More on Orange County vs. Del Mar fair money

Ollie’s joyful legacy

In many respects we make San Diego our second home. We are here five or six times a year and find a tremendous sense of peace and serenity. We are certain that one day we will make this our permanent home but until then we will enjoy our visits. Due to recent need for increased social distancing we brought a motor home this year for the first time and parked at this little place in Mission Bay. As I took the morning walk, I noticed this abandoned trailer park. It seemed like it had a tremendous amount of history behind it.

Wondering what the story behind it might be, I did a Google search, and much to my surprise, found something much more informative and interesting to read than a typical Wikipedia snippet. In fact, the article (“De Anza mobile homes pushed out of Mission Bay,” Cover Stories, September 14, 2011) was so well written, funny, and enjoyable that I couldn’t put it down. When I looked to see who had written it the only name it had listed was “Ollie.” I see that he no longer works there. Is there a way you could kindly direct me to an email where I could let him know how much I enjoyed the article and his writing, or perhaps you could relay this message for me? So glad that I found the Reader. Looking forward to many more enjoyable reads!

• Sheldon Pickering
• Mission Bay

Tapping OC’s trough

Just a response to the article on the Fairgrounds (“Del Mar Fair asks Orange County Fair for bail-out,” Neighborhood News, June 16): Orange County Fair has a surplus because of a lawsuit settlement. Fairgrounds surplus monies go to the state's General fund each year. The Del Mar Fairgrounds through the Fair, special events and Horse racing, have contributed tens of millions to Californians.

• Mark Anderson

Author Ken Leighton responds:

Thank you for your email but what you said is simply not correct. Financial statements for the Orange County Fairgrounds going back over a decade show the continuing build up of reserves by spending less than annual revenues. No one knows what “lawsuit” you are talking about. Care to share?

All fairgrounds contribute to the state general fund when they pay their sales tax to the state. That’s as far as that goes. They maintain their own bank accounts. Fairgrounds’ surplus monies are not transferred to the state each year but are kept by the fairground. The California Food and Agriculture Code creates and governs fairgrounds. Regarding transfer of funds to the state, see the following section: 4001.

• Any money which is received by any association, other than from the sale of real property or pursuant to a lease, easement, or agreement for the extraction of oil or gas from lands owned or controlled by it, shall be retained and used by the association for its:
• (a) General use and purposes.
• (b) Maintenance.
• (c) Membership in livestock registry associations and fair associations.
• (d) Support and operation.

• (e) Acquisition, installation, maintenance, and operation of recreational and cultural facilities at its fairgrounds.

I am forwarding this to each Del Mar Fair board member in case they have been given bad information.

In Bedford with fascists

So Ed Bedford thinks Governor Gavin Newsom is a fascist for limiting restaurants to outdoor service, referring to him as “Newsolini” (“OB’s Walking On Water Cafe: Sinkers and seagulls,” Tin Fork, July 16). That’s both juvenile and disgusting, right up there with people who call public officials Nazis for requiring wearing masks in public places. Bedford has no idea what actual fascism is. Many San Diego residents (me included) have had family murdered by actual fascist regimes or forced to hide for years to avoid being murdered. If Bedford and the Reader don’t see a difference, there’s something seriously wrong with your view of the world.

• Cary Lowe
• Point Loma

Ed Bedford responds:

You’re going to have to believe me on this. “Newsolini” was not what I wrote in my Tin Fork text. “Gov Gav” was how I referred to Gov. Newsom. “Newsolini” was an editor’s addition. I too have in-laws whose grandparents were in the Italian Resistance who suffered mightily at Mussolini’s hands. Incidentally, I support keeping restaurants outside. I support mandatory masking. I do not think the governor is a fascist.