Desalination isn't only option
While the North County Times editorial correctly pointed out the high cost both to ratepayers and the environment of desalination, it was incorrect in concluding that the massive proposed plant at Camp Pendleton is either necessary or inevitable "Desalination can power area's future," May 27). Rather than spend billions of dollars on desalination, we should focus on less costly and more efficient practices such as water conservation, reuse and upgrades to infrastructure.
In 1991, Santa Barbara and two other water districts decided to build a $32 million desalination plant. At the same time, Santa Barbara began to implement conservation measures so successful in reducing water demand the desalination plant was unnecessary.
In addition to carrying water that can be reclaimed and conserved, our nation's water systems lose 6 billion gallons of water per day due to problems such as leaky pipes. Desalination is energy-intensive and threatens marine environments. We should be investing money into repairing infrastructure and implementing low-cost, smart, efficient solutions that do not create more long-term problems.
Communities do not need massive costly desalination plants to address water needs. Instead, we should be focusing on less costly and more efficient solutions. Find out more at www.foodandwaterwatch.org.
Corie Lopez
organizer, water program
Food & Water Watch
San Diego
Keep government out of private business
I am opposed to the cops playing robbers with the tow companies. As private businesses, they will do a far better job than government will do.
Amazing that when private business wants to make a profit, it is called greed. When government wants to take down a private business, it is called fiscal responsibility.
How much do the tow companies currently pay to the city for a "franchise" fee that is paid annually? The city will have an unfair advantage in storage yards, as the property will not be on the tax rolls. A statement was made by one of the City Council members that service to the public would improve once the city takes it over. That is hard to believe.
Some government agencies are now "outsourcing" to private industry jobs that have been done by government employees because the cost of supporting the employees has gone over budget.
The bottom line is, any government should not even consider taking over private industry.
Bob Shuster
Escondido
New senior center lacks basic necessities
Seems when the senior center at El Corazon was built, it was designed to be completed in three different phases. The first phase, which is having its red-carpet opening from 4 to 7 p.m. June 6, will not have all of the design features planned for it.
The funds to build the kitchen were not part of the first phase. I am told those funds will come with the second phase, but there is no start date for the second phase yet. You have been told to expect food service at lunch and socializing in a dining room. That is not going to happen yet. There is no swimming pool for your exercising either.
With all the money this council has approved for giving to nonprofits and no idea what it was spent on, one would think those funds could have built a kitchen and pool. I would like to see you all at the grand opening asking your City Council why this is going on and the seniors put on a someday back burner.
Donna McGinty
Oceanside
La Raza ties should disqualify Sotomayor
I've just been told that Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama's choice for justice of the Supreme Court, is a member of La Raza, an organization advocating driver's licenses for illegal aliens, amnesty for illegal aliens and the separation of several of our Southwestern states from the United States.
It seems incredible, but if true should disqualify her out of hand, and give us further pause as to the judgment of the president!
Charles Palmeter
Escondido
Keep physical education requirement
California Assembly Bill 351 currently being considered in state legislative bodies would permit substitution of California Cadet Corp, cheer team, dance team, color guard, drill team, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and marching band for required physical education courses. This is a disservice to the health and productive future of students.
The argument is that students get exercise in these classes. California Board of Education adopted content standards for physical education is not just exercise. Students learn from physical education-credentialed teachers about the exercise science of physical fitness, skills of movement and related knowledge. They learn by doing and understand the benefits of lifelong regular physical activity. They study how higher levels of fitness and skill benefit health, doing daily chores, participation in recreation activities at all levels and performing effectively on the job.
Students use math a lot in science classes. Would anyone agree to shortchange them by saying science classes can be substituted for required mathematics courses? Of course not.
Ash Hayes, Ed.D.
board chairman
San Diego Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
Obama a political and moral issue
The North County Times discloses a lot of data from the Associated Press but not much from the more conservative side. Our new President Obama is not only a political issue, but a moral issue. He places empathy ahead of the rule of law. See who he appoints to Supreme Court.
Closing Gitmo without a plan to really control those terrorists, then recommending some be released in U.S. and we foot the bill and consequences. Obama has brutalized Wall Street and set himself up as chief administrator, telling Chrysler and others how to build cars. Obama has become the right hand of the U.A.W. and unions in general.
The billions of dollars, starting with outgoing Bush, to continue failing large companies is the wrong move. There is a time for failure; try to find a new Packard or Nash or even a new Studebaker. Free enterprise has worked for a long time with competition as the rule as well as the rule of law.
Many of us believe Jack Kemp and Newt Gingrich ideology should prevail.
Bob Limpus
Fallbrook
Give community credit where credit is due
In response to all those who responded to my letter to the editor (May 19): I knew that Mount Carmel was not in Poway but, yes, it is in the Poway Unified School District. I also had a son who graduated from Mount Carmel. I guess my statement should have said Penasquitos instead of Poway.
Why not give the community credit where credit is due? San Diego gets enough publicity.
Sarah Murphy
Escondido
Membership in groups should be voluntary
The city of Escondido is holding small businesses hostage in their dispute to make the Business Improvement District a voluntary organization for membership.
The district is unwanted by the majority of small businesses. The Business Improvement District is a cover name for the Downtown Business Association. The Escondido Chamber of Commerce is already doing the same things as the DBA, and the chamber membership is voluntary. The BID is mandatory for downtown businesses. Small businesses are made to pay a license fee, and on top of that, a fee of up to $450 and more to be an involuntary member of the DBA and BID.
Escondido is trying to make small businesses pay for their shortfalls. Our city staff is being forced to collect this fee and charge the protesting businesses 25 percent a month penalty. Our city is telling protesters that they face private credit collections and reporting to credit agencies. In establishing the BID, did the city just raise license fees and what are they hiding?
Small businesses have been fighting this for years and they get no help from elected officials, just doublespeak! Elections are coming. I vote to make membership in the DBA voluntary!
James Nemish
Escondido
Water, water everywhere
There have been discussions about water shortages forever. There is never a mention of survival from having no water, let alone any solutions. Once in a while, you would hear news of plans in process for a desalination plant, but never any production. That is a very slow process at best.
The people in the city, county, state and federal governments will do nothing until it becomes a crisis. When a crisis hits, they will go public and talk about it for their own personal exposure.
We live in Southern California, a desert environment. Water has always been a problem.
You would think our officials would have had enough common sense to have made water a priority a long time ago. Desalination plants could have been up and running now.
Environmental concerns are important and should be addressed, but not as important as individual survival (same thing with our own oil supply, another topic for another time). Now we will have to pay more for less water.
Too much political rhetoric and not enough common sense.
Marvin Agnew
Oceanside
Opposing opinions should be based in fact
I am more than willing to listen to the opinions of one of my BFFs, Fidel. I only have one requirement, and that is that they come from a basis in fact. No more chest-thumping and no more Whig references (Letters, May 28).
Right now, Obama is nothing more than a garbageman who is cleaning up the mess from the former resident.
FYI to Mr. Horowitz (Letters, May 28): The CIA's records that Mr. Cheney says will vindicate him on torturing say just the opposite. There was no actionable intelligence gotten from waterboarding. None. His desperate attempt at absolving himself is pathetic.
Mr. Horowitz, you cannot get your "facts" from Fox News. They disseminate nothing but conservative drivel and lies. There are many other sources of authentic news and I suggest you try any of them.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates (and) Gen. David Petraeus … have said that we have got to close down Guantanamo. They said it was nothing but a smear on the face of the United States because of the torture practices. Gates said that the detainees who were considered dangerous would go to our maximum-security prisons, where no one has escaped. …
Peggy Sloan
Escondido
System gone nuts?
Re: "Pretrial hearing starts for officer in road rage shooting," May 28: If prosecutors can't see how wrong this is, we are going to lose peace officers and other Good Samaritans in the roiling fight on the street. Why would law enforcement or nice guys like me get involved when we know the courts will prosecute the innocent and defer blame and punishment for the scofflaw?
Get a clue, people! Has our entire system gone nuts?
John Sable
Vista
Build 'Great Wall' along southern border
If it is deemed that individual freedom and personal choice should not stand in the way of permanent jobs, then I suggest Herbert Pairitz need go no further than his recommendation No. 3 (Letters, May 30) â"â" "stop illegal immigration."
Sans individual freedom and personal choice, the government could conscript all unemployed able-bodied U.S. residents to build a "Great Wall" along our southern border. Apparently, a similar job stimulus plan worked out well for China, 2.4 millennia ago.
We could even organize a United Wall Workers union, along the same lines as the United Auto Workers. With all our unemployed working on the Great Wall, surely the UWW would be too big to fail.
Grant Kuhns
Carlsbad
No justification for Kern recall
I am appalled at the petty mischaracterizations of position on issues like rent control, veteran concerns, pensions, taxes, gas prices, etc., used as recall justification.
My wife and I have been confronted by these and others, e.g., one stated the petition was to "recall the mayor."
Amid an economic climate as austere as current times, it is unconscionable to see valuable resources wasted on recall.
The advancement of political agendas should not be permitted to impact public funds (special election) unless there is direct evidence of malfeasance, violation of public trust, laws, codes, etc. or other serious improprieties.
Otherwise, let the public speak at next regular election cycle.
It is unrealistic to hold a single councilperson accountable for decisions rendered by majority vote (3-2 minimum). No one has a super vote or inordinate influence on the council; each vote counts the same!
Shelby Jacobs
Oceanside
