Letter of the Day

We've received more than 250 individually written and heart felt letters
in support of Earth Day in Balboa Park. Each day we will choose one to highlight.
Here's today's Letter of the Day:

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Letter of 1/16/13
Teach Your Children Well

To whom it may concern,

The Earth Fair, in my opinion, is the single most important reason San Diego is a leader in the green movement in southern California. For over twenty years the annual fair has educated, inspired and motivated the people in our fair city to create, innovate, invent and act more responsibly and sustainably.

A high school teacher inspired me in 1968 to get involved in the very first earth day and since that time I have done what I can to leave a healthy environment for the children today and in the future. As an adult I chose to concentrate on educating children because they are naturally interested in the environment while many adults are not. For twelve years I volunteered at the fair working with hundreds of children from various organizations such as schools, churches, scout troops, museums, clubs, etc. During that time I found the most incredible group of caring and intelligent of people, young and old, not only managing the fair but volunteering and participating in the event.

Balboa Park is the perfect place for the Earth Fair because there is no other place in southern California with both the natural and build environment that is more perfect for this event. The Earth Fair volunteers leave the park cleaner than they find it and I am sure no other event in the park has less crime or vandalism. The Earthworks folks have set a high standard for park users for over twenty years and we should all be proud that the Earth Fair takes place in our beautiful city.

Please allow the Earth Fair to continue in Balboa Park into eternity or until our planet is so healthy there is no longer a need for the education and inspiration the fair provides.

Please contact me anytime if you want more information.

Regards,

Rebecca Grijalva
Senior Associate

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Letter of 1/13/13
Green Business Depends on Earth Day

Dear Mayor Filner
Subject: Green Business Depends on Earth Day

Hello!

We are a small part of Earth Fair. I bet you wouldn't think to look for us. We are hard to see. We are the small businesses that depend on Earth Fair to reach our target customers.

It isn't easy starting a small business. For my own, I decided to turn thrift store finds into one-of-a-kind treasures. I have every single bit of overhead that any other small business may face. But with the additional step of keeping to specific standards of a "green" business.

Any given weekend, you can find my husband and I in markets all up and down the San Diego coast. Selling intricate soft sculptures made of recycled sweaters, or funky vests lovingly made with recycled neckties.

I put in 10 hour days, 7 days a week. Yes, it's hard work, but I love it. The hardest part, as in any home-based business, is trying to operate within modest means. Our margins are slim. And until that day when we finally break into "The Big Time" we need to make the best of all opportunities.

Earth Fair has given us just that. For a very modest fee, they have placed us in a position that few of us often get: direct marketing with our target demographic.

In fact, earth Fair is hands-down, our largest show of the year. But, since large businesses and rich CEOs will not understand my small sales number, please allow me to put my profits into a way that can be easily understood.

1) My booth at Earth Fair nets enough income that I can buy 2 months of groceries for my family of 5.
2) It is income that allows us to "fill in the holes" with sub-standard health insurance.
3) It allows me to keep 3 teen-age boys in shoes and clothing.
4) It gives vital supplemental income to a struggling family.

For someone on the 'other' side of the economic divide, it might be silly to think of these numbers in such a manner. But to the dozens of small business like myself, the idea of Earth Fair being canceled is terrifying, as it will directly impact my family's welfare.

And allow me to add, it is a slap to the face as well. I pay my business taxes. I collect sales tax on that shiny new 8% that we voted in. I buy local where applicable. I operate under EVERY sense of the word as a small business, but I watch in regret as us small business are swept aside. It seems that we just don't count.

Don't believe me? In all this ruckus over Earth Fair, where is the consideration of the loss of income to the small businesses that depend on the EarthFair?

Please don't overlook us.

Kimberly Allison
Lume di Luna Designs

 

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