LTE

Big Pharma

Joseph O’Brien’s February 21 cover story was important and I appreciated it very much. It was heartening to read that more doctors are refusing to participate in the Big Pharma System and, instead, are doing their part to promote a return to a sane and humane medical profession.

“First do no harm” is supposed to be a physician’s mantra. Also, any true doctor knows that sometimes significant clues, useful in making accurate diagnoses, can be found within the longer conversations with patients that occur via longer, unrushed appointments. Home environments can offer useful information as to what’s going on with a patient’s health as well. Kudos to Mr. O’Brien, and to the doctors who agreed to be interviewed for the article.

Devon T.
via email

Halfway There

A number of inaccurate statements appeared in the headline and article regarding an attempted robbery in Encinitas (Neighborhood News: “Man jumps from halfway-house window,” February 14). I am the president of the Encinitas Ranch Community Association where this crime occurred and I wanted to be sure that all of the facts surrounding this event were made available to your readers.

The facts of the incident are as follows:

1. In response to a 911 call on the afternoon of February 1 about a robbery in progress in the 800 block of Lynwood Drive, law enforcement officers apprehended a suspect, who had made his way onto Cypress Hills Drive, after he attempted to break into a home and fought with a resident on Lynwood Drive.
2. The suspect did not jump from the window of a halfway house, as no such facility exists on Cypress Hills Drive or in Encinitas Ranch. The apprehended, adult male allegedly resided in a halfway house outside of Encinitas Ranch.
3. The owner of the Lynwood Drive home, where the attempted robbery occurred, confronted the suspect, apparently injuring him. The homeowner may also have been hurt in the altercation as well.
4. The individual apprehended was only charged a single robbery count. Sheriff’s Department representatives were not able to link this individual to several apparent thefts of stolen alcohol from outside refrigerators in the backyards of two Encinitas Ranch homes that same day.
5. Lynwood Drive residents saw the alleged perpetrator running along the street and down toward Cypress Hills Drive. The arresting officer was directed by homeowners to the area near where the suspect was apprehended.
6. Finally, over the last six months, only 11 reported crimes have occurred in the Encinitas Ranch Community Association. Of these, only one incident involved robbery; the one on February 1. Six of the eleven were crimes of opportunity related to vehicle break-ins where valuables were left in plain sight in a car or truck. The remaining four incidents involved burglaries or thefts where homes and/or yards were not properly secured. Under California law, a robbery only occurs when a person is physically placed in fear of harm during a theft or burglary.

We would appreciate you sharing this input with your readers.

Dick Stern,
President, Encinitas Ranch Community Association

Speaking from Experience

Having worked in the hotel industry in San Diego for over 25 years, I agree with the majority of what Ms. Browning states in the “Labor in Revolt” article (City Lights, February 21).

I have worked for numerous hotels, including your Hyatts, Westins, Hiltons, etcetera. I especially agree with her on the suppression of hourly rate pay, high benefit costs, and these companies’ lack of giving back to the community. But for her to include Humphreys Half Moon Inn & Suites in the same category is wrong.

Humphreys is owned by Bartell Hotels, a local, family-owned company. Having worked for Humphreys, and other Bartell Hotels companies, I know they average $1-$3 more hourly pay, have tremendous worker loyalty and tenure, and, most importantly, Bartell lHotels is a very active member of the San Diego community.

E.F.
via voicemail

Moving Story

I was appalled that you gave valuable space in your magazine (“My Life," February 7 cover story) to a spoiled narcissist who even writes badly. With a conspicuous lack of empathy or trace of self-awareness, reading her words was painful, and a complete waste of my time. It was her self-pity that put me over the edge.

If there are many more like her in San Diego I think I’ll move to another city – for my sanity and for a higher quality of mind.

Alexis Page Montgomery
via email

Do the Math

Regarding “The Lone Wolf hits a Royal Flush, Part Three,” (Unforgettable, January 24) — another tall tale fish story just doesn’t add up.

Captain Zolezzi claimed that the crew consisted of nine men and that they fished constantly for 20 hours per day for four days. That makes a total of 720 man hours of fishing. With a haul of 65 tons (130,000 pounds) and 1300 fish caught, the albacore would have averaged 100 pounds each. The article says that the fish were 20 pounds each. 1300 fish divided by 720 man hours works out to 1.8 fish per man per hour. Hardly a fishing frenzy.

Ric MacNeil
La Mesa

Jeff Smith responds: Where does it say they fished constantly for 20 hours? They averaged four hours of sleep, but they also took breaks for coffee, meals, and packing the fish on ice (which often took three or four hours). Your math is fun but your premise misses the point: whenever they returned from a break, the fish were still there.