Mailbag - April 19, 2001

In the last issue, a reader’s letter unjustly “smeared” the Amigos de

Bolsa Chica in my opinion (“Davis’ Signal column right on the mark,”

April 12).

The Amigos put up more than $1 million of their own money to help the

city of Huntington Beach. They didn’t make a profit on their settlement.

They agreed to work with Signal Landmark to create a fair plan for all.

They didn’t agree to be muzzled by a big corporation for “hush” money.

Don’t forget that Signal used four or five different front companies

to try to push this project through rather than stand up and take the

heat itself.

I’ve criticized the Amigos in the past but never for where their heart

was. We should all thank them for all they’ve done for Huntington Beach.

BILL HALPIN

Huntington Beach

Put the blame where it belongs

Lucy Dunn’s lackeys are at it again! The letter by Bob Traver is

completely inaccurate and spouts the usual spin churned out by the Koll

Co.’s (a.k.a. Hearthside Homes) supporters (“Davis’ Signal column right

on the mark,” April 12).

Under the leadership of Linda Moon, the Amigos de Bolsa Chica have

regained the stature and respect they once held in our community.

It was the Koll Co., not the Amigos, who was responsible for breaking

the coalition agreement by going to the county for permits to build. This

same company also disclosed the once secret agreement between them. Put

the blame where it belongs.

I think Traver misread Ron Davis’ comments. My impression of his

meaning was the opposite of that of the letter writer.

Funny that he would accuse the Bolsa Chica Land Trust of “crass

tactics.”

The word “crass” means tasteless, insensitive, materialistic, etc.

Doesn’t that sound more like a description of the developer?

LOIS VACKER

Huntington Beach

Writer misinformed about gym issues

In response to Kathleen Cutt’s comments (“Kanode’s actions were

misunderstood,” April 12) regarding our earlier letter to the

Independent, some clarification might be helpful.

Three of the middle school neighborhoods only learned of the

gym/auditorium plans about two weeks before the September vote by the

board; one not until afterward.

Once the residents began attending board meetings and protesting the

plans to finance the project via rental to outside groups, trustee Carol

Kanode began asking some questions related to funding. Trustee Barbara

Boskovich raised these questions more vigorously before and since her

election.

Cutt worked with board member Tracy Pellman to bring Wal-Mart to the

Crest View site. I look at my local Marine View School, tucked into a

quiet tract with short, curved streets, and worry about safety for

students and residents. We obviously disagree about district priorities.

PAT MATZKE

Huntington Beach