Parkside should be restored as wetlands...

Parkside should be restored as wetlands

I believe that area should be restored to the wetlands.

Personally, I’m a very big believer in that, and I don’t think we

need more homes. I think we need to keep the beauty in Huntington

Beach. I think it would be a real shame if we lose the wetlands and I

know that little parcel there is important and necessary to make that

whole wetlands work, so I really hope that no buildings go in there

because it’s not going to work. It will work for some people to make

some money, but it’s not going to help that eco-system down there.

PAM VALLOT

Huntington Beach

My wife and I purchased our home on Kenilworth Drive in 1987. We

purchased it, in part, because of its proximity to open space and the

Bolsa Chica wetlands.

We felt assured with the then-designation of the Shea/Parkside

site as wetlands/conservancy on the 1976 County Land Use Plan. We

were aware of the low elevation of our property and the surrounding

areas of approximately 90 acres. We were also aware of the potential

flood hazard for which flood insurance was mandated. Nonetheless, we

were comforted that, in case of flood disaster, the approximately

50-acre wetlands-designated area (i.e. Parkside) would provide an

open-area buffer for flooding in all but the most extreme of events.

Now, 15 years later, I find out that not only is the 50-acre

wetlands open space going to be developed, but the development is

going to be raised/filled substantially and surface drainage will be

toward the existing Kenilworth neighborhood.

Because water seeks the lowest level, my neighborhood, in essence,

will then become Parkside’s buffer in case of severe flood or any

failure of its drainage mitigation measures.

Drainage and flood mitigation measures are supposed to lessen the

casualty hazard for my home and reduce the need for flood insurance

according to published promises by Shea Homes. Contrary to Shea’s

stated promise, I have confirmed that flood insurance premiums for my

home will neither be eliminated nor reduced as a result of Parkside

“improvements.”

At best, I might see a premium reduction if and when the county

completes its improvements on the Wintersburg Channel together with

Parkside “improvements.” This combination is unlikely to occur within

my lifetime. Shea’s promised benefits are dubious at best. At worse,

its written statements are deliberate equivocations.

All in all, I feel betrayed by local governmental processes that

can arbitrarily re-designate land use. I feel betrayed by city

government that treats conservation as a fleeting concept. Instead of

a fire station and open-space wetlands in perpetuity, Huntington

Beach residents will get 170 more McMansions built on a half-million

cubic yards of fill. Suburban planning that forsakes existing

neighborhoods for the dubious benefits of future developments is not

real planning but evidence of the laissez-faire attitudes of

entrenched planning departments that have self-serving agendas. The

same could be said for at least four members of our present City

Council.

DAVID E. HAMILTON

Huntington Beach

Kudos to the City Council for circus ban

Thank you so much for your recent article regarding banning

circuses from Huntington Beach. I think it is about time the city

stands up for an animal’s rights. In many cases, circus animals are

beaten and often injured as a result. I am so glad the City Council

passed this law. As an animal rights activist, the article really

made me smile. Now all we need to do is convince other surrounding

cities to do the same. Thanks again.

LAURA FRASSO

Huntington Beach

Banner law should definitely be repealed

Huntington Beach’s ban on airplane banners certainly should be

repealed. It was a classic example of special-interest politics:

asking the whole city to (potentially) pay the cost of satisfying a

few crybabies.

BILL GIBSON

Huntington Beach

I wholeheartedly agree that the aerial banners are not worth the

legal fight. In fact, I was shocked when this issue even came forward

at the council meeting. There are several of us Southeast residents

who actually like the planes ... it’s part of the ambience of living

by the beach.

I can think of better ways to spend our city’s time and dollars

that would be far more productive (keeping the DARE program alive and

infrastructure improvements, to name a few).

SUZANNE BEUKEMA

Huntington Beach

As much as I oppose the methods the anti-choice Bio-Ethical Reform

Center is using to present its viewpoint, I don’t see that our city

can legally restrict the center with a law against aerial

advertising. I do believe it is clear that the Federal Aviation

Administration will ultimately prevail in any legal contest. I don’t

want our city to spend scarce resources in a fight we can not win.

ARMIDA H. BRASHEARS

Huntington Beach

City shouldn’t back down on banner law

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! The banner-towing planes are a noise and

sight nuisance. Every city should have the right to stop the

pollution of their environment.

These planes have nothing to do with national security or

interstate travel. Your article states that the federal government

can regulate “airspace.” Just what is the definition of airspace? At

what altitude does the airspace come under the control of the federal

government?

As a homeowner, how much of the airspace above the ground level is

under my control? My title policy does not show any aviation

easement. Could the home owners in the downtown area become part of

this action and therefore have an affect on the FAA’s decision.

Possibly, the title companies could be brought into this action, if

all the effected homeowners file a claim against their title

policies. I hope the city does everything within its power to keep

this ban in place.

PAMELA CHAVEZ

Huntington Beach

Well, I believe those who like the banner-towing planes speak for

the minority in Southeast Huntington Beach. The banner-towing planes

are a noisy nuisance. The excessive noise occurs as the planes

traverse over my house on their return trip back up the coast.

Not only are they low, but are fighting a head wind as they tow

their banner. They make a slow diagonal pass, from the beach, back

over the houses. Sitting in our backyard, enjoying the pool, spa, or

barbecue, becomes routinely, rudely interrupted and disturbed by the

loud roar of the planes engines, straining as they tow the banners

against the head winds above my home.

Then both my and other neighborhood dogs begin to howl and bark,

running around in tight circles, they too are irritated by the noise,

only to add to the noise pollution caused by the planes. The noise

infuriates and angers both me and my guests. It is a distraction that

we do not, should not and will not continue put up with.

As the planes travel down the coast, along the beach, as one sits

on the sand the sound from the planes is not so bad; it blends in

with the noise of the surf, the planes are offshore and are not

fighting a head wind. It is the return flight, over our homes, that

should be the issue of focus.

Keep the planes from crossing over Southeast Huntington Beach and

my home. Let them make their return flight over the ocean.

BRYAN VISNOSKI

Huntington Beach

Airplane propellers beating the air and roaring engine exhaust are

not expressions of free speech. The residents who complain about the

banner planes are most annoyed by the noise. If I drove my car around

town without a muffler I would be stopped and ticketed. Having an

advertisement posted on the side of the car would not elevate my

conduct to a constitutional free speech issue. Imagine for a moment,

the anti-abortion zealots flying their planes low around the

perimeter of Disneyland, keeping up that distracting incessant drone,

dragging their horrific images of aborted fetuses around and around

just like at the beach. Why not? Because those flies know not to bite

the corporate tiger. The Federal Aviation Administration would revise

its regulations in order to restrict such flights, just as the FAA

has revised its regulations to undercut our city ordinance that

banned the banner planes. Small municipalities do not have the

financial and political muscle to protect their commons from

exploitation when that protection intersects the interests of

business. The FAA in the service of the citizens it ostensibly

serves, should serve the public’s general welfare and restrict banner

plane flying.

ROBERT LINDSEY

Huntington Beach

Cook should resign if she can’t be nice

After watching last night’s Nov. 6 public comments during the City

Council meeting, I was struck by the same feelings I had during the

bitter and protracted dog park debate. I voted for Debbie Cook in the

last election, and I am now wondering about that vote.

It is interesting to watch our mayor control the action when it

comes to the public comments segment of the meeting. Last night, many

people from Huntington Harbour came to express concerns over action

taken by the council that could impact their way of life, and

negatively impact their property values. Mayor Cook greeted these

speakers with nasty looks, dismissive, insincere “thank yous” and

generally acted as if she was late for a cocktail party later that

evening.

At one point in the proceedings she impatiently blurted out, “How

many more speakers do we have?”

Upon being informed that there were at least 20 more speakers to

go, eagerly awaiting their opportunity to comment on their particular

issue, Cook let out a pathetic sigh that suggested she wished she

could be anywhere else but at this meeting.

Cook’s patronizing, condescending form of governance does not

flatter her or our fine city. Many citizens are concerned that she

was instrumental in having a religious invocation eliminated from the

beginning of the City Council meetings.

I would settle for her merely keeping civility alive in a forum

where too often personal attacks are prominent. I am concerned that

her curt, paternalistic and arrogant attitude displays her real

feelings for her constituents. And worse, when public speakers who

disagree with our mayor hit their three-minute limit, she

aggressively cuts them off mid-sentence, where she usually lets those

that agree with her finish their thought.

As our city’s ultimate leader, she has set a political tone in our

city that is unacceptable, and she should resign from her position as

mayor if she is not up to the task of treating her political

opponents with dignity and respect.

KEVIN CARLIN

Huntington Beach

Praise Christian will fight for churches

In response to Virginia Simms letter “Praise Christian Center is

all wrong” First, let me say Virginia, you are all wrong. You say

first that Chief Michael Dolder knows what he is doing. Is that why

he allowed Fire Marshall Charles Burney to issue a cease and desist

letter to the church simply because people were meeting to pray?

The building had a current occupancy permit for 81 people to be in

that building for manufacturing, metal working, wholesale

distribution and a machine repair shop. That’s 81 people in a

building with 10 exits with nothing in the building, no work benches,

no machines, no materials nothing but people and chairs. That in the

chief’s opinion is not as safe?

Or how about the fact that the notice given to the church did not

include any description of any violation, which is required by the

city code? The law of the land still gives broad protections for the

free exercise of religion. If there can lawfully be 81 people in a

building doing anything, they can lawfully assemble for worship. If

there can be 81 people talking about landscaping, there can be 81

people talking about God.

The fire chief in this matter has become part of a bigger problem

that has to do with what he personally said to me the day I met him

at the interfaith council’s Procession of Light event. When I asked

him what the problems with the building were, he replied, “It’s a

planning issue.” The city is not saving lives, they are preventing

lives from being saved.

As far as your Bible knowledge goes, sister, you are “all wrong.”

You ought to get back to church yourself and do a lot more studying.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say to do what Caesar says. Your

response reminds me of how Satan misquoted scripture when he was

trying to tempt Jesus in the wilderness.

As far as the church “doing what they want,” you’re wrong again --

we want equal treatment and equal protection under the law. To set

the record straight, the city has treated the churches of Huntington

Beach on less then equal terms with other institutions. Someone has

to stand up for what is right. Praise Christian Center will take that

stand.

DEREK ANUNCIATION

Huntington Beach