San Diego's faithful make pilgrimage to the Surfing Guadalupe

If you've been near Encinitas' new public art this week, you've likely seen a crowd of visitors gathered around, marveling at the detail, taking pictures, and, for a moment, believing in magic.

That some talented artist and a clandestine band of conspirators would give such a gift to the people of Encinitas warms the heart of even the most confirmed cynic.

A letter in today's U-T comes from one who made the pilgrimage:

When I saw the beautiful photo of the “Madonna of the waves” (April 26), I climbed in the car and drove to Encinitas to see the original. This radiant glass mural was surrounded by admirers similarly inspired by the U-T article. “That is so Encinitas!” said one person. Another was wondering what sort of petition would be needed to keep the mural in place permanently. If it must be removed because it’s officially (if absurdly) determined as “defacing,” let us hope that it is placed where it can be appreciated by its many new and future fans.
-- David K. Jordan, La Jolla

Richard Phillips: the Surfing Madonna is graffiti

Only our government masters are allowed to decide what is art. And they do such a wonderful job with it: the Cardiff Kook, the Carlsbad Jail Bars, the Scripps Turd (OK, that last one's not technically government, but still a government-like bureaucratic board of trustees).

Our own Richard Phillips laying down his Authoritah in the North County Times:

A couple of art-loving residents urged the Encinitas City Council on Wednesday to grant amnesty to a surfing Madonna mosaic secretly installed under a railroad trestle along one of the town's busiest roadways.

But a city official, speaking to a reporter during a break in the council meeting, said that the mosaic must go, and the key question for the city is whether it can come down without sustaining significant damage.

Although the mosaic may be pretty, it "fits the definition of graffiti," said Richard Phillips, Encinitas assistant city manager. Phillips added that city's anti-graffiti ordinance is broad enough to include far more than just someone spray-painting a wall. It's written that way to cover everything from advertising stickers to messages scratched into surfaces, he added.

Dumanis finally gets around to charging hit-and-run driver

It's about time. Good thing he didn't run.

The suspected driver in a fatal Encinitas hit-and-run crash who was arrested and then released has been re-arrested and will face a judge Wednesday, authorities said.

Joseph Ricardo Fernandez, 46, of Carlsbad was first arrested days after the April 10 crash. Authorities had to release him when prosecutors declined to press charges within a three-day holding limit.

Encinitas sheriff's deputies arrested him again on Monday, according to San Diego County Sheriff's Department records.

About 1 a.m. on April 10, a dark Dodge truck struck a bicyclist in the 1200 block of North Coast Highway and didn't stop, authorities said. The bicyclist, Jim Swarzman, 47, of Encino, died hours later at a hospital.

Hope springs eternal

Two years after the Moonlight Lofts went rental, they're trying to sell them again.

They are priced around $550/sqft., similar to Pacific Station, and they have HOA fees around $500, also similar to Pacific Station. I haven't seen the interiors, but I'd say the exterior looks nicer than Pacific Station. And not being right on the railroad is a plus.

Bonnie Dumanis running as union - good ole boy candidate for SD mayor

Just months after cutting fellow good ole boy Dan Dalager loose with a slap on the wrist, DA Bonnie Dumanis has announced her candidacy for San Diego mayor.

And just like Dalager, Dumanis opposes pension reform.

Incompetent prosecutors let 101 killer go free

Your tax dollars at work:

Prosecutors had not filed charges Thursday against the suspect in the fatal hit-and-run of a bicyclist, forcing authorities to release the man from jail.

Nice work, guys. Better hope he doesn't run from justice like he ran from the scene of the crime.

Santa Fe Vons opens today

Remember the totally ghetto Vons on Santa Fe?

Well, it's had a major face lift and looks really good, and it's opening today for a "preview" at 4 p.m.