North County Times

Editorial got it wrong on Fire Mountain traffic

The June 7 editorial ("Road closures are ill advised") was incredible. It was sanctimonious, woolly-headed and contained at least two major factual errors. A D grade at best.

It has been established that more than 80 percent of the traffic on Downs Street is through traffic to/from Oceanside Boulevard. A quarter-mile west of Downs is Interstate 5, a half-mile east is El Camino Real, both designed and built for heavy through traffic and both with excellent intersections with Oceanside Boulevard. That's where the displaced traffic will go.

The principle of restricting heavy through traffic from quiet residential streets has been well established, and it must be clear to the meanest intelligence that it is a wholly proper and supportable principle. Except, apparently, by the NCT.

The editorial states, "Speed bumps have slowed traffic in Fire Mountain." There are no speed bumps on Downs, or anywhere else in the Fire Mountain area, and many vehicles traverse the road at 50 mph or more. The editorial also states "Close two streets to traffic … Avocado at Vista and Ivy at Jefferson." How come you don't know that West Ivy deadends into a strawberry farm before it reaches Jefferson? The intersection closure proposed is in fact Avocado between Vista and Ivy.

GRAHAM MARRS

Oceanside

U.S. would win if ever in a war with China

Ms. Tara Staton (Letters, May 11) of El Camino High School made some good points regarding the U.S. response to China in the spy plane incident. The president and his administration did a good job in navigating their way to an agreement that got our people back home safely.

However, Ms. Staton has made a conclusion regarding the relationship of China and the U.S. that should not be allowed to stand lest some others be inclined, through lack of refutation, to conclude as well.

In her letter she states that the huge population of China, if pressed into military service, would provide an adversary the U.S. forces could not overcome. This is clearly incorrect. In a war with China anytime in the foreseeable future, the U.S., regardless of our inferiority populationwise, would easily win.

This, of course, is not meant to advocate such a thing as war with China. What this letter is meant to do is to point out that as long as the U.S. maintains the military superiority it has and does not flinch in the face of aggression we will continue to live in a safe world inhabited by some countries and men that would, if our guard were to drop or our resolve subside, impose their will on others.

DAVE HALL

Vista

Americans must not repeat mistakes of past

As Americans, we are both blessed and cursed with a short collective memory.

One benefit is our ability to get along as a group and, for the most part, avoid racial warring as seen in other parts of the world, such as the Balkans.

However, the great downside is that we all too often forget that we still have enemies in the world.

An excellent example is the situation with our spy plane and China. No one seems to care that the Chinese have ripped our plane apart, stolen our secrets and only now are negotiating giving it back. Meanwhile, many government officials push for reduction of our military as if in denial of the fact that war happens.

As San Diegans, we know very well how dependent we all are on the military for both protection and job opportunities. The last time we were in denial about war, 2,500 Americans were killed or wounded in Pearl Harbor. Are we ready to forget history's lesson and pay the price again? Perhaps the only way for this to change is if I, or others like me, were to get elected to set things right, but I'm 17, which means I can't hold office for about another 10 years. Can we last that long?

ANTHONY NAPOLITANO

Carlsbad

We need a man of vision in the Republican Party

At the age of 24, Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, lobbied for a transcontinental railroad. This was at a time when he had never even seen a train. Lincoln was a man of vision.

In 1913, when the newfangled aeroplane was a 10-year-old novelty, Teddy Roosevelt learned to fly. He, too, was a man of vision.

Ronald Reagan set the stage to overturn old laws passed to favor the printed press. Reagan, another Republican, saw the future of the telemedia and became the Great Communicator, proving himself a man of vision.

Today, another Republican leader, George W. Bush, is blazing a new era by reverting to archaic, 20th-century energy solutions whose days are surely numbered. This is not a display of vision. This is an administration of "Arsenic and Old Politics" - Texas style.

I do not believe Bush is an evil man, nor such a stupid man, but he has been duped by his Texas icons, the corrupt and greedy oil-patch buddies.

Very likely, 30 years from now, we will look back on this time of extraordinary corporate greed and public blackmail and wonder why we submitted to our fears right on the threshold of an age of new energy technology.

As this day approaches and citizens disconnect from archaic grids, who will pay the billions of dollars in blackmail bonds?

J. HOWARD CREWS

Fallbrook

New CSUSM schedule burdens families

Though I agree that Cal State San Marcos must do its part to conserve energy during this crisis, I cannot say I am in agreement with the way they propose doing it ("CSUSM to enact four-day week for summer," May 24). For those of us who have child-care issues, the mandated 10-hour-a-day work schedule is not that easy to comply with.

In my department there are now five of us faced with the problem of accommodating our child-care needs. I don't think President Gonzalez considered this problem prior to making the decision. His kids are grown and in college, and his wife is not employed, so he has no worries.

My husband commutes and works long hours, so I am the one who drops off and picks ups my children. I cannot burden my day-care provider with an additional two hours a day just so CSUSM can save energy. Some day-care providers do not even offer extended hours.

For the many who can adhere to this schedule, I support them. But as a working mother who must consider day-care issues, I am not in support of this mandatory schedule.

I strongly feel that there are other ways the university could contribute to energy conservation without having to burden all families with children. Once again, the university discriminates against those who have chosen to have a family.

TRICIA C. FRADY

Student Financial Services

Cal State San Marcos

Vast majority want 'B.C.' back

Why did the paper remove "B.C."? Just because few objected to the one strip is no reason to remove it. It appears that the vast majority want it back, including me.

LES SEYMOUR

Fallbrook

Questioning NCT's front page priorities

Congratulations on the North County Times' continued excellent coverage of events political. The stories on the May 29 visit to San Diego by the president were precise and unbiased as usual.

As if to prove its integrity the NCT published two photos of Mr. Bush and only three of the protesters (looked to be a huge crowd of 10 or so of those). Keep up the good work. I can't wait for tomorrow's version of the facts.

GEORGE LOWE

Vista

SS gives civil service workers more, not less

One of the North County Times readers was wondering why her Social Security widow's benefits were reduced because of her city of San Diego pension ("Social Security not fair to widow," May 29). I can explain.

The law granting Social Security widow's benefits was passed in the 1930s when many women did not work outside the home. Because they were financially dependent upon a husband, lawmakers said a woman should get a portion of her husband's Social Security up to 50 percent while he is still living and up to 100 percent after he dies. Of course, over the years, more and more women entered the labor force and earned their own Social Security retirement benefits. And the law has always provided for a dollar-for-dollar offset between the two benefits.

But before laws were changed in the 1980s, government employees who did not pay into Social Security but were married to someone who did pay Social Security taxes slipped through a crack.

They received their full government pension and a full spouse's or widow(er)'s benefit from Social Security. This obviously was not fair and was not the intent of Congress. So Congress simply said we should treat people with government pensions the same way we treat people with Social Security pensions. But they cut government employees a little slack and set up a two-thirds offset instead of a dollar-for-dollar reduction.

So instead of being unfair, the letter writer should realize she's actually getting a better deal than her private sector counterparts.

TOM MARGENAU

director of public affairs

Social Security

Administration

San Diego

Bush's actions worse than Clinton's failings

In response to Bob Haunschild's letter of June 2, I am one senior citizen who finds it much easier to forgive Clinton's moral failings than George W.'s shafting of all Americans by supporting his oil, energy and corporate friends to the financial detriment of all of us (especially Californians), not to mention what he and his crew will try to do to the environment we will be leaving to our future generations.

What a photo op he had in the Sierras. If he had given one of our giant sequoias a big hug, it would have been perfect. What a farce. Perhaps it is better left to God to judge who are the moral and who are the hypocrites among us.

BOB FRAZIER

Oceanside

California on way to becoming socialist state

A history lesson: The Second Amendment is about to become a privilege, not a right, much like driving a car in California. The liberal left think that Assembly Bill 35 is a good idea. But with a stroke of a pen, the state would decide who may and may not have guns. Some people have a right, and others don't.

Doesn't this scare anyone? If so, tell your politicians to vote it down. Owners of certain SKS brand rifles were told a few years ago that they needed to register these weapons, and if they did they could keep them. Soon afterward they were made illegal. Now gun owners are to be registered if AB 35 legislation passes.

Sadly, California is leading the nation in becoming a socialist state. Only politically correct speech may be spoken, and the right to self-defense is being eliminated. The First and Second Amendments are being modified, socialized and legislated away. Celebrities with bodyguards and guns tell us we should not have guns and what political and religious beliefs we should have. Arms and freedom of speech and religion are only for the political elite.

Freedom is departing this state rapidly. The First and Second Amendments are necessary for freedom.

LARRY DUCAS

Fallbrook

Thoughts from De Luz about Marine copters

While out picking a couple of rock-hard avocados for next month's guacamole, the distant sound of a Marine helicopter coming closer reminded me of a story an old friend related about his tours in Vietnam as an Army ranger. Under heavy fire from the enemy, the most wonderful music to his ears was the sound of an approaching Apache gunship providing decimating cover fire for moving forward or extraction of the wounded.

Conversely, it provoked a completely opposite reaction from the VC. According to his accounts with captured soldiers, that sound struck the fear of God (Mao) in their hearts as they raced away knowing that their lives were about to be clipped short.

To this day, in countries around the world, that same scenario is played out on a regular basis. People on both sides look up and cheer or look up in fear.

To me, that sound is the sound of freedom for myself and millions of other Americans here in this country. The most amazing thing to me is that when I hear that sound come and go, I know who and what they are, and I don't even have to look up at all.

L.M. WROBLESKI

DeLuz

SONGS is dangerous

I understand a 50,000-pound crane fell 50 feet at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station on June 1. A strap broke. That's a long fall. I bet it made quite a hole. I hope the North County Times will run over and get some pictures.

SONGS should be closed ASAP. It's dangerous.

RUSSELL HOFFMAN

Carlsbad

Government exists to maximize profits

Is our government so desperate for your money that they have to rig red light enforcement to maximize their cash? They, of course, can hide behind their behavior as a safety issue, but their actions indicate it has nothing to do with intersection safety, but with raising cash.

At the same time they play their games to maximize traffic fines, the government seizes property and threatens utilities for trying to maximize their profits.

Another example of government hypocrisy is their well-publicized safety campaign on Interstate 15. Last week I witnessed 11 cars pulled over between Escondido and Lake Corona. All 11 were pulled over at the bottom of downhill grades. If their campaign had anything to do with safety rather than raising cash, why didn't I notice one car pulled over on an uphill grade where intent causes speeding, instead of on downhills where gravity causes speeding?

Also, I now hear that the same environmentalists who squashed the building of new power plants, causing our power problem, are now pushing for huge offshore reserves of fishing grounds, with no credible science behind their decisions.

I thought government was sworn to protect their citizens, not screw them. Is there anyone in government who understands that?

CHARLES BONDY

Encinitas

Newspapers support communities

We appreciate your newspaper and other newspapers supporting community activities. We enjoyed very much the performance of the Coastal Communities Concert Band on May 27. When we see our Carlsbad grandchildren in their Little League uniforms it helps us to realize how much newspapers can do to support a community.

On the subject of the "B.C." comic strip: We have seen many letters asking for it back. I hope the writers now realize you have heard their message, and they will think of all the good things the North County Times has done and that you have won and they have lost.

RICHARD AND BARBARA BENTLEY

Oceanside

Condolences to families who lost loved ones

My family and I are so sad to read of the passing of frequent North County Times letter writer, Navy veteran, family man, Harold Stroh. We will miss his cogent and humanitarian writings, always speaking up for the little guy.

He was clearly an activist and patriot of the "greatest generation" until the very end. We send our condolences and sympathy to his dear family.

Also, we want to express our condolences and sympathy to California state Assemblywoman Patricia Bates (R) upon the untimely death of her dear sister several weeks ago. May God bless, protect and help these families.

ROBIN R. ROGERS AND FAMILY

Oceanside

Area would make a beautiful dog park

I have often gazed at the tract of land on the southwest corner of Oceanside Boulevard and Crouch Street and shudder to think that someday this beautiful open space will be the home to just another commercial business site.

And it excites me to think that this beautiful open site can be preserved by just making it into an off-leash dog park. Can this dream become real?

And I must admit, also, that I often go to the local street fairs just to see the wide plethora of dog species, as I am a great dog lover. Once at the street fair, I cannot help but ask strangers of leashed dogs about their dogs. I really think that these people must think I am very strange to take an interest in their dogs. And it is always a great treat for me to be in sight of the great majestic English bulldog, my favorite.

So, get with it, Oceanside. Solicit our City Council and demand that they do something to convert this site into a beautiful open off-leash dog park and make our city just that more beautiful.

Again, what a fun place this site would be as an off/on-leash dog park, dog run, walking trails, grand walks of rows of trees to relax by and many sitting benches.

JAMES COBAR

Oceanside

Make subsidized housing available for artists

While no one will argue the point that Carlsbad/North County should create and subsidize housing for the homeless, elderly and mentally retarded, it is also an inarguable fact that these NC residents, because of severe health or financial limitations, contribute little, if anything, to the enrichment of our community.

Artists, on the other hand, provide immeasurable enrichment to our NC communities yet are not included in government-subsidized housing projects.

In a recent letter to the editor I took it upon myself to speak for NC artists and their need for affordable live/work studio space. It unfortunately fell on deaf ears. Now I see where $4.3 million has been generated to build housing for the homeless in Vista, with Carlsbad giving $75,000 to the project.

My question to North County city officials is, could similar money be identified and directed toward building living and work studio spaces for artists? The city of Carlsbad's Art Office seems unwilling to deal with this issue. Maybe Community Housing Development of North County should try to resolve this matter.

TOM POWERS

Carlsbad

No end in sight to Manchester mania

Ted Krempa either has a poor memory or doesn't want to understand what's going on in Oceanside.The Manchester fiasco has been an item for many years, with promises of completion of a resort by 2001.

However, Manchester still doesn't have an acceptable plan, in-place financing, Coastal Commission approval, or approval of the so-called final plan by the city of Oceanside.I agree with Krempa regarding Jack Feller's ineptness, but I think someone should question the veracity of Manchester or their reps. Looking at the council it has to be Ms. Sanchez. She has a law background, understands contracts and development memoranda, she's honest and she can read.

As of June 1 Manchester does not have written approval of financing for the SD Port Authority program. If they did, they could draw down on it, which to my knowledge they cannot; they still need Coastal Commission approval at that location.

Any person with an active mind would begin to ask questions regarding Manchester's intent in Oceanside, its financing approval, its final plans, the Coastal Commission approval, the completion date, its sincerity of purpose, and whether they really intend to build. l expect we'll get a lawsuit from Manchester saying Oceanside didn't cooperate and therefore it is entitled to El Corozan gratis. Perhaps Krempa could enlighten me and others on these items and establish a resort opening date carved in stone.

I don't know Ms. Sanchez, but I appreciate that she is protecting the interest of Oceanside residents.

DICK ZAJIC

Oceanside

6/9/01

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