Sleep-Deprived Neighbors Close an Eye to Peacock’s Disappearance

Maddie and Bruce aren’t hanging out in North City West anymore.

Maddie has relocated to Ramona. Bruce is another matter.

The two adult peacocks arrived uninvited about three months ago in a quiet neighborhood on the northern edge of North City West.

Their loud and raucous mating calls could be heard for blocks. Their large droppings were everywhere.

Their squawking resembled high-spirited bickering. Hence the names given to them by neighbors, from the television show “Moonlighting” (Bruce for Bruce Willis, Maddie for the character played by Cybill Shepherd).

At first, it was neat to have exotic birds roosting on chimneys. Then it got damn annoying.

“You could kiss off trying to get any sleep,” said homeowner David Weinrieb. “It was like a very loud duck call. Roosters get up at sunrise, but peacocks are up all night.”

The neighborhood pleaded for help.

“We don’t have equipment or manpower resources to go out and try to chase flying birds,” said Hector Cazares, assistant director of county Animal Control.

Ditto the Health Department, Noise Abatement, Humane Society, San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park and San Diego Councilwoman Abbe Wolfsheimer. Neighbors got surly.

“Sleepless people get frantic,” said homeowner Sue Sadleir.

The suspected owner of the peacocks, who lives in the San Dieguito River Valley, was confronted. He stoutly maintained that the noisy flyaways were not his.

Maddie was caught and adopted by a Ramona man. But Bruce was too strong and wily.

Finally, late last week, neighbors were startled by an explosion about 7 a.m. Some said it sounded like a car backfire, others like a big firecracker.

Bruce has not been seen or heard since. There were no witnesses, and nobody is asking questions.

“As far as I’m concerned,” said Weinrieb, “Bruce was a victim of the system. It just doesn’t have the resources to deal with the infrequent things of life.”

Taxes for T-Shirts

The people’s business.

* Your tax dollars at work.

The public agency that wants to create a park in the San Dieguito River Valley also wants to spend $2,048 on 144 T-shirts and 500 bumper stickers, all with the park’s blue and green logo.

It’s on the Friday agenda.

* Rallying cry of the San Diego chapter of the anti-malathion Green Party: “No Fumigation Without Representation.”

* Do you ever get the impression that San Diego is not taken seriously in statewide politics?

For example: the next attorney general could be key to the SDG&E-Southern; California Edison merger (which is a merger like Jonah merged with the whale).

The U.S. Supreme Court, in the Lucky-Alpha Beta case, just ruled that mergers can be challenged by state officials under federal antitrust laws.

But two of the three major candidates for attorney general are neutral on SDG&E-Edison;: former Long Beach congressman Dan Lungren, a Republican, and Los Angeles Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner, a Democrat.

Only San Francisco Dist. Atty. Arlo Smith, a Democrat, has a position: He’s against the merger and wants to see how the high court decision can help in the fight.

* The plan by Councilwoman Abbe Wolfsheimer to restrict the access of City Hall reporters to the 10th-floor council offices has died a quiet and unlamented death.

Bits and Pieces

Signs of the times.

* T-shirt on transient slumbering in a doorway in downtown San Diego: “I Survived the Crash of ’79.”

* The Stealth fighter plane that organizers had hoped would come to Air/Space America, which is now canceled, will instead make its air show debut in July in Dayton, Ohio.

* Just how fancy is the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe?

Its boarding facilities are called Club Pet. Among the center’s services: estate planning for pets who survive their owners.