Mailbag - Dec. 20, 2001

On March 5, voters of the Huntington Beach City School District will

vote on Measure DD, a bond issue to renovate and modernize our

kindergarten through eighth-grade district schools.

It is important that we as fellow community members and parents

support this measure.

As an active parent in the district and past PTA president, I have

personally witnessed the stellar education offered by this district.

Campuses are kept clean and in good working order at all times. Our

district has come to a crossroads, however, where simple maintenance

isn’t enough.

As most of our campuses are approaching 30 plus years, we are now

faced with needs such as new roofs, increased electrical capabilities for

computers, repairing water and sewer lines, replacement of a steam

heating system built in the 1930’s at Dwyer Middle School, and so on.

These improvements aren’t showy and will for the most part not change

the look of our schools from the outside. They will, however, provide an

environment that is safer and more supportive of current teaching

methods. Please join me and put our children first by voting yes on bond

Measure DD.

MAUREEN PABBRUWEE

Huntington Beach

Why vote for the school bond?

Roofing, plumbing, heating and electrical needs, are just a few

reasons.

As a homeowner of 23 years, I know that regular maintenance of a

building is not enough. Paint and patching will make the building look

new, but take a look at electrical, plumbing and roofing needs. Upgrades

and replacements are needed over the years to maintain quality of life,

keep up with technology and protect property value.

At the Noble house, there have been plumbing repairs, upgrades to more

efficient fixtures, and additional electrical outlets needed to

accommodate new technology-computers, printers, scanners, appliances and

electronics.

The schools need many of these things too!

New technology is no good to students without upgraded electrical

wiring in the classrooms. Students and teachers should not be made to

suffer because of substandard plumbing, lack of proper heating and

ventilation, or leaking roofs.

The students of the Huntington Beach City School District need our

help now. Make an investment in the future. Support the bond measure.

CLAUDIA L. NOBLE

Huntington Beach

New mayor has her work cut out for her

As mayor of Huntington Beach, Debbie Cook’s priorities should be as

follows:

1) Retain an economic development consultant for recommendations to

revive vacant storefronts in our neighborhood retail centers (such as the

northeast corner of Adams and Brookhurst streets) that will provide

additional sales tax revenue to our city’s general fund that can be used

toward major infrastructure improvements.

2) Retain a consultant to undertake a feasibility study to create

localized voter-approved “residential improvement districts” to expedite

neighborhood repairs and improvements within public rights-of-ways such

as walls, alleys, landscape, etc.

3) Increase code enforcement to clean up and remove trash from our

alleys.

4) Commence a combined environmental awareness/public art campaign to

reduce litter on our streets and beaches.

5) Push the state to expedite environmental enhancements at the Bolsa

Chica before the current funding allocation goes elsewhere.

JOHN W. DE WITT

Huntington Beach

Your honor, please let your city grow

In regard to Debbie Cook, she should let the city grow and not keep it

like “Little House On the Prairie.”

She doesn’t want any business coming in. We need taxes in this

community, need businesses, need malls going up and she opposes

everything.

VIRGINIA SIMS

Huntington Beach

Navy security measures put a crimp on boating

I don’t live in Huntington Harbour anymore, but certainly in concept,

boaters should have free access. There are other ways to patrol outside

waters with Coast Guard boats to protect against a possible attack on the

Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station.

DAN HAZARD

Huntington Beach

I wish the Navy would lift restrictions on the boats. I have cut down

my use considerably on my boat and it has put a major damper on my year,

fishing-wise. I wish there was some way we could get around this and not

have the security issue.

It’s about being able to get our boats into and out of the harbor.

This kind of defeats the purpose of living on the water if I can’t get my

boat into and out of the harbor.

DAVID BRACKMANN

Huntington Beach

I think they should develop some kind of a check system on boats that

are moored in the Huntington Harbour area so they can go in and out

freely except when the boat is being filled with ammunition.

I’ve lived here for 35 years and we’ve been able to access that and

never have had a problem up until now. The harbor should be open for

boaters to go in and out.

PAULA HETZLER

Huntington Beach

At best the harbor being closed is an inconvenience and people can be

placed in jeopardy if the weather is bad, they’re tired or the boat is

not working well and they are not allowed to return to Huntington

Harbour. There must be some other arrangements made.

MICHAEL THOMAS

Huntington Beach

The Navy should lift its restrictions. I’m a real estate agent here

and it’s affecting property values. Some homes have not been sold because

of this issue. We’re in trouble and need all the help we can get.

STEVE POWERS

Huntington Beach