Support Proposal for San Ysidro Massacre Site

Three and a half years have passed since James O. Huberty gunned 21 people to death in San Ysidro. McDonald’s razed its restaurant two months after the nation’s worst one-day massacre, and the lot has stood nearly vacant while city officials and the community debated an appropriate memorial.

The debate appears to be almost over, and the long-overdue solution should enrich the border neighborhood.

Last week a San Diego City Council committee approved a proposal to sell to Chula Vista’s Southwestern College the 75,000-square-foot site that McDonald’s donated to the city. The community college will pay $40,000 for the land and plans to build a satellite campus for 750 students.

The school also will erect a memorial to those slain in July, 1984, and the city will use the $40,000 to improve San Ysidro parks.

This solution should help the community three ways: San Ysidro has no college; its few parks are short on amenities and athletic facilities, and the community deserves a memorial to those slain.

That memorial needs to be built as soon as possible, and not wait for the school’s permanent buildings.

We think the plan is worthy of community support and urge the full council and the college’s governing board to give their approval.