Letters to the editor policies: These are opinion/letters to the editor pages, provided to give readers an opportunity to express their views. The writings that appear on these pages are the authors’ opinions only and have not been verified as fact. Readers may send letters to: editor@sdranchcoastnews.com. Please limit letters to 500 words or less. Letters must be signed using full first name and last and a contact number. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions for space and clarity.

DM school board creates problems rather than solve them

The Del Mar Union School District had the opportunity last week to right a wrong, and sadly they continued on their path deferring to “not enough information” and “premature decision making.” Could one of the trustees please tell me why, 10 months later, you still do not have the facts to make a decision? This board has spent valuable employee time and community time on a vicious circle to nowhere. A wild goose chase (aka 7-11 Committee) now deferred to “wait and see what the strategic budget task force” can come up with. Having been at a majority of these meetings, I was beginning to think this board was incapable of making one solid decision. However, now that I look at it, perhaps they are even more crafty and their long-term strategy has been continued deferment until even us die-hard attendees get tired of coming and there are no voices left to stand up against them.
What is even more frightening is that this board should have been expediting a budget process, but instead they have created an even bigger one. By tearing apart our community over possible school closures and co-location, they have turned neighbor against neighbor, child against child, they have created such uncertainty and animosity that our ESC programs are crippled, teachers will be laid-off, and our class sizes will be increased.
Those at the highest level of employment are afraid to speak out lest their jobs go the way of our former superintendent or beloved principals. Or, they put themselves at risk for an embarrassing public flogging to determine if the contracts had enough dotted “I”s and crossed “Ts.”
This board was elected as community representatives, to encapsulate the community voice, and enact what is for the greater good of the whole. Yet, so far all I have seen is four ineffective leaders trying to be corralled by one brave soul encouraging the board to take action and move forward. It is like trying to round up a group of schoolmates who would rather focus on petty grievances or old grudges, when they should be standing up as leaders and saying, “I take responsibility for our failures and suggest that we [fill in the blank with something that looks like progress].
Unfortunately, it is too late to recall this group and we are now forced to continue to watch this pathetic excuse for leadership take its course. However, I urge all of our community to be aware, for the 20 of us who stuck our heads out of the hole at the Feb. 24 meeting have seen our shadows and it looks like nine more months of upheaval.
Heidi Niehart
P.S. The board still has a chance to leave a legacy of progress if they would listen to the realtors and the attorneys and buy a building while it is buyer-friendly.

Moving on

As most of you already know, in December 2009 we merged the CMC papers – the Carmel Valley News, Del Mar Village Voice and Rancho Santa Fe Review into MainStreet Media, owners of the La Jolla Light, Del Mar Times and Solana Beach Sun.
At the time of the merger I sold my interests in our three papers to the new company and decided I would stay in my role as publisher through 2010. After three months of blending the culture of two companies into the new company (MainStreet Communications) it became very obvious to me that I saw the world differently than my new partners. I decided I would step down as publisher earlier than originally planned.
When I bought these papers in 2004 I truly believed the Carmel Valley News and Rancho Santa Fe Review were community treasures – they still are! My parting wish is that the new owners treat the papers with the same level of editorial honesty and support that these two papers have had during our ownership going forward. I’ll be keeping an office at the Fairbanks Village Plaza (suite 3-13) and will remain on the new company’s board of directors for the balance of the year.
I wish you all a prosperous and successful 2010!
Dex Allen

Considering terms limits for county supervisors

By Gordon Clanton

In June, voters will be asked to consider term limits for county supervisors.
I am generally opposed to term limits. They rob the public of expertise that comes with experience. They devalue public service, encouraging a cynical view of politics. They greatly expand the influence of corporate lobbyists. Term limits are unnecessary: If elected officials do a bad job, voters can replace them.
Legislative term limits, approved by California voters in 1990, encourage job-hopping among the politically ambitious. They create anxiety among members of Congress that termed-out state legislators will come after their jobs. Term limits are a major source of the costly dysfunction in Sacramento.
But I may make an exception to my opposition to term limits, because races against incumbent supervisors are nearly impossible to win.
Financing a challenger's campaign is difficult, because most donors (other than developers and builders) simply do not care.
The enormous size of the districts, roughly the same as a congressional district, means a successful challenger must do lots of very expensive mail and TV advertising to create name identification. Incumbents almost always have much more money than challengers — in part because of big contributions from developers and other special interests.
Most San Diego County voters live in one of 18 incorporated cities, so they don't think much about county government. If you ask average voters what stake they have in county services, you'll be lucky if they come up with animal control and senior vaccinations. Try running a campaign on that platform!
The best argument for term limits for supervisors is the entrenched incumbent board. All five are white in an increasingly diverse county. All five are Republicans, although the city and now the county of San Diego have Democratic pluralities.
Predictions? Two incumbent supervisors will be re-elected, and term limits will be approved.
Ron Roberts (District 4, downtown San Diego, 16 years on the board) faced two potential challengers, Assemblywoman Lori Saldana and San Diego school board member Sheila Jackson, but both dropped out. Roberts had more than $100,000 cash on hand compared with $17,000 for Saldana. Do the math.
Bill Horn (District 5, North County, 16 years in office) has raised almost $100,000. His strongest challenger, Vista Councilman Steve Gronke, has about $2,000 on hand. Horn, long considered developer-friendly, supports the proposed Merriam Mountains development.
Even if the initiative passes, all the incumbents will be eligible for two more four-year terms. So they are more likely to be taken out by age, illness, boredom or affluence than by this ballot measure.
Gordon Clanton teaches sociology at San Diego State University. He welcomes comments at gclanton@mail.sdsu.edu.

The board’s vision of the DMUSD community is flawed

By Suzanne Hall

Parent, Torrey Hills Elementary School
After rejecting Superintendent Sharon McClain’s design for the composition of the Financial Planning Task Force (FTF) in favor of emphasizing community input, the DMUSD board created an unbalanced FTF that poorly represents the DMUSD community as a whole. This inequitable composition threatens the validity of any recommendations made by this task force.
The FTF is, in part, comprised of 13 parents. Logic would dictate that these 13 parents be spread as equitably as possible across the eight DMUSD schools, with no school receiving more than two parent representatives. However, two of the smallest schools in the district — Del Mar Hills and Ashley Falls — each have three parent representatives.
Conversely, the three largest schools in the district — Torrey Hills, Ocean Air and Sage Canyon — have between them a sum total of four representatives.
As a result, four FTF members represent 51 percent of the student population while 19.6 percent of the students have six representatives. Does this seem fair to the board? To parents of underrepresented schools, it falls far short of equity.
In addition, the board itself chose to appoint to the FTF two of the Del Mar Hills parents and two of the Ashley Falls parents. This, beyond the mandated appointment of a representative by the PTA at each school. The board knew that each of these schools already had one representative, and they chose to seat two more. Thus, the board is directly responsible for the inequity in the composition of the FTF.
Does the board truly believe that the voices of the parents of the other district schools matters less than that of parents at these smaller schools?
This board faces a number of challenging issues, including an increasingly divided community of parents. The composition of the FTF does little to improve the latter, and a concern is that it may do little to improve the budget crisis. The other members of the task force, staff and volunteers representing various aspects of the district, will be met with a skewed perspective on what the parents of the DMUSD want to see in dealing with the district budget crunch. How can these parents represent the well-being of the district as a whole when so many of them represent only one point of view?
The board has made a grave error. There is so very little time before they must make significant decisions for the potential benefit of the district, and yet they have set themselves up for failure by not developing an FTF of the composition they so strongly professed they wanted. This FTF does not represent the community of DMUSD. It represents only a small proportion of the community. And the message sent by the board is: it is the only part of the community that matters to them.
In response, I would remind the board: the larger community will be voting, come November.

Summation of Slater-Price’s State of the County, 2010

Editor’s note: This is a summary of supervisor Pam Slater-Price’s State of the County Address, presented on Feb. 10.

By Pam Slater-Price

Chairwoman, San Diego County Board of Supervisors
The tough economy means government is going through some rough financial weather right now, as is everyone. But due to good planning and cutbacks the County of San Diego is in a better position to weather the storm than most public agencies.
During my term as chairwoman, I promise a balanced, tight, no-frills budget. We are going to need to do things better and with less expense.
To start, I am positive about the future.
But 2009 was not an easy year.
San Diego County lost close to 45,000 jobs.
Our unemployment rate is over 10 percent.
Job losses, slow home sales, and reduced sales taxes are the proverbial snow ball rolling downhill. The result is less revenue for county government to provide necessary core services.
In the coming year the county will operate 33 libraries, three animal shelters, Sheriff’s protection, the probation department, the office of the district attorney, and we run the jails.
The county also oversees a massive health and welfare safety net for the poor, inspects and rates your restaurants for cleanliness and food safety, tests your beach water for contaminants like e.Coli and inspects cash registers and sales at your stores to make certain that you are not being cheated.
We will protect over 45,000 acres at 33 parks and one of the largest multi-species conservation and land protection plans in the country — which this Board of Supervisors put in place.
We protect your food supply through inspections of the county’s $1.5 billion agriculture industry.
The county has firefighting helicopters and we clear dry trees and brush to prevent fires. Last year we spent more than $33 million to protect your homes from fire.
Next month we will complete a Fire Deployment Study. This will assess fire services countywide so we can plan ahead as a region.
By partnering with the private sector to provide services we have saved over $390 million. We will continue that practice where necessary.
During my term as chairwoman , we will not shy away from making tough decisions. We are prepared for harder times because experience tells us we must be prepared.
In the coming year, we will provide the best law enforcement we can muster and the county’s libraries, parks, health programs for kids, and environmental protection will remain top notch.
I will begin planning for a San Dieguito River Park Nature Center near Del Mar. Most of the funds for construction will come from private donations and grants.
I will work to add regional hiking and biking trails along the river by the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
I will also open new initiatives in making county government more transparent, fighting teen use of drugs and alcohol abuse, combating animal cruelty, elder abuse, and a major new regional health initiative and I will continue to support the arts.
I know that issue number one on everyone’s mind is the economy. However, the county isn’t going to solve this problem alone.
Last month, top economists met at the county’s Economic Roundtable to analyze where our local economy is headed. We are trying to forecast the changes and the bumps in the road, because that will drive all our planning.
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and I will work together this year to explore potential incentives to encourage businesses and jobs to relocate in San Diego from other areas.
The county’s role in a recovery is to be business-friendly. And it is imperative that we maintain a financially-solid county government.

Transportation for seniors definitely needed in Carmel Valley

My husband and I moved to Carmel Valley from Pittsburgh, Penn., eight years ago and, unbelievably, realized that there was no public transportation to be found in the entire neighborhood. When in Pittsburgh, both of us took public transportation to work daily and enjoyed reading on the bus as well as conversing with the regulars on our route. We very nicely survived with one car.
I recently read with interest the article about Dr. Julie Saltman who is trying to secure transportation for seniors in Carmel Valley. It is hard to believe that a senior citizen, much less anyone else who either doesn't own a car, or doesn't drive a car, would have to rely on an expensive cab to transport him/her to a doctor appointment. When all surrounding areas offer this service (most also offer public transportation), why not Carmel Valley? The article struck a chord with me inasmuch as my 61 year old husband has an upcoming appointment at Sharp Memorial for a routine procedure. He will be sedated and will be unable to drive home. As it stands currently, I would have to take a day off of work to bring him home from his procedure, which is not necessarily the best use of my time.
I thoroughly back Dr. Saltman's efforts to secure transportation for seniors in Carmel Valley. It is quite unbelievable to me how backwards San Diego is in regard to its public transportation. If we do not want to become another LA, we should try to minimize the number of cars on the road and educate people about the benefits of taking the bus.
Judith Gross
Carmel Valley

Superintendent’s actions cause for concern

I am a fairly new parent to the Del Mar school district, but I have been watching what has been going on during that time. One of the issues raised at the recent school board meeting has caused me enough concern that I am writing to you.
At this last school board meeting, I was watching a parent accuse trustee White of using the DMUSD legal services for her private use. How did this parent get information on district legal bills? I understand this parent made a request to the district for bills, but I have enough experience in my business life to know legal bills are always provided redacted, so that attorney-client privileged information is protected. In all the bills I have seen, the text describing the service is whited out. I am not necessarily concerned with the ignorance of this parent although her behavior was disrespectful and poor role modeling for the children in the audience. I am concerned that a superintendent would potentially put our district at risk for divulging attorney-client information to the public through these legal bills and documents.
I understood when Ms. White explained that her role as board president last year made her point person for legal issues and I understood this role now falls to Ms. Rodriguez. I saw the board explain this and concur this is how they work. But I don’t understand how a superintendent who was involved in an employee complaint which required the district to hire an attorney for this complaint should ethically be looking at these bills and how legally she can provide confidential information to someone. This is wrong.
Ms McClain, when hired for this district, was hired because she claimed to be a team player and a community builder, something this district really needed. Since her arrival, she has been divisive and has pitted school against school. I am now convinced, especially after this very concerning action, that she should be let go. She is damaging this district.
Hanna Morgan

Transportation for seniors in Carmel Valley long overdue

As a longtime resident (23 years) of Carmel Valley I have always read the Carmel Valley News for up-to-date news of our community, so you can imagine how happy I was to read in this week's issue of the effort of my neighbor, Dr. Saltman, to bring to the attention of the Carmel Valley Community Planning Board the [transportation] problem that our seniors in the community are facing.
Somehow, there must be a solution to this as it has been overcome by so many of our neighboring areas. I am sending a copy of this to Sheri Lightner, our council representative, to let her know how urgent this will be for many of us, in the hope that her office will be able to help this [effort to bring transportation for seniors to Carmel Valley] come to fruition.
Cecile Powers
Carmel Valley

Carmel Valley updates

By Sherri Lightner, District One City Councilwoman
I started 2010 on a high note by visiting several community groups, where it was great to see so many friends and familiar faces.
The much-anticipated Ocean Air Rec Center in South Carmel Valley celebrated its grand opening on Jan. 20. Thanks to everyone on the Ocean Air Rec Council for all their efforts in making this center a reality. If you haven’t used this exceptional new facility yet, please check it out!
Many area residents shared their concerns about a proposal to relocate the City’s Hazardous Material units to Station 46 in Santaluz and 47 in Pacific Highlands Ranch. I conveyed your concerns about this proposal to the Fire-Rescue Department, and I’m pleased the department has decided to house these HazMat units elsewhere and retain the existing staffing and equipment at Stations 46 and 47.
After hearing from many of you about the need for additional time to review and comment on the Environmental Impact Report for the Del Mar Fairgrounds Master Plan, we worked with State Senator Christine Kehoe to get an extension on the public comment period. If you haven’t already done so, please submit your comments about the project to the 22nd Agricultural District by Monday, Feb. 8. For more information about this project, please visit our website, www.sandiego.gov/cd1.
The City Council recently approved the Pacific Highlands Ranch Village project. I added several conditions to the project, including a tot-lot, preservation of view corridors, and restrictions on the hours for truck deliveries. It may be a number of years before this project is built, but when completed, the Village will provide long-awaited shopping and services for the community.
Meanwhile, we are working with the City Attorney’s office to determine whether the Water Department can fund the city’s contribution to the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority. I will continue working to identify any potential sources of funding to keep this important organization running.
Please contact my office at any time if we may be of assistance: sherrilightner@sandiego.gov or (619) 236-6611.

DMUSD school board tries to terminate second superintendent

By Kate Takahashi, DMUSD parent

How would you feel if your child forfeited his birthday presents to make a school donation only to find that three grown adults snatched it from her and threw it in the Pacific Ocean? If the three-person majority of Del Mar Union School Board succeeds in their agenda of firing Superintendent Sharon McClain, they would do just that, but on a much larger scale. Please read on.
The economic reality
During these tough economic times, we DMUSD parents are scrambling to save the cherished ESC programs that our district can’t afford. Honestly, it’s exhausting, but we do it for our children. And the children themselves are working hard to keep their teachers. I have stories of Girl Scout Troops donating, pancake breakfasts, garage sales... We’re all doing our best to scrape together every penny we can.
The economic crisis is not just affecting ESC. DMUSD’s reserves are millions of dollars below the recommended level for a Basic Aid district. If our reserves dip below 3 percent of expenditures, the state could be required to balance our budget in any way it sees fit — larger classroom sizes, teacher lay-offs – without community input.
The board’s actions
And what is our school board doing about the budget? They are calling their attorneys – daily at times – at the rate of $160/hour. From July through December of 2009, they racked up $21,339 in legal fees. What could be so important? The school board is searching for ways to fire Dr. Sharon McClain, the supremely qualified leader they chose in September 2008 to replace Tom Bishop, the last guy they fired that same year.
Disaster either way
If the board fires Dr. McClain for cause, she could sue for the length of her contract, plus benefits, plus attorneys’ fees. That could amount to as much as half a million dollars. If they buy out her contract for one year, that could approximate a quarter million dollars. Either way, that money comes from the district coffers to educate your child.
Incidentally, this board, in pursuing this wasteful litigation, is choosing to triple-pay a superintendent’s salary. Remember Tom Bishop? He’s Superintendent 1, and we are still paying his buyout. If they fire Dr. McClain – or Superintendent 2 – then the district would pay her while paying an interim superintendent, or Superintendent 3 (if they could find anyone willing to work here). So DMUSD would be paying Baby Superintendent, Mama Superintendent, and Papa Superintendent all at the same time, for a grand total that could approach a million dollars. Now I’m asking, Are you outraged yet?
Did I mention Dr. McClain doesn’t deserve this?
At the hard-to-believe age of 65, she is at the top of her professional game, having won Pepperdine University’s Superintendent of the Year Award, and having taught school governance at seven different universities. She has worked with and for children her whole life, having been an elementary teacher, university instructor, principal, assistant superintendent, superintendent (three times), mother, and foster mother. At this stage of her life, she has chosen her most challenging job yet as superintendent of DMUSD, and she has thus far guided us through this financial crisis with optimism and smart ideas.
And, gratefully, she’s still here. Let’s be there for her.
What we can do:
1) Talk: Tell people what you have learned about this board. If you are unsure about any facts or figures in this editorial, ask DMUSD about what public records you have a right to see, including their attorney bills. Research past articles from local papers.
2) Make it a daily task to log on to dmusd.org in order to know if a board meeting is taking place. If it is, go to “view agenda.” Be on the lookout for “Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release.” If that is there, there could be a closed meeting to terminate Dr. McClain. The board must hear public input before they go into closed session. Fill out a speaker slip, wait for your name to be called, and you will have three minutes to tell the board how you feel. If you are uncomfortable speaking, write a letter to the board and have a friend read it and/or send a letter to the board.
3) Vote: Cast your ballot this November. Tell your friends to vote, as well.

Solution to the problem is obvious

Sometimes there is an obvious solution to the problem. Del Mar Union School District Superintendent Sharon McClain came with previously used and not the best idea of changing school boundaries again to fill low enrollment schools. Superintendent Bishop tried just that. He wanted to force parents of children living next to Torrey Hills and Sage Canyon schools to drive their children to and from Del Mar Heights and Hills schools every school day. Those parents were paying Mello-Roos tax to be able to send their children to neighborhood schools. It took a lot of time and energy to convince him to instead let Sage Canyon accept more children. Do you want to repeat the past?
Why would anyone even suggest adding offices to Torrey Hills school knowing that there is a plan to built a condominium complex just across from this school and the enrollment will increase again.
From Google maps, one can see that the distance between Del Mar Hills and Del Mar Heights schools is 0.8 mile, it takes 3 minutes by car, or 14 minutes by walking. Are there any other schools in the district so close to each other? You have a half empty school, space for additional kids in nearby schools, you need space for the office, what do you do?
Grazyna Krajewska
Torrey Hills

Leave district boundaries intact, don’t hire vice principals

I wanted to comment on Del Mar Union School District Superintendent Sharon McClain's comment in the Jan. 29 article titled “DM superintendent recommends district buy property for headquarters” which stated "McClain mentioned making boundary changes east of Interstate 5 as a possible cost-saving option. As Sage Canyon and Ocean Air each have around 700 students and Torrey Hills nears that size, the schools will need vice principals. She said the district could save $850,000 by reducing the enrollment size of the three schools through boundary changes (students would be moved to other schools in the district). The enrollment changes would eliminate the need for the three vice principal positions. The re-boundary could also help boost enrollment numbers at Ashley Falls.”
Homes in the boundaries of these three schools are south of the 56 freeway, many have been paying a special Mello Roos tax for a "neighborhood school" for years, and all are several miles away from Ashley Falls (and require crossing a major freeway), making that far from being a "neighborhood school." Before any consideration is given to changing boundaries for these three schools, I sure hope they will eliminate the policy that has grandfathered in many kids outside of these school boundaries.
I used to watch every morning the many dozens of cars from north of the 56 that would cross the freeway bringing their kids over to our area schools. Does it make any sense to have kids driven from homes north of the 56 to school south of the 56, and drive kids from homes south of the 56 to school north of the 56? It wastes fuel, and it breaks up the integrity of having kids who live near one another go to school together, which would facilitate friendships and neighborhood cohesiveness. Another suggestion would be to leave the census and boundaries as is and just not hire the vice principals, if their cost is the issue. I wanted to bring this suggestion to light to the community before it gets much traction.Kathy Rowe

School bored, school daze, school wars

By Gordon Clanton

School board politics is the most local politics of all. This may explain the intensity, nay, the rancor that often characterizes school board meetings and school board elections. Until recently, the Del Mar Union School District was spared such struggles. But no more.
In 2006, dissident board member Annette Easton recruited Katherine White and Steven McDowell to help her take over the board. The new majority fired the superintendent. Now the board is feuding with the new superintendent they hired.
Full disclosure: I opposed the insurgent slate in 2006, supporting Barbara Myers and Martha Murphy. I was not persuaded that the incumbent board should be turned out, and I found the strident and expensive insurgent campaign off-putting.
I re-joined the fray when I learned that the board was considering closing the Del Mar Hills Academy. I live three blocks from the Hills school. Although I have no children, I consider the school an important part of my community.
My neighbors with children in the Hills school are upset to learn the school may close. They like the fact that their kids can now walk to school without crossing Del Mar Heights Road. They are alarmed that some parents in the district support closing the Hills school as a likely way of preserving their own neighborhood schools.
By the way, I’m suspicious of estimates that purport to show ever-decreasing enrollments for the Hills school and Del Mar Heights school. What’s happening in my neighborhood is that elderly residents are dying, and young couples with school-age children are purchasing their houses.
So, having sold the Shores school site, the school district needs to find a new home for its administrative offices, thus stirring fears of school closings.
Meanwhile, the Del Mar campaign to pay for the Shores property has come up short, with more than $3.5 million owed.
Nobody asked me but: If the school district were to buy back or lease back the portion of the Shores site it currently occupies, then it would have no need to find a new location. Simultaneously, the debt owed by the city of Del Mar would be substantially reduced. The district could gain flexibility by moving more administrative functions to available space at schools that are under-enrolled.
I hope the board will find a way to keep all the schools open, thus reducing the prevailing anxiety and distrust.
The neighborhood school is part of a social fabric that ought not be casually rent asunder.
Gordon Clanton teaches sociology at San Diego State University. He welcomes comments at gclanton@mail.sdsu.edu.

Shores property price was not ‘bargain basement’

By Joe Sullivan

President, Friends of Del Mar Parks
Debra McGinty-Poteet, in her Jan. 22 “Community View,” incorrectly states that the sale of the Del Mar Shores property by the Del Mar Union School District to the city of Del Mar was at a “bargain basement” price.
The $8.5 million purchase price might seem a bargain if the property could be densely developed for residential or commercial use. But it can’t. The property is zoned only for public facilities. No private developer would bet on the Del Mar City Council changing the zoning so playing fields could be paved over for private development. In addition, most of the property is covered by the Kerckhoff deed restriction, limiting the use to “educational purposes.” The district went to court to have this restriction lifted, but it was denied on appeal. Moreover, a state law known as the “Naylor Act” arguably required the district to sell the playing fields to the city at 75 percent of market value.
Both the district and the city had a fiduciary duty to arrive at a “fair market value.” The city paid the district $8.5 million after several years of public meetings and arms-length negotiations that were often contentious and even litigious. The final agreed price was supported by independent appraisals.
The DMUSD staff and board worked very professionally over a long period of time to manage this transaction and protect the interests of the district. McGinty-Poteet’s allegation otherwise is a perversion of history and a disservice to all the professionals, volunteers and donors who provided $8.5 million for the benefit of the DMUSD while keeping the Shores park and school property in the public trust for future generations.

Killing two birds with one stone: Resolving multiple issues within the DMUSD

Now that the 7/11 committee has issued its final report, the DMUSD Board of Trustees is tasked with resolving the movement of the district offices. In addition, it has directed that a financial task force begin working on options for cutting expenses within the district. It is imperative that the board considers the financial health of the DMUSD as it makes its determination as to where to place the district offices and maintenance operations.
Superintendent McClain has made a recommendation that the board use the money from the sale of the Shores property to purchase a site for the district offices. The superintendent stated that a decision needs to be made expeditiously. Dragging this process out can cost the district money, as property values of lots for sale will eventually escalate, and interim leasing of a temporary space would bleed badly needed funds from the DMUSD budget. The board is urged to make a decision soon.
One of the superintendent's alternate recommendations is to house the district offices on a school site. This is a bad idea, unless that school site was designated solely for the purpose of district offices and maintenance operations. District offices should be housed separately from students. Joint use endangers children and degrades the atmosphere of the school, which in turn reduces the quality of the educational experience for the children at that site. Further, joint use options at school sites provide no significant cost savings to the district. Resolving the move of district offices without an eye to the financial crisis the DMUSD is experiencing is imprudent.
Closure of a school would allow for the offices to be unified at one site, while providing cost savings needed by the district. The 7/11 committee determined that the DMUSD would save at least $450,000 annually if a school were closed. This could protect the job of one teacher at each of the remaining school sites, year after year.
Closing a school does not completely cover the projected gap in the DMUSD budget for the next two years. However, in combination with other proposed money saving options, such as installing solar panels, school closure can provide more than an estimated $1,000,000 per annum. How many teachers' jobs could be saved with that figure? It is too significant to be ignored.
In summary, the board is urged to keep the district's financial situation in the forefront of their minds during deliberations regarding the move of district offices. It is a certainty that the DMUSD will need to be making cuts to the budget in the near term to make ends meet. Let's hope the board of trustees does not exacerbate the need for cuts by disregarding cost savings measures available to them in making this decision.
Suzanne Hall
Torrey Hills mom

City responds to fairgrounds master plan, EIR

By Richard Earnest
Mayor, Del Mar

There have been numerous news articles recently about the 22nd District Agricultural Association’s master plan and about the draft environmental impact report the district prepared to assess that plan’s potential impacts.
The master plan lays out ambitious proposals for developing new and upgraded facilities and uses at the fairgrounds’ property over the next decades. Among these are: a new 330-room condominium hotel, demolition and rebuilding of exhibit halls, maintenance buildings and administrative offices, demolition of the existing Del Mar Fire Station, a train-stop platform and a construction of a new freeway oriented reader board sign.
As is our right and responsibility, the city of Del Mar prepared an extensive letter in response to the EIR. We did so with the help and expertise of an appointed citizens’ committee and our staff. We responded point-by-point to the 4,500-page draft EIR based on facts and on data.
Our letter is extensive because, after reviewing the master plan and EIR, they appear to be inadequate in their descriptions and analyses of the many new buildings and uses proposed. We are concerned that the design and scope of the project would cause many adverse impacts, especially with respect to the three issues that are of paramount importance to Del Mar and its citizens: 1) health and safety; 2) preservation of the quality of life in this small, beach community; and 3) protection of natural resources. Based on these concerns, we asked that the EIR be redone and re-circulated for public review.
Some of the items we responded to involve: impacts to the San Dieguito Lagoon; increased traffic; building in flood-prone areas; demolition of the existing Fire Station without really addressing how a new one would be built; the lack of “green” planning and building concepts; and the aesthetic impacts of tall new buildings along the Lagoon edge.
We also expressed our disappointment that many of the things that we say in the letter are the same things that we have been saying for years now: protect the lagoon and respect community character.
Our EIR comment letter can be reviewed on the city’s Web site at www.delmar.ca.us.
The fairgrounds master plan presents a wonderful opportunity for the Agricultural District to implement its mission while also pursuing projects that protect and enhance the environment and character of our community. We have asked that the district sincerely consider our comments and work with us toward those ends. We believe that working together we can create a plan that is more appropriate for upgrading the fairgrounds facilities and a quite sizable portion of our city.
I, along with my colleagues on the City Council, will continue to work toward this cooperative goal.

Does every woman count?

On Jan. 1, The Every Woman Counts program, which provides mammograms to 350,000 underserved women in California each year, closed its doors and will not start screening women again until July. When the program reopens, women under age 50 will not be served. Why? To save a few bucks — just one half of 1 percent — which will have little impact on the state's massive budget deficit.
While the economic impact of these cuts is insignificant, for the women of this state they may mean the difference between life and death. Screening saves lives. When breast cancer is detected early, the five year survival rate is 98 percent. We also know that the lack of regular screening leads to late stage diagnosis when treatment is more expensive and survival is less certain.
This is just the beginning. The Governor just announced the likelihood of even more cuts to the state's screening program for next fiscal year. If that wasn't bad enough, he is also considering eliminating the state program that provides breast cancer treatment to for low-income women. This will leave up to 9,000 women with breast cancer no treatment options. I find this unacceptable.
Our elected leaders face a tough economic situation. I get it. There are no easy choices and few decisions come without consequences. Yet we also see the tough choices women who are on the front lines of our troubled economy face when they lose their job, lose their insurance and have to choose between health care and other important needs and obligations. Balancing the budget shouldn't come at a cost of risking their lives.
Why are we turning our backs on women in our state when they need us the most? Every Woman does Count.
Zarita de la Cerda
Carmel Valley

Those afraid to speak out send wrong message to children

Re: The story titled “Investigation continues into scene of underage drinking at RSF party house...”
I’m saddened, angry and ashamed that my neighbors don’t have the courage to step forward and teach their children the same, and by their example, to take responsibility for any part they played in this disaster. We are all in danger, and our children. But “for the grace of G..d” we would all be there and we know it.
Heidi Farkash

Time is now for residents to speak on behalf of Pacific Highlands Ranch community

As the fate of the Pacific Highlands Ranch (PHR) Village will be decided by the San Diego City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 26, I want to let residents know that now is the time, the final time, to speak up for our community and for what its core will become. As a community member who has been involved with this issue since 2007 I have become dismayed at the way this project was handled. Pardee Homes has exerted enormous pressure both on our local planning group and the city planning staff, to allow construction of buildings much larger than is allowed under our existing community plan (the PHR Subarea plan).
Our village is supposed to be a walkable pedestrian center, one that encourages residents to walk to our village center to have our every day shopping and service needs met. However, Pardee's plan includes a six story parking garage (two stories are below ground) with condos surrounding it, that sits on a 3.9 acre block which far exceeds a block size requirement and exceeds our communities height restriction of 45' by 15'. This will be a detriment to our community.
It appears that Pardee's purpose for the village is to be primarily a regional draw that will bring significant amounts of traffic to our community and hurt our property values, instead of serving the residents of PHR first and foremost. Pardee's plan calls for 2,189 parking spaces, with 675 of those for future residences in the Village. With only 5,000 total homes for PHR at full build out, clearly Pardee is planning for this to be a regional draw which will be to our community’s detriment.
However, please don't take my word for it. Please research our community plan (the city's guide to what Pardee is supposed to be follow) at: http://www.sandiego.gov/planning/community/profiles/pdf/cp/cpphrfullversion.pdf and then read the city's report on Pardee's plan at: http://www.sandiego.gov/planning-commission/pcreports/2009/pdf/09086pt1.pdf with attachments at: http://www.sandiego.gov/planning-commission/pcreports/2009/pdf/09086pt2.pdf and make up your own mind.
Then please send your comments to the city council at Hearings1@sandiego.gov and specifically to our city council representative Sherri Lightner at SherriLightner@sandiego.gov. This is your last chance to be heard.
From the time I bought my home in PHR in 2005, I have believed strongly in the PHR Subarea plan, which in 2007 won a prestigious Golden Nugget Award for Best Master Planned Community. I have no bias on this issue, except the fact that I am a homeowner in PHR. I am not affiliated in any way with the development industry unlike a few who are speaking in favor of Pardee's plan. I believe that we need to protect our community and demand for the original plan to be followed. Through my interest in our developing community I have become one of the two representatives for PHR on the Carmel Valley Community Planning Board. I welcome your comments and questions about this and other PHR issues at ddd.cvcpb@gmail.com
Dean Dubey
PHR Resident

Heroics of two men saved dog’s life

Bogart is a 5-year-old German wirehaired pointer who is crazy in love with playing ball. He is one of the dogs you see at the dog park who will run and run and run after his ball until he is ready to fall over. His two true joys in life are his ball, table scraps, and being with his family.
We most often play ball at the dog park or in the empty fields behind where we live (Pacific Highlands Ranch). I use a “flinger” (the long plastic arm) so that I can throw it far enough (especially now that I am six months pregnant) and he loves to “catch it on the fly” in a mid-air spectacular.
Recently, we were out playing and had a freak accident. Bogart jumped up to get the ball and suddenly it was gone. He looked up at me in surprise and it took me a couple of seconds to register. The ball had gone down his throat. It was stuck there and soon it was evident that he couldn't breathe.
What happened next went by in a flash and I actually try not think about it too much. I couldn't pick him up and he could walk a little. I started shouting, not so much for help (because there wasn't anyone there) but because I was watching my dog die in front of my eyes. Two men came running to help me and one of them stuck his hand down Bogart's throat and got the ball out. The other man (he seemed to have medical training) helped him to breathe again and both of them stayed with me until Bogart recovered enough to walk to my car.
I was in complete shock and could only manage a “Thank You.” I do have the phone number of one of the men and have offered many thanks since then. He won't accept any gifts, not even something for his dog.
In this day and age, you hear stories of people standing by or looking the other way when someone is in danger or needs help. These two men are my heroes. Not only did they save my dog's life, but they also restored my faith in humanity. I will be forever grateful to them.
I am making a donation to the Humane Society in their honor.
Kerily McEvoy

Kudos to Ava Weitzen for excellent letter; Israel and U.S. share values that bind forever

Re the Dec. 3 article titled “Couple to spend Christmas on Gaza convoy.” First of all, I commend you for publishing Ms. Ava Weitzen’s response, as a letter to the editor, titled "Gaza Article Misleading." Second, Ms. Ava Weitzen must be also commended for taking the initiative and bringing to your readers the actual facts about the "poor" Palestinians of Gaza. It is clear that the couple that [gave] you the misleading [information] are either misinformed or malevolent. Here is something additional you and your readers may wish to know about.
Instead of being grateful to the hated Jews for having totally withdrawn, the Palestinians of Gaza showed their gratitude by almost daily pounding Israeli towns with close to 10,000 rockets and bombs. After countless warnings, Israel ultimately decided to put an end to this travesty. When Israel finally did invade Gaza, it took the most elaborate precautions not to hurt civilians. As a first in the history of warfare, Israel dropped tens of thousands of leaflets, warning the population and urging it to abandon areas in which military action would take place. The Israeli military made thousands of phone calls urging people to leave areas that would come under attack. But fighting in a densely populated environment is difficult and loss of civilian life is hard to avoid. Hamas fighters wear no uniforms. It is impossible to tell them from civilians. Is a person who allows a rocket launcher in his backyard a civilian or a fighter? And how about using schools, hospitals and mosques as munitions depots and staff centers? The hue and cry of Israel’s demonizers in accusing it of “disproportionate force” is totally absurd.
Make no mistake, Israel and the United States stand together in the fight against Islamo-fascist terrorism. These shared values will bind Israel and the United States forever.
Dr. Solomon Gabbay

I-5 construction project: Oppose ‘grotesque’ expansion of freeways

Many people are confused by projects Caltrans has completed along the I-5 corridor in San Diego and what remains. Caltrans has already completed three major projects: the widening to 23 lanes in "The Merge," the Route 56 flyover to southbound I-5, the “auxiliary” lanes between Lomas Santa Fe and Via de la Valle and the Lomas Santa Fe bridge reconstruction. Still on the agenda is the 20 mile I-5 widening project ("The Big Enchilada") from Del Mar Heights Road north to Van de Griff and the flyover from southbound I-5 to eastbound Route 56 and from westbound 56 to northbound I-.5
The Environmental Impact Report for the 20 mile widening project (first proposed in 2001) will soon be released, no sooner than March 26. This project is estimated to cost over $1 billion and take 20 years to complete. It was authorized by SANDAG using funds from the TransNet sales tax. It is said to meet future growth needs in the North County (vastly overstated by SANDAG at the time) and to "prevent gridlock." It would take the present 250,000 vehicles per day and increase that load by about 50 percent. Caltrans has not released the design, but I believe they would like to expand to 16 lanes from Del Mar Heights all the way through Solana Beach into southern Encinitas, followed by 14 lanes into Carlsbad and 12 lanes from Carlsbad to Camp Pendleton, where they expect to add 2 HOV lanes across the Marine base in the near future.
It is hard to know where to begin the objections that many of us have to both of these proposed projects, but let me try: 1) You can not escape gridlock by "pouring my concrete": just look at Los Angeles. 2) Residents living near the present freeway are assaulted by noise and air pollution that I believe violates present California and U.S. EPA limits. 3) Jack Hegenauer and the Clean and Green team of Solana Beach have made the assessment that 60 percent of the Greenhouse Gases generated in our city come from traffic on I-5, which CalTrans wants to expand by 50 percent, in violation of state law AB232. 4) Twenty years of construction in the North County will result in 20 years of gridlock: is this all for the sake of our descendants? 5) Kevin Costner had it right "If you build it, they will come!" Every freeway expansion in world history has lead to increases of traffic, leaving things no better off.
Please join with me, with members of P.L.A.G.U.E. and all clear thinking citizens in opposing this grotesque expansion of our freeways. It is time to get smarter about transportation and not rely on thinking from the 1950s.
Steve Goetsch

Del Mar school board has taken district in a new direction — south

Given the realization of the mess their micro-management has created in the last three years, the majority slate of three orchestrated the election of first-year board member Comischell Rodriguez as president of the board at the organizational meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009.
While there was understandable elation in the audience at President Rodriguez’s election, the community needs to be reminded that she continues to remain only one vote out of five on the school board. If President Rodriguez is able to restore protocol and time-efficiency to the conduct of public meetings, that alone would be a significant contribution to the community.
Meetings have become nitpicking marathons of minutiae and seemingly endless time-wasting discussion, with the audience wandering and chatting and eating throughout the entire proceedings. The retreating board members vowed sincerely to support President Rodriguez throughout what will soon become a very challenging year for her. And, we can hold them to their word, can’t we? After all, when the majority slate of three fired the superintendent in February 2008, they indicated that they wanted to take the district in a new direction. Well, they surely did. We just didn’t know that direction was south.
Martha Cox

Low and Slow Running Club of Del Mar thanks supporters for making 2009 Red Nose Run a success

On behalf of Fresh Start Surgical Gifts for Kids and the Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund, the Low and Slow Running Club of Del Mar extends its sincere “Thank you” to all of its numerous contributors/sponsors for helping to raise more than $20,000 through the 2009 Red Nose Run. Since 1992, it has been the support of many individuals and businesses that has enabled a small local running group to raise more than $140,000 in support of Fresh Start and the Injured Marines Fund. Thank you and God Bless!