Letters to the Editor

Roundabouts in the RanchWe all realize that traffic creates safety issues, accidents, and risks to our residents, children and equestrian users when crossing the roadways, pollution and litter.

 

Building roundabouts to improve traffic flow will result in more traffic and problems. As Director Callahan stated, “The easier you make it to come through the Covenant, the more traffic that is going to come here,” should be underscored. His point is simple common sense. It is also proven out by the drop of traffic experienced here in the Covenant from improvements elsewhere — the Interstate 5 widening, the Manchester on-ramp changes and the Interstate 56 projects being completed.

There are times in life when failing is not the worst thing. The environmental impact report (EIR) states that “making no changes to the three intersections will result in a failing level of service at these locations.” It has become apparent from reading what our neighbors have written and having spoken to Association members, that Jack Queen is entirely correct, “Our job is not to solve the county’s problems and especially not to solve it on Rancho Santa Fe’s back.”

In conclusion, do not make traffic improvements. The slower traffic moves through the Covenant, the more likely it will avoid it and go around.

Very truly yours,

Janice Joerger

Rancho Santa Fe

PS. If there is money in the budget, an intersection where a roundabout should seriously be considered is Linea del Cielo/ Rambla de la Flores/ Calzda del Bosque. This is a dangerous intersection because of the offsets, and many accidents occur.

PPS. Mr. Simmons’ idea to protect our community by creating islands to slow down, reduce accidents and deter cut-through traffic is excellent and should be seriously considered.

 

Re: “USDA responds to appeal from elephant ride operators”

Your piece on elephant exhibitor Have Trunk Will Travel omitted some very important information that readers will find to be of interest.

HTWT is blatantly disregarding longstanding Association of Zoos and Aquariums policies against offering public elephant rides. HTWT has opposed proposed state and federal legislation aimed at protecting elephants. In 2009, HTWT’s owners, Gary and Kari Johnson opposed a Connecticut elephant protection bill because they use bullhooks (metal-tipped devices that resemble fireplace pokers) and chains. HTWT also testified before a congressional subcommittee in opposition to the proposed federal Captive Elephant Accident Prevention Act.

Of the four elephants born at HTWT, three have died before reaching their fourth birthday. One died at just 8 months old, most likely from a painful herpes virus, a disease that scientific research links to stress factors commonly associated with the treatment of elephants used in entertainment — including maternal separation during infancy, abusive training practices, and transportation. Yet HTWT continues to subject elephants to the very stress factors believed to make them susceptible to this virus, and another baby, JP, died of it at the age of 3.

Readers have the right to know all sides of an issue so they can decide if they want to support an outfit with this sordid history.

Sincerely,

Jennifer O’Connor

Staff Writer

PETA Foundation

 

Traffic is nothing to sneeze at

The traffic congestion caused by the Quarry Creek project is not a laughing matter. Right on the border between the cities of Oceanside and Carlsbad, this is a perfect example of what not to do. Build projects too large for the site, with poor access roads, and then dump all the traffic failures onto your neighboring city.

In this case Carlsbad gets all of the revenue from the 656 housing units proposed, but Oceanside gets all of the traffic failures on College, Lake, Plaza, Vista Way and the ramps to state Route 78. At the Carlsbad Planning Commission hearing representatives of the developer McMillin joked that reducing the number of units from 656 to 500 would save less than 2 seconds — about the length of time it takes to sneeze. But the people who live in this area and drive those roads are not laughing. The EIR for the project shows the way to eliminate the traffic failures is to reduce the number of units to 250. Good planning would say a comprehensive approach is needed — some reduction in the number of units, some roadway improvements, public transit and a good bicycle/pedestrian connection to El Camino Real. Will Carlsbad fix this project — or just sneeze at it?

Diane Nygaard

Preserve Calavera,

Oceanside

 

Re: “A response to Mr. Ralph Peck,” March 1

Mr. Lynn’s response to Mr. Peck published March 1 reminds me of my favorite saying concerning statistics: “Statistics are like bikinis — what they reveal is provocative, but what they conceal is vital!”

He indicates our country needs fundamental change because “10% of the population holds 80 percent of the wealth” which, even if accurate belies a more salient truth — that those 10 percent have probably invested 80 percent more of their lives in their education, risking their assets, working efficiently and more importantly, that many more hours than most people to BUILD wealth and career fulfillment for themselves and – those they employ. For example, it is a documentable statistic that top professional musicians of any genre have practiced at least 10,000 hours, far more than average. Also, people who run highly successful businesses at any level basically are involved 24/7, while most middle-class folks are working their 9 to 5, weekends and holidays off, paid vacation jobs, as is presumably Mr. Lynn. I am a Baby Boomer who grew up with the principle that in America there is no free lunch, but plenty of free (market) opportunity. Sadly, many do not adhere to that ethic nowadays. However, the America I know and love has always been and still is a country that offers the unique potential for any citizen to achieve amazing success through education and very hard work even if they come from a humble, modest, single-parent background. Just ask Mr. Barack Obama.

Mike Whisler

Encinitas

 

Navy plan will harm marine mammals

The U.S. Navy is preparing to begin a program that by their own admission will negatively impact millions of marine mammals. The Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing Program (HSST) include underwater detonations, gunnery exercises, sinking ships and active sonar so loud that it can injure or kill marine mammals.

The National Marine Fisheries Service has given its blessing to the five year plan, allowing marine mammals to be harmed up to 9.5 million times in the Pacific region. Marine biologists predict that an unprecedented number of animals will suffer hearing loss, lung injuries and death. Fish will also be affected and a reduction in population is expected.

According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the Navy’s mid-frequency sonar has already been implicated in mass strandings of marine mammals in recent years. Necropsies revealed bleeding around the animals’ ears and brains. There is ample documentation of past Navy sonar exercises seriously disrupting pods of dolphins and whales. It is outrageous that the federal agency charged with protection of marine life is approving this project, which will harass, injure and kill so many. National Marine Fisheries Service is accepting public comments until March 11. Please send your comments today and object to the Navy making our ocean life a casualty of war games. Letters may be sent to P. Michael Payne, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3225. Email comments can be sent via http://www.regulations.gov, using the identifier 0648-BC52.

Jane Cartmill

Encinitas

 

Boing! We won! We did?

Listen! Hear that future “boing”! That’s the sound of the “new” desalination water, coming on line in 2016, and ratepayers having the biggest single upward jolt of water rates, in years. I asked and was told by a reliable public official, recently, that a typical water bill will likely increase by $8 to $16 per month ($100 to $200 per year). You folks with kids and mortgages and seniors on fixed incomes will have to allow for this increase for all your future home maintenance costs — because the better alternative (recycled water) was not fully-developed first.

Wouldn’t it have been better to utilize the millions of gallons of our readily available resource of municipal wastewater on landscaping and recharge? Instead it will continue to be dumped into the ocean, until someone has the bright idea of reclaiming it for a hefty profit! Meanwhile, Poseidon purports to be our friend, for being clever enough to get us this “new water.” Public ratepayers (us) deserved a final say on this, through a voter referendum, since it “looks, smells and tastes” like a tax to provide this “new” water. Oh well, just lay down and take it again, JQ Public family.

G. Lance Johannsen,

Carlsbad

 

Do we pet horses or eat them?

Last week, food safety officials in United Kingdom, France, and Sweden found traces of horsemeat in ground beef sold across Europe. Massive recalls and lawsuits are ensuing.

Can it happen here? Horse slaughter for human consumption was banned in the U.S. between 2007 and 2011. But now, a New Mexico slaughterhouse is getting approved by U.S. authorities to slaughter horses for human consumption, and a Philadelphia restaurant has already announced plans to serve horsemeat.

I marvel at our hypocrisy of rejecting the notion of horse or dog meat on our dinner plates, while condemning cows, pigs, and chickens to the same fate. Obviously, we have established special relationships with horses and dogs as our companions, protectors, and sports protagonists, rather than as food. But where is the ethical and logical distinction, given that all these animals are endowed by individuality, sentience, and an ability to experience the same feelings of joy, affection, sadness, and fear that we do?

Fortunately, our health food industry has spared us from having to choose which animals to pet and which ones to eat. Their delicious soy and grain-based meat alternatives are available in every supermarket.

Sincerely,

Edward Cole

Encinitas