Donna Frye in the News

My reporter's instinct -- that amazing sixth sense, more penetrating than the eyes in the back of your mom's head - tingled. This didn't feel right.

Last Saturday, I read Ray Huard's story about Proposition D, SeaWorld's stealth campaign to raise height limits on park buildings from 30 to 160 feet. The headline:

"SeaWorld leads foe $783,423 to $75"

How could that be? If my calculator's batteries are fresh, that works out to SeaWorld outspending its opposition 10,455-to-1. Call it instinct call it common sense, call it common fairness - something told me this couldn't be right.

It wasn't.

"Actually, I under-reported the amount I've spent," said Donna Frye, co-owner of a Pacific Beach surf shop and the Patton spearheading the anti-D juggernaut. "I spent another 64 cents."

64 cents?

The price of a couple of stamps.

"I cut out animals from two stamps, to put them on our campaign buttons, a fish and a bird."

These amended figures mean that Frye's been outspent only 10,358-to-1. These odds are in her favor, though, as last month's Union- Tribune/NBC 7/39 poll showed her side leading 33 to 31 percent.

20 Questions

The same poll reported a whopping 36 percent "undecided." If pollsters had probed deeper, they undoubtedly would have found that 100 percent are "bewildered."

Why does SeaWorld and its owner, beer behemoth Anheuser-Busch, need an exception to the 30-foot limit governing coastal businesses and homes from Del Mar to National City? Proposition D states that the goal is to "plan and construct exhibits, attractions and educational facilities...."

When asked to define those exhibits, etc., General Manager Bill Davis plays. 20 Questions. A resort? Probably not. A 16-story snack kiosk? Possible. The world's largest goldfish bowl? Swell idea!

Frye doesn't find this coyness cute.

"I run a small business," she said. "It's my husband, myself and my dog. I know what I'm going to be doing in the next few years. Does anybody believe that Anheuser-Busch has no idea what it's going to be doing in the next five years?"

At least SeaWorld's immediate plans are quite clear. It will continue transforming a marine wildlife showcase into a Flipperland. In January, the California Coastal Commission approved the park's latest request, to bulldoze the old Starkist Aquarium and surrounding ponds.

The current residents -- dolphins, sea turtles, ibis and flamingos -- will be herded into new exhibits near a 1,000-seat "cafeteria-style" restaurant and a water ride with a "shipwreck/castaway" theme. Oh, and did I mention the inevitable gift shops?

Bucks ahoy!

Blank check

Anheuser-Busch operates four SeaWorld amusement parks in the United States. Parks unhindered by California rules designed to limit coastline clutter' have several high-rise attractions.

These include:

The Great White, a roller coaster at SeaWorld Texas.

Texas Splashdown, that park's fivestory-tall flume ride.

Journey to Atlantis, SeaWorld Florida's 60foot-tall flume ride.

Frye insists she is not anti-flume or anti-coaster. "But I do have a phobia against people not telling me what they are going to do with our public park land."

And while Proposition D's text maintains that "improvements are subject to City and Coastal Commission approval," this businesswoman wouldn't encourage $an Diegans to write a blank check.

"Why can't they tell us what they want to build?" she wondered. "Is it a good idea to give anyone, no matter how nice they are, a blanket exemption? Is that good planning?"

No. But that's not SeaWorld's specialty.

You think trailing a foe you've outspent by a 10,358-to-1 margin is good planning?

PETER ROWE's column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. He welcomes phone calls (619-293-1227), faxes (619-235-8916) and e-mail (peter.rowe@uniontrib.com).


	Press Article San Diego Union-Tribune October 15, 1998 PETER ROWE Big bucks have on bank, just whimper My reporter's instinct -- that amazing sixth sense, more penetrating than the eyes in the back of your mom's head - tingled. This didn't feel right. Last Saturday, I read Ray Huard's story about Proposition D, SeaWorld's stealth campaign to raise height limits on park buildings from 30 to 160 feet. The headline: "SeaWorld leads foe $783,423 to $75" How could that be? If my calculator's batteries are fresh, that works out to SeaWorld outspending its opposition 10,455-to-1. Call it instinct call it common sense, call it common fairness - something told me this couldn't be right. It wasn't. "Actually, I under-reported the amount I've spent," said Donna Frye, co-owner of a Pacific Beach surf shop and the Patton spearheading the anti-D juggernaut. "I spent another 64 cents." 64 cents? The price of a couple of stamps. "I cut out animals from two stamps, to put them on our campaign buttons, a fish and a bird." These amended figures mean that Frye's been outspent only 10,358-to-1. These odds are in her favor, though, as last month's Union- Tribune/NBC 7/39 poll showed her side leading 33 to 31 percent. 20 Questions The same poll reported a whopping 36 percent "undecided." If pollsters had probed deeper, they undoubtedly would have found that 100 percent are "bewildered." Why does SeaWorld and its owner, beer behemoth Anheuser-Busch, need an exception to the 30-foot limit governing coastal businesses and homes from Del Mar to National City? Proposition D states that the goal is to "plan and construct exhibits, attractions and educational facilities...." When asked to define those exhibits, etc., General Manager Bill Davis plays. 20 Questions. A resort? Probably not. A 16-story snack kiosk? Possible. The world's largest goldfish bowl? Swell idea! Frye doesn't find this coyness cute. "I run a small business," she said. "It's my husband, myself and my dog. I know what I'm going to be doing in the next few years. Does anybody believe that Anheuser-Busch has no idea what it's going to be doing in the next five years?" At least SeaWorld's immediate plans are quite clear. It will continue transforming a marine wildlife showcase into a Flipperland. In January, the California Coastal Commission approved the park's latest request, to bulldoze the old Starkist Aquarium and surrounding ponds. The current residents -- dolphins, sea turtles, ibis and flamingos -- will be herded into new exhibits near a 1,000-seat "cafeteria-style" restaurant and a water ride with a "shipwreck/castaway" theme. Oh, and did I mention the inevitable gift shops? Bucks ahoy! Blank check Anheuser-Busch operates four SeaWorld amusement parks in the United States. Parks unhindered by California rules designed to limit coastline clutter' have several high-rise attractions. These include: The Great White, a roller coaster at SeaWorld Texas. Texas Splashdown, that park's fivestory-tall flume ride. Journey to Atlantis, SeaWorld Florida's 60foot-tall flume ride. Frye insists she is not anti-flume or anti-coaster. "But I do have a phobia against people not telling me what they are going to do with our public park land." And while Proposition D's text maintains that "improvements are subject to City and Coastal Commission approval," this businesswoman wouldn't encourage $an Diegans to write a blank check. "Why can't they tell us what they want to build?" she wondered. "Is it a good idea to give anyone, no matter how nice they are, a blanket exemption? Is that good planning?" No. But that's not SeaWorld's specialty. You think trailing a foe you've outspent by a 10,358-to-1 margin is good planning? *PETER ROWE's column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. He welcomes phone calls (619-293-1227), faxes (619-235-8916) and e-mail (peter.rowe@uniontrib.com).*

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