Yellow Lights

On June 29, the majority of the San Diego City Council arrogantly slapped the faces of the poor living in the largely minority parts of our city.

It cavalierly, without regard to rampant street crime, safety, or citizens’ desires, voted to ignore a reasonable request to have brighter street lighting downtown and in high-crime areas south of Interstate 8. A thorough analysis, including costs and sources of funding, was dismissed as having no merit.

The “in your face� attitude was led by SDSU Professor Bob Filner and supported by Mayor Maureen O’Connor, who lives in the best part of Point Loma; Abbe Wolfsheimer of La Jolla; Judy McCarty of San Carlos and Valerie Stallings of Clairemont. These representatives cannot comprehend having to fear leaving their homes after dark.

But, never fear, affluent people, you have been protected against having to suffer the consequences of yellow low-sodium lights.

The San Diego Stadium Authority has no plans to convert its parking lot lighting to yellow. The reason is that their customers, the ones who can still afford Padre tickets, would not be able to easily locate their cars after games because they couldn’t discern color. Never mind the victims in high crimes areas who can’t discern the color of cars used in drive-by shootings or the color of their mugger’s clothing!

JAMES ZIEGLER, San Diego