Letters

Buon Choice

I have been a subscriber to San Diego Magazine and an avid reader since moving to San Diego six years ago. Each year I look forward to the “Best Restaurants” issue, and 2008 was no exception.

I returned home from a trip to find the “Best Restaurants” issue in the mail, and couldn’t wait to read it. In fact, my fiancé and I went to dinner right away and brought the magazine with us to review over dinner. As Little Italy residents, we head ed to dinner at one of our favorite spots——Buon Appetito. We were delighted when reading Tom Blair’s “Editor’s Picks” and realizing the very restaurant in which we were dining was your “Best Italian” pick! Excellent choice, we must say.

I thought this story may bring a smile to your face; it surely brought one to mine. Thanks for another wonderful issue.

RACHEL BURGER
LITTLE ITALY

FROM THE INSIDE

Thank you a thousandfold for Mark Sauer’s telling exposé “The Education of Mr. J.” [May]. It was factual, direct and enlightening.

That such a piece would appear as a feature article in a major mainstream publication as San Diego Magazine could be likened to the sighting of an iceberg. Indeed, there is more under the surface in a number of similar cases. Some would estimate the number of false accusation/wrongful conviction cases of this ilk to be as high as 40 percent. Though inevitable, even 1 percent is too great to be ignored.

As one similarly falsely accused and wrongfully convicted, I can only hope both Mark Sauer and Thad Jesperson will continue to root out and expose the many cases involving those yet imprisoned, and promote greater scrutiny of future cases.

Lest anyone misconstrue my position on the subject of abuse, I do not condone abuse of anyone, child or adult. But as with the death penalty, we had damn sure better be right, 100 percent right, before rushing to judgment. Such convictions, even if reversed, can be as destructive and as permanent as a death penalty.

I’ve not hidden my case from anyone, citizen or inmate, and it would be my pleasure to be interviewed by Mark Sauer. Perhaps he could be persuaded to write a book on the subject. Indeed, it is only through the cloak of secrecy that these travesties of justice can continue to be foisted on an unsuspecting public.

Thank you for a much-needed article, and a great magazine. Incidentally, my May copy has been read by more than 100 inmates, so far.

ROBERT FUSON
MULE CREEK STATE PRISON
IONE

A VOTE FOR JERRY

Your editorial, “Jerry Sanders for Mayor” [by Jim Fitzpatrick, June], was an excellent piece of journalism——well-written, factual and vital to the city. You listed some of the most important contributions Jerry Sanders has already made to our city. We are very lucky a man of his substance is willing to take on the past and present problems of San Diego.

Jerry Sanders’ approach has been honest, direct and successful. He reflects both the strong moral fiber we need in San Diego and the knowledge and leadership skills that are critical to our city’s success in the future.

Well done, Jim Fitzpatrick. You are one reason so many people read and enjoy San Diego Magazine.

TOM FARANDA
SAN DIEGO

IRISH UP

As a subscriber and one who has never written to you before, I just wanted to tell you how offended I was by Tom Blair’s comments [I on San Diego, July] regarding the Irish take on the elections.

Referring to Hillary Clinton and Michele Obama as witches is just plain ridiculous and mean-spirited——and this is coming from a male reader. I realize that it is another person’s quote, yet it certainly reads like an endorsement of that Neanderthal’s view. Either way, it wasn’t even funny.

No need to apologize to the respective parties; they’re used to ignorant barbs. But someone should at least apologize to the readership of San Diego Magazine. We deserve better.

MICHAEL CLARK
CARLSBAD

LAST LAUGH

The “Irish View” Tom Blair saved for the last paragraph of his column in the July issue is one of the funniest political jokes I’ve ever read. It’s something people from all parties can laugh about. (Probably doesn’t get much of a grin from lawyers, though.)

Thanks for including it.

JOHN COWART
SAN DIEGO

DOES NOT COMPUTE

I am a former San Diego resident and have been a subscriber to San Diego Magazine for several years. It keeps me in touch with San Diego, and I find restaurants that I want to try when I make a trip to San Diego.

I received my July issue last night. While I enjoyed the article on the Bird Rock Bandits [“Murder in Paradise?” by Peter Wilkinson], I was very disappointed to find the magazine very small. While I do have a computer at home, I rarely use it because I am using one all day in the office. I don’t want to have to get back on a computer when I get home to look at portions of the magazine. I like to sit down and read the magazine from cover to cover while I relax after work.

I especially enjoyed working the crossword puzzle when I reached the end of the magazine. I have a check written to renew my subscription to the magazine for two years, but I don’t know whether or not to send it in. The new format was very disappointing to me.

I know there are also people, especially retirees, who don’t have home computers and will not be able to use the Internet to continue reading articles that might interest them. There really are people out there who are not computer savvy and don’t really care whether or not they learn to use a computer. While I don’t happen to be one of them, I don’t want to spend my entire life on one. I like to sit down and read magazines, books and newspapers. I am sure I am in the minority, but I did want to give you my opinion of the new format.

LESLIE E. GARD
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

We, too, hope the relatively small July issue is an anomaly. We intend to provide just as much information about San Diego, in print, as we always have. The July issue’s size was the function of a more limited budget. We will use our Web site to supplement, not replace, the magazine.——EDITOR

A BAD TASTE

How about a Restaurant Week reality check? The $30 and $40 prix-fixe meals, as advertised, are a joke. If you go, be prepared to pay at least twice that amount. Sunday, my wife and I dined at a $40 place, so we should pay perhaps $125-$150 with a cocktail and wine, right? No chance.

We ordered martinis to start——$13 apiece! Then, as we studied the menu, we noticed “upgrades,” extra charges if you wanted something other than the bare-bones selections. I paid $7.50 for my upgraded appetizer; my wife stuck with the selections on the standard menu. A very ordinary glass of wine with the entrée set us back $14 and $15 respectively. And with the dessert, we split a glass of non vintage port, $15.

They automatically added a 20 percent gratuity to this tab, and then had a place on the credit card bill for an “additional tip.” Cheapskate that I am, I passed. The final total: $203.65. Now, I’m not complaining, I‘m just describing the real cost of the Restaurant Week “bargains.” Caveat emptor.

BILL BRADSHAW
MISSION BEACH

Overall, response to Restaurant Week from readers has been predominantly positive, but there have been exceptions.——EDITOR

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LETTERS WELCOME San Diego Magazine invites letters from its readers. Send comments to Letters to the Editor, San Diego Magazine, 1450 Front Street, San Diego, CA 92101, or e-mail tblair@sandiegomagazine.com or fax 619-230-0490. Letters must be signed to be considered for publication. Please type or print your name, as well, and include a daytime phone number. E-mail should include the writer’s full name and city. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and to excerpt them.

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