Letters to the Editor: The Village of La Jolla needs uniform publication racks

• OPINION / OUR READERS WRITE / LETERS TO THE EDITOR:

• The Village of La Jolla needs uniform publication racks — It’s time to replace the too numerous outdoor newspaper and magazine racks in the Village.

• Current racks are unsightly and do not enhance the Village’s appeal.
• Most racks are not permanently mounted.
• Racks sit on almost every street in the Village.
• There is no standardization in their appearance; racks vary in size, color, materials and location.
• Most are in despair with broken doors, missing/broken windows and battered or broken containers.
• No one is accountable for the condition of racks, housekeeping, and which material is dispensed.

We need a policy that we enforce! I recommend we limit rack locations to main streets like Prospect, Girard, La Jolla Boulevard and assign someone responsible for their upkeep and maintenance. We need to work toward uniformity. One standardized rack should suffice for all material dispensed — be it purchased by the city or supplied by the material vendors. Consider the outdoor rack provided by JCDecaux as an example (pictured above). Such a design would provide standardization and organization for any material dispensed in the Village. They are used in Chicago and San Francisco. If the material vendors supply the racks, that’s fine, just make them agree to one model design. — Gene Pantiga

• Burglars are indeed casing neighborhoods! — I read the March 12, 2015 La Jolla Light article on the robbery problems in the Bird Rock area and wanted to thank you for writing this and also tell you that you’re spot on regarding neighborhoods being cased by burglars. We had our Bellevue Avenue home robbed on Feb. 28. They took roughly $20,000 worth of watches and jewelry. We’ve been married for more than 30 years and lived in many different homes in various cities. This was our first robbery and I must admit I was surprised at the speed and acuity with which they honed in on specific things.

We usually lock our house up tight, but on occasion, I go for a walk during the day and leave the back door closed but unlocked. I’m fairly sure this is how they entered our home, as there were no open windows or signs of forced entry. Assuming this is true, I’m not usually gone for more than an hour and do not walk regularly or at a specific time. Therefore, it leads me to believe this house may have been watched with some regularity or that someone randomly rang the bell and when no one answered, came to the back to investigate.

This is the second time this house has been robbed in recent years. A previous tenant was robbed on a morning when no one was home. Burglars climbed through a back window and made off with several valuables. Be assured that no longer will happen! From now on, it’s belt and suspenders — our home will be locked and alarms will be set. A neighbor said a wallet was stolen from their car while it was parked in the driveway. I grew up in a neighborhood where no one bothered to lock their houses and we all watched out for each other. I’m now a more streetwise person and will be more vigilant with my property and with that of my neighbors. — Adrienne Klopack

• Archivist is an asset — Mike Mishler (your 10 Questions profile in the March 12, 2015 La Jolla Light issue) is a five-star archivist and researcher for the La Jolla Historical Society. His help is invaluable to anyone seeking obscure documents or information about La Jolla. Thank you, Mike. — Art Miley

• Prime trail fixed and fabulous at Torrey Pines State Reserve; Docent-led hikes set for weekends in March 2015 — Parry Grove Trail, a half-mile loop located in a prime scenic area of Torrey Pines State Natural reserve, has reopened to the public after a five-year closure due to unsafe trail conditions caused by erosion. The trail is now in excellent shape: native vegetation has recovered up to the edges of the trail, false trails have largely grown over and the flower season has begun. Come take a hike! A public ribbon cutting will take place 10 a.m. Sunday, March 15 with representatives of California State Parks, Torrey Pines Docent Society and Torrey Pines association participating. Docents will then lead guided hikes on the trail at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Additional interpretive hikes by docents will take place 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., March 21-22 and March 28-29.

An anonymous donor, via the Torrey Pines association, provided funding for all trail repairs. The Torrey Pines Docent Society also played a pivotal role in supporting the State’s restoration of the trail: volunteers assisted with repairs by installing trail delineators (a rod and cable system). Parry Grove Trail is one of three original trails designed by Guy Fleming and Ralph Cornell between 1915 and 1921. Weekend parking admission to the reserve is $12-$15 (free parking outside the gate along state beach). — Pete Jensen; President, Torrey Pines Association

• Traffic violations abound in the Village — On any day of the week, you can sit at the corner of Wall Street and Ivanhoe Avenue and watch, easily, 30 or more traffic violations. These are parking in the red in front of the post office and bank; U turns in the middle of the intersection (it’s horrible); and cars not stopping at stop signs. If pedestrians don’t watch the cars, they are nearly hit. This needs to stop! — Laura McNally

• Residents who want wall can pay for wall — We live in a cul-de-sac on Ardath road and understand the traffic noise from La Jolla Parkway bothers neighbors whose houses are close to La Jolla Parkway. We would prefer the natural view along La Jolla Parkway rather than a wall. The cost of building the wall is approximately $1 million to $2 million, which it was suggested, be paid by the city of San Diego. One way to keep peoples’ houses quiet without a wall is for residents who are bothered by the traffic noise to install double pane windows. This is what we did for our house and it works! If the wall is to be built, the cost of the wall can be shared by those residents who want the wall. — Nancy Lo

• Time to relocate seals and sea lions — I lived in La Jolla in the late 1960s and ’70s. Both my daughters were born here. One of my fondest memories is of taking them to Children’s Pool. Not only did they enjoy it, but I loved swimming in ocean water and I don’t like body surfing. I plan to move back to La Jolla in September (from New York City) but I will now have to go to Coronado to swim in a cove. Children’s Pool has become “Seal Beach.”

I went to the beach March 4, 2015 and was upset to see that the seals were taking over — I counted 22 lying on the sand — including four pups. Many more were taking a swim, and then there are the sea lions at the Cove ... a friend went in for a swim and told me she would never go in again as she did not enjoy dodging sea lions. I don’t understand how San Diego can continue to ignore the needs and safety of its people, as well as the interests of the numerous restaurants and hotels so badly affected by the cove odors caused by the sea lions.

Is the city really going to wait for someone to be attacked by a Great White shark before acting? Some La Jolla Light readers have written letters to the editor suggesting that SeaWorld relocate the seals and sea lions to an island where they will find food without depriving people of their right to enjoy the beach and be able to swim in its waters. Sounds like a great idea! — Dr. Myriam Miedzian

• WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND? — Letters to the Editor for publication in La Jolla Light and lajollalight.com should be 250 words or less, and sent by e-mail to editor@lajollalight.com and must include the full name of the sender, city of residence and phone number for verification. Note: The content of letters are not the opinions of La Jolla Light.