict of interest involving its former president, Nancy Graham. Whatever those problems were, if any, they’re behind us. We should look ahead and remember the great things CCDC has accomplished. The mayor and city council continue to appoint outstanding civic leaders to the CCDC board of directors. CCDC’s staff is outstanding, and previous president Peter Hall, now retired, was a real “mover and shaker.” He made things happen for the benefit of San Diego. You can rest assured the CCDC board will appoint a top-notch new president.

Former mayor Pete Wilson created CCDC to lead the way, making San Diego’s downtown one of the best in the United States. CCDC worked with Ernie Hahn to develop Horton Plaza, which stimulated the Gaslamp Quarter’s upgrade after dec ades of blight and neglect.

CCDC pushed the Padres ballpark project and provided substantial monies from the extra property-tax revenues the city received from the redevelopment area. Not only did CCDC get the Padres project done, they also stopped the Padres from changing the deal after it had been approved. The Padres tried to cut the planned Park in the Park to 1 acre and change the north side of the project to add high-rises that would have blocked views to the downtown area.

Let’s remember the great past and help CCDC in its future efforts to improve our downtown area even more. And let’s ignore the negative attacks by those who simply oppose everything.

JIM SCHMIDT
LA MESA

SWEET MUSIC

Thank you for the great interview with Jason Mraz [Dialogue with Tom Blair, November]. I’ve been lucky enough to have seen Jason twice this year——once in a seedy nightclub in Manchester (England, United Kingdom, call it what you will!), where your feet stuck to the floor from all the beer spilt there over the past 30 years or so. But it was “awesome”——as I believe you guys might say! And then I saw him perform in September at the Royal Albert Hall in London: super-awesome!

I come from a small island in the middle of the Irish Sea, between the UK and Ireland; it’s called the Isle of Man. I’m coming over to San Diego and meeting you nice people in March or April, through a generous invitation from a San Diego friend to come and stay, and I am really looking forward to visiting your beautiful place!

NIGEL SINCLAIR
DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN

AMAZING MRAZ

I had never before experienced music the way I do since Jason Mraz came into my music world five years ago. He’s spiritual, with a sense of humor and amazement for life. Each song breathes into your soul and then . . . you’re connected. I can’t get enough of him; he’s all I listen to.

His music is so eclectic, there’s really no need to listen to something that doesn’t sound like it comes from the soul of a man. I’m glad my 13-year-old son knows what a “real musician” is.

Thank you, Jason for brightening my world! You’re amazing! For anyone who has never seen him in concert . . . you are missing out!

JODEE COULTER
STRONGSVILLE, OH

TREVOR’S TREK

My name is Trevor Smith, son of [former Padres president] Ballard and Charlie Smith, and I want to thank San Diego Magazine for covering the National Disease Cluster Alliance event [Seen by Julia Beeson Polloreno, current issue].

I was diagnosed with brain cancer in November 2002 at the age of 13. I became involved with NDCA because I believe environmental toxins play a role in the alarming rise of childhood cancer and other diseases. Two years ago, I founded an organization in Idaho called Trevor’s Trek to raise childhood cancer awareness.

When I was diagnosed, [former Padres owner] Joan Kroc told me to stay strong and never give up, and I won’t. Trevor’s Trek is my way of giving back and keeping the fight against childhood cancer going. I would love for people to visit my Web site at trevorstrek.com. I have also been writing a book with an author in California about fighting and surviving cancer at a young age. We are hoping to have it published by this spring.

TREVOR SMITH
MCCALL, IDAHO

A GIVING THING

Thank you for including me in the “Munificent Seven” story [by Julia Beeson Polloreno, December]. You did an amazing job. Everyone looked great, and the way you put that whole story together was interesting, as well as classy.

You were great to work with, and I appreciate your thinking of me.

TINA MICKELSON
DEL CERRO

NOT TO FORGET

Just read our neighbor Philomène Offen’s piece regarding our three-digit street numbers [“The House Everyone Forgot,” Perspective, December]. Great piece! And very funny ——but not so funny when your IRS return check is sent back to the IRS indicating no such number. Don’t even want to tell you how long that took to correct! Or the Harry & David computer that could never forward the list of clients we sent holiday baskets to (since their computer system had noted that our address did not exist).

Now, if we could only get the city to understand that the “traffic calming divider” in the middle of Camino de la Costa does not slow traffic down but rather funnels it into a smaller opening. You do the physics. A four-way stop sign would have been less expensive, less intrusive, etc. But then progress . . .

STANFORD F. HARTMAN JR.
LA JOLLA

A FOOT UP

After much anticipation, I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to open your December issue, turn to Front Pages and see that I not only gota full page but was also your lead story [“In His Shoes” by Lauren Ruef]!

Lauren did an excellent job of summarizing what I do——and what I try to accomplish when I meet with kids, adults or students of all ages. I was ecstatic that you included myWeb site information and that great action picture at the Padres game. I’m really proud of that moment and was glad you were able to use the photo—— even though everyone notes how dirty my pitching foot was!

I also like the way the story complemented the December issue’s theme of giving back to our community. I’m honored that you see my work in that light.

After reading the article, I turned to my wife and told her that, for the first time in our eight years of living here, after being featured in your magazine (which I subscribed to for years before we moved here), I feel like I am now an official San Diegan.

TOM WILLIS
MIRA MESA

CORRECTION: In our December Seen coverage of Child Abuse Prevention Foundation’s Chefs & Champions for Kids event, Nancy Manning’s name was spelled incorrectly. We regret the error.

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