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OPINION &EDITORIAL A4 JAN. 30, 2009 Words reveal where change will remain the same Like most Americans, I gathered with others to witness the inauguration of President Barack Obama. As a strong supporter of his candidacy, and a big fan of his highly educated sense of language and the power of words, there was no way I was going to miss his first address to the world as president. Was I impressed? Yes. Was it all I expected it to be? Yes. Was I disappointed? Absolutely. Don’t get me wrong, I believe Obama represents change on many levels, I wouldn’t have voted for him if I thought otherwise. Of all those seeking to replace George W. Bush, he best represented 21st century sensibility, and I celebrated the day he O ver the past 20 years, I have chronicled and commented on the environmental rhetoric and record of the last three presidents. I have no intention to stop now. was elected. Over the past 20 years, I have chronicled and commented on the environmental rhetoric and record of the last three presidents. I have no intention to stop now. As with 41,42 and 43, “Observations from the Edge” begins the commentary clock with an assessment of 44’s inaugural speech. As inaugural speeches go, Obama’s was a good one. Hitting all the right notes, he recycled a great deal from his campaign stump speeches, speaking to the sobering reality of the times. That said, Obama made it quite clear he should not, at this time, be considered an environmentalist. Some of you would say his statement “ ... each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthens our adversaries and threaten our BOB NANNINGA Observations from the Edge planet” is enough to assuage the concerns of environmental activists. Allow me to enlighten you. First of all, whether he is referring to Americans or humans, it is not “our planet.” Humans are just one species inhabiting the biosphere. Second, it is rather arrogant to think humans threaten the planet — we don’t. The planet existed long before humans evolved. Humans only threaten the environment that sustains the species currently inhabiting global ecosystems, including our own. Regarding Obama’s promise, “We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids, and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together.” How does that represent change? There is not a time in the past three decades that roads and bridges were not being built. And as for electrical lines, isn’t that what the Sunrise Power Link is? I also wonder if President Obama understands the ecological implications of running cars and factories by “harnessing the sun, winds, and the soil,” all of which will result in severe environmental impacts just as fossil fuels and nuclear energy do. When he said “we will not apologize for our way of life,” my heart sank. The United States represents 4 percent of the world’s population, yet we consume more than 25 percent of the planet’s natural resources. American consumptive patterns cannot be sustained at current levels. Giving credit where credit is due, I was glad to hear him say “ ... nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect.” Perhaps there is hope after all. Bob Nanninga is a freelance writer, producer and environmental journalist. For more, go to www.bobservations.com, or e-mail him at bnanninga@coastnewsgroup.com. P.O. Box 232550, Encinitas, CA 92023-2550 • 760-436-9737 www.thecoastnews.com • Fax: 760-943-0850 MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLISHER JIM KYDD ACCOUNTING BECKY ROLAND MANAGING EDITOR LAURIE SUTTON COMMUNITY NEWS EDITOR JEAN GILLETTE ASSISTANT EDITOR ERIC MURTAUGH PRODUCTION MANAGER SANDRA POWERS GRAPHIC ARTIST PHYLLIS MITCHELL PRODUCTION EDITOR CHUCK STEINMAN DIR. OF MARKETING & SALES CHRIS KYDD ADVERTISING SALES TONY BARRYMORE LORI DRAKE LAURA NORTH LIONEL TALARO RECEPTIONIST CHERYL PLONTUS The Coast News is a legally adjudicated newspaper published weekly on Fridays by The Coast News Group. It is qualified to publish notices required by law to be published in a newspaper of general circulation (Case No. 677114). Subscriptions: 1 year/$35; 6 mos./$26; 3 mos./$21 Send check or money order to: The Coast News, P.O. Box 232550, Encinitas, CA 92023-2550. In addition to mail subscriptions, more than 30,000 copies are distributed to approximately 700 locations in the beach communities from Oceanside to Carmel Valley. The advertising deadline is the Monday preceding the Friday of publication. Editorial deadline is the Friday proceeding publication. INDEPENDENT FREE PAPERS OF AMERICA Views expressed in Opinion & Editorial do not necessarily reflect the views of The Coast News. THE COAST NEWS U.N. forbids defaming religion, especially Islam By Nat Hentoff SYNDICATED COLUMNIST On Inauguration Day, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, in a New York Times ad (“An Invitation to a New Partnership”), told “Dear President OBAMA” that Muslims “have compelling strategic and moral reasons to cooperate and peacefully co-exist with the United States in particular, and with the West in general.” Many Muslims here and elsewhere want that partnership; but some, jihadists in the name of Islam, disagree violently. In its address to our new president, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (which has permanent status at the United Nations) made no mention of its own strategic skills that resulted, on Dec. 18, in the passage by the U.N. General Assembly of a nonbinding resolution (with strong advice to its members) that condemns “defamation of religion,” especially Islam. In a 83-to-53 vote, with 42 abstentions, the U.N. General Assembly urges nations to provide “adequate protections” in their laws or constitutions against “acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions and incitement to religious hatred in general.” Only Islam and Muslims are specifically named in this resolution against religious defamation sponsored by Uganda — on behalf of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Contact a Reporter CARLSBAD JEANNIE SPRAGUE-BENTLEY jsprague-bentley@coastnewsgroup.com DEL MAR / SOLANA BEACH BIANCA KAPLANEK bkaplanek@coastnewsgroup.com ENCINITAS WEHTAHNAH TUCKER wtucker@coastnewsgroup.com OCEANSIDE PROMISE YEE pyee@coastnewsgroup.com RANCHO SANTA FE DAVID WIEMERS dwiemers@coastnewsgroup.com SAN MARCOS / VISTA GIDEON MARCUS gmarcus@coastnewsgroup.com CRIME / COURTS RANDY KALP rkalp@coastnewsgroup.com PHOTOGRAPHER DANIEL KNIGHTON dan@pixelperfectimages.net Contact the Editor LAURIE SUTTON lsutton@coastnewsgroup.com Conference — with co-sponsors Belarus and Venezuela. In the opposition were the United States, a majority of European countries, Japan, India and a number of other nations. Those voting in favor say they do not want to limit free speech but do intend to stop such expressions as the 2005 Danish cartoons disrespecting the Prophet Muhammad that ignited violent protests by Muslims around the world. Among the opponents, including myself, of this U.N. move to have its members legislate, with penalties — against such very broadly designated “religious defamation” — is Floyd Abrams, this country’s leading protector of the First Amendment in the Supreme Court and in his writings. In his Dec. 9, lecture on Global Communications Issues at the United Nations itself in New York, he cited a recent study by the European Center for Law and Justice finding “that laws based on the concept of ‘defamation of religion’ actually help to create a climate of violence.” “Violators of these laws, as applied in most Muslim countries, are subject to the death penalty,” Abrams continued. He cited from the study a 22-year-old Hindu in Pakistan “was beaten to death by co-workers at a factory for allegedly committing the crime of blasphemy, which is a crime punishable by death in the country.”The three workers were “charged not with murder but with ‘failure to inform the police that blasphemy was under way.’” Also in an article, “The Freedom to Criticize” by Floyd Abrams (The American Jewish Congress Monthly, 2008), he emphasizes, and I fully agree, that the effect of what the United Nations voted for on Dec. 18 “would be just as dangerous if this did not (originally) come from the Islamic states, but came from any other group of states representing or purporting to speak for any other religion.” Another of America’s leading First Amendment lawyers, Marc Stern, co-executive director of the American Jewish Congress, makes a crucial point that if this approach to “defamation of religion” were to become a crime under international law (under the impetus of the U.N. resolution): “nations would be able to seek extradition and trial abroad of persons who make statements critical or offensive to one or all faiths anywhere in the world.” Already, for example, as Reuters reported last June 4 (“Jordan Summons Danish Cartoonist on Blasphemy Charges”), that country’s prosecutor, Hassan Abdullat, subpoenaed “11 Danes for drawing and reprinting” cartoons that offend Islam. The Danes were charged — in Jordan — for “threatening the national peace.” Under Jordanian law, Reuters reported, “reproducing images of the Prophet Muhammad inside — or even outside the country — is illegal under the Jordanian Justice Act.” One of the Danes summoned to Jordan was Kurt Westergaard, who, for years, has been subject to death threats for his cartoon, among others, of the Prophet Muhammad wearing a turban in the shape of a bomb. When the riots and deaths following those Danish cartoons were reported in American newspapers, none of the offending cartoons were published accompanying the stories in The New York Times, the Washington Post and other major dailies, except the Philadelphia Inquirer and the New York Sun. But, at the Village Voice, where I then had a column, I ran the story, with the cartoon of Prophet Muhammad wearing the bomb-shaped turban. I was damned if I’d be intimidated for doing my job as a reporter. For a couple of weeks, I was more vigilant than usual walking the streets, but I’m still here.What most stays in my mind is that long before the Dec. 18, 2008, resolution on defamation of religions, so much of the American free press refused to run even one of the cartoons at the core of the story, and hardly anything about the United Nations’ Dec. 18 resolution. Did they not want to offend certain readers? Were they afraid? If the U.N. resolution became international law, the First Amendment would still protect opponents here, but think of the bloody impact on “defamers” around the world. To be continued ... Nat Hentoff is a nationally renowned authority on the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights and author of many books.
JAN. 30, 2009 Significant redistricting hearings ahead Prop. 11 follow up Public meetings on redistricting of state political boundaries have been scheduled as provided for in Prop. 11, which was passed by voters last November. Meetings will be in San Diego, Feb. 9; Fresno, Feb. 20; Los Angeles, Feb. 23; and San Francisco, Feb. 27. A 14-member commission that will include nonelected folks will review the input from the meetings and will draw the districts in time for the 2012 election. Population shifts determined by the 2010 census will be reflected. Many of the current bunch of electeds opposed redistricting becuz it clearly threatened their opportunities for remaining in office. Chargers staying or leaving? While there’s lottsa palaver about the Chargers playing in a Chula Vista stadium or one that might be built along the waterfront, Ed Roski in L.A. envisions the L.A. Chargers playing in a City of Industry stadium on land he possesses. Part owner of the Lakers and Kings, Roski has for years romanced electeds in that city to partner with him. Chargers owner Alex Spanos sez it’s the Harbor City or Southbay all the way. But bizness is bizness and he’s a shrewd bizznessman from Stockton with no particular allegiance to any city as long as there is a big amount of cash that will flow into the till. Contrarian Longtime Seaside resident Pete Kaye has his biography out that took him a few years to write under the title of “Contrarian.” Close friends say it fits him to a C.A World War II and Korean War vet and award-winning print and TV journalist, Kaye covered a score of events of worldwide significance from Pearl Harbor to Watergate and the sometimes less than successful space program. It’s an exciting 260-page account of his life and now when he is sitting around talking stories with friends he recalls happenings he forgot to include in “Contrarian.” It’s available at www.amazon.com. Who told? None of the Flower Capital electeds or staff professed to know how the SANDAG Web site knew weeks ago that councilor Dan Dalager was to be the second alternate on that board representing the city. He is, but that action wuzzn’t official until the Jan. 14 council meeting. Councilor Jerome Stocks, the city’s rep on the board, sez it wuzzn’t him who leaked to SANDAG. Legislating outside the box maybe? Enuff already There seems to be a frenzy about invoking bans on this and that. Now the South Coast Air Quality Management District with jurisdiction in San Bernardino, Riverside, L.A. and Orange counties has decreed that after March 9, all new homes that include fireplaces must have gas-log fireplaces rather than the wood burners. And the earlier ones will be prevented from firing up on bad air days. Will that require a battery of highly paid monitors? Folks may soon decide that it’s time to enact an ordinance to ban the ban. Membership meeting Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Assn. has scheduled its annual membership meet- Del Mar needs to start with City Hall I just came across the article in today’s (Jan. 15) San Diego Union- Tribune entitled “City takes steps to freshen up downtown.” If the city of Del Mar really wants to “freshen up downtown” and “attract investors, development, businesses ... ” and make downtown more marketable, take a hard look at Del Mar City Hall. So much for civic pride. This public BILL ARBALLO Eye on the Coast ing Feb. 12 in the Poinsettia Room at City Hall starting at 6:30 p.m. Diane Langager, senior planner for North Hwy. 101 streetscape, will give an update on progress made after three community workshops. Light Up Leucadia holiday contest winners will also be recognized. Give a looksie Arts Alive banners are up in Solbeach and are quite contemporary. Each one conveys the environmental based theme “Our Earth-Our Chance.” They will remain up until May in Eden Gardens, Lomas Santa Fe Boulevard and historic Highway 101. No job for justa manager Some discussion, pro and con, about the recent increase in pay for Fairground Chief Exec. Tim Fennell. May seem a bit high at this time but this is no ordinary job for a pro in this field. Fennell oversees a $59.3 mil. budget. When he came aboard in 1993 there were fewer than 100 interim events, now there are more than 300. These are important locally becuz of the sales tax revenue. Relations with the Thoroughbred Club have never been better. Once they usta snarl at each other. During last fall’s wildfires, the fairgrounds became more than an animal refuge. It unexpectedly was turned into an evacuation center for fire-threatened folks including dozens from health care centers. It resulted in nationwide acclaim. In the fair industry, the head enchilada is the manager but at Del Mar it takes more than someone who knows how to lay out carnival rides. Too late? Surfside City electeds are hustling to create a specific plan for the commercial core. With the economy in the tank, it may already be too late to stimulate the area becuz it will take at least coppla years to get a plan done. Not surprising, there are the usual naysayers saying, “Not so fast.” Bottom line is that as the economy continues to slide downward, sales taxes to pay for LETTERS TO THE EDITOR meeting place, information center and public offices are located in a horrendous building. Its aesthetics are nill and the interior working conditions for the city manager and the city’s employees THE COAST NEWS A5 expected services will diminish. Maintaining its reputation O’side has the enviable reputation of being a city whose council consists of dual factions. No different with the current bunch. Recently, Councilwoman Esther Sanchez lacked enough votes to be seated as the second alternate on the San Diego Association of Governments board so it currently remains vacant. In a later brouhaha, Mayor Jim Wood lacked the necessary votes to have her named deputy mayor. There’s also a third issue on the table. A citizen’s group has notified council elected Jerry Kern he will be targeted for recall. Not easy to do. A coppla years ago some folks went after Sanchez but it never went beyond the signature-gathering stage before the idea was canned. Time for serious action With the state budget still in freefall regardless of how the electeds spin it, the cities in a panic over the theft of their bankrolls by the state, and the electeds’ ratings zilch while they profess to feel the pain of the good folks who are getting ready to stand in bread lines, it’s time for residents’ to demand serious action and less baloney. 2010 can’t come too soon for real change. One-liners Friends of Del Mar Parks who are raising $3.5 mil. to complete the purchase of the Shores property on Ninth Street are rightfully miffed that city electeds are contemplating using a portion of the site for a city hall ... Hydroponic (water) gardens rather than dirt are seen as the wave of the future as more communities and residents are beginning to raise their own vegetables ... An international airport built in the Harbor City bay wouldn’t be the first cuz there’s one already in Honolulu ... Jan. 15 wagering at Santa Anita was a dismal $964,436 by 3,824 loyal bettors, which izzn’t enough to turn the lights on ... In announcing at the recent goal setting meeting the always sold-out Encinitas Follies have been cancelled, Dave Oakley chided city staff and council electeds for lack of cooperation and indifference to the sponsoring Senior Foundation that has been a big contributor to senior citizens activities. Hasta la Vista Bill Arballo is an opinionated, retired journalist in the Flower Capital of the Universe. E-mail barballo@coastnewsgroup.com. Letters to the Editor and reader feedback are welcome. Views expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect the views of The Coast News. Letters are subject to editing for length and clarity. Unsigned letters and letters without city of residence will not be published. Letters should be no longer than 300 words and include a contact telephone number. Submission does not guarantee publication. Send letters via e-mail to letters@coastnewsgroup.com. are laughable. It’s embarrassing. And, the public bathrooms there are a whole ‘nuther story. C. Spiros Miller Del Mar Heights COMMUNITY COMMENTARY Where does Oceanside want to be in 2030? By Rocky Chavez OCEANSIDE CITY COUNCIL What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a great question to ask young people to start a conversation. It is also a great question to ask a city to start a conversation. The recent heated discussions about cement plants, the airport and Costco demonstrate the different visions of Oceanside. Now is the time to start a conversation on what we want to be in 2030. Oceanside’s politics are often cited as the major obstacle preventing our city from reaching its full potential. Historical conflicts over the building of the Harbor, Highway 76 or Manchester Developments are just a few of the major topics that have shaped the current character and economic vitality of Oceanside. Even today, recent elections have pitted one group against another group. Strong lines are often drawn along the streets of Oceanside. In response to these notable discussions, neighborhoods have bonded together to define their particular area. One community wants to be seen as the Rancho Santa Fe of North County, another wants to be historic, another wants to be a beach community and still another wants to be senior-only housing. All have merit. The challenge is if all Oceanside neighborhoods want to be unique, then Oceanside as a city will be composite of many diverse communities. Additionally, if Oceanside is defined by distinctive neighborhoods, then how is the city zoned to provide for jobs, parks and educational requirements? At the end of the day, Oceanside needs to be able to pay for all the required services expected by these unique neighborhoods. I personally enjoy the discussions by neighborhoods and enjoy hearing the passion about their individual communities. I also enjoy the challenge of figuring out how we service these neighborhoods from a city perspective. Where do we locate the jobs? How do the roads support one neighborhood without negatively impacting other neighborhoods while still supporting businesses that provide jobs? Is there a role for supporting the arts as we define our city? Do the arts attract new business opportunities and quality of life enhancements to Oceanside? Should Oceanside invest in new and greener energy sources? Should Oceanside invest money to be water independent? Should Oceanside partner with its neighbors for new infrastructure? Is Oceanside a regional leader? Too often we have meetings without conversation. Thoughtful and passionate dialogue is the critical element needed as we answer the question, “What do we want to be in 2030?” From this exchange, we can determine the need to look at the General Plan of Oceanside. If the neighborhoods are to be sheltered, the arts are to be encouraged, the environment is to be protected and economy is to thrive; then we need a new General Plan. I look forward to the conversation. Start it today with your neighbors, friends and families. It is a great topic to discuss the future of Oceanside. Rocky Chavez has been an Oceanside City Council Member for six years.
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