Dear Editor,

Esther Viti’s bench sitting is shameful evidence of her
arrogance and ignorance. Those benches may have been donated, but they are
public space for everyone to use.

I recommend that Viti buy herself a one-way bus ticket to New
Mexico. Her nasty La Jolla
bench-sitting campaign to keep out homeless people is unbelievably mean
spirited and a greater embarrassment to our village than any presence of poor
people.

She is clearly an affluent woman who has no clue about the
hardships of homelessness. She might try to sleep on one of those benches for a
month to see how great a treat they are. Or perhaps try to listen to the story
of a homeless person’s life.

The problem is not loitering, but the presence of poverty
and homelessness in our country. The presence of poor people is a reminder that
all is not well in the United States.

It is time San Diego (including La Jolla) considers an
outstanding program like Bowery Residents’ Committee, which has been successful
in New York City and many other cities. The program provides homeless people
with decent housing, a support system, counseling and, most of all, hope. What
a radical idea!

— Tanja Winter

La Jolla Resident