Mayflower Madam Will Return for Lecture Despite Vice Squad

It’s a people business.

* Sydney Biddle Barrows, New York’s Mayflower Madam, is returning to San Diego in January for a Learning Annex lecture: “Just Between Us Girls.”

The former New York debutante promises to reveal tricks of the trade, including how to snag a man and why some men prefer prostitutes.

Last time she lectured here, vice cops warned her not to blab about how to set up an illegal escort service.

Rolodex Madam Karen Wilkening says Barrows was so upset by the cops’ visit that she begged Wilkening to bring a small overnight bag to the lecture.

The bag was packed with face creams and moisturizers and other beauty aids, just in case Barrows had to spend the night in jail.

“I never had the heart to tell her she wouldn’t be able to keep the bag if she was arrested,” Wilkening said. “The idea of me having it just seemed to comfort her.”

* La Jolla bumper sticker: “Privatize.”

* News that the president of the House of Germany in Balboa Park contributed $20 to the campaign of David Duke has caused a mini-flap.

A demonstrator Sunday afternoon outside the social and cultural group’s headquarters in the park called for the resignation of Ingeborg S. Drotleff, 64, a bookkeeper from El Cajon.

The protester also vowed to take his case to City Hall.

A story in the San Diego Union had named Drotleff as among 100 people from San Diego County who have contributed to Duke’s bid to become governor of Louisiana.

Drotleff’s husband, Peter, 71, says his wife was attracted by Duke’s vow “to stand up for white people” and not by his neo-Nazi past:

“She has committed no crime. If you can’t donate money to a politician, then this is not America.”

(The Drotleffs emigrated from Germany to the United States after World War II.)

* Former San Diego Councilman Ed Struiksma has decided not to seek the Republican nomination for Assembly in the 75th District, or any other.

He says politics has become too negative. He prefers to spend more time with his family and his consulting business.

Frankly, Some Are Unhappy

Karl Higgins, departing soon as chief of staff to Rep. Bill Lowery (R-San Diego), has sent a farewell letter on Lowery’s official stationery to 400 selected constituents.

The letter was sent with Lowery’s franking privilege, which allows official mail without postage. In the letter, Higgins mentions his successor, tells of plans to “open my own consulting business” and adds:

“During my congressional service, I have been privileged to know and work with an amazingly broad array of highly talented and skilled people in government and the private sector.

“The purpose of my letter today is to tell you just how much I’ve enjoyed working with you. I hope you always got your questions answered or information relayed in a useful, timely and accurate manner when we interacted.

“San Diego still seems to be an amazingly small town and, hopefully, our paths will continue to cross. If I never make another dime, I certainly feel richer having made your acquaintance and earning your confidence.”

Higgins says he was careful not to mention what kind of consulting he’s doing. (He’ll consult/lobby on issues involving government, politics and/or media relations.)

“It was simply a matter of saying goodby to the people I’ve worked with in Bill’s name,” he says.

But to some the letter smacks of a government-paid advertisement to help Higgins attract clients.

Grumps one San Diego civic leader: “Every executive in town seems to have received (the letter). This is an outrageous use of the franking privilege.”

. . . and a Cartridge in a Pear Tree

Berger & Prescott of 91X, XTRA-FM, are having fun with “The Betty Broderick Christmas Album.”

The gag ad promises “Frosting the Old Man, With a .38-Snub Nose,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas, With an Uzi,” and “I’m Dreaming of a Short Sentence.”

Topped by “The 12 Days of Christmas”:

On the 5th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

Five rounds of lead

Four obscene phone calls

Three (bleep) yous

Two extra chins

And a car driven through the front door.

Not everyone appreciates the satire. Berger & Prescott reports a flood of angry feminist phone calls.