Understanding each other involves respect
I would like to share an experience I had in a local mall.
As I was browsing at a kiosk, I realized that the young man working there had a T-shirt on that stated “Mexican. Not Latino. Not Hispanic.”
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As the grandmother of two who fall somewhere in one of these categories, I was curious about the difference. Our conversation was friendly, although I did not learn the difference in these categories.
I then asked him if he could guess my background. His guess of Russian was incorrect, but I was not offended.
I asked him how he would refer to me if for some unknown reason he needed to refer to me by nationality. He stated, “I don't know.” Again, I took no offense.
I told him it would be fine to refer to me as Caucasian, white or anything else he could come up with as long as it was not meant to hurt me.
I am very proud of my German Irish background but have no expectation that others will guess it correctly. We were smiling as we we wished each other a good afternoon.
My point is that my responsibility to others lies in respect and compassion; their background is never a factor.
I hope others will grant me the same.
JESSICA DAILEY
Imperial Beach
Unanswered questions surround Rowlands
Let's get realistic.
Chula Vista Mayor Steve Padilla wants to consider our ex-city manager, Dave Rowlands, for an “important and critical position position in a city of our size” the Port Commission seat (“More applicants sought for port seat,” Local, Aug. 24). This comes after Rowlands was fired/resigned/who knows from an equally “important and critical position” as Chula Vista city manager.
We citizens of Chula Vista do not know what occurred to end that previous job, but the mayor wants us to feel good about Rowlands in this new position.
Mayor Padilla has to be kidding.
RICHARD McCRACKEN
Chula Vista
Neighborhoods impacted by granny flats
Columnist Logan Jenkins writes about immigrant housing and transitional neighborhoods.
I was born in 1931 to (legal) immigrant parents, so I have some firsthand recollections of conditions as they existed then. Then, there were no jobs to speak of and now they are in abundance. Then there were houses aplenty, but most were vacant because nobody had any money to buy or rent them.
The major difference we see now, and will continue to see, is what Jenkins calls “overcrowding in transitional neighborhoods.” Back in my day, we called them slums. I lived there.
“Transitional” neighborhoods can now exist on any residential street in this state. To some extent, it already does. Here's an example of how.
In 2005, Chula Vista adopted Ordinance 2957 to “simplify the process for obtaining a building permit for Accessory Second Dwelling Units in single-family neighborhoods.” These ADUs are often called “granny flats.” In reality, they are side-or back-yard rentals.
The city ordinance was created to comply with California State Law 65852.2, which directs the accommodation of ADUs in residential neighborhoods.
Twenty years ago we bought our current (new) home in a single-family residential development. The lot was zoned R1-PC (PC for Planned Community). Our deed cites the covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) governing and regulating the actions and conduct of property owners in this development. Both the zoning and our CC&Rs specifically prohibit the addition of an ADU to any lot.
Both are now made null and void by state and city laws. In reality, what all this boils down to is the federal, state and municipal governments have passed along to us individual property owners the burdens of dealing with low-income housing pressures. By arbitrarily negating the controls imposed by zoning and CC&R requirements, government has effectively diminished incentives a property owner had to demonstrate pride of ownership through good property maintenance. There may be some who think this is just another thing confined to the South Bay. I suggest those who think so read the state law.
For those of you feeling safe in places like Coronado, Del Mar, Carlsbad or wherever, I might mention that Chula Vista's ordinance also provides for the waiving of off-street parking requirements.
DON CHALMERS
Chula Vista
Keep high-rises off Third Avenue
I have read news accounts that developer Jim Pieri plans to push for high-rise buildings again and this time he's even supporting it for the quaint portion of Third Avenue in our historic downtown. Are they losing their minds? Third Avenue between E and G streets is one of the nicest portions of Chula Vista – and they want to ruin it.
With density and height increases already planned for immediately behind the storefronts on both sides of that portion of Third, the economic vitality will come – so why do we have to go high-rise immediately on Third?
Three-story buildings are tall enough for that portion of Third Avenue.
Could Pieri believe that seven stories on Third would set the stage for his Españada to return? I believe he still wants to build his dream high-rise at that spot. Leave Third alone. Seven stories is enough for a development, including Españada.
CAROLYN CLEMENS
Chula Vista
Disenchantment with business association
A recent letter on downtown Chula Vista and past activities of the Downtown Business Association was right on the money.
Sadly, the merchants fear being rebuked and even harassed. What appears to be the association's highest priority is to take the money it politically generated, grossly mismanage it to keep the “Not for profit corporation” nonprofit by adding more and more people to the payroll.
Years ago the executive director position was a part-time position (and still should be) and had a salary of under $40,000 a year. Assistance for event planning was done by volunteer merchants.
Now, the part-time job has become full time, with two other full-timers and three part-timers. Little has changed as far as events in the downtown area that require the number of current employees.
Previously, we had many events during the year. Commercial vendors of merchandise and food were not allowed (as they are now) to rent space to directly compete with the merchants and restaurants.
The bottom line is that the current administration by all appearances is more interested in the cash flow than the promotion of the downtown. The current administration not only needs to be discharged, it needs to be fully audited.
For the record, I was a director or very active member of the DBA for nearly 10 years. When the administration changed to its present ways, I quit.
Most of the merchants are trying to survive and want to be less passive. Several of us are putting together the wording of a petition to express our feelings and to demand leadership changes.
MICHAEL MACE
Owner of M&M Jewelers and building owner
Chula Vista
Chavez pushes 'reforms' that are superficial
Just when we thought Chula Vista City Council member Patty Chavez couldn't come up with any more phony reforms, she presented us with her best one yet. Chavez has spent her summer cultivating a resumé of impressive “reforms”: setting up a pothole hotline so we can call in and report our potholes, but not actually fixing any of them, passing a lobbying reform ordinance that does nothing to curb the power of special interest groups, and now “eliminating” a position from the mayor's staff.
I was outraged when the news broke that one of Mayor Steve Padilla's staffers was involved in a scuffle at a fundraiser for Padilla's opponent, Cheryl Cox. Staffers whose salaries are paid by the city should not be participating in these types of political activities.
And what was Patty Chavez's response? She tried to act like she was highly responsive to citizen concerns by proposing to eliminate this staffer's position. However, her real plan was to merely reassign this staffer to the City Manager's Office, where he is now comfortably employed and still collecting his city paycheck.
Chavez is bringing phony reforms to the city of Chula Vista while merely paying lip service to the real needs and concerns of the people.
DANIEL FRIES
Chula Vista
A poor word choice to describe issue
I was appalled by the strident editorializing in the news story about Escondido's attempt to compel landlords to not rent to illegal immigrants.
In “Escondido to pursue housing ordinance,” Local, Aug. 17, the Union-Tribune reported, “Escondido joins about a dozen other cities across the country, mainly in Pennsylvania and other parts of the East Coast, contemplating ways to circumvent the federal government and take on the problem of illegal immigration.”
Escondido's dramatic bid is not to “circumvent” the federal government but rather to force the federal government to enforce the laws already on the books.
ROSALIE STAFFORD
National City
