Add to 'so many wrongs'

I couldn't resist commenting on Glenn Carroll's letter ("So many water wrongs," March 21). His statements ring so true, especially in North County, where the existing water distribution system utilizes a patchwork of 75-year-old grove piping and equipment that the existing homeowners now pay a surcharge for constantly repairing.

But I would add to Carroll's missive by saying that future growth must be analyzed, not only for its water needs but, more important, for its total needs regarding infrastructure. The planning commissions of our local, county and state bodies must begin to accept responsibility for evaluation of the real potential impacts that new developments bring to our communities.

To date, EIRs are prepared by private companies for the various impacts on the existing infrastructure without concentrated effort to involve all disciplines that would be involved. Our clogged roads and freeways are a good example of the need to coordinate and integrate our planning. Presently, there is no overall coordination by governmental/community planners that incorporates the real impacts, because the pressure to obtain more taxation and revenue overrides reason.

Charles Tillotson

Fallbrook

Bureaucracy is at it again

The county of San Diego is at it again. This time, it is the Department of Animal Control, or the lack thereof. On March 4, I filed a complaint to them regarding an aggressive pit bull in the neighborhood that was in people's yards, defecating, etc. This animal is so aggressive, the Postal Service will not deliver packages. The county called the next day stating they would send a letter to the owner. That was their response. …

On March 24, it happened. A meter reader was attacked by this same dog. And, per Animal Control, there is a difference between attacking and biting. Animal Control arrived seven hours after the Sheriff requested them and instructed the owners on laws, etc.

On March 25, this animal was once again in our yard. I called again and filed another complaint because they cannot do anything unless they see the dog off the owner's property. Or, you can personally issue a ticket through them. So, until then, I must keep the kids inside, stay out of my front yard and go to the post office to pick up my packages. What a great system! Any readers of this a lawyer? Way to go, county of San Diego. Our fire protection in this county is weak, why should the Animal Control be any different?

John Brooks

Fallbrook

Our beautiful countryside is being spoiled

I pick up litter almost daily near the Santa Margarita River and other places. It is spooky how many alcohol containers I find along the roadside. They are on Sandia Creek, Reche Road, Mission and 395. These are not places where people tend to walk, which means there are many more people drinking and driving than I ever realized.

That could be what brings me to point two. There is debris from several accidents alongside the roads also. I know that the CHP (and probably the Sheriffs Department, too) has a contract with some of the towing companies. It used to be that towing companies were responsible for removing all the debris, including sweeping up the glass after an accident.

I call on all law enforcement, including the fire service, to demand a better job from these guys. It only takes a few minutes, while you are there to control traffic, to have them do a proper clean-up. Sometimes this stuff just gets kicked into the bike lane or to the side of the road. It is not only an eyesore but also still a hazard, and may lead to future accidents.

Glenn Zajic

Fallbrook

Insane addition just slows traffic

I have been traveling on Auto Parkway to San Marcos for a long while. Now, since the railway is in, I have to cross the tracks twice to get on the side road to the college in San Marcos. Waiting for the lights to change, traffic growing bigger all the time, and then having to make a left on Auto Parkway to Mission and then wait in line for the next light to change. This all wastes gas and causes road rage to me and others. Gas at $4 a gallon is wasted while waiting to get where you are going through two lights and passing trains.

The problem arose when they put an island in before you get to the tracks on Auto Parkway. I used to make a left turn there, now I am not able to due to the solid island. This was an insane addition to Auto Parkway. I hope that they will reopen this left turn so that the need to go through all the lights and lines and trains will be eliminated and gas will be saved.

Joan Stein

Escondido

Barack can fix the mess we're in

The war in Iraq is now in its sixth year, the costs continue to mount and the death toll of U.S. soldiers reached 4,000, while thousands more have been disabled for life. This doesn't begin to take into account the death toll of Iraqi civilians but then, most Americans don't care about them. Do they care about the ramifications of a war based on lies that has taken America's goodwill in the world to an all-time low? Do they care about our dwindling economy and state and city governments that have to cut back funds for education, health care, police and fire protection?

If a majority of Americans truly voted for this administration not once, but twice, I guess they got what they deserved. And if they allow it to continue by voting for McCain, they have no one to blame but themselves.

No one can fix the mess that was caused by the Bush administration in one term, but I'd sure like to give someone else a good try. Can you imagine a president who can speak clearly and convey a message of peace and unity to the world? I can; his name is Barack Obama.

Anita Simons

La Jolla

Lands survey is misleading

The current Cannon Road Agricultural Lands Survey is the latest example of how the Carlsbad's City Council is trying to mislead the city's citizens. Good research is wonderful. Biased research is insulting. With the current Cannon Road Agricultural Lands Survey, the survey is biased.

Over 30 years ago, when I began my career at Gallup Polls, one of the first things I learned was that there is no such thing as unbiased research. What you have to do is identify the biases and then minimize them. This survey is biased from the first question against continuing agriculture in Carlsbad. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't these property owners previously agree to not develop these lands in return for development rights on other properties they owned?

Several years ago, Mayor Bud Lewis told me that he wanted to see the city take steps to build a new City Hall on what the survey calls Site 2. He saw it as his legacy. Why doesn't the mayor consider the city's new golf course his legacy, since it's far and away the most expensive municipal golf course in the U.S.A.? That's a record that will stand for decades.

Kirk Whisler

Carlsbad

School board meeting was a joke

What a joke the March 18 Bonsall Union School Board meeting was ("Bonsall school bus issue draws crowd," March 19). The school board and superintendent did a snow job on the parents of the Bonsall school district. They say they want to keep the budget cuts out of the classroom, but they want to let go all of the teachers assistants and bilingual assistants. They are as much a part of the classroom as the teachers.

The board has no intention of keeping the transportation department. Even if the cuts aren't as bad as they think, they are still going to cut transportation. It is a done deal, and they are just stringing the parents along. If millions of dollars fell into their laps tomorrow, the buses are still going away.

There has been talk they want to sell the buses as soon as possible, with the exception of one, which they want to lease for a dollar a year to the Pala Indian Reservation. … They choose crafty words and deception to get what they want. …

Trish Miller

Fallbrook

Keep education future hopeful for kids

As a parent of an elementary school student at Bobier Elementary School in Vista, I am distressed to learn that 21 of our 36 teachers could possibly lose their jobs before the 2008-2009 year.

For years, our underperforming school has survived by hiring entry-level teachers to replace more qualified and experienced staff in order to save money. This year, due to the drastic state education budget cuts, the turnover threatens to be overwhelming. Though the 10 percent across-the-board budget cuts may sound fair, it is not responsible to let our sons and daughters pay for the failings of their parents and the adults of our society. Our state and national leadership should not "share the financial pain" with our children, but absorb debt and hardship themselves. Ten percent cuts are unconscionable and will jeopardize the future of our state and nation.

I hope that Gov. Schwarzenegger strongly considers reducing or eliminating altogether these education cuts so that our future may remain hopeful.

James Dollins

Vista