The Presidio Sentinel is a commentary-driven newspaper that provides coverage on local, regional and national issues that impact the lives of its' readers and the community it serves. The Presidio Sentinel strives to create dialogue, bringing topics to the forefront that need and deserve attention. Its' writers, who share a variety of experiences and business backgrounds, write on topics that impact readers on a daily basis. The serious issues are politics, government, redevelopment, the environment, conservation and safety. The quality of life issues include health, community activities, fundraisers, social events, religious issues and activites, theatre, arts, science and educational programs and services. Making a difference, providing the facts, the truth, and a variety of opinions so that its' readers are provided up-to-date researched information... that's the objective of The Presidio Sentinel.   The other casualties of war   Over the last several months a series of articles have been in the Presidio Sentinel about dogs that have been rescued by military personnel in Iraq. Nubs, a two-year old dog that was befriended by Marine Major Brian Dennis, and seven Iraq puppies that were adopted by Marines also stationed in Iraq have now safely arrived in San Diego with the help of friends, family and strangers.                          However, not all the dogs that have been adopted by military personnel in Iraq have had the same success. Sergeant Miguel Clouse lost two of his puppies, Jude and Compton. He had nursed Jude and Compton to health and cared for them. They became casualties of the war.  The same is the case for Army Sergeant Alexander Wallgren.  His dog Sharia also lost her life to Kellogg, Brown & Root, Inc. (KBR) exterminators, civilian personnel who are responsible for eliminating animals that are considered health hazards or dangerous. Wallgren and Clouse’s dogs were healthy and not a threat. At the time of their deaths their owners were taking the proper procedures to send them to the United States, eventually to San Diego, Calif. Both were distraught over the loss of their dogs. These are dogs that helped them during their stay in Iraq. The dogs kept them grounded under times of extreme duress.  Being in a war torn place as Iraq can be emotionally challenging. That’s what Steve Ronk, of Operation Cookie Jar, retired Army, has learned. He is currently working to promote guidelines that have been established to assist military personnel who have rescued and adopted dogs. The military has a “stand down” policy to prevent shooting adopted animals.  For some reason, the KBR exterminators don’t know about this. That’s why he is promoting and distributing a special “no shoot” collar that identifies a pet. Veterinary assistance is also to be made available. Ronk is working diligently to help spread the word in Iraq so that military personnel know and follow the proper procedures. Unfortunately for Clouse and Wallgren, there wasn’t enough time to get their adopted dogs out of Iraq. Today, both have special replacements of the dogs they have lost.  Each has adopted one of the seven Iraq puppies that recently came to San Diego.  Sergeant Clouse, who returned this week to Camp Pendleton after serving two deployments in Iraq, was excited to learn of Tiny. Sergeant Clouse joined the Marine Corps after 9/11 because he said, "I was born on the 4th of July and have a very deep sense of patriotism, not to mention I have always been the one to fight for others that have been  wronged."                                                                                                                       Clouse had his first visit with Tiny in late April at Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas. He was excited to meet Tiny and Captain Jamisen Fox who helped with the rescue of the puppies. Captain Fox has two of the Iraq puppies, Princess and Kirby. Sergeant Alex Wallgren, who will return to San Diego in May 2008, has also adopted Powder, one of the seven puppies. His wife Anna-Lisa has been visiting Powder, the newest member of the Wallgren family. Wallgren and his family will reside in San Diego upon his return from Iraq. There is growing interest in the puppies and other Iraq dogs that have been rescued. To assist with sharing their stories, two web sites have been established that tell of their lives in Iraq and their lives now in the U.S.: 7Iraqpuppies.com and Brianandnubs.com.  As Captain Fox has shared several times, he and his fellow team members fell in love with seven Iraq puppies. Leaving them behind to die wasn’t a choice.  Clouse and Wallgren are now assisting Steve Ronk who is preparing an animal rights campaign to educate the military serving in Iraq and the KBR members who have become animal exterminators. They want to end the unfair treatment of dogs that are also casualties of the war in Iraq.   He’s had his work cut out for him By Patty Brooks               Looking back at the past 28 months, Mayor Jerry Sanders has had a lot on his plate as mayor of the city of San Diego.  It hasn’t been an easy task.  And, it’s not getting any easier.              He admits, “It has been difficult.” Yet, he feels that the citizens of San Diego will re-elect him for doing his job well.  However, he has a very determined and forceful mayoral candidate that has been pushing his buttons. That’s independent Steve Francis, a self-made millionaire who isn’t hesitant to say he’s the man for the job of mayor of San Diego.             Sanders took time to look back at the past 28 months, which included dealing with a series of destructive fires in the fall of 2007.  He’s had to react to the unexpected La Jolla landslides that have caused more friction between him and City Attorney Mike Aguirre.  And, of course, there are the day-to-day operation issues that include a city government in financial meltdown.  He’s had to address underfunding of the pension, which is now a $1.4 billion shortfall; being barred from the bond market by past misconduct; being under investigation by the SEC; and a city infrastructure that is falling apart due to previous neglect. He’s definitely inherited a can of worms.             To add to the long list of challenges, Sanders has had to deal with the reality of city politics.  When asked what has been most frustrating as mayor, he refers to the unions. “I underestimated the power of the unions, the impact of the council and all of this happening at a time when city employees have been so demoralized.”             He’s learned firsthand that some of the city employees are resistant to change, including the move from a strong city manager to a strong mayor form of government that was voted in by the citizens of San Diego.       Looking at it from the outside it’s not obvious that a major cultural change is occurring within all the city departments.  Sanders realizes that there are some elected officials and employees who don’t like the change, because now they report to the mayor, not a city manager who, for the most part, reported to the city council members.              He’s still working to reduce redundancy and waste at a time when, according to Sanders, “There is no extra money lying around.” He’s done some of this by reducing staff and better coordination among the city agencies, including waste and water.  With that being said, according to Sanders, waste/water has been able to cut 165 positions, due to better organizational efforts. Contracting for city services is also a means to reduce costs, short and long term, according to Mayor Sanders.  This can reduce and eliminate staffing costs, future pensions, insurance and equipment costs that are associated with running a city of this size.  At the time of this interview, Sanders said that requests for proposals to contract for services is to be out by June 30, 2008. He believes competition for services can bring about a healthy change for the city along with financial benefits. However, the city has taken some things back in house, including administration of the city’s health and benefits’ contracts, which was financially benefiting the unions.  The unions made money on the twenty different plans that have now been pared back to two to three plans administered by the city. Besides the work in progress, currently on his list of things to tackle is the airport. He’s working on avoiding gridlocks around the airport due to proposed infrastructure recommendations from the Airport Authority Board.  He feels that government organizations that work for the public at large need to collaborate in order to be more effective. He refers to the recent fires that showed the coordination and cooperation among the various city and county departments and officials.  There wasn’t any grandstanding and there was a lot better communication among the various agencies and department heads.   When asked what he wants the public at large to know about Sanders, he said, “I want them to know that I work for them.” He’s hopeful with the upcoming elections that the citizens of San Diego will show their support of his work over the past 28 months and his commitment to its future health and well being.    Sanders says he’s just starting to see the results of his efforts. He wants to be around for four more years to get the job done. May 2008  Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It is not a matter of circumstances, but of choice.  Live your life so it matters. A Few Words from Our Supporters... "Congratulations on the 50th. I enjoyed it as much as the first and patronize your advertisers first before I go elsewhere for whatever I need."  --Sally & Jim Hamburg "You did a great job of portraying my role as an acupuncturist and educating the public on Oriental medicine."  --Sheila Kendro "Just a little note from us here at Lions, Tigers & Bears to thank you for having written such a great article in the Presidio Sentinel. It was very well written. Our beautiful cats also thank you. --Shein O'Brien, volunteer Lions, Tigers & Bears "My wife and I have been residents of Mission Hills for the past 15 years, and I have read almost every issue of your publication since it started landing in our driveway. Keep up the good work, and do keep trying to keep the residents of the area informed on what is happening in our area." --Bill Casper © 2008 A Publication of Presidio Communications