Shame On You

Re “Till Death Do Us Part. It’s the Only Way We Will,” by Thomas Larson (Cover Story, June 3).

Shame on you for publishing that article about Ginger!!! Hasn’t the family suffered enough without someone posting what may or may not be the sordid and gory details of what happened to her? If her mom sees this, or any of her siblings, it will be like a knife to their hearts, as it is to mine. This is beyond coldhearted. You make me ill!

Name Withheld by Request
via email

Football Eightball

Don Bauder’s “Sportugal” story about the Chargers made some good points (“City Lights,” June 3). Why is the City of San Diego tolerating losing $17.1 million to the Chargers every year? If the Chargers were really interested in the San Diego area, they should renegotiate the contract with the City to eliminate the $17.1 million annual loss. The Chargers have complete disregard for the people of San Diego. They are only interested in making a buck — as are most private businesses.

If the City of San Diego cannot break even leasing a 43-year-old stadium, can you imagine the fiscal calamity that would result in the development of a new $1 billion stadium?

While I really enjoy watching the Chargers play, I can do without them; and I believe the City of San Diego can do without them. Tourists do not come to San Diego to watch the Chargers play (ten times per year). They come for the weather, the beaches, the zoo, the Wild Animal Park, Balboa Park, SeaWorld, Seaport Village, La Jolla Cove, and the Gaslamp Quarter, which are available 365 days per year.

I compare the Chargers to drugs: while they may make us feel good initially, they will eventually have a negative impact on our financial health.

Ron Harris
San Diego

&#$@* Patrick

I would like to express my total disappointment in the article that was written by Patrick Daugherty in “Sporting Box” on June 3. In paragraph four, in the second column, Patrick wrote about Tiger’s “&#$@*%@ countless women.” I feel Patrick went as low in his writing as Tiger did in his language, as sin is sin. So I’ve lost a little respect for your Reader. The Reader is read by young and old, and that needs to be considered when doing your articles.

Brenda Hicks
Spring Valley

Kayak Armada

About the cover story “Influence Paddling” (May 27): it undoubtedly brought a long-overdue spotlight on Kayakgate. It, however, failed to direct attention to the real problem, the one that’s festering in the water, not on quaint Avenida de la Playa. Be that as it may, the story aptly tells of the laughable unfolding madness that is the kayak industry ensconced in La Jolla Shores, kayak hawkers elbowing for sidewalk space, market shares, and the mayor’s ear to stave off possible regulation of this cottage industry (similar to how the pedicab industry fought and lost their battle against eventual regulations in the wake of a well-publicized tragedy).

What unfortunately merits more attention than it received in the story is the disturbing madness unfolding daily at the Cove, once a sublime marine park now under siege by flotillas of plastic neon-colored jetsam, aka kayaks.

The cover photo of two kayakers dressed in helmets and life jackets, as if a white-water-rapids experience had been promised to them back on Avenida de la Playa, captures poignantly what is amiss in this discourse. Simply put, the snorkelers are the ones at risk, the ones vulnerable to a clumsy kayaker’s oar. From experience I can say that I’ve had a few close calls with kayaks and oars.

These kayaks are here to stay; they’re as much a part of the Cove as the seals are of the Children’s Pool. What’s more, it’s silly to think the Cove, a local treasure, wouldn’t someday eventually succumb to exploitation (again, witness the Children’s Pool). However, what we can hope for is that responsible regulatory action be taken to curb the size of the flotillas before someone is seriously hurt, which, in that case, the unregulated party will surely be over.

Name Withheld by Request
via email

Good For You, Frank

I really liked the article “How the Jetsons Showed Me My Brother Was in Heaven” (Feature Story, May 27). I only knew Jeff slightly, having worked with him once, but I, too, was amazed at the explosive energy and zest for life this man displayed. His pain must have been great indeed. Please let his brother Frank know I am happy to hear he landed in a good place.

Steven Moschak
via email

You Insensitive Twerps

I am so disgusted by whoever wrote “Chub Scrub” (“S.D. on the Q.T.,” May 27). I am a counselor, and I work with people who struggle with weight issues. The pain, shame, and humiliation people feel due to body size and their behavior with food is beyond your imagination (obviously).

We all seek relief from stress, loneliness, frustration, insecurities, and beyond. We all need tools to deal with life and our feelings. Unfortunately, most people turn to unproductive and/or harmful “tools” such as smoking, drinking, drugs, sex, shopping, gambling, TV, video games, excessive exercise, etc. Clients come to me with so little hope that they can ever break free from their behavior and feeling not good enough. My job is to help people gain healthier responses to life’s challenges while learning how to take better care of themselves from the inside out.

I hope you get the help you need for your problems with arrogance, lack of compassion, and whatever you have going on inside your troubled mind and tiny heart.

Linda Hill Scherillo
via email

“Almost Factual” — Is It Factual?

Is “Almost Factual News” for real? Is there really a coalition of people funded by the board of tourism trying to get rid of overweight people from our beaches (“Chub Scrub,” “S.D. on the Q.T.,” May 27)? It would be faster to round up the “perfect” people than to try to force “normal” people to small areas where they should be programmed to lose weight.

I don’t know about the rest of the world, but I go to the beach to Boogie board, build castles, spend time with friends and family, and try not to grow skin cancer. I am a socially conscious individual. I cover my imperfections as much as possible, but I am there to have fun. I would imagine that the families who visit here feel the same and would be seriously offended if they would be required to show proof that they don’t live here in order to stay on the “No Fatties Allowed” beach.

Seriously, the board of tourism is out of their minds if they are funding something like this. If this hits the national news, nobody will come here for fear that they will be judged. That is not the reputation that San Diego wants.

Small-minded people make me sad. Kudos to the large among us who are out in the sunshine getting exercise instead of sitting on the couch in the dark house eating Cheetos.

Gayla Maypole
via email