LA JOLLA, Calif. -- The lifeguard tower at near Children's Pool in La Jolla has been shuttered after being deemed unsafe.Watch VideoMaurice Luque, spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, told NBC 7/39 the 40-year-old station was red-tagged because of its old age and structural issues. Recently, lifeguards have been injured on the job because of the increasingly dangerous structure. According to Luque, the lifeguards have been complaining about the tower for years.
"They've kind of expressed concern about the working conditions. And we back them up completely. The city's got many priorities, and we're just one of a number of them," he said.Replacing it is just part of the city's very long to-do list. The city has between $800 million and $900 million worth of deferred maintenance or problems waiting to be fixed. Mayor Jerry Sanders' office says the infrastructure problem dates back long before the current administration."We have to remember that this kind of neglect has come by as a result of 10, 15, 20 years of really our government having done nothing. So, it's going to take a little bit, but progress is definitely getting done," said Fred Sainz, Sanders' spokesman.And while the current mayor blames past mayors, Steve Francis, who is challenging Sanders for the office, said that's no excuse."You have to prioritize the monies that you have. Public safety is a city's first responsibility and it has to be fully funded," said Francis.Two temporary towers will be brought in this week, Luque said. In the meantime, lifeguards will be working out of their vehicles."(This) doesn't affect people's safety whatsoever. Normally we have two guards in the tower, now we have four to five guards on the water front there," Luque said.The mayor's office said a new tower will be standing at Children's Pool within 18 months. The new station will cost $2.8 million.
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