The good soldier in him must have sensed me coming. “Mencken, you son of a bitch!” he hollered. “You better watch what you write. I’m a private citizen now. Sue your ass.”

The wonders of Duncan Hunter

I was just wondering. I picked up the Reader. I haven’t read the story yet (“Duncan Hunter: San Diego’s good soldier”, Cover Stories, December 25). On the front page is Duncan Hunter Jr. It wasn’t enough for you guys that Duke Cunningham went to jail or whatever, he’s ripping people off. You guys think he’s a good soldier? You guys put Duncan Hunter Jr. [on the cover?] Who owns the Reader? Oh my God, I cannot believe you guys would put that and saying he’s a good solider, he’s a good soldier. Didn’t he just blame his wife for like taking donations in campaign contributions and going on trips and doing this and having affairs and mistresses? I hope this is not a real story. I cannot believe it. I don’t know who owns you guys. Well now I do. Thanks.

• Anonymous

Man of the Year

Disgraceful ink

Why on Earth did you give so much ink to disgraced 50th District Rep. Duncan Hunter, who is under investigation for campaign-money violations? Even his wife bailed on him. Yet you glorified him with a cover portrait and Man of the Year title as well as three inside vignettes. You should have allowed the drama to play out in D.C. You owe readers an explanation.

• Dale Rodebaugh
• San Diego

Treeless forester

Not only is the City NOT planting any new trees, they are destroying entire existing stands of trees (“Sluggish growth of tree canopy in San Diego,” Neighborhood News, December 24). The City bulldozed the only remaining grove of eucalyptus at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park disregarding the City Forrester’s statements: “The City is making a greater effort to protect existing trees.” and “ How can we keep that tree in place?” City of San Diego Forester May 8, 2019. From the Sunset Cliffs Master Plan: ““Create a Park where people can enjoy San Diego’s natural coastal environment as it once was, free from the effects of man.” So much for this Point Loma Urban Forest.

• Scott Mac MacLaggan
• Point Loma

Spreckels Park, Coronado. Coronado has "an initial goal of planting 1,001 new trees by the end of 2024."