LA JOLLA LIGHT
Enlightening La Jolla Since 1913
Vol. 99 Issue 31 • August 4, 2011
Riford neighbors step up challenge BY DAVE SCHWAB Staff Writer Neighbors are threatening legal action against the nonprofit running the Riford Center and the city if a decision to put wheelchair access on the side of the building on Bonair Street rather than in the front isn’t rescinded. Bonair Street Neighborhood Group, which opposes Riford’s side ADA access plan, said it has retained the services of Theodore Pinnock, an attorney specializing in disabled access matters.
In a letter to Riford Board chair and attorney Glen Rasmussen, Pinnock presented his rationale, citing case law for why the ramp should be constructed at the front of the center at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. He requested a response from Riford directors by Aug. 3, which was after the Light’s press time. In a press release, Bonair Street Neighborhood Group said, “Wheelchair access can be easily achieved by constructing a ramp to the front
SEE RIFORD, A7
Neighbors object to plans for a side entrance to the Riford Center. DAVE SCHWAB
Sign clutter not likely to disappear from landscape ■ Close encounters
of the squid kind Page B1
■ Kiwanians provide
pancakes, ponies and more Page A4
■ Football season is
under way for LJ Pop Warner Page A17
BY DAVE SCHWAB Staff Writer ep, those ubiquitous A-frame signs scattered throughout La Jolla hawking everything from food to real estate are still hanging around. Why doesn’t somebody do something about it? The answer has a lot to do with the city’s financial crisis — most everything does these days — and lack of staffing for enforcement. “The (city’s) Code Enforcement Department has been reduced to one person,” said La Jolla architect Ione Stiegler, who chairs La Jolla’s Planned District Ordinance committee, which is charged with ensuring rules and regulations regarding parking, signage, colors and materials used in building in La Jolla are adhered to. “City Code Enforcement visited our committee a little over a year ago and basically told us it’s just him in the entire city and that, unfortunately due to the circumstances, he has to focus on life-safety code infractions, so signage issues are pretty low on his priority list.” Also, Stiegler said, the PDO code was written so long ago that it sometimes doesn’t specifically address new types of signage,
Y
SEE SIGNS, A4
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Time to find out who’s the Best of La Jolla It’s time to get yourself online to vote for the Best of La Jolla. For the 13th year in a row, the Light is holding its poll to determine the best of the Jewel — from our restaurants to our hotels, galleries, boutiques and specialty stores. Of course, we’ve got categories for our favorite health and fitness providers as well as for your favorite professionals in a wide range of categories. In all, there are more than 50 opportunities for you to share your choices. “This is a great opportunity for us to put the spotlight on the businesses and people that make La Jolla a great place to shop, eat,
stay and do business,” said Phyllis Pfeiffer, the Light’s publisher. “We encourage you to tell your friends and customers to get their votes in.” Each week, we’ll award a prize to a randomly selected voter. The first week’s prize is a $100 gift certificate to Girard Gourmet. Watch the Light each week to find out what’s next. Voting starts today and runs through Sept. 8. The results will be published in the Oct. 27 edition. It’s easy. Go to www.lajollalight.com and click on the Best Of button on the upper left. Have fun. We can’t wait to find out who wins!
First coastal panel gets spot near pier BY KATHY DAY kday@lajollalight.com In keeping with its mission statement of enriching “the environmental, social and cultural experience of La Jolla,” the La Jolla Community Foundation was set to install the first interpretive panel along the coastline on Wednesday and has lined up artists for two more murals. The colorful photo display, that was to be mounted on the railing along the walkway overlooking the beach south of Scripps Pier, shows “Species Found along the La Jolla Coast,” said Nigella Hillgarth, executive director of the Birch
Conceptual image of the panel. COURTESY Aquarium, which is partnering with the community foundation. The photos highlight
SEE MURALS, A10
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