Tribute to Dr. King

As an individual who has worked for years to establish a proper San Diego city tribute to Martin Luther King, I am curious about a recent proposal by Centre City Development Corp. to name a “linear park” in downtown San Diego the “King Promenade.”

While I support any and all tributes to Martin Luther King (scholarship funds, statues, the recreation center, a portion of California 94), this latest CCDC proposal is neither substantial nor timely enough to replace the 1987 loss of “Martin Luther King Way.” Furthermore, this proposal raises more questions than it answers.

What is a “linear park”? The site is a narrow strip of land which is essentially a median strip between the railroad tracks and Harbor Drive, ending at the Convention Center. It runs from 6th Avenue to Market Street.

Why this particular site? It seems insensitive and callous that the small, narrow parcel of land proposed to be called King Promenade (note no mention of Martin Luther in the title) is located in the shadow of the mammoth Convention Center site that was to have been named “San Diego Martin Luther King Convention Center.” It also borders Market Street, formerly known as Martin Luther King Way.

Who will pay for the linear park? The fund-raising will be geared to agreements with developers of properties surrounding the site. In the past, the private sector has not been very successful with fund-raising for a scholarship fund and statue in Balboa Park in honor of Dr. King. Time will tell if fund raising for this $18-million project will succeed.

When will the linear park be completed? It all depends on the response to the fund-raising campaign; full development is about four years away.

Why not name a city street for Dr. King instead of a walkway? The city of San Diego appears to be reluctant to name another street for Martin Luther King. Other cities have had no such problem because it is the least a city can do to honor a great American.

Why have the elected leaders of San Diego failed to satisfactorily rectify this 4-year-old controversy? One can only assume that our elected officials fail to see the moral and economic repercussions that this city will face until a major thoroughfare or major building is named in honor of Martin Luther King.

City officials continue to be intimidated by a hate-filled minority of San Diegans who have vowed to stop any city funds or actions to honor Dr. King or his principles. The pleas of the responsible citizens of San Diego, who have waited close to four years for a tribute to replace the loss of Martin Luther King Way, have not been heard at City Hall.

If we are forced to wait much longer for a substantive tribute, San Diego will live forever in shame and will become akin to Arizona in the minds of Americans.

BARBARA GARTNER, La Jolla