Religious freedom vs. equality; Coronado at risk

Indiana religion law: backlash to backlash

Finally, someone of stature in the media (David Brooks, “Liberty vs. equality,” April 1) has the intestinal fortitude to call the current backlash against Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act an attack on the specific constitutional right of “religious freedom.” Civil rights proponents freely quote part of the First Amendment regarding the constitutional prohibition against “establishment of religion,” but rarely complete the quote, “or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

It is past time for the media to start a balanced coverage of the subject of liberty vs. equality.

Roland Bowling
Mission Hills

In response to Eugene Rosenbaum’s letter (April 1) asking, “What next, should we have Republicans not selling to Democrats?”: Where was Eugene when Chic-fil-A was being chided by the PCers for their owners’ view on same-sex marriage?

They were more than chided, actually. PCers were roaring for a boycott.

Dave Dowler
Valley Center

Coronado’s fragile environment at risk

The environmental impact of the construction of the Naval Base Coronado Coastal Campus (“Navy SEALs aim to update old facilities,” March 21) should not be underestimated.

The construction alone of 1.4 million square feet of military training space will take its toll on one of the few remaining open-space areas along our South County coast and San Diego Bay.

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The U-T article failed to mention the adjacency of two public natural resources: the National Wildlife Refuge to the east and the Silver Strand State Park to the north.

The traffic noise and pollution, as well as any additional aircraft operations, will no doubt change the environmental equation of both these properties.

The toll from the estimated 4,000 additional daily trips to the new campus will have an overriding detrimental impact on this fragile environment.

Bob Dilworth
Coronado

Put 30-day minimum on vacation rentals

Regarding Chris Cate’s article (“Making the rules clearer on vacation rentals,” March 26): I agree that regulations are needed.

As someone who lives across the street from a vacation rental, I see firsthand how it disrupts an otherwise-peaceful residential neighborhood.

It is a great concern for me as a parent, having an unregulated hotel operating across from my house. I would ask the council to listen to the Pacific Beach Planning Group, which recommends that single-family zoned homes must be rented for at least 30 days.

For areas where weekly rentals do make sense, use the regulations of neighboring communities, e.g. Encinitas, Solana Beach, as a guide.

Plain and simple, it is not a God-given right for an owner to turn his or her property into a hotel or other business. Common-sense rules are needed.

Chris Schmid
Sunset Cliffs

One Paseo should reflect community

In regards to Logan Jenkins’ One Paseo opinion that it’s “a development many communities would die for” (“Progressive reforms come home to roost at One Paseo,” March 27): We are San Diegans aware that living in a city has its benefits and frustrations.

We are not against development; however, Kilroy proposes three times the density for which the area was zoned, adding two stoplights within one-third of a mile, and would create 150-foot towering buildings in a community that doesn’t have any buildings even half this size.

Development should be scaled to the surrounding community without creating traffic nightmares or towering offices. We welcome One Paseo, just “Not this One Paseo.”

We look forward to a development that is respectful of the pre-existing environment as well as the community’s character and needs.

Dana Chortkoff
Carmel Valley

Amazing lifeguards show their worth

Sunday I was sitting on the Oceanside Jetty just enjoying the ocean. Quite a few people were in the water and all looked very peaceful.

All of a sudden I see a lifeguard pickup truck lights and siren driving straight towards me. When the trucked stopped a few yards from me a lifeguard jumped out grabbed his orange life preserver and ran full speed in the water towards the end of the jetty where large waves were breaking over the rocks. I still do not know what was happening and then within a very short time a wave runner came past the end of the jetty and one of the lifeguards dove into the water. Again within a few seconds another lifeguard tuck came and they were ready to go in when one of the lifeguards in the water gave some kind of signal saying they were ok.

Also the Harbor patrol boat was within 25 yards of the rescue. Also there was a lady with binoculars and a radio watching over everything. The amassing thing was that the lifeguard station was closed and before this happened no lifeguards could be seen. This all happened within minutes. The point of this story these lifeguards (heroes) pulled 2 people out of the water before the waves smashed them into the rocks and they were ok except for a minor cut on a knee. These lifeguards showed they were brave, professional and unbelievable fast with this rescue.

Thanks for a job well done

Richard Savinda
Escondido

City street work projects should be coordinated

I ran an errand today and, low and behold, Carlton Hills Boulevard was marked with numerous painted lines, an indication that the fairly new resurfacing that was just recently completed is about to be dug up.

As usual, the city didn’t utilize a liaison with any of the companies that are about to rip up some long areas to this stretch of the road.

This brings to question the multimillion-dollar project now being performed on the east end of Prospect Avenue. I would bet money that within a year, the water department or gas company will need to lay new lines, thus ripping up the new asphalt.

What a waste.

Chris Martinez
Santee

Good to see gender roles are finally changing

Regarding “Testing male, female combat strength” (March 6): We are taking steps in the right direction when it comes to integrating women into combat roles.

This new research will open doors for progressive thought and end outdated ideals. I can see this research as one of the last steps to achieving full equality in this country. Equality that is not only for the military but also for the civilian world. This will be a victory for feminism everywhere. I am confident that this study will prove that women are just as capable as men in combat.

Let us remember, it was not long ago that the world believed that homosexuals and African-Americans could not fight for their country either.

Daniell Zeigler
National City

Everyone should be on board to save water

Even with the four-year drought we are in (“State tightens clamp on water restrictions,” March 18) there is no way to force people and businesses to do their best. I’ve seen areas like La Jolla that have irrigation running all the time and have water run off onto the streets.

Our reserves have fallen to a new low of 47 percent capacity. If these strict rules aren’t followed or enforced, then how does one household make an impact?

As much as I try to adhere to the strict rules for watering plants and conserving as much water as possible, it makes no difference if others, especially businesses, don’t follow.

Andrei Papas
El Cajon

Great editorial (“It’s time to get serious about the California drought,” March 24) on getting serious about the drought and great letters regarding that editorial on March 27 (“Letters extra, drought relief”).

I have one point to raise, however, regarding the repeated calls for a moratorium on building permits. Looking at the issue on a regional scale, only a negligible amount of residents that move into these newly developed condos and apartments will be “new” to the region. The majority of them are simply relocating from elsewhere in the county.

So they will no longer be consuming water there and will now be consuming water in their new apartment. This doesn’t result in a net increase of water consumption. Building moratoriums are thinking too small.

The answer is personal responsibility and conservation, not government intervention.

Michael Gannon
Lakeside

Perhaps President Obama could be more bipartisan

The only time the term “bipartisan” seems to be applied is when Republicans refuse to relent to the will of Democrats.

Democrat lack of cooperation with Republicans never seems to be an issue. Think Obamacare, Harry Reid’s non-action on more than 350 House-passed bills in the Senate, presidential orders circumventing existing law (immigration, XL pipeline, EPA authority, Fast and Furious, etc.).

Bipartisanship is a two-way street. Maybe it’s the president’s turn to “bend” to get something done, instead of sparking political outrage. In the president’s own words, “elections have consequences.”

Lloyd Kitson
La Mesa

Liberal media just as guilty of outright distortion

Les Braund said in a letter to the editor (“People should be open to all opinions,” March 28), “When you are fed a constant supply of misinformation, distortion, exaggeration and outright falsehoods it is no wonder we have a civility problem.”

It is indeed ironic, as that is exactly what many conservatives would say about the “left-wing news media.” I would like him to give some examples of the falsehoods that Fox has presented.

I guess the “race card” did not play well, so he went for the “hate card.”

Liberals use those cards when they can’t stand to learn the truth.

Merv Spahn
La Mesa

Time for some major changes in Washington

I hold Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Boehner responsible for serious wrongdoing in the entire Benghazi affair.

Good men died. They conspired to cover up the truth. If she does not go to jail for destroying evidence, we must assume the worst and clean house in Washington, D.C., over the next few elections.

That’s right, Democrats and Republicans. We need a fresh deck.

Rolla Rich
Spring Valley

California a sad example of not being tech-savvy

I read the headline “State tackles computer efficiencies” (March 19) with hope that California would make a serious attempt to reign in the ghastly bloated budgets of state computing.

But no. Just more regulations to impose restrictions on public businesses. No one knows the total amount California spends on hardware, software and consultants for some of the most inefficient computer systems in the U.S.

The costs are in the many billions, and not one major administrative system installed by and for our state government in the past several decades has come in on time and on budget.

Kate Williams
Alpine