We Deserve Public Banking

As a lifelong San Diego resident, I must address impending financial burdens. The San Diego Reader has reported on the economics of our city, most recently addressing Imperial Beach (Neighborhood News: “Mr. Mayor, Tear Down This Fence”): “I think before the City of Imperial Beach invests any city funds or resources on a pocket park [located on private property] they should see if the needs of the residents in other areas of I.B. are being addressed.”

But never on how public banking could do more good for businesses, students, and residents and free up money for what residents want. If the county established a public bank, money would be kept in our community, allowing us to implement infrastructure crucial to our communities, and access affordable loans and banking.

North Dakota, supported by the Bank of North Dakota (BND), remained stable with job growth, and the BND profited throughout the 2008 recession; it remains one of the most economically stable states in the nation and BND outperforms Wall Street banks consistently. Santa Fe, New Mexico recently released a study finding their city could save $24 million over seven years with a public bank, breaking free from Wall Street-based financing.

Public banks function as public utilities and use existing financial reserves as capital to finance local projects at extremely low interest rates. Readers can learn more about public banking at the Public Banking Institute website. Isn’t it time San Diegans take control of banking and stopped Wall Street from bleeding our fine city dry. We, as residents, students, and businesses need and deserve public banking.

• Ivy Chester
• Ocean Beach

Early Crusade Against Islam

Your Columbus excerpt might have included the great crusade that Columbus proposed to Isabella, the Catholic.

Two years after Columbus was born, the Islamic Turks broke into Constantinople, destroying the Greek part of the Roman empire. Afterwards, the Turks began their northward march to conquer all of Europe. Columbus hoped to convert to Christianity all of Asia, from Japan and China to India. This would have resulted in a world crusade against Islam, with Europeans attacking from the west and the Christianized Asian powers attacking from the east, utterly annihilating the Islamic threat.

• Name withheld
• via voicemail

Tiny House Dreams

I really enjoyed your article (“The Wishful World of Tiny Houses”) and am ready to be part of a tiny home community near San Diego. Has there been any progress in getting approval? Any updates on any tiny projects in the area? I’m looking for a cozy back yard to rent space to put my tiny house. Any suggestions?

The tiny home would make living here more affordable and enable me to stay. No more condos being sold after I rent them. Now I’m in an apartment and hating lack of autonomy.

• Caryn
• Encinitas

Too Many Ethnic Reviews

I’m calling about Tin Fork and your food reviews. Why are you always reviewing ethnic restaurants, and not restaurants in the North County Coastal area, or San Marcos or Escondido? And why are you always reviewing restaurants in Tijuana? Nobody’s going to TJ to eat dinner or anything else down there. So, why waste your time?

You’re always in areas like Barrio Logan and never anywhere else. And why do they always choose ethnic restaurants and not any mom-and-pops?

• Gary
• Carlsbad