MAILBAG - March 9, 2000

Huntington Beach

DUCHENY BILL DISTURBS ACTIVIST

This is in response to articles concerning Assemblywoman Denise Ducheny’s

(D-San Diego) bill, which would override recent decisions protecting

wetlands and habitat and alter the state’s definition of wetlands to

allow development (“Local activists protest Ducheny bill,” March 2).

In 1981-82, the owner of the Bolsa Chica, Signal Land, was able to get

amendments added to Senate Bill 493 that would take Bolsa Chica out of

the coastal zone and put development on a fast track. The bill was

withdrawn twice after the loud protests of the public lead by the Amigos

de Bolsa Chica.

In 1987, Senate Bill 1517 would create a special privately controlled

district to fund and administer Signal’s development of the Marina Plan

(5,700 homes, commercial) on a fast tract. Again, Amigos lead the fight

to have this legislation pulled.

Now in the new millennium, a Democratic legislator with a 90%

environmental rating is introducing wetlands legislation to circumvent

the will of the people.

The citizens of California for more than 30 years have voiced a simple

message -- protect wetlands and open space, don’t pave them.

PROP. 22 DIDN’T BELONG ON BALLOT

Proposition 22 should never have come to a vote. The state Legislature

has simply failed to address the concerns of the gay community in regards

to fairness in the law regarding their committed legal relationships. The

majority of people do not wish to persecute gays, even if they do not

agree with the lifestyle. The state Legislature should simply pass a law

that states gay legal relationships are valid.Once again government, by

design or accident, is dividing us over agendas that do not affect our

freedoms. Should a gay couple be deprived of hospital visiting rights or

inheritance rights, if that is what they intended by entering committed

legal relationships? This certainly is not going to lessen my rights.Good

people both oppose and defend Proposition 22 for some valid reasons. The

state Legislature could have done its job and saved us this unnecessary

public fight. Gays want the rights more than the marriage certificate,

and straight people only want to preserve the exclusivity of the marriage

contract as it relates to their religion and philosophy.I especially want

to give them the right to enjoy the marriage tax the IRS imposes on us. A

few more voices against that iniquity can only help.