Editorial: A fresh approach to helping veterans

By Ben Aguilar, Esq.

San Diego County is known for its well-established military traditions and presence, and not surprisingly, has one of the highest concentration of veterans in the country.  Many of these veterans are suffering — physically and mentally — as a direct result of the sacrifices they made for us.

According to national studies, between 22 – 50 veterans commit suicide every day. The suicide rate among veterans has doubled in the past 10 years and is twice that of the civilian population. Our veterans face serious issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, amnesia and substance abuse. Sadly, many veterans feel a sense of isolation due to lack of social support.

Recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs was the subject of a national scandal after it was reported that veterans were experiencing unreasonably long wait-times to see primary providers at VA hospitals, and more seriously, that records were being fabricated to hide that reality.

As I reflected on the plight of those who have served our nation, my thoughts were drawn to what I might do to help them. Usually my end-of-the-year reflections are triggered by the aroma of Starbucks’ pumpkin spice lattes; but this year, they have been inspired by a recent meeting I had with a gentleman who happens to share my gym, former California State Assemblymember Nathan Fletcher.

He told me about his passion to help veterans and a new organization he formed for that purpose, The Three Wise Men Foundation, and I think it’s such a great thing I want to share it with others, too.

When I learned about the foundation, I was intrigued by the fact that its main fundraising effort was an athletic competition — not the standard “rubber chicken gala” with a silent auction.

When I asked Fletcher what the rationale was behind hosting an event with an athletic component, he simply stated the obvious: Our bodies and minds benefit from physical activity and having an athletic event and fundraiser made sense in light of the alarming statistics surrounding the health and wellbeing of our nation’s veterans.

Fletcher founded The Three Wise Men Foundation as a tribute to his cousins who lost their lives during armed conflict, along with a desire to bring awareness to the issues that returning veterans face.

The Three Wise Men Foundation and various Crossfit gyms across the nation are now spearheading what they hope will be the first of many fundraisers to raise support for veterans.

As a veteran, politician, educator, businessman and Crossfit enthusiast himself, Fletcher believes this is a good opportunity for everyone to “support a good cause and gain something out of it.”

On Oct. 18, you can participate in a tribute workout honoring combat veterans who are struggling with “surviving the peace” upon their return. The tribute fundraiser will consist of a CrossFit-style athletic competition at the U.S.S. Midway Museum. The proceeds of your efforts will go directly towards organizations that directly help our returning veterans, including Courage to Call, a 24-hour hotline that provides resources and support to veterans and families of veterans.

Most workers today lead stressful, sedentary lives. It’s easy to neglect our physical and mental health. I urge you to take advantage of this great opportunity that will not only give back to our veterans but also benefit your overall health.

Think about it: You will get to be outdoors, bask in the beautiful San Diego sun, bond with your friends, family, or colleagues, and most importantly, support those who have supported us through their sacrifice and bravery. You will also have an opportunity to meet veterans and their families, hear their stories, support them in their struggles and personally thank them for their service. And, whether you participate in the competition, come to cheer someone else on, sponsor the event or purchase tickets to give as gifts, you will receive a free day-pass to the U.S.S. Midway Museum. It’s a win all the way around.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have encouraged my professional network of attorney friends to help The Three Wise Men Foundation transition into non-profit status and to help by providing pro bono or low bono legal representation to our veterans.

I want to encourage you to do the same with your time, talent and treasure. If you are moved to do so, please visit threewisementribute.org to see how you can help.

—Ben Aguilar is the owner and founder of the Law Offices of Ben Aguilar in Downtown San Diego. His law practice focuses on family law and immigration law. Mr. Aguilar may be reached at [email protected].

Letters

New Target gets targeted

I just read your article [“It takes a village to raise a TargetExpress” Vol. 6, Issue 20]. I’ll let you know right off the bat that I am against the Target store going in to the Gala IGA [3030 Grape St.] building. Here are my reasons:

1) I live less than a block away. Currently the owner allows use of the parking for patrons of other businesses for a very minimal fee. Still many people, to avoid the fee, park down my street. Free country I guess. But I doubt that Target will put up with this for long. They will see that they need the parking, renegotiate with the owner and that will stop. Then the other businesses will suffer, as will the local residents. Parking is very tight on my street [31st Street] and it will just get worse.

2)Traffic. The only major artery through South Park is Fern Street. Fern is extremely narrow. Already traffic is very heavy from Broadway to Switzer Canyon especially from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. A traffic light at Grape Street will not reduce the traffic generated by Target, it will divert it to 30th Street and other very narrow side streets.

3)So far all the proponents I’ve seen in the media do not live in South Park. They only see potential for profit realized either in property values or rents for commercial spaces. They have no stake in the neighborhood being livable.

4)We don’t need this store in the area. What we need is a well-run grocery store, which Gala has not been. Having to check expiration dates on everything does not make for good relations with your patrons.

I am not against TargetExpress. I just feel it should be in an area with better access such as El Cajon Boulevard or Park Boulevard. Not a very small neighborhood like South Park.

Also there is the issue of the proposed strip mall on the property that will further complicate the parking and traffic issues.

Thanks for your time.

—Thomas Lovell, via email

Laurie Fisher should have checked her facts before writing this article. -She has made a slanderous statement here publicly against my business and myself that are untrue, false and slanderous.

I am the owner of the coffee cart [Captain Kirk’s Coffee] discussed in this article and it is legally zoned, licensed, permitted, and has the proper health permits.

Prior to obtaining the license/permit, I had to wait an extra two weeks for the city to clear it through zoning. After it cleared, the proper permit-licenses were issued. (2012) The county also issued a health permit as well.

Miss Fisher returned my call this evening 9-29-14 and claimed that the coffee stand was a building, not a cart, and argued with me that I was illegal, and she refused to retract her statement. I challenged her on this and she continued to argue.

I hung up on her. I should be suing for slander. I need a retracted statement of the facts, or I will have no alternative [but] to follow through.

Apparently she doesn’t know the difference between a legal coffee cart and a building (structure).

This may be quite embarrassing for a licensed architect with this unacceptable chauvinistic demeanor that supposedly has awards for her brilliance?

She also (allegedly) requested the City of San Diego issue me a violation, and the city inspector came out Friday, Sept. 26 at 4:45 p.m. (quite an odd time). This will also be looked into.

Coffee carts do not require building permits in the city of San Diego, however, the “actual permitting-licensing” of the coffee cart as a legal set of carts cart goes through the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health (DEH).

The city issues the additional city permit-license required, based on zoning approval first, and it cleared in order to get licensed, and there are no violations of record. The cart and location is perfectly legal.

Coffee Carts are actually inspected by the DEH before they can be allowed to be placed at their “designated” zoned location to meet a specific code criteria. (No building permits are required unless they have a canopy that is made of wood, a structure. They are inspected twice a year or more). Our licenses and health permits are posted and in view for everyone to see.

I am also an individual who loves South Park and is responsible for cleaning up the entire square block perimeter area around the property of the Gala Foods, the Doggie Waste Station, the walk path, the flower garden, graffiti removal, etc. and more. I think I deserve more than these accusations.

This is irresponsible behavior on part of this licensed architect and she is out of line.

I would appreciate your input on this.

Thank you.

—Rob Allen, Captain Kirk’s Coffee, via email

Editor’s note: First, to clarify, the article referenced by Mr. Allen was written by me, Hutton Marshall, not local architect Laurie Fisher, who was quoted within it.

Second, in regards to whether Captain Kirk’s Coffee is a “cart” or a “structure,” which differs how the city regulates and permits them, a spokesperson for the city’s Development Services Department pointed me to a few specific passages in the San Diego Municipal Code.

The spokesperson said that “pushcarts” are permitted in the GH-CC zone, the city-regulated commercial zone where Captain Kirk’s is located. The city code (141.0619) identifies pushcarts as a “moveable, wheeled, nonmotorized vehicle” that does not exceed four feet in width, eight feet in length, or six feet in height. They are also prohibited from selling to persons in cars. Captain Kirk’s Coffee exceeds the aforementioned dimensions, has no visible wheels and has a drive-thru window that serves cars.

Rob Allen’s lawyer, Craig Sherman, responded by saying that Captain Kirk’s Coffee does indeed have wheels concealed underneath a curtain surrounding the cart. He further stated that the cart itself, not the canopy around it, is within the required dimensions. However, he could not speak to the legality of its drive-thru, although he said that it was his understanding that his client had the full consent of Development Services.

Waiting on Juan

As a resident of Juan Street for a decade, we heard this announcement in 2011 [See “City breaks ground on Juan Street improvements” Vol. 6, Issue 18]. Since then, nothing has happened. Now that the project has news coverage, perhaps the next news-spot will feature the time schedule that is planned to complete the project. After the failed progress in 2011, I am not expecting anything to get done for at least a year. Disappointed resident in the progress schedule.

—Mike Armstrong, via sduptownnews.com

Editor’s note: City staff estimate the project will take approximately one year to complete, which would put the completion date in early fall 2015.