Don’t make local beaches like state parks
In response to the article “S.D. OKs stricter street vendor rules, but La Jolla leaders aren’t satisfied” (Feb. 22, La Jolla Light) and the recent changes with the law:
For the most part I am happy with the new changes, as it has been a lot of work. But there are concerning issues within the new code that a municipality could create allotted expressive-activities zones in traditional public forums.
I would also like to address Bob Evans’ statements that beaches and parks shouldn’t allow [commercial] expressive activities. What he wants would [essentially] create a state park out of all the beaches, which means everyone who wants to engage in any activities must receive permission from the government, including any use or access. It would turn a traditional public forum into a limited public forum, which is unconstitutional because what he proposes would limit First Amendment activities.
Patrons must pay a fee for a permit to enter a state park. Could you imagine if every park and beach in San Diego costs as much as Torrey Pines State Beach for people to enjoy and access?
William Dorsett
Coastal reserve closure seems to be a matter of public vs. privacy
I couldn’t agree more with Kevin McNeal (“Surfers need to protect access to Black’s Beach,” Our Readers Write, Feb. 22, La Jolla Light).
If UC San Diego is successful in making their ongoing illegal closure of Scripps Coastal Reserve permanent, I, too, fear that they will use that as precedent for closing public access to the road to Black’s Beach.
Similar to their claims of ecological degradation at Scripps Coastal Reserve, the university can assert that closing the access road to Black’s Beach is an ecological necessity because of the use of side trails by some surfers to shorten their trek to the beach.
The reality is that a public-access closure by UC San Diego of the paved Black’s Beach road would still allow La Jolla Farms homeowners to drive down to and park at Black’s Beach using their coveted gate key.
In effect, this would turn Black’s Beach into a private beach for the exclusive use of La Jolla Farms homeowners.
As repulsive as this would be, doesn’t it seem to be the point of all this? UC San Diego certainly appears to be using imagined ecological-degradation claims to protect the privacy of Chancellor Pradeep Khosla’s house and the exclusivity of the La Jolla Farms and Scripps Estates Associates neighborhoods.
Frank Kunst
Calle de la Plata traffic is too much and too fast
The volume of traffic on Calle de la Plata has greatly increased. As much as I love the “pedestrian only” area in The Shores, sadly it has affected the Calle de la Plata residents more than anyone. Their street is now the only direct access to the western side of The Shores.
For emergency equipment, this makes speed bumps impossible. I think the solution might be to eliminate the right-turn capability from Calle de la Plata onto Torrey Pines Road. Too many drivers use our neighborhoods to avoid traffic (trust me, I do, too), but it greatly compromises the residents’ quality of life.
Basically, make Calle de la Plata a one-way street between Torrey Pines Road and Paseo Dorado.
To be honest, I live on an adjacent street, but my epiphany comes as a result of my cat, Huckleberry, being hit and killed recently on Calle de la Plata. I spoke to many of the neighbors and they all agreed that the level of traffic is unacceptable for a residential neighborhood. When cars are parked on both sides, it becomes virtually a single lane, and yet too many drivers go way too fast.
Huck was one of a kind. Please consider that if it were your dog or cat, you’d hope drivers would respect that they are in a neighborhood and slow down. But we need to address a problem when it is so obvious.
Sharman Dye
Why does SDUSD deficit exist?
It’s not surprising to see that San Diego Unified [School District] is now going to lay off people most essential in our education system — teachers (“San Diego Unified plans to issue teacher layoff notices as district seeks budget cuts,” Feb. 22, La Jolla Light).
Something needs to be done about their deficit. But why does this deficit exist?
CDE [California Department of Education] data shows that in 2019, SDUSD spent $14,819 per student. In 2022, it was $20,107. That growth rate outpaced inflation. We should be flush with cash. Where is the money going?
Last June, SDUSD gave its certificated group a 15 percent raise over two years. SDUSD’s own payroll records show the median total pay of a certificated employee in 2022 was $102,024. According to required disclosures, the raise increased spending by $122.4 million. In that meeting, the board heard a presentation projecting more than $100 million in deficit spending in the future.
Mr. [Cody] Petterson didn’t ask how SDUSD would avoid cuts before approving this raise. No board member asked anything. Recent academic performance has been miserable, but none suggested using that money to improve education. No explanation was given how more money for adults already making six-figure incomes would help fix that. Adding money to adult pay has never been shown to improve the education of kids.
Like many districts, SDUSD does not appear to consider improving education their first priority. Not when they can improve their own bank s. And it seems the board rubber-stamps what its special interests want.
It’s hard to imagine parents are OK with this, but where were they during these discussions? And where are they during school board elections?
Todd Maddison
This Whaling Bar isn’t really a bar
The La Valencia Hotel has been one of the most important parts of my life since 1981. But converting La Sala from a glorious lounge into a restaurant was a sad day for La Jolla.
Now The Whaling Bar has “reopened,” but it isn’t a bar; it’s a small restaurant (“La Jolla’s Whaling Bar is back where it began,” Feb. 22, La Jolla Light). Raymond Chandler would turn over in his grave if he were to see it.
Lewis Goodman
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