Then There Are Always Those Who Refuse to Get Into the Spirit of Things

The big city.

* Let’s see if I have this straight.

The San Diego city school system is in a world of fiscal hurt. Layoffs, salary freezes, salary cuts, class cancellations and outright termination for whole programs are all in the offing.

So how does the labor union representing non-teaching employees respond?

It sues the school board to get money or time off for its 2,177 members, based on the U.S. success in Operation Desert Storm.

The union argues that employees were entitled to April 5 and 6, 1991, as paid holidays after President Bush declared “national days of thanksgiving” for the victory over Saddam Hussein.

The California School Employees Assn. wants each employee to get three days’ back pay (based on overtime rates) or three days’ comp time.

CSEA attorney Madalyn J. Frazzini says similar suits/claims have been filed throughout the state. Numerous districts have settled rather than fight in court, she said, mostly by granting “floating” holidays.

So far, the San Diego board has said no. Then again, it’s been busy chopping millions from the budget.

* The restaurant noted here for having slipped to a “C” rating in the county health inspection system has now regained an “A.”

* One candidate is making hay of the L.A. riot.

Lincoln Pickard, Democratic hopeful in the 50th Congressional District, is touting his endorsements from the National Rifle Assn. and Gun Owners of California:

“People are beginning to realize that in time of social disruptions the government is unable to protect them from rampant criminal behavior. Without adequate self protection a citizen would be at the mercy of hoodlums.”

* The Scout, the newspaper at Camp Pendleton, notes that the L.A. riot marked the first time women Marines have been sent into a combat zone.

* Housing Commission housecleaning.

One of ousted director Evan Becker’s top deputies has been reassigned by the city manager’s office. No loss in pay, but he’s no longer in a decision-making role.

We Hope He Got It on Sail

It pays to advertise.

* Scott Harvey, a candidate for the County Board of Education from District 1, is running on a platform of promoting literacy.

Now he’s more convinced than ever he’s on the right course.

He wanted to hand out his campaign literature at Sunday’s rally in downtown San Diego in favor of keeping abortion legal, a position he endorses. So he hired a firm to produce a rubber stamp so he could stamp his brochures, “Vote Pro Choice.”

The stamp came back, “Boat Pro Choice.”

* Anger watch.

A (bogus) flyer is making the rounds at General Dynamics:

“For those of you who have kept faith with the company all these years, all I can say is, Tough Luck, you can’t believe in anything these days. . .Call it the new world order. Anyway, I don’t much care. I’ve made my money, and I’ll be getting out.”

It’s “signed” by “Slick Willie” Anders, GD boss.

* Four players from the Negro Leagues will tour the Hall of Champions today and then be guests of the Old Globe Theatre at a matinee of “Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting.”

Included is John Ritchey, who was the first black player in the Pacific Coast League when he joined the Padres as a catcher in 1948 and hit .323.

* North Carolina’s exhibit at the Assn. of Biotechnology Companies’ convention in Mission Valley is pretty scientific looking: Thick dark liquid swirling in a beaker.

Some super-secret concoction? Not really.

Corona beer and food coloring.

Does It Count When the Sign Speeds?

Life in the streets.

* Spotted in Mira Mesa: A woman driving 55 m.p.h. on a neighborhood street.

In the back seat of her Mercedes: a 25 m.p.h. speed limit sign.

* San Diego bumper sticker: “The Cup Is a Crock.”

* Yes, a group of boogie-boarders in Cardiff were holding up a sign for passers-by, “Will Work for Sex.”