MAILBAG - Jan. 13, 2000

LOCALS OFFER DIFFERENT VIEWS ON GAROFALO ACTION

I’d like to make a comment dealing with free expression about [Huntington

Beach] Mayor Dave Garofalo and the sign (“Garofalo angered by protest

signs at city party,” Dec. 16). I think he not only should have knocked

it down, he should have kicked it.

He has just as much right to freely exercise his 1st Amendment right.

They basically accused him of being a cheat, a crook or whatever. I’m not

going to stand there, if I was him, and let these people get away with

it.

Everyone’s entitled to his own opinion. He just [showed] his.

If you guys want to waste paper making a big deal about this, that’s your

issue.

CALL TO ACTION

Democracy demands participation -- thank you, Don McGee, for this astute

observation (Mailbag, “Eminent domain should be a lesson,” Dec. 23).

What Huntington Beach was, is and will be is held in the hands of our

council members and business power mongers only if we sit back and watch

it happen.

Our council members aren’t pleasing us with their decisions. How did Lake

and Gothard [streets] get rerouted for houses, and why is Goldenwest

[Street] turning into Beach Boulevard right before my very eyes?

Why is there a rusty chain-link fence separating me and the beautiful

ocean on the bluffs? Why are we still pleading with our council to save

the mesa, an integral part of the last wetlands in Southern California?

And how come a future park must be named after a politician who had

nothing to do with that area’s past or present needs?

Where did the quaint Christmas lantern street decorations go -- replaced

by $500 “contribution” snowflakes?

We must gather petitions as with the Wal-Mart and eminent domain issues

to express what we want and don’t want. We the people of Huntington Beach

need to get our pens ready, gather our thoughts and like-minded citizens.

Attend our council meetings and make Huntington Beach waves this new

year.

Happy 2000 to every altruistic citizen investing his or her heart, time

and efforts in helping this city unfold as the people desire.

READERS SAY ‘NO’ TO MEASURE I

Voters recently turned down a bond measure that would have provided

revenue to Huntington Beach’s high school district. The Ocean View School

District now has an opportunity to get money from a property lease

without taxing Huntington Beach residents.

Unfortunately, there is movement afoot to block the school district from

getting that money. It’s called Measure I.

Since the passage of Proposition 13, our schools and children have not

received the kind of funding they did years ago. This lease would mean

the school district could make needed repairs to the schools and purchase

updated classroom technology.

We need to support our schools and our children. Voting no on Measure I

is a step in that direction.