Mailbag - April 4, 2002

The Huntington Beach Police Department and the residents of our city

deserve credit for the reduced crime statistics. Huntington Beach is, for

the most part, a safe city because residents watch out for each other and

the police are responsive to our calls. Increased participation in

Neighborhood Watch programs, combined with resident awareness, will go a

long way to further prevent property theft.

Common sense would dictate that valuables be kept out of sight, car

and home doors and windows locked and garage doors should be closed when

no one is present. One should not assume that valuables left unattended

will be safe any time, anywhere.

The issue of crime statistics is one worthy of discussion. I was

puzzled by Sgt. Gary Meza’s comment that we have gone two years in a row

without a homicide in the city. I know Meza from my community

volunteerism in the Oakview neighborhood and he is a good and honest

police officer, however less than one year ago, in the early morning of

May 5, 2001, an 18-year-old Latino resident was shot and killed by a

Huntington Beach Police officer.

Antonio Saldivar was mourned by his family, friends, neighbors and

community members as a victim of violence. Antonio’s killing was a

tragedy and most likely accidental but is obviously not counted as a

homicide by the police department.

Is there another category among the violent crime statisticsthat would

account for him? If not, then I think we have to rethink the real value

of these statistics. I would hate to think that Huntington Beach forgot

Antonio, or even worse doesn’t care.

JEFF LEBOW

Huntington Beach

Districting would be a disaster

Former Assemblyman Scott Baugh has proposed an initiative thatwould

divide Huntington Beach into five districts and pare down the City

Council from seven to five members. This is a bad idea for many reasons.

It is, first, a cynical attempt to divide and conquer the community

interests that have elected a moderate local government dedicated to

maintaining our quality of life through a balance of economic progress

and environmental protection.

Secondly, it is an attempt to make it easier to reclaim a majority on

the City Council (some would say “buy”) for alleged pro-business and

development interests. Never mind that this could return us to the

corrupt and incompetent “bad old days” when the needs and concerns of the

community took a back seat to the special interests that only cared about

power and profits.

Districting could deny the best qualified and most committed citywide

candidates from serving on the council while setting up “turf warfare”

that would pit the interests of one district against the needs and

concerns of another.

Huntington Beach is neither large enough (like L.A.) nor small enough

(like Seal Beach) for districting to work. Anaheim voters rejected

dividing their city into five districts in the 1990s because they

realized the concept’s inequities and shortcomings. So should Huntington

Beach citizens.

If Baugh is truly interested in good government for our city, he

should drop his plans to pursue this divisive initiative.

TIM GEDDES

Huntington Beach

Riding his hobby horse ‘round heaven

Having known George Arnold for almost 50 years I was very saddened to

hear of his death. He will not only be remembered as a legend but, in my

eyes, an angel who always had a kind word and a smile (toothless of

course). I remember as a young child buying avocados from him at Hilltop

Liquor and Christmas poinsettias at the pier. He used to come into the

Snack ShopRestaurant, order coffee (which was all he could afford) and we

would sneak him baked potatoes and cream pies -- he couldn’t eat too many

things. One Christmas, I received a beautiful (gaudy) Christmas pin,

which I proudly wore on my waitress uniform. I’m sure it was from the

99-cent table at Thrifty Drug on the corner. But that was George, trying

to please others when he couldn’t afford more then coffee and sometimes

had no shoes.

I have lived in Hawaii for six years and have corresponded with him

during that time, remembering his birthday and other holidays. His

childlike letters always brought a tear to my eye and, of course, a

smile. I didn’t hear back from him after his most recent birthday earlier

this year, but I loved getting his letters and saved them all. And I know

he loved getting mine. He even sent me his campaign T-shirt (as a child

on a pony) and never failed to tell me he “loved me” and hoped my husband

wouldn’t mind. I’m sure that George is smiling in heaven (maybe he even

has teeth now?) and he can ride his pony anywhere he desires. He must be

so pleased to read all the kind things that have been printed about him

and he surely would have loved to hear them while he while he was alive.

Keep smiling and riding sweet George, you will truly never be

forgotten.

Aloha and a hui hou (until we meet again.)

GLENDA SWEARINGEN-SIFF

Kailua, Hawaii

Formerly of Huntington Beach