MAILBAG - April 12, 2001

Let me try to understand the sewage system in Orange County (“Surf

City hit with sewer leak fine,” March 29).

Each year, the Orange County Sanitation District is allowed to spew

87.6 trillion gallons of partially treated sewage into the ocean four

miles off Huntington Beach without criminal penalties because they have a

“waiver.” They do this at the astonishing rate of 240 million gallons

each and every day.

Meanwhile, the city of Huntington Beach is forced to plead guilty to

criminal charges for discovering -- and then fixing -- broken sewer pipes

that (in a worse case scenario) might have leaked six million gallons.

Apparently, the more “stuff” you dump into the environment, the less

likely you are to be held accountable.

The irony of the situation is repulsive in every sense of the word.

JOHN FISHER

Huntington Beach

* EDITOR’S NOTE: John Fisher is the husband of Huntington Beach City

Councilwoman Debbie Cook.

Writers misunderstood Kanode’s actions

A question for Bill and Pat Matzke who wrote, “only Carol Kanode and

Barbara Boskovich are asking the right questions about priorities; the

rest of the board is brushing those questions aside (‘Residents voices

are loud and clear on gym issue,’ March 22).”

Wait a minute, you must have misunderstood. The gymnasium/auditoriums

were approved by a unanimous vote by the school board Sept. 19, 2000,

including Kanode’s vote of approval.

How can you say now that she is questioning the priorities? And

Barbara Boskovich? The entire community knows that her real issue is all

about Wal-Mart.

To be accurate, Carol Kanode is the only remaining sitting board

member who voted in support of the middle school configuration in 1992

that included the curriculum and facilities component of that

reconfiguration. How can trustee Kanode now not support her own plan?

How can the current board be held responsible for what Kanode voted on

nine years ago? Give me a break. Get real. The children and our community

deserve a whole plan for reconfiguration and the gyms/auditoriums at the

four middle schools will make the reconfiguration complete. It may be

suggested that the Matzke family do their homework.

KATHLEEN CUTT

Huntington Beach

Going to bat for little girls

Since my granddaughter is one of the players on this team, I naturally

had to come and watch her play (A T-eam of their own,” April 5). The

girls are adorable and try very hard. My son has always had a passion for

baseball and it is great that he is able to manage this team and have fun

doing it. Thanks for the great article.

SANDRA FORSBERG

Huntington Beach