The Bishop’s School is failing in its obligation to La Jolla
I was born and raised in La Jolla and, while I’m a proud La Jolla High School Viking, I have great respect and iration for The Bishop’s School. It’s an elite institution preparing young adults for excellence and success. Bravo.
But I’ve noticed that the school’s recent acquisition on Pearl Street (the old Jack in the Box) is becoming increasingly dilapidated. With its flimsy fence and collection of unsightly school buses, it’s more and more redolent of a blighted building. It creates a feeling among residents that this area is completely neglected. And this is bad news for the rest of the area.
Philip Zimbardo of Stanford University noted, “Vandalism can occur anywhere once communal barriers — the sense of mutual regard and the obligations of civility — are lowered by actions that seem to signal that ‘no one cares.’”
To add insult to injury, this is present on one of La Jolla’s arterial roads, with thousands of residents and tourists exposed to the mess on a daily basis. It’s unfortunate for all, and the school’s leadership should be more attentive to the negative effects created by this unoccupied space.
As Harry Truman said, “All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors.”
The Bishop’s School has an obligation to be a good neighbor and role model. But right now, it’s falling short of the mark. We deserve better.
— James Rudolph
Thank you to kind stranger
On May 24 while crossing at the corner at Ivanhoe Avenue and Cave Street I was struck by a car, thrown onto its hood and landed on the street.
While lying in the middle of the road, ittedly in shock and disoriented, a lovely gentleman — and I do mean gentle man — immediately rushed to my side. He sat on the street, held my hand and reassured me I would be fine and that he would stay with me until help came.
He proceeded to direct others to call 911 and to block traffic from coming through. It was so comforting to have his calm, kind, reassuring presence at such a stressful and frightening time.
He did in fact stay by my side until my husband and the ambulance arrived. I am so sorry that throughout all the chaos I didn’t get his name and was not able to thank him enough for being there for me that day. This is my belated but heartfelt thank you!
The kindness of strangers should never go unrecognized, and I sincerely hope he reads this and knows how much I appreciate him.
— Kandee Bondy
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Letters published in the La Jolla Light express views from readers about community matters. Submissions of related photos also are welcome. Letters reflect the writers’ opinions and not necessarily those of the newspaper staff or publisher. Letters are subject to editing. To share your thoughts in this public forum, email them with your first and last names to [email protected]. The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday for publication in the following week’s paper. Letters without the writer’s name cannot be published. Letters from the same person are limited to one in a 30-day period. ♦
