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Major Faux Pas Where is your sense of value? Where is reason? Incredibly, in your commentary, "The Classic Witticism" (December), you omitted the name of the person whose departure from the Office of the City Attorney (and City Hall) was most devastating. Connie Goertz was the support beam that kept the roof from caving in. Talk about faux pas! For shame! Rosie Wiseman Keen-Like Coverage Just reread your Witt-Gwinn piece in the December issue. It was the sort of thoughtful, deeply informed journalism Harold Keen used to provide for municipal enlightenment in the pages of San Diego Magazine in its heyday and Walter Lippmann provided on the national scene. John Witt and I were classmates as USC undergraduates and I had some chance to observe him as a young attorney under DePaul, Firestone and the Byzantine Ed Butler (nemesis of pornography and short sentences) as a young city hall reporter for the Evening tribune. An advocate apolitical and devoted to the public weal is what the City Charter foresees for the city attorney, and Witt was excellent in his fidelity to this ideal. Demosthenes could have ended his search with him. After the flamboyant Butler, Witt was an interim pope who stayed around and kept the ship on course for three decades. We need more civil servants of this fine stripe. Your double portrait combined with John's valedictory (why did the City Council office run more smoothly with the receptionist — actually, secretary — in 1961 than it does today?) made compelling issue bookends. Yet I'd rather say the school-board John Witt owes his name recognition to his guileless predecessor in office. Jim Frampton Spreading the News Thank you for spreading the news that the new emperor (Casey Gwinn) is not wearing any clothes. Since you didn’t mention what I did at the City Attorney's office for over 11 years, I advised several departments, including Park and Rec and Treasurer. Among other things, I worked on the cases for the nativity scene in Balboa Park and the Mt. Soledad cross. Several years ago, I researched the issue of investment pools and advised the treasurer's office not to join the county investment pool. The problem is that no one except advisory attorneys knew what advisory attorneys did — unless something went wrong. I imagine they'll learn rather quickly now. Mary Kay Jackson San Diego Support The Arts As someone who produces upscale private parties for dignitaries and public figures in cosmopolitan urban centers ("Metros") worldwide, it was with great pleasure that I attended the San Diego opening of "Damn Yankees" starring Jerry Lewis. After the sad sight of ensembles of former Symphony members performing at a bar-mitzvah and an art gallery opening the previous week, it was nice to see a sell-out crowd come Downtown to support the arts. —H. Arturo Arthur Quite A Gift Thanks so much for letting your readers know where they can get a complete guide to the performing arts in San Diego County ("The Critical Ear," December). It was quite a gift and I can’t remember when my company was in the same paragraph as Jesus! —Toni Robin Complaining About Complainers First, let me congratulate you on the foresight to have an e-mail address. The article "Chopper Challenge" (November) brings some issues to surface than don’t seem to go away. When the people who are complaining bought their homes/businesses, they knew the military was their neighbor. They knew an airfield was part of the deal. Were they so shortsighted to think the military would never change the purpose of the station? I have always found it incredible for people to move to an area that contains a noise-producing entity, and then complain. In 95 percent of the cases, that entity was there before there was a community around it. I know how the residents feel about the noise; I lived in the jet path of JFK airport. I never complained about the noise because I knew it was there when I bought my house. People have to start taking responsibility for their own actions. No one made them move to that area! —Charles Walker Correspondence may be sent to San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, 1502 Sixth Ave., San Diego, CA 92101. Or e-mail us at info@sandiegometro.com. |
