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OPINION
> LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters to the Editor
Apr 11, 2008
Mills Act Needed
The Mills Act was adopted in 1995 as an incentive by the city of San Diego to encourage historic preservation. Today, developers, unions and special-interest groups are lobbying the city to reform historic designation in order to free up valuable land for McMansions and large mixed-use development projects all over San Diego.
The city is not worried about the $600,000 in tax benefits for historic properties that have been extensively researched and go through a comprehensive approval process by the city's own Historic Resources Board. Our city has spent and continues to spend much more taxpayer money on such things as the Kroll Report, outside legal fees, "closed session settlements," Planning Commission and City Council meetings, etc .... Our city government is being worked and pressured by the building industry and special-interest groups and their lobbyists to reform the Mills Act and other strategic land development codes in order to guarantee an unobstructed permit entitlement process for the billions in future development revenues, property taxes, City Development Services Department fees, political contributions and other high paying jobs.
Citizens of San Diego are trying to fight back using the Mills Act, historic preservation, CEQA, municipal codes, land development codes, Coastal Commission and the judicial system to preserve their neighborhoods from character assassination and a diminishing quality of life.
I designated my 1935 La Jolla home and garden in the Barber Tract in 1988 before the Mills Act tax incentive was adopted by the city in order to create value in my property by documenting my family home as a signature San Diego-designated historic landmark property.
The La Jolla Barber Tract historic district neighborhood now has 14 San Diego-designated historic landmark properties and is currently being taken apart house by house to make room for large McMansions. My home has been designated for 20 years as a San Diego landmark and will soon lose its historic garden setting and evening sunlight to a three story Mc Mansion now being built behind me on Vista De La Playa. Everyone building today wants a three-story house, ocean view and as much square footage as they can get at the expense of other neighbors.
The builders and architects love building big houses for millions in La Jolla and other high-end neighborhoods in San Diego. The city has years of experience in approving development and after spending four years and a sizable amount of our savings fighting this McMansion behind me, all I can say is my home has contributed more to San Diego and La Jolla then a new McMansion will ever have done for this city. To all of you who designed, approved and paid for the McMansion being built adjacent to my historic home, shame on you for this oversized energy hog.
Joe Marrone
La Jolla
Helping the homeless
Which is more obnoxious? "Transients loitering" on benches or affluent women "loitering" on benches in La Jolla?
Esther Viti's bench sitting is shameful. Those benches may have been donated, but they are public space for everyone to use.
The problem is not loitering but the presence of poverty and homelessness in our country. The presence of poor people is a reminder that all is not well in the USA. It is time that San Diego (including La Jolla) consider an outstanding program that has been successful in New York and many other cities. It provides homeless people with decent housing, a support system, counseling and most of all hope.
What a radical idea!
"Helping people reclaim lives lost: We restore hope and dignity by offering opportunities for health and self-sufficiency."
Read about the The Bowery Residents' Committee (BRC) on-line at www.brc.org.
Tanja Winter
La Jolla
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