Preserve San Diego

In the nine years since I came to San Diego as a freshman at San Diego State University, I have heard numerous San Diego residents speak very disparagingly of their northern neighbor, Los Angeles (also referred to as Smell-A and Jell-A). The people of San Diego say Los Angeles is too crowded, too smoggy, too dirty, and its traffic jams are an abomination.

Ironically, San Diego is in serious danger of becoming a smaller copy of the city its people scorn so much. One has only to see the light brown layer of smog blanketing San Diego’s afternoon skyline to appreciate this fact. The long lines of rush-hour traffic and the increasing appearance of litter on the streets and sidewalks are merely additional arguments for those who need further convincing.

The very things that make residents of San Diego so happy to be here--climate, scenery, recreation--also attract outsiders who know a good thing when they see one. This steady influx of people increases the traffic and smog, thereby decreasing, in part, the things for which they came.

Since preventing people from living where they choose is inherently un-American, a solution as to how to preserve San Diego’s many benefits is not readily apparent, but necessary.

DAVID A. LATHRAP San Diego