Tollway Grading Is Blamed for Floods

I am saddened and outraged by the flooding of Laguna Beach during the recent rains, as I am certain most of the community must be. The cause of much of the flooding has been attributed directly to the irresponsible construction practices of the Transportation Corridor Agencies.

Police Chief Neil J. Purcell Jr. blamed the grading on either side of Laguna Canyon Road for much of the mud that flowed into the city (“Laguna Hammered Again by the Elements,” Jan. 5). The TCA was more concerned with destroying critical habitat than taking the necessary precautions to avoid the flooding and mudslides. It is not as if the rains are entirely unexpected.

I am requesting that the city of Laguna Beach file a lawsuit against the TCA for compensatory and punitive damages. This quasi-governmental agency remains accountable to nobody and intends to continue to build the San Joaquin Hills toll road without showing that it has the money to pay for the negative impacts. It is time that the citizens and our direct representatives forced the TCA to assume responsibility for their actions.

LAUREEN E. WOOD

Laguna Beach

* Re: “Wet, Weary and Wary,” (Jan. 10):

This article is misleading by omitting an important fact that contributed to the flooding of the channels of Laguna Beach. Did you overlook that the Transportation Corridor Agencies, in its two days’ destruction of Laguna Canyon, did not build the mandatory storm drains? Did your reporters not see that bulldozers concentrated on eliminating old trees and environmentally lovely sights? Did you not notice the connection between the overly hasty grading that did not provide for channeling runoff water?

The TCA hurriedly wanted to confront the public with a fait accompli in order to render the pending lawsuits ineffective.

TRUDY TOPIK

Laguna Beach