Letter of the week

When did Huntington Beach lose its identity? Was I out of town when

Huntington Beach, the city I’ve lived in for 31 years, changed its name

to Surf City? I don’t recall voting on a name change, and I don’t like

it.

Most of the articles in your otherwise fine newspaper refer to

Huntington Beach as Surf City in both headlines and body copy.

An article in the April 12 issue noted that a particular city

commission is seeking new members and notes that “. . . applicants must

be Surf City residents.” Now that will be a trick. I dare say not one

person has Surf City as the address on his or her driver’s license.

Huntington Beach is a wonderful, established, melodic name. Surf City

is chopped, ugly and totally generic. Huntington Beach is more than just

surf! Will someone tell me what’s wrong with the name Huntington Beach?

Why is your newspaper going out of its way to try to rename it?

If the new name is supposed to draw surfers, I dare say that the

entire surfing world is already familiar with Huntington Beach, and to

call it Surf City will just confuse people. In my travels, the mention of

my hometown draws nods of recognition and appreciation. If I said I was

from Surf City, the faces would be blank.

Could we just end this silly, misguided public relations stunt? Please

don’t think that constant repetition in print will cause people to

magically decide they live in Surf City. I love the surf, and I love our

city, but I live in Huntington Beach!

SKIP PEDIGO

Huntington Beach