Where are millions from gaming compacts?
Where are the millions going?
Let's see if I have this correct. Our governor negotiates a compact with four of the richest tribes in Southern California, one of them being Sycuan. Webster's definition of a compact is “an agreement or covenant between two or more parties,” which I think would have to be signed by both to be valid.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs lost the paperwork for the entire 45-day review period, so the compacts had to be ratified without an opportunity for the public to give input (paperwork with millions of dollars at stake).
Voters were asked to decide if they agreed to the compacts (after all, the state, so we were told, and schools were going to get millions of dollars). The ballot measure passed.
Now we find out that Sycuan's compact has not been signed by the tribe, therefore is not validated, but it seems no one notices or seems to care, especially the governor, who extended the time the tribe could sign to Jan. 1, 2009. Question: Why has Sycuan not signed the compact? And where are the millions of dollars going?
PATRICIA RIGGS
El Cajon
La Mesa businesses don't need shootouts
Brad Boswell advocates in his local perspective (“The crime issue La Mesa is slow to address,” June 21) “to expand the concealed-carry permit program in La Mesa. There are now 40 states with concealed-carry laws.”
ut his aim seems to be off target, and may hit a victim or an innocent bystander rather than the criminals motivating his charge. He states a recent spate of bank robberies and a shootout at a money exchange as support for his call to arms.
What Boswell ignores is the unfortunate outcome of the money merchants who choose to try to outgun a robber. In the case he cited, the man and his wife incurred grave injuries as they all unloaded on one another. Banks and large businesses do not arm their employees for this reason.
I seriously doubt our residents and chief of police want to see shootouts at businesses around town.
Boswell also advocates for “more police officers...better pay...and to reinstate the reserve officer program.” He does not mention that this would require increasing our sales tax to pay for the added expense. Until voters approve such an increase, we may benefit from an assessment of our current merchants' actions to deter robbery. Are surveillance cameras visible? Are registers emptied methodically? Are witnesses rewarded for information leading to the arrest and conviction of criminals?
Perhaps a local perspective by Chief Alan Lanning and Sheriff Bill Kolender on preventing robbery and being a good witness would deter future robberies.
CHRISTOPHER GLENN
La Mesa
Another salute for inspiring student
I really enjoyed Shauntel Lowe's article (“A workout in learning,” June 21) for a variety of reasons, most notably, the story about Debbie Brito.
I teach communication courses at Grossmont College and Brito (as she prefers to be called) just completed my public speaking course. This was the second course she completed with me.
She is a very intelligent woman with a wicked sense of humor, a strong sense of self, a clear knowledge of our world, excellent writing skills and speaks more than one language. She challenged herself in taking this class, not because of any disability, but because she, like many, was not really thrilled about public speaking.
She was, and I am sure any student enrolled in the class will confirm this, one of the best speakers in the class. Her speeches were well-researched and she was organized and animated in her delivery. Most of the time, she delivered her speech from memory.
Brito is an inspiration to everyone around her. I know this because my life has been changed just from knowing her. On the last day of class, Brito gave me a nice framed picture of the two of us taken one day after class. I hung it in my office next to the other important people in my life (yes, Brito, that includes Bruce Springsteen).
I guess she thought maybe I would forget her. Well, that is not ever going to happen!
TINA L. PEREZ
Associate Professor
Communication Department
Grossmont College
Helix Charter High served my son well
My son just graduated from Helix Charter High. We looked at many schools in the area and we were so excited when he was chosen in the lottery.
It was the right choice. He received an outstanding education. He has had the opportunity to be taught by many dedicated, caring and talented teachers, including Garry Wilcox who is now awaiting trial. Today, I am extremely saddened to read that another teacher has lost his way. I am sad for the girl and for the families of both men. If guilty, they have betrayed a trust for all who take on the education of our children. If innocent, their lives will still be scarred.
But mostly I am sad for the other wonderful teachers and professionals who staff this incredible school. I have watched them over four years. They have worked so hard to make this charter school work. They have an outstanding record for getting kids from this widely diverse school to colleges, for award-winning sports and speech teams, for innovative classes such as science fiction, for putting on thoughtful and entertaining drama productions, for working with immigrant, refugee and special needs populations.
I have seen the results of careful planning and teamwork. I have seen the quality and amount of work assigned and know the number of hours spent correcting papers and providing feedback. As a community member, I saw the hard work put toward the senior projects (and this year had to suffer through as a parent). I have had my arm twisted to spend many hours side by side with Helix staff as they raise funds, coach and organize parent volunteers to provide events above and beyond the normal teaching load.
Helix continues to be an excellent school because of these teachers and staff. I am proud that my son is a graduate of Helix.
SHERIDAN CARGAL
La Mesa
Helix High sex consultant
You have reported that Helix High School plans to spend $43,000 to hire a consultant to develop a training program for teachers to prevent them from having sexual relationships with their students. I have a less expensive and quicker solution: the principal should sit down with every teacher and tell them to keep their hands off the kids!
JOHN KISS
San Diego
'Bye Bye Birdie' run is quality entertainment
My husband and I attended “Bye Bye Birdie” at the East County Performing Arts Center on the weekend. It was a thoroughly enjoyable production, loaded with excellent singing and amazing dancing. (Its run is scheduled to end with performances June 28 and 29.)
We encourage San Diego and East County families to support this caliber of musical entertainment. Additionally, the theater itself is a fine venue of a size where all attending have a great view of the performers' facial expressions. Parking is free and abundant. Kudos to ECPAC for making this event possible and to the San Diego Musical Theatre company for a fine performance.
SUE STREEPER
El Cajon
A new county jail belongs in Otay Mesa
Regarding the June 13 article titled “Santee officials say report on larger jail is flawed”:
As a Santee resident and business owner, I was disappointed that the county wasted taxpayer dollars by preparing an environmental impact report for its Las Colinas Detention Facility expansion that fell dramatically short of properly evaluating location alternatives.
The report's conclusion that downtown Santee is the best place for a 45-acre jail is puzzling at best, especially considering the Otay Mesa site also studied in the EIR was the superior alternative from an environmental standpoint. Additionally, an Otay Mesa jail would be closer to existing jail-support services.
In Santee, the proposed jail would sit next to residential neighborhoods, a day-care center, schools, an office park and a nursing-care center. In Otay Mesa, the jail could sit next to other jails.
How can the EIR conclude that a highly successful transit-oriented commerce center is the best place for a sprawling jail campus? I hope that county supervisors will consider the tremendous potential of the county's land in Santee's vibrant Town Center, and decide that a jail is best suited elsewhere.
ROB McNELIS
Santee
Fire flight crews and night-vision goggles
CalFire is finally seeing through the smoke!
Helicopter crews have used night-vision goggles for over two decades now. It should be considered culpable negligence on the part of these agencies that let these crews fly without them! Remember when seat belts were not mandatory? Now it seems ridiculous if they are not being worn.
Let's embrace a technology that we in the military have been using for at least two decades. As a retired Navy flight instructor and night vision goggle instructor, I can testify we need this for all our civilian flight crews. Comments like “night-vision goggles offer no depth perception” and “a pilot would have trouble landing if an engine failed” are utterly false.
I want night-vision goggles at night if I have an engine failure! Imagine trying to land that helicopter with just a search light in the mountains around San Diego in the event of an emergency.
MATTHEW KNOWLES
San Diego
The end to alcoholon Imperial Beach pier
Another city bans alcohol on the beach. I am 52 years old and have always taken beer to the beaches and piers when I go to walk, fish or enjoy a leisurely day. Now I am no longer allowed to drink beer at another San Diego-area beach.
I am giving up some of my personal freedoms, and it is not because of a few drunks. Read between the lines of Public Safety Director Frank Sotelo's statement: “And it will free up the lifeguards and sheriff's deputies to do other things.” What he is really saying is: “It will save money and make our job easier.”
I should not have to give up my personal freedoms to make public employees's jobs easier.
TOM FORSYTHE
Santee
Revered chocolate shop
faces closure
Many San Diegans probably don't even know about the Wisteria Candy Cottage in Boulevard, about 30 minutes east on Interstate 8, which has created the most amazing homemade chocolates for 87 years.
I have visited regularly since 1966 and have never found a better milk chocolate pecan turtle. (Some mornings my older brother would climb the flagpole to raise the flag for a free fudgeball.)
My husband loves the remarkable variety of extraordinary chocolate creations. Yet the other day, I received a notice that this family owned business will be closing July 30 due to lack of patronage. I'm not sure what can be done to save the Wisteria Candy Cottage, but I'd love to hear suggestions. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and visit before it is too late.
CYNTHIA McDANIEL
San Diego
