Letters to the editor

| Thursday, June 26, 2003 10:00 PM PDT ∞

North County Times


Let's get the Sprinter built


Many North County residents looked forward to a rail transportation system that would help alleviate the traffic jams we face every day on Highway 78. The San Marcos City Council is being influenced by a small group of residents in the Walnut Hills area who will have the privilege of having a Sprinter station in their neighborhood.


I hope that the City Council realizes the majority of San Marcos is looking forward to the return of passenger rail service. The presidents of Cal State San Marcos and Palomar College have said the rail line would benefit the students who commute to college because soon the colleges will not be able to provide enough parking.


Though the Sprinter will not be able to reach downtown yet, the citizens of San Marcos and Vista need to look toward the future with a connection to the bullet train in Escondido. The rail line is there. Let's all get on board and get behind the North County Transit District and get this thing built.


CHRIS JOHNSON


San Marcos





Seniors don't need diversity


It is very chic these days, in the eyes of some, to flaunt the notion of how wonderful multiculturalism and diversity are. Nothing of any value has ever come out of the concepts of forced multiculturalism and diversity. Even the sound of the words carry negative connotations to me. Being force-fed these things is un-American regardless of how well intended.


By choosing to live in Peacock Hills, a senior community, I made a conscious decision to remove myself from the diversity of the common community. I chose to exclude everyone under the age of 55 from being my neighbors. Where multiculturalism and diversity are concerned, we have more of that here in Peacock Hills among our age group than the City Council. It is random, natural ---- not forced.


I hope the City Council never takes it upon itself to decide we need to have people living here under 55 because we are not diverse enough.


Preserving senior rights in our senior communities in Oceanside is what concerns me. I have lived here eight years in Peacock Hills ---- eight years of peace and quiet without having to put up with the noise, filth and crime of some open housing areas in Oceanside.


The people on the council are not going to be there forever. Just keep the ship on a steady course, maintain the status quo where senior housing is concerned: no pop culture fads, or goody-good, touchy-feely concepts like trashing the lifestyle of senior communities to benefit youngsters that have enough of their own problems today as it is without adding them to the ones we have.


JOE ELLIS


Oceanside





A better idea than the Sprinter


The Sprinter is ill-conceived and will add to the hemorrhage of losses that North County Transit District suffers. From July 2001 to June 2002, the Breeze (NCTD bus system) brought in revenue of $8,455,657Ýand it cost $36,754,780 to operate. The Coaster took in $4,148,329 and cost $10,152,892 to operate.Ý


We are subsidizing this public transportation at an amazing rate, but what we need is roads. What makes anyone think that NCTD will operate the Sprinter any more efficiently than it operates its other operations?Ý


The NCTD should be running vans instead of buses on routes that are not well-traveled, and cut back on routes.


A light rail would work. Imagine an overhead electric system similar to the one opening in Las Vegas: quiet, no grade crossings, the cars run on rubber tires, suspended on a narrow platform. The route would start at the Oceanside transit station, follow the Amtrak rails past the Carlsbad station and turn inland at Palomar Airport Road. It would follow Palomar Airport road past San Marcos City Hall and down Mission into Escondido. There could be a spur up Bent Avenue and Craven all the way to Cal State San Marcos.


It would quietly and efficiently take passengers past every major industrial park in Carlsbad, Vista and the proposed Quail Hills project in Escondido. It would pass entertainment and shopping in every city it passes through. It would also serve schools. Not much land would be needed because it is an overhead system, so it should be much less costly to build. It would be easy to add to. It would relieve congestion on Palomar Airport Road and Highway 78.ÝLet's build something right or let's not build it at all.


JAY BERMAN


Vista





Keep Wal-Mart out of San Marcos


Commendations to the San Marcos city planners. This thoughtful, sincere, respectful, prudent, patient and wise group listened to testimony about the proposed University Commons Wal-Mart for five hours. What was the result? One planner said it all when he concluded that the surrounding neighborhoods "just don't want it."


He was right. We should all take a good look around our precious hometowns, where we work and play. The rural areas are slipping away. It's not wrong to shop at your local big-box retailer, but honor our small businesses by shopping at their stores, too. Take some of your business to the small hardware store, the small office supply store, local optometrists, the beauty supply shops and the local photographer. You won't be disappointed. The lines are shorter, the shopkeepers are friendlier, and the service is better.


San Marcos is fortunate that planners realized that big-box retail needs tempering. Homeowners anticipate that the City Council will follow suit. Write or call them to let them know that you trust that they too will do the right thing. Job well done and thank you, San Marcos planners.


SUSAN DENNY


San Marcos





Oceanside airport must stay


I have read with distaste and concern the complaints of the non-flying public, the carpetbagging, newly ensconced citizens of Oceanside who live in the little stucco boxes in an inhumane, flamingo-pink profusion along the San Luis Rey River in ever-encroaching proximity to the Oceanside Municipal Airport.


I remember when those fields and hills were beautiful and free of this residential blight. Most of the arguments I have read in the Letters page are simple and basic. Most espouse the premise that an airport is supposed to generate income. This is a false argument.


A municipal airport is for the primary purpose of landing, housing and dispatching general aviation and light commercial aircraft, nothing more. If, by chance, additional business is generated through the airport, then the community enjoys the benefits. If not, then the primary purpose of the municipal airport is still served.


Close the airport and build more concrete tilt-up, money-generating businesses so the politicians can tax them, and will society benefit? No. The reason is, you won't be able to look up and see someone living their dream, a dream you will never know.


Aviation is for the benefit of society in general. If critics' arteries are not so hardened by avarice and the desire for Oceanside to generate lots of money, come out to the airport and ask someone to give you a ride up into our world. You might change your mind.


DAVID A. DEAL


Vista





Remember Robert Stethem


On June 14, 1985, Navy Petty Officer Robert Dean Stethem was in an airplane from Athens, Greece, when it was hijacked. He was recognized as a military person by his passport and was brutalized and killed by the hijackers and dumped on the Tarmac at Beirut.


The hijackers demanded "no retaliation" and their demand was agreed to through a carefully worded statement by our State Department. Since that time military passports have been discontinued. We should not forget Robert Stethem, who was 24 when he was murdered.


DONALD G. WILSON


Carlsbad





Keep asphalt plant out of Escondido


I am a 23-year Escondido resident and homeowner. I work for the North County Transit District at its vehicle maintenance facility on Norlak Avenue, not three blocks away from the proposed site for the asphalt plant. I am 100 percent against the project.


Regrettably, I have just read that Councilman Tom D'Agosta supports the project. He was quoted as saying, "I think it's an asset. I think it's something that's needed."


Vulcan Materials does seem a responsible producer of a necessary product, but that does not override the facts that its business is air-polluting, its facilities unsightly, its business will contribute untold numbers of slow-moving trucks to our traffic and take an immeasurable toll upon the health of our community.


Lastly, I am shocked that when a lack of industrial space was touted as a major reason to allow the Sempra development, the city would sell to Vulcan four acres of prime industrial space to operate a stinking asphalt plant in the heart of our city. If D'Agosta lacks the vision to see how those four acres could be put to better industrial use, I regret my vote that helped him into office.


RICHARD WERDEN


Escondido





Time to address


national security


I'm very frightened, but more angry than frightened. To say that I'm angry is an understatement. I am disgusted, disappointed, furious and ticked off.


Our politicians, regardless of their party affiliation, are more concerned about garnering the votes of minorities than they are about the safety of the American people---- you, me and our families.


The security at our borders and our immigration policy are a farce. Our politicians have not and will not help. If they, in Washington, D.C., the states and cities, really care about our safety, they would have done something about this dangerous situation long ago.


Only if more voices are raised and our feelings expressed is there a chance for legislation to be passed. Clinton didn't do it and George Bush isn't either. I implore everyone who reads this to speak out to those self-serving politicians we voted for and demand that something be done now.


HOWARD SHARPELL


San Marcos





Bush tricked us into invading Iraq


Whenever attempting to understand some seemingly irrational behavior of politicians, I have found it useful to apply the Hanlon's Razor principle: Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity.


Knowing that George W. Bush is a bit short of intellect, yet realizing the advisers surrounding him are vindictive and malicious, I was not certain if Hanlon's Razor rule would direct me to the truth for the American invasion of Iraq. Was it Bush's stupidity or his advisers' malice?


Having followed the findings of the U.N. weapons inspectors in the European press, I knew the case made by Colin Powell was falsified, and having followed Bush's polemics in the American press, I knew he was just a bit over his head dealing with matters of intelligence.


About a week after the attack began, it became apparent: The Ministry of Oil and the oil fields in Iraq had been secured within a matter of hours. This proved there was oil in Iraq. But two weeks after the attack none of the so-called weapons of mass destruction had been secured. In fact, offices had been looted, records and materials destroyed and robbed.


The administration's inaction proved there were no WMDs in Iraq, and they knew it. So it was duplicity, not stupidity.


J. HOWARD CREWS


Fallbrook





Bush will buy the next election


A few words about our court-selected president, George Bush. He seems to be an OK guy, has learned to read and speak his speechwriter's words distinctly and effectively, sounds very sincere in what he says, amplified by practiced body language (of course, he speaks stuff that's nowhere near the truth and that only Republicans are willing to swallow), and has a coterie of well-to-do patrons, but I notice one or two unusual things about George (maybe they are not so unusual after all).


He hasn't mentioned bin Laden since July 2002, rarely speaks about Saddam anymore (just can't find those two despite his "I'll make it happen" assertions), and as far as WMDs go, as Time magazine puts it, they have become Weapons of Mass Disappearance that George has a dozen excuses for not finding (they sort of went poof).


I am sure that the majority of our problems are really Clinton's fault, except maybe for bin Laden, Saddam and the WMDs, the deficit, the Clean Air Act mess, etc. Unfortunately, I think Bush will win in 2004, much to the detriment of the country, but I grant that he's an amazing fund-raiser, and money wins elections. He will win not based on merit, but based on money.


ROBERT F. DION


Vista





Vista rain forest is a dumb idea


I have read about the rain forest proposal for Vista. What can those in favor be thinking? We are in a desert area where water can become scarcer, and there is talk of just that happening in the not-too-distant future.


Why have a garden that will need a gazillion gallons of water to thrive when we have perfectly good native and drought-resistant plants that will thrive here and not add to the water woes? If we must have another garden, make it something residents can use to help them choose plants they can grow in their own gardens, plants that will help save even more water for the area in the long run.


SHIRLY FLETCHER


Carlsbad





Escondido seniors put on a great show


It was an awesome experience to attend the 2003 Escondido High School graduation. During the prelude, all attention was on the processional with "Pomp and Circumstance" of the graduating seniors. They walked with honor into the stadium.


Graduates listened anxiously as they heard Tyne Franchi sing the national anthem, knowing she would reach that ultrahigh note at the end. They listened attentively to the speeches of administration officials and of fellow classmates, senior class President Kristen LaFleur, ASB President Rachel Lauhead and valedictorian Rosaline Truong. They warmly recognized the honor students.


At the presentation of diplomas, we could hear all the names that were called because the seniors showed a lot of class and were fully involved in the ceremony. Thank you to the EHS administration, to the graduating seniors and to the involved parents who worked so diligently to have one of the best high school graduations I have ever seen.ÝIt could be an example of how to put on a graduation ceremony. It was totally awesome.


JUDITH B. McKEAND


Escondido





No more taxes for us


By golly, we Republicans are getting rid of those big old bad taxes, one by one.


With our boy George leading the way, we rich guys soon will no longer have to pay an estate tax, a dividend tax or a capital gains tax. Of course we still have a 35 percent tax on our wage income, but what the heck, with all the stock options and other investment income, not to mention the farm write-offs, how much can a little tax on wages hurt?


Just think, in 2004, if we can just get rid of a few more Democratic senators, I betcha we can even get that knocked down some more. Heck, lookin' out a bit on the horizon I think maybe some of our friends in Congress will realize taxing our interest income is un-American.


Is this becoming a great country or what?


DICK E. RICHARDSON


Carlsbad





Seasilver should not have been closed


I was saddened to read about the government's heavy-handed closing of the Seasilver Co. in Carlsbad. If they objected to wording in the literature, why not just have them change that? Denying customers what may be an excellent product and putting 500 employees out of work seem heavy-handed and cruel.


Few people believe every word of print in a brochure or on a food box. If they did, cereal companies with the word "health" in their labels would have to remove the gross amounts of sugar or transfatty acids and change their name from "smart" or "healthy" to "poor" and "disgusting." Oncology would have to call itself deathology, and artificial vitamin-makers would have to label their products as fake.


It is amazing to me how quickly we can condemn a small business for doing what big businesses have been doing for decades.


RICHARD EVERETT


San Marcos





Murder suspect should not have been on street


My heart goes out to Jamie Zeppetella and her son, Jacob. My sadness is matched only by my outrage that Adrian Camacho was on the streets of Oceanside. After learning of Camacho's long list of criminal activity, the comments of his parole officer, and the opinion of the warden of the prison in which Camacho spent time, I have to question a system that allows such a monster to walk free.


What's wrong when a police officer seems to be the only one who recognizes a career criminal should be behind bars, while everyone else in the system is working to put him back on our streets? Police Chief Mike Poehlman said it best: "This is really a crime against the community."


As a member of this community, I want to see a full investigation, starting with the public defender's office. Who was representing Camacho? Why were the comments of his parole officer and prison warden ignored? Why were his parole violations not enough to demand that he be given the maximum sentence? Why did judges routinely set him free? Our judicial system is failing us badly when career criminals such as Camacho are allowed to walk free. As a result, our tragedy is doubly felt.


MARY AZEVEDO


Oceanside





Bush lied; Congress should seek the truth


Blindfolds prevent the eyes from seeing what is in plain sight. The United States was attacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001. It shook us to our foundations. We rightfully united in our shock and justifiably broke out our flags and displayed them on our homes, cars and businesses.


There were those who used Sept. 11 and the resurgence of patriotic feelings for unrelated purposes. In 1998 several members of the current Bush administration formulated a policy to rid Iraq of Saddam Hussein ---- not because he supported terrorists, but because he sat on a huge pool of oil, which he could use to his advantage, not ours.


By encouraging citizens to wrap themselves in American flags, essentially blindfolding them, the Bush administration lied to the American people about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. The WMDs were the phantom menace. The real goal, as stated in 1998, was to ensure a reliable source of oil for the industrialized world.


Our Marines died and others still face that danger because our president's administration lied. Keep the flag wrapped around your shoulders, but allow yourself to see the truth. Lying for war is immoral. Demand now that Congress seeks the truth.


GARY WAAYERS


Rancho Bernardo





In response to a few letters


To Ata Agah: No matter how justified the cause or grievance, there is no justification for the violent murder of innocent women and children.


If they must make a statement, they should target authority institutions. These murderous attacks are simply evil and it is evil to support them.


To Chris A. Pulse: While most people who oppose the U.N. use as an example of its ineffectiveness its nonintervention to prevent mass murders in Rwanda and its hypocrisy regarding human rights, few consider them communists. Some believe that their world-socialism bent is a detriment to American prosperity, security and sovereignty. While our country has shown its dark side in history, it has far more shown its bright side. To always focus on the negative, as Pulse, Patrick Frawley, Eric Parish and others do, reflects badly on them.


To Douglas Spencer and Sorab Ghandhi: Comparing President Bush to Hitler is insane! Other radicals call this administration fascist. Such obnoxious distortions of reality do a great disservice to those who actually suffered under Hitler and fascism.


Answer to Joseph R. Grant: The Iraqi people and America, not Saddam Hussein's regime and France, will benefit from the oil. You have a problem with that?


MICHAEL EUGENE CAMPBELL


Rancho Bernardo





Teachers' retirement is not at risk


I read Joy Allen's May 16 commentary, "Shameless in Sacramento," about Senate Bill 20X. I would like to clarify some misperceptions contained in her well-intentioned commentary.


SB 20X was chaptered into law on May 5. The bill received bipartisan support in the state Senate and Assembly because it was a safe way to save state funds during the budget crisis.


Under current law, a continuous appropriation equal to 2.5 percent of total creditable compensation is made from the general fund and transferred to the supplemental benefit maintenance account in the teachers' retirement fund. This account funds purchase-power protection payments to retired members of the defined benefit program of the State Teachers' Retirement System.


Senate Bill 20X decreases that appropriation by $500 million for fiscal year 2003-04. It requires the Teachers' Retirement Board, every four years starting in 2006, to report to the Legislature and the director of finance on the retirement system's ability to pay purchase-power protection payments each fiscal year until 2036. It would then appropriate funds, as determined by the actuary and certified by the director of finance, to enable the system to make those payments until June 30, 2036. The total amount of funds to be appropriated for these purposes would be limited to $500 million, adjusted as necessary.


This saves $500 million in the general fund for 2003-04. According to the State Teachers' Retirement System, there is sufficient revenue to ensure solvency until 2035. However, as protection for the fund and in the unlikely event that STRS makes a determination that the funding needs to be replaced, this new law requires payment to be made back to the fund. The STRS estimates the June 2003 reserve in the supplemental benefit maintenance account at approximately $1.6 billion.


Before joining the bipartisan support for SB 20X, I ensured that teachers' retirement is fully protected.


TRUDY THOMAS


Murrieta





Bush can't hide behind a poker face


In poker, a tell is an observable change in a player's behavior that gives clues to that player's hand. Possible tells include leaning forward or back, placing chips with more or less force, fidgeting, changes in breathing or tone of voice, changes in direction of gaze and changes in actions with the cards, cigarettes or drinks. A player who is able to detect another player's tell gains an advantage when the tell is unconscious and reliable.


Tells result from increased stress. Obviously, stress is not limited to the game of poker. Since being untruthful can increase stress, a person who lies can also exhibit one or more tells. A person who is able to detect a liar's tell gains an advantage when the tell is unconscious and reliable.


If you are asking why this is important, be patient, because I am getting there. For the past three or so years, I have been able to observe George Bush on television. I recently detected his tell, the physical change in his behavior that indicates when he is lying and I'd like share this knowledge with everyone: His lips move.


STEPHEN CARTER


Escondido





We don't need opinion from news anchors


Bill O'Reilly is calling for newscasters to begin giving us their opinions ("TV news has got to change," June 12).


"Why are brilliant men like Jennings, Rather and Brokaw wasting their time chucking headlines at us?" he asks. First, Bill, they are not wasting their time; they are experienced writers and newscasters who are highly paid to tell us exactly what happened today.


"The news consumer is desperate for someone to define the truth," O'Reilly states. No. The truth is the facts and the facts need no definition. To "define" the truth as O'Reilly does on Fox News Channel is to put a personal spin on it, to express an opinion. Yes, it would be fascinating to hear Peter Jennings' opinion on any topic, but then it would no longer be news, it would be commentary.


O'Reilly would lead us down a slippery slope.


Take Rush Limbaugh. He has admitted on air that he receives calls from the White House. We can suspect these are Bush administration officials requesting that he mention a certain agenda topic or put a government spin on a current news item. The result is not objective news, but propaganda.


So O'Reilly is way off base when he calls for commentary in the nightly news. He gets away with it on Fox News and most people realize that he is a commentator, not a newsman.


Please, let us keep our nightly network news anchors fair and unbiased ---- we need reliable sources of the facts more than ever!


John Stickler


Wildomar





Stop them before they pass more laws


Politicians should have the following statement tattooed upon their foreheads: "Stop me from passing stupid laws!"


Instead of taking care of important items such as keeping California solvent, they take it upon themselves to interfere in our lives, treating us as if we were irresponsible children instead of mature adults.


An example: I went to the store to purchase some over-the-counter medicines for my four young children, who are and have been passing illnesses between them. I was unable to buy all of the medicines that I needed because of some stupid limitation on such purchases.


This attitude of "We know what's good for them" is quite offensive. When mixed with a "One-size-fits-all treatment," it becomes even more so. Families come in different sizes ---- or hadn't they noticed? As if this wasn't bad enough, the law doesn't keep the customer from going right back into line to purchase the necessary additional medicines needed.


So what this law accomplishes is simply making peoples' lives more time-consuming and expensive. It accomplishes nothing of a positive matter.


Stop politicians from passing stupid laws!


Randall T. Freeman


Menifee





Thanks for supporting Paloma golf


Paloma Valley High School's golf program held its annual fund-raising golf tournament and barbecue June 21 at the North Course Golf Club in Sun City and raised more than $2,500. Our tournament wouldn't have been the success that it was without the 70 golfers who participated, as well as the local businesses that sponsored the tournament.


A big thank you to the follow businesses that sponsored the tournament: Ralphs, Stater Brothers Menifee and Sun City stores, Donut Hut, GNC in Menifee, Dr. Richardson II in Corona, The Printmaker.net, Giclee Fine Art Prints, Taylor & Son's Trucking, Sport Chalet in Temecula, Jackie McCard of Tarbell Realtors, Castle Park, Pepe's Mexican restaurant of Canyon Lake, Wal-Mart, Callaway Winery, Redhawk Golf Course, Rio Hondo Country Club in Downey, Goose Creek Golf Course, Empire Lakes Country Club, Landmark Hemet Golf Course, Diamond Valley, SCGA Members Course and especially Northern Golf Course.


Thank you to everyone who participated.


Glenn Brady,


tournament director


Sun City

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