MAILBAG - Sept. 6, 2001

As a resident and supporter of the Bolsa Chica wetlands and mesa I am

in firm support of preserving both these vital habitat areas. I do not

believe it would be in the best interest of the habitat area and our

community to build any homes on the mesa. If I were given a vote on how

many homes should be built on the Bolsa Chica, I would vote zero.

MARILYN STRONG

Huntington Beach

It’s not a matter of how many homes are on the Bolsa Chica; it’s a

matter of saving the whole Bolsa Chica. There’s so little wetlands left

in Southern California that it is unconscionable to think of

compromising.

JUDITH PHILPOT

Huntington Beach

You ask how many homes should be built in the Bolsa Chica Wetlands.

The answer is, of course, none.

If homes are built there it will only benefit the builder. If, on the

other hand, we do not build there, the benefits will be widespread and

long-lasting. The people will have a recreation and open space area. The

birds and animals will have their habitat preserved. The migrating water

fowl will have a place to rest on their journeys. The creatures of the

ocean and back water will have the balance restored to the marine area.

Did you know that this is one of the last remaining wetlands in

California? Man-made structures can be placed in many places but we

cannot create new wetlands. Once it is gone it will never return.

We must think of the future and save all of the Bolsa Chica wetlands

while there is still time.

JEAN HYLTON

Huntington Beach

Keep Bolsa Chica Mesa complete. Keep it together. Leave the little

pocket of nature alone.

Once built upon, the land is forever gone from public use. This is an

area that contains not only natural beauty to be enjoyed by all but

history as well. If this were to remain open land, then it could be

enjoyed by all. If not, it will only be enjoyed by those with enough

money to buy a home with a view -- most likely million dollar homes.

MIKE MARTIN

Huntington Beach

My clear answer to your question of the week is zero.

No homes should be built on the Bolsa Chica mesa. A great and singular

opportunity exists to protect the wetlands and the adjoining mesa as an

integrated set of ecosystems for Southern California.

MIKE HORN

Fullerton

Perhaps the question could have been written: “More urban runoff for

Bolsa Chica wetlands?” Why not: “Home construction batters Bolsa Chica.”

Let’s give Bolsa Chica a break, she deserves better.

It’s not enough that Bolsa Chica is threatened by a jetty-tidal inlet,

and a reconfiguration of her lowlands to recreate a new basin, but build

more homes? It doesn’t take an urban planner to realize that homes are

easier to build and sell if they overlook water. It will not matter that

the wetland’s flood conceals toxics from historic oil fields, chemical

and fecal contamination from urban runoff and fouls the ocean with every

tidal swing. Justification is simple: “The view over the water is just

lovely from our breakfast nook.”

We have to demonstrate the common sense and courage to say no. No to

more construction about our beaches and wetlands, and no to the political

and commercial alliances that serve the few. Please build new homes, Mr.

Developer, but not on our wetland’s threshold.

GREG JEWELL

Westminster

I think that you will find that the majority of residents in

Huntington Beach would answer with a very loud “none!” The Bolsa Chica is

a beautiful wetlands area that is home to many animals, including species

of endangered birds. We have enough houses in Huntington Beach. Leave the

Bolsa Chica as is.

JULIE RUBIO

Huntington Beach

This is in response to the information printed in the Independent,

regarding the plan to build a more modest number of homes on the Bolsa

Chica mesa.

A friend of mine in Seattle, Washington, arguing a similar proposal

there had this to say: “In the future, no one will ever be critical of

those who save open space in a crowded city.”

It is my hope that those who are leaders in our city will think about

that before the next election.

JACK MINAR

Huntington Beach

How many houses should be built on the mesa? None.

Once the Mesa is developed, we can say goodbye forever to endangered

species and that rarest of all things in Southern California, open space.

I shout a loud no to anyone who wants to bring civilization to the mesa.

MARILYN AUSTIN

Huntington Beach

I am a longtime resident of Sunset Beach, and I currently spend my

time between my home there and my apartment in Hong Kong.

My response to the question is none, zero, nada. I have spent a good

deal of my life working around the world, and I see firsthand, almost

daily, the plight of many countries and cities, especially those in Asia,

than have permitted rampant development and have not considered one of

their most valuable assets [to be] clear, clean and often times

unique/open land.

For instance , in Hong Kong , we are currently losing our most

valuable asset, people, especially foreigners who work at or run

companies that contribute to the local economy. Developers have long had

a free hand over the years, and now the environment is so strained and

polluted that people refuse to remain here. They are looking for other

places, clean ones, where they can work and breath.

I am a business man and look to progress and allow as much free

enterprise as possible. At the same time, this extremely valuable asset,

the Bolsa Chica, has a better use and will be today, and especially in

the future, more valuable to all of us if it is left pristine.

JOE VICIC

Sunset Beach

My response is a fervent and loud “none.”

The Bolsa Chica is that increasingly rare and endangered thing in

Orange County: an intact, functioning coastal ecosystem, wetlands and

mesa. The best gift we can give future generations is to leave it

entirely alone and intact.

JOAN HEMPHILL

Long Beach

The answer to the question of how many homes should be built on the

Bolsa Chica mesa is none. The wetlands and mesa are one ecosystem and can

only survive and thrive if left intact.

Enough habitat and open space destruction has been done. Let’s do

something for the good of the whole for once rather than for the good of

a greedy few.

Everyone I know is in favor of preserving the whole mesa for us and

for future generations.

LISA MURPHY

Huntington Beach