Mailbag - June 13, 2002

My daughter currently attends private school in Huntington Beach. She

will be graduating this June. The high school for our area is Ocean View.

We put in for an intradistrict transfer in February of this year to

Fountain Valley. Two weeks after, we received a letter from Ocean View,

stating that our request for open enrollment cannot be processed at this

time.

The reason for this is that they were complying with the state

Education Code and the district’s open enrollment policy, which supports

student ethnic balance. My daughter’s only problem now is that she is

white.

I understand that Ocean View is a California Distinguished School but

I want my daughter to go to Fountain Valley. My older daughter graduated

from Fountain Valley and I would like my other two children to go there

too.

I feel that they are using reverse discrimination to keep my daughter

in Ocean View.

LEWIS LIBMAN

Huntington Beach

The mesa should not be built on

I’m a 27-year resident of Huntington Beach. Should the Koll Co. be

allowed to build 388 homes on the Bolsa Chica Upper Mesa? Absolutely not.

This land was zoned for agriculture before the Koll Co. managed to get

it changed. It should be rezoned back to agriculture. The special

interest groups, the developers, will not be satisfied until every last

piece of land in Huntington Beach is built on.

When this happens they will retreat to their castles in Newport Beach

and beyond leaving Huntington Beach with a stressed infrastructure --

sewage, water supply, police, fire service and pollution. If it is not

built on, we have the opportunity to build an eco-tourist system at

several locations down the coast, including the Bolsa Chica. Millions of

dollars are spent on eco-tourism and Huntington Beach could tap into

those tourist dollars to all of our mutual benefit.

MIKE SHRUBSOLE

Huntington Beach

At some point in time we have to quit paving over the whole world. The

Bolsa Chica Upper Mesa is one bit of wilderness we have left amid our

every day traffic and congestion. Why can’t we just leave it alone and

let people enjoy it as it is? There are plenty of homes to be had in the

area.

PETER CLARK

Huntington Beach

Here’s why Hearthside should not be allowed to build on Bolsa Chica

Mesa’s upper mesa. Hearthside is suing the Coastal Commission for the

it’s ruling, which said that Hearthside cannot build on the lower mesa

but can build on the upper mesa.

While that lawsuit is creeping through the justice system Hearthside

is trying to build on the upper mesa, a foraging area for the wildlife

that live and raise their young on the saved Bolsa Chica wetlands,

lowlands and mesa.

Until that suit has been settled Hearthside should be stopped on any

of their plans to develop the upper Bolsa Chica mesa.

EILEEN MURPHY

Huntington Beach

There are already too many cars on the roads

Hearthside Homes should not be allowed to build on the upper mesa.

That’s nearly 400 homes and with two cars per household that would be an

extra 800 cars on our streets that are already out of control.

I live right down the street from Bolsa Chica Street and Heil Avenue

and there have been at least three or four accidents on Heil Avenue alone

in the last week, some which were pretty serious. Adding that many more

cars in this little neighborhood isn’t going to work.

JOHN MACINNIS

Huntington Beach

I do not want any more building in this area. I’ve lived here for 30

years and I’ve seen traffic become horrible.

MARGARET ELIZABETH HUGHES

Huntington Beach

Let’s address all possible causes

Since there is no conclusive evidence as to exactly where the ocean

pollution is coming from, but several sources have been addressed and

noted we need to begin working on each one of those, as the situation is

dire enough. That would include the sewage treatment plant. We should

begin by looking at what we can to do to lessen their impact by creating

a pipe that empties further out, or upgrading the treatment. We need to

begin addressing all of these issues immediately.

JAY KREITZ

Huntington Beach

We need to treat sewage 100%

I think they should treat the water at the sewage plant completely --

not partially. We need to get the water cleaned up at the sewage

treatment plant. Treat the water 100%.

SANDY MORAN

Huntington Beach

I won’t swim here

I do not feel comfortable swimming at Surf City’s beaches.

JOANNE JOHNSON

Huntington Beach

I am not happy with the condition of the water. The water itself is

not safe to swim in with a very high bacteria level. It gets a weird

smell sometimes and I wouldn’t let any child of mine swim in it.

MARJORIE NYLAND

Huntington Beach

Treat the sewage before it hits the ocean

Instead of spending more and more money on the sewage plume studies,

put the money to good use and treat the sewage.

Instead of pouring money into the studies, treat the sewage to an

above average level and then do the water quality tests. Put all this

money to some productive use. I would also suggest that an independent

company or agency, not the Orange County Sanitation District, monitor any

water quality testing.

It appears that the sanitation district will test and test and test

until they get the findings they want and the blame is not pointed at

them. I don’t care how you define the level of treatment -- partially or

untreated -- it is still sewage and the thought that 240 millions gallons

is being dumped into our ocean every day is totally disgusting.

How can anyone think that this is not effecting the water quality of

our oceans and not effecting our health. The bottom line is treat the

sewage before it goes into the ocean.

MELINDA PAULLINS

Huntington Beach

What is wrong with the Sanitation district

The Orange County Sanitation District wants to renew the waiver that

allows lower standards for sewage treatment? Before they spend our money

to properly treat the sewage they want to spend more of our money on

studies to prove that without a doubt the sewage is to blame for beach

pollution?

Meanwhile, Hyatt is spending millions to build a posh resort with

more than 500 rooms and flush toilets so that visitors can come to

Huntington, bringing dollars, and romp in the surf.

Is the sanitation district run by Neanderthals?

DOT VAN EIMEREN

Huntington Beach

I want my cartoon and community forum page

What has happened to the cartoon? (May 23-29) It’s the first thing we

look for when we open the paper and it’s the best part of the paper.

Steven Bolton always hits the nail right on the head. What’s happened to

the letter page? That’s the second best thing about the paper. The rest

of it -- not too good. Some of it’s a little too conservative. Thank

heavens we have an environmental city council anyway.

MAUREEN SHRUBSOLE

Huntington Beach

Where is the surf fin?

Don’t you think for $50,000 the artist could have included a fin on

“Surfhenge” so people would understand what it is? I’ll put one on for

the cost of materials.

BAMBOO BEN

Huntington Beach

It’s more than three surfboards

Am I the only one to notice that the alleged symbol ofsurfing at Beach

Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway also looks like the symbol

designating the ratio of the circumference of a circle -- pi.

C. ROGERS

Huntington Beach

I hope the city and artist are inspired

Art (like beauty) is in the eye of the beholder. This “I” fail to see

the “art” in “Surfhenge.” I can only hope that those who commissioned the

work, the artists (of Sante Fe, New Mexico) who designed the work, and

those who approved the work (at a cost to the taxpayers of some $45,000)

are inspired.

Did anyone ever consider simply moving “naked surfer” (the true symbol

of Huntington Beach) to Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway?

GINO J. BRUNO

Huntington Beach

Leashes outside dog park are a must

As a Park Ranger at Huntington Central Park I can see the dog park

debate from both sides.

I understand the need for dog owners to have a place where they can

allow their dogs some freedom and companionship, and I also believe that

nearby property owners deserve to feel comfortable in their own homes.

I’m not sure of the best solution to the problem, but I do have some

concerns over the number of dogs I’ve been seeing lately off leash near

-- but not actually inside -- the dog park. Besides breaking the law,

loose dogs disturb wildlife, become lost, are hit by cars, are easily

stolen, injure or kill other animals, damage property, chase joggers and

bite children. Even if a dog is well trained it is still more susceptible

to being attacked by other loose dogs or even a coyote if it is not

leashed. Leashes keep dogs safe.

LORI WHALEN

Huntington Beach

A letter to Vic Leipzig and Lou Murray

In the June 6 article titled “Beach bonfires are a burning issue,” you

mentioned drawbacks to bonfires.

You stated that “most beach bonfires are started by young folks, some

of whom are not the most sensible segment of the population.” That’s

nonsense. Yuppy elders pointing their fingers and accusing “young folks”

of being the problem, being insensible, and being the only segment of the

population to “pour all kinds of products on the fires,” is ridiculous.

You are being stereotypical. It is not the youth who do senseless acts,

but the uneducated population who do things foolishly.

You also mentioned that the fire pits are bad because of air

pollution, because there’s “more than 100 chemicals and compounds

produced from burning wood.”

What about the ocean water of Huntington Beach? Thanks to the city --

which, by the way, expels more than a few hundred chemicals (they expel

millions of toxins) -- the water of Huntington Beach is a giant toilet.

Yes, air pollution is an important factor, but it is just another excuse

for the city to try and rid the peaceful gathering of people (both young

and old).

SHUANA COSTA

Huntington Beach

There’s more to signature gatherer story

The districting measure signature gatherers are not telling the truth.

For whatever the reason, they are saying that six members of the council

live in Huntington Harbour, and that is a false statement. Where they

live is of no consequence as they were all elected citywide with votes

from every precinct.

Yes, hopefully their neighbors knew them and voted for them.

The truth is that two council members live in the zip code 92649. Two

live in 92648, two live in 92647 and one lives in 92646. None live in the

same elementary school area.

The council phone number at city hall is 714-536-5553 and most council

persons have phones listed in the phone book and many club rosters. No

one with a telephone is out of contact with seven council members. How

could districting give more representation than that?

Only one council member has changed residence during her tenure in

office. Five are living in their first Huntington Beach home. The Bauers

are living in their second Huntington Beach home but have lived in it for

25 years and lived in the first one for 12 years.

Bauers, Dettloffs, Winchells, and Greens have been in their homes for

20 years or more.

Five council members have raised their children in Huntington Beach.

The Bauers grandchildren are being raised in Huntington Beach. One family

lives in the southeast section and the other in downtown. The interest of

the council is for the city as a whole and how one part interacts with

the other. What more can be asked of the council? Huntington Beach is a

wonderful place to live and enjoy life. Many people want to join us as

residents and neighbors.

CHARLENE BAUER

Huntington Beach

Editors Note: Charlene Bauer is the wife of Councilman Ralph Bauer.

Let’s lose Baugh’s plan and negative council

Regarding Huntington Beach Districting. Why? The redistrictingscheme

proposed by Scott Baugh is a sham. He is an AES power company lackey that

wants to reduce the ability of the council to cover the whole picture for

Huntington Beach.

Baugh’s districting plan is a romantic notion that you will get better

representation with fewer people. If fewer is better then why not only

one? That way AES will have only one person to influence. Our country was

founded on the idea that one king was too many. The founding fathers set

up a representative government that made sure people and states were

represented in larger numbers.

Two years ago, I proposed a Community Congress that had 15 members and

was advisory to the City Council. It would be elected by districts and

have similar powers of a planning commission. It was not given any

serious consideration by the council. So, now we get other schemes that

are less representative and very prone to deal making. If we do go to

districts, it should be nine. With nine there less chance for runaway

deal making and more costs to companies who want to control the council.

There would be much more personal contact with your council member at

less cost. It doesn’t help with the continuing arrogance of Mayor Debbie

Cook saying that “she would be upset if the initiative passed because it

would show how out of touch people are with local government.” We are not

out of touch, we are disgusted by her continuing show of contempt for

citizens. It is actually a contributing factor to its success.

Don’t support the self-serving Baugh districting initiative. Don’t

support a cure that is worse than the disease. Demand that the council

seriously consider other representative plans. Finally, you can vote out

the negative forces on the council to show that you really are in touch

with local government.

CHARLES OSTERLUND

Huntington Beach

Let’s keep our current government system

Orange County has a district system of electing supervisors. The

supervisors have an unspoken system called “district prerogative.”

This means that all the other supervisors will go along with whatever

a certain supervisor wants for his district. To detail this, when various

citizens of the 2nd District wanted to ask supervisors other than our own

Jim Silva for help on the Bolsa Chica issues, we were referred to Silva

(who of course gave no help at all). Is this what we want in Huntington

Beach? I do not. We have a reasonably distributed City Council as it is.

They have been elected on issues that we care about and they respond

quite well to citizens concerns.

As far as our infrastructure woes go, at long last this council is

doing something about this problem, which was created by the developers

who were hit and run.

They never wanted to pay the true costs of their development and

previous councils let them get away with it, in fact encouraged them. I

would say let’s reject the carpetbaggers and keep our city in our own

hands.

NANCY DONAVEN

Huntington Beach