Navy Pussyfoots Around Over Unwanted Furry Friends
By policy, the United States Navy has zero tolerance for unauthorized cats at the Naval Training Center in Point Loma.
Cats cause messes. Cats have fleas and breed other cats. Cats do not contribute to fleet readiness.
All true, but cat removal is not easy. Eradicating Saddam from his throne might be easier.
In the past, the center has had dozens of cats. The current census is unknown (or maybe top secret).
The cats have Friends Outside. Principally, Maria Louisa Lira, 43, who for 21 years has befriended the cats and fed them clandestinely.
She has also entered into negotiations with Navy brass about removal techniques. She wanted the cats trapped and relocated elsewhere on Navy property. A county ordinance nixed that.
The Navy told Lira to stop feeding the cats. She agreed. But she says guards handcuffed her husband, a Navy retiree, after (wrongly) suspecting him of smuggling contraband cat chow onto the base.
The Navy agreed to notify Lira whenever cats are trapped and shipped to County Animal Control, and to chase away cats hiding in structures being razed.
Still, there have been instances of late when cats were trapped and Lira was not notified. “Administrative error,” says the Navy, and promises to do better.
On the other hand, the Navy says it faithfully complied with its agreement with Lira when it demolished some buildings recently.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Paul Versailles, base spokesman, says the walls were removed, loud noises were made to scare away the cats, and then the buildings were resealed to prevent re-entry.
“We did things we never do when demolishing buildings,” he said.
Lira saw it differently.
“Cats were running between the bulldozers as the buildings came down and nobody was doing anything,” says Lira, on the verge of tears. “It was so awful.”
The cat controversy continues, under the vigilant journalistic gaze of the Lakeside-based Animal Press. At its heart lies a philosophical difference.
“Cats on base are beautiful,” Lira says.
“One cat on base is too many,” the chief says.
Dressed for Success
Passing the visions.
* The Rev. George Walker Smith, the civic activist who’s seen them come and go in his 32 years in San Diego, says Bob Burgreen is the best police chief the city has had.
Smith says Burgreen is better than his predecessor, Bill Kolender, because he spends more time worrying about the streets and less about the social whirl.
Smith notes: “I’ve never seen Burgreen in a tuxedo.”
Burgreen responds that he’s worn a tux twice since being chief (once for a wedding) “but I haven’t let George see me.”
* The Catamaran Resort Hotel in Mission Beach ran a contest to see why tourists would love a free vacation to San Diego. Naturally, the Zonies had the best answers.
This from Richard Oliver of Tempe, Ariz.: “So my girlfriend and I can get away from my ex-wife and her lawyers.”
From Bette Holt from Glendale, Ariz.: “I do not want to stay stuck to my car seat all summer.”
* U.S. Sen. John Seymour, the unknown (appointed) incumbent, had better hope that the crowd at the Daley Double Saloon in Encinitas isn’t a cross-section of the electorate.
Bartender Pat McInerny, doing a poll for KCEO radio, found that only 5 of his 37 patrons one night could identify Seymour as a senator.
One thought he was an actor, another said a pro footballer and the rest didn’t know (or care) enough to make a guess.
* La Jolla’s Elwin Law, author of the “Beer Drinker’s Dream Diet,” gets a big display in the current edition of “All About Beer” magazine.
He’s also talking to the Tonight show about a possible appearance. Jay Leno is a big beer drinker.
* George Weston reports a notice on the menu at Leatherby’s, a soda fountain in El Cajon:
“If you’re not served in 5 minutes, you’ll get served in 8 or 9, maybe 12 minutes. Just relax.”
Love Takes Wing
A lovelorn flight attendant?
License plate frame on a truck in La Mesa: “Marry Me. Fly for Free.” On the same pickup, a USAir sticker.
