Hearthside should take a hint and...
Hearthside should take a hint and sell
Memo to Hearthside Homes: Look at the writing on the wall. Read
the tea leaves. You just lost in court trying to sue the California
Coastal Commission over Bolsa Chica development. However, Proposition
50 just passed, which earmarks funds to purchase the Bolsa Chica
mesa. Turn in your chips and cash in now. Please quit while you are
still ahead.
To pursue a lawsuit that you may not win (appeals fail more often
than they succeed) will cost you additional money. Even if you get a
favorable ruling, it will be several years before you can turn a
shovel and recover your costs, let alone turn a profit. Do yourselves
a favor, your shareholders a favor, the wildlife a favor and
Huntington Beach a favor. Take the easy money from Proposition 50 and
run.
Orange County is already one of the densest counties in the
nation. Is it necessary to have it become another New Jersey? I hope
not. Open space does not equal open sore. Most of us appreciate Bolsa
Chica for its intrinsic value. Now you can appreciate it for its
economic value. Finally, we can put this long battle to bed, and
everyone will come out winners.
REX RICKS
Huntington Beach
Circus bans should not be top priority
As I watched the animal protection activists parading to the
public microphone for their barrage of three-minute prepared,
itinerated and orchestrated speeches, I felt the helplessness of a
city overwhelmed by outsiders. Not one of the speakers, by their own
word, was from Huntington Beach. There was a video of one woman they
showed to be from Huntington Beach, but how can I be assured of that
fact? And just how much weight is one to give to one voice in our
town?
All the activists had a title of some sort, all connected with
animal protection activism. Now, I love animals, just like the best
of animal lovers, and I am absolutely in favor of humane treatment of
people and animals; but this was absolutely overwhelming, underhanded
and overplayed.
Although there was one presentation of an opposing viewpoint, the
fact that this was allowed without much opportunity to respond for
balance of viewpoints, is why I feel compelled to write this
response.
As a teacher of history, I am very aware of persuasive techniques
of propaganda, overstating, false-stating, villainizing, target
speeches, finger pointing, diatribes, misappropriating statements of
ideas, etc. but this was so blatant, I’m stunned.
Councilman Ralph Bauer stated there hasn’t been a circus in
Huntington Beach since 1975. That says it in a nutshell. Just where
does this urgency to pass an ordinance to ban circuses come from? Are
these the kinds of issues our current council think are so important,
they must fulfill these agenda items before their terms end? We are
facing numerous serious crises in Huntington Beach, and our council
has chosen to highlight this issue. That sends a very poignant
message to me. I am so disheartened, disconcerted and appalled by the
current council’s agenda, it causes me grave concern about our
future.
If the council is so concerned about the proper treatment of
animals, it seems much more logical and appropriate to me to compile
guidelines for proper treatment of animals within our city. Even
that, however, is best an educational item among families and
community groups. If every city in the U.S. decided to ban animals
and circuses, just where would it all end? We will soon become so
overly governmentally regulated, we won’t be able to blow our nose in
public for fear someone may catch a cold.
It is not the appropriate forum for our City Council to make
regulations in this regard. This parade of extremists parading
through our council forum is embarrassing to all of us.
DIANE LENNING
Huntington Beach
I grew up around circuses. I’m 48 years old and it was never a big
problem or issue. I don’t know why the council is wasting our
taxpayers’ money on minutia like this. Who do they think they are?
Are they God? What are they going to ban next?
With all the critical issues that are there in the city to
address, they’re going off on these self-gratifying “ban” standing
items and I don’t say that for all the council members. There’s
certain ones that are doing this and, unfortunately, I was in favor
of those council people coming in because of other issues they
supported.
But if this council has now become a grandstanding thing for
private issues and basically ignoring the real needs of the city,
then I’m all in favor of a special election to vote them out because
I’m sorry I made the votes in the election that I did.
DREW KOVACS
Huntington Beach
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