Giving O'side free advice on stadium plan

Oceanside doesn't need to spend $100,000. I can explain why cash-strapped San Diego won't spend any more money on the Chargers or why L.A., which has had a couple pro football teams, isn't panting after another. Both cities have pro baseball teams and don't hesitate spending more money on them because the baseball teams play about 50 games a year in those stadiums whereas football teams play about a dozen games. The rest of the time you need to find other upscale activities to fill the darken stadiums ññ like demolition derby or rap concerts.

Don't despair, I have a solution! Scrape off those old trees and grass at the golf course, pave it over and build a football stadium then bulldoze the senior center and youth center and put in a money-maker to pay the stadium shortfall by building a Costco.

Neil Hughes

Oceanside

The sharks versus the guppies

At long last, our elected leaders and powers to be have finally arrived at the solution to the problem that has existed in Oceanside since I have lived here (21 years!). I am referring to the situation now confronting our City Council, negotiating with the Chargers about a possible new football stadium being built in Oceanside "Oceanside sets aside $100,000 for stadium consultants" March 22.

The news is that Oceanside will be utilizing the services of true professionals when dealing with the likes of the Spanos empire. We could have used the same type of a negotiating team when we were facing the one and only Doug Manchester! I watched all the proceedings during the initial presentations. It was a pure case of the sharks versus the guppies.

We are now in the same situation with the present beach hotel negotiations. Guppies versus the sharks. Let's do the obvious and get the right negotiators working for Oceanside.

Again, kudos to the mayor and all concerned for waking up and admitting that their expertise just doesn't cut it. Just remember, when you are up against sharks, you act accordingly.

Ben Scott

Oceanside

Yellow ribbons don't support our troops

I'm sure everyone means well when the topic of supporting our troops in this mess in Iraq and Afghanistan comes up. I will only speak for myself and try not to be judgmental in regard to others' ideologies into the calamity of the actions taken in this war.

I listened to a young Marine in a combat zone in a TV report the other night, and I felt guilty as to what I believed in the way I felt I was supporting him. He said he is thankful for the support he gets from home but, if we can't support what he is doing by trying to get a job done then, we should just go about our business and let him complete his mission. This caused me to step back and reflect on my thinking of how I support our fighting men and women. …

Why is our country not really getting involved like we did in WWII. We rationed gas, sold war bonds, had USOs. Our factories were producing a plane a minute. Our auto industry stopped making cars and made tanks and combat vehicles to supply the need in support of our troops. …

I'm an ex-combat Marine and I don't want war, but while we are stuck in this one, let's do our best to make sure our troops have everything they need. Little yellow ribbons with "Support the Troops" are nice but …

Al Maglietto

Oceanside

Stop the insanity

I would first like to thank Esther Sanchez for her intelligence and position regarding this stadium proposal. As for the mayor and the other City Council members, remember that you represent all the citizens of Oceanside, not just business owners.

I'm extremely angry that you are ignoring the residents of Oceanside by pursuing this insane stadium idea. It's the wrong location, period. You don't need $100,000 consultants to tell you what should be obvious. Why would you want to change the character of the city? Most of the residents who have sent letters to the North County Times and those at the City Council meetings have said they don't want this stadium for a multitude of reasons. Why are you ignoring them?

I moved here from Los Angeles to get away from traffic, smog, pollution, crowds, etc. Why bring that here? For money? Prestige? Those are foolish reasons. I came here for the relaxed way of life, not for stadiums and everything they bring with them. I will fight this proposal all the way and, obviously, I'm only voting for Esther in the next election. All the rest of you can take a hike.

Kevin Brown

Oceanside

It's hard to vandalize trash

It is extremely interesting to see how actively the police will pursue the case of vandalism of an illegal encampment that looks like a trash dump, "Warrants served in connection with migrant camp vandalism," March 22. I would think it is hard to vandalize trash.

Now let's see them put the same amount of time and energy into removing those illegal encampments that are violating trespassing laws. Which law is more important ññ vandalism or trespassing? Who makes the decision like this for the police? And what are they doing about the illegal aliens who are violating the law by being there in the first place?

I guess some laws are just not politically correct anymore ññ maybe we should remove them from the books! Or maybe with such selective enforcement of the laws the police just aren't needed ññ at least the San Diego Police Department. It appears that they are just there to police the rights of those here illegally in our country.

Frank Lorey

Escondido

Crude awakening

There were two problems with Charles Langley's March 18 Perspective, "Crude awakening: Oil prices down, gas prices up an extra 50 cents a gallon in North County". It offered no awakening, and left the reader with some bad advice.

While distribution and marketing games may frustrate drivers, there is a more subtle, but overriding factor, at play in gasoline prices. One can go online and see gasoline price history charted over the past 35 years. As one would expect, the price line rises steadily from the 1970s to the present.

However, when adjusted for inflation, the price line is relatively flat. The price of gasoline has not gone up; the purchasing power of the dollar has gone down. What cost 70 cents in 1972, costs $3.37 today, due to inflation alone. Add on 50 cents for taxes and you are looking at $3.87 per gallon, without the oil companies even lifting a finger.

Don't expect your elected representatives to effect lower prices on gasoline, or anything else. They have done too much already. Big government is responsible for inflation and taxes, not oil companies. The fact is, we are getting a better deal from Big Oil than we get from Big Government.

Grant Kuhns

Carlsbad

Why begrudge others the same right?

I am responding to a March 20 letter submitted by John Limpus. In his letter he extends his congratulations to Claudia Spencer for a job well done.

I met Claudia Spencer and I had a brief conversation with her. She stated to me that she came to the U.S. to flee from extreme poverty and described her living conditions in Mexico. The one thing she neglected to mention was that she was actually a mail-order bride and that was the path she used to get to the U.S. … The question I have is why would a woman who did such a desperate act to get here, begrudge others who do what they have to do to get here?

I have heard her speak publicly and she spews such hateful diatribes. … It is irrelevant to me how many Latinos are in this group, being brown does not give them right to make racist and stereotypical comments about anyone. I am a Mexican-American and I say unequivocally, Claudia Spencer, you do not speak for me.

Tina Jillings

Vista

The world is watching

We are long overdue to embrace integrity and law. For God's sake, our time is up. We must act now and impeach … Bush and his criminal team. We can no longer afford politics of evil.

Embrace enlightened self-interest now. Impeach now. This is the greatest need of our time. How can we build anything on blatant corruption at the highest levels?

The world is watching you.

David Harris

Del Mar

Web Comments

Local youth march to drum up support for 'new civil rights movement'

Readers respond to our March 24 story about 30 Latino students leaving schools in San Marcos and Escondido to march for what they called the "new civil rights movement." Three organizers from the Los Angeles-based coalition called By All Means Necessary joined them.

Get it right

Civil rights are for citizens: "Illegal aliens are not covered under civil rights. Just another tactic that will backfire and make Americans even more angry."

Any excuse

Reardon: "High school students are always trying to combine a cause with an excuse to cut classes. They will be for or against apple pie, the man-eating shark, global warming (or cooling), the late Anna Nicole…even rights for law-breakers. Good thing parents do not keep photos of our youthful foolishness to break out to our friends when we are 35!"

March for equality

Trilby: "The racist blogs miss the point and instead concentrate on 'illegal aliens.' These Hispanic students are citizens of the United States and are only asking for equal rights, fair treatment and a relief from hate toward those with brown skins. Not so long ago, this same kind of racism lead to lynching African-Americans and screaming against integration. Now it's found a new target - the poor and defenseless Hispanic. But these bullies will go the way of Jim Crow - into obscurity and the dustbin of history. The tide is inexorably toward civil rights for all and with time it will overcome hate and prejudice. As the old saying goes, 'time and tide wait for no man.' "

The right way

Pat R: " 'Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door.' The lamp is lifted by the golden door, not the jimmied back window! Come in through the front door or don't come at all!"

Oceanside councilman wants to repeal lobbyist law

Readers respond to our March 24 story about Oceanside City Councilman Jerry Kern saying he will ask his council colleagues to repeal an Oceanside law requiring people who lobby elected officials or staffers to register with the city.

Too pricey

Treadway: "$60,000 so Wood and Sanchez can beat up on Jack Orr? That is outrageous. Thanks Jerry for choosing the practical over the political. I am glad at least someone on the city council doesn't want to use our money for their own political vendetta. Keep up the good work."

Move on

Get over it: "The new troika's three stooges have nothing better to do than run around and reverse decisions of a prior council. Recall hmmmm. Throw the bums out."

Buried in paper

Too much work: "It is true. This new law really placed a burden on the City Clek's office. They are understaffed as it is and this law just made the pile of paperwork grow. While I feel government is transparent, I don't think this was a good process. Let's find another way that does not require taxpayer resources."

Not so nice

Recall Kern: "All of your folks who voted for the 'nice guy' Jerry Kern made the mistake of your life. He will vote to erode public participation and vote to obscure public information like the lobbyist rules at every opportunity. Watch his votes; he isn't out there to protect your neighborhoods or the environment. All of his campaign words was false and empty. Recall him now before they start putting 10-story buildings all over town and gobbling up beach access."

Red-light camera violations are worse for on-duty law enforcement

Readers respond to our March 24 story about how the punishment for law enforcement officers who are not justified in running a red light is worse than what the average citizen faces for a similar violation.

Cool cops

JD: "Good to hear! Officers aren't exempt from traffic laws and it's good to know they are held to that higher standard."

Light on safety

What a scam…: "Everyone knows it's not about safety - it's all about cash flow to cities. And these things make you jump everytime you get close, trying to anticipate whether the lights turning yellow, slam on your brakes causing the guy behind you to do the same. I see it all the time, they actually make intersections less safe."

What does that mean?

JA: "Dealt with internally? What about court appearances, traffic school and insurance consequences that the rest of us face? Who says that there isn't a double standard?"

Betty Crocker

BJane: "There should be a few extra perks for our cops. This is one of the most dangerous jobs there are and I'm grateful they are willing to protect and serve. If allowed, I'd bake cookies for them every day."