Civic Problems and the Citizens of San Diego

Re “Its Ego Bruised, San Diego Asks: ‘What Next?,’ ” April 29: San Diego is ego-bruised, tarnished, a deep instability -- what kind of nonsense is this? As a native San Diegan, I would submit that the negative publicity and political fallout have had little effect on me or anyone I know. As far as L.A., Orange County, San Francisco and Silicon Valley having more of an impact on the state, please remember that while you’re stuck in endless traffic jams seven days a week. It hasn’t affected tourism at all. Have you heard any visitors say, “The mayor of San Diego just resigned. Let’s go somewhere else for vacation”? I’ve dealt with tourists for 21 years and never once have I had a question concerning local politics.

Robert Dexter

San Diego

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If the city of San Diego ran basics services such as telephone, it would be just another WorldCom. And who really cares about the city besides the newspaper (as it should) and those who desperately want to put “their” person in the newly vacated seat of mayoral power -- take your pick: labor, pure capitalists or the latest sports franchise in need of corporate welfare.

Meanwhile, my neighborhood streets are riddled with potholes the size of paint cans and the street signs on a 55-mph thoroughfare are shrouded in foliage, maybe never to be seen by motorists again.

I was just informed this week that it will cost me $45 to our fair government for someone in vector control to come out and remove an enormous crow from my backyard that fell dead from the sky and has since been ravaged by field mice.

I’m so happy to have paid nearly $10,000 in property taxes last year. Thank goodness for the private sector and market forces, except when tax dollars are being used to help people retire early.

Jeffrey Bean

San Diego