La Jolla Light
Enlightening La Jolla Since 1913
INSIDE
Vol. 100, Issue 34 • August 23, 2012
Online Daily at www.lajollalight.com
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN DIEGO, CA PERMIT NO. 1980
Merchants to take stand on Cove stench
Surfing Toward a Cure
Dr. Scott Lippman is new director of Moores Cancer Center, A7
Architect retires after designing The Bishop’s School library, A14
Residential Customer La Jolla, CA 92037 ECRWSS
Nathalie Zilbermann rides a glassy wave near Scripps Pier at the annual Luau & Longboard Invitational on Aug. 19 to help raise funds for research at Moores Cancer Center. Greg Wiest n See Story on A21
By Pat Sherman The La Jolla Village Merchants Association (LJVMA) is the latest group rallying to exert pressure on city officials to rid the Cove of the pervasive stench caused by a buildup of bird and marine mammal waste. At its Sept. 12 meeting, the LJVMA will vote to adopt a motion requesting that the City of San Diego “take appropriate action to eliminate the odor and health issues caused by bird excrement … safely, effectively, and expeditiously.” The motion also asks Village merchants and community members to “promote increased awareness of the problem and potential solutions; to work with other interested community SEE STENCH, A10
GRASSROOTS EFFORT
Events net 100 letters urging Issa to help save post office Irishman opens wine (tasting) store in Bird Rock, A17
Boogie Woogie Queen performs at the Cove on Sunday, B1
La Jolla Playhouse has a hit with Homer’s ‘An Iliad,’ B8
By Pat Sherman Two letter-writing events organized by the Save Our La Jolla Post Office Task Force generated more than 100 letters to Congressman Darrell Issa (R-49th), urging him to sign onto or support the bipartisan Community Post Office Relocation Act (H.R 6238). The bill was authored by Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-53rd) and co-signed by Reps. Brian Bilbray (R-50th) and Bob Filner (D-51st). It offers a vehicle for communities to purchase their post office buildings to save them from closure or relocation. Task force chair Leslie Davis said many people stopping by the Wall Street post office during the second event on Aug. 17 learned about their effort and crafted impromptu letters to Issa. Others, who had learned about the event beforehand via e-mail or in the La Jolla Light, dropped off completed letters. Davis said the task force is working to get a meeting with Issa, who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which has legislative jurisdiction over the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). ”We believe Issa’s going to be in California in August, so we’re going
Thomas Wheeler joins Leslie Davis, chair of the Save Our La Jolla Post Office Task Force, during a letter-writing event Aug. 17 in front of the Wall Street post office. Photos by Pat Sherman to try and get a meeting with him here,” Davis said. “He’s the one that can allow (the bill) to (move ahead) for discussion in committee, or stop it at the door. He’s critical. He is the gatekeeper of our bill.” Addressing those in attendance
On the post office steps, Janie Emerson pens a letter to Congressman Darrell Issa.
Aug. 17, Congressman Filner, who is running for mayor, suggested that the task force and other sympathetic community members hand-deliver the letters. “The last thing anybody wants to do is be embarrassed,” said Filner,
noting that Congress is on recess and Issa would likely be at his office in Vista. “He’s home until Sept. 10 — and if he meets with you, fine,” Filner said.
SEE POST OFFICE, A9