The Huntington coast needs to be...

The Huntington coast needs to be protected

Is the question, “Should the California Coastal Commission be

stripped of it’s powers?” or is the question, “Should California have

the power to protect its coastal environment?”

To say an “environmental activist” defeats the coastal commission

is the same as saying “Residents of Balboa encourage additional

flights at John Wayne.” Both are dichotomies.

To your posted questions in the Jan. 3 Independent, the need for a

body to protect the most beautiful coast in the world is yes. Having

grown up on the East Coast, let me tell you we don’t need another

Coney Island in Newport Beach. We don’t need another Atlantic City in

Long Beach. We don’t need Huntington Beach to be cluttered with

vacation cottages on the beach as in Seabrook, New Hampshire.

Perhaps the court ruled true in a legal manner. Does this mean a

demise to our protected coast? I am hopeful that the 2003 state

Assembly and Senate will provide the proper legislation to maintain

our protected coast.

If an “environmental activist” is against protecting our coast,

who’s left?

GEORGE GOEBEL

Huntington Beach

The coastal commission must not be stripped of its powers because

the protection of our coastline is so very important. There will

never be more coastline. It is a precious and finite resource which

cannot be duplicated or recreated. We owe it to our children and our

grandchildren to protect this priceless resource. Here in Huntington

Beach, our “City Fathers” did a courageous thing when they bought the

beach with public funds. We should honor their foresight by

maintaining it for all our citizens, not just people who might have

enough money to buy it and fence it off for the exclusive enjoyment

of the wealthy few. In the true spirit of “government of the people,

by the people and for the people,” please do not strip the coastal

commission of its powers.

ARMIDA H. BRASHEARS

Huntington Beach

Cook an ideal choice for commissioner

Debbie Cook should definitely be appointed to the California

Coastal Commission. The reasons are many, but let me give you five.

First, she is well qualified. As an environmental attorney

staunchly in favor of protecting our coastline, Cook is well aware of

the issues both onshore and offshore.

Second, as a member of the Huntington Beach City Council, this

past year as mayor, Cook has the knowledge and experience of how

government is supposed to work and can work to protect our coastline.

Third, Cook would be an appointee from Orange County that could

represent our local interests in a statewide context. She would be

especially effective working with the powers that be in Sacramento to

ensure the best possible outcomes for our city.

Fourth, Cook matches the passion and commitment that Shirley

Dettloff brought to her tenure on the commission.

Fifth, Cook is a bright and tough leader who can stand up to the

powerful special interests that often lock horns with our state

regulatory agencies.

More than any of the other names being bandied about, Cook would

be the best choice that the citizens of Huntington Beach could

possibly hope for in protecting our precious coastal resources and in

making sure our voices are heard statewide.

TIM GEDDES

Huntington Beach

I want to say Debbie Cook, former mayor of Huntington Beach, would

be an exemplary choice for the post that she has applied for on the

Coastal Commission, to fill a vacancy. I think she would more than

adequately replace the former Councilwoman Shirley Dettloff.

AARON SLOAN

Huntington Beach

I very strongly believe that we need to have forward-looking

people like Debbie Cook on the coastal commission. I think that it’s

important that the coast be protected and there is some concern that

there are developers who are trying to circumnavigate the commission

and the Cove Coastal Concept. So Debbie would make a very excellent

member of the Coastal Commission.

PETER CLARK

Huntington Beach

I agree Debbie Cook, absolutely, should be given a seat on the

California Coastal Commission. A more qualified person could not be

chosen.

Debbie Cook has been a breath of free air in the City Council and

as mayor. Such a change from the stultifying “old boys club” we’ve

had in the past several years. Debbie Cook cares about all the things

that really matter: the environment, the mesa, clean ocean, clean

air. Also, she’s not afraid to speak her mind or go up against big

developers.

We don’t need any more houses in Huntington Beach. We’re almost

wall-to-wall concrete now. I cannot understand the critics who

complain about her. In my opinion, she’s the best mayor we’ve ever

had. We have watched her career with interest.

Many years ago, there was a fight to save the stables on Edwards

Hill. Debbie fought against development then. Unfortunately, we got

the houses. Thank you, Debbie, for all your courage. I’m sure when

you’re elected to the coastal commission, you will do a wonderful

job.

MAUREEN SHRUBSOLE

Huntington Beach

DARE is valuable and should be saved

I am a teacher in Huntington Beach. I believe that the DARE

program is a very valuable program for all children to participate in

and I sure hope that funds are available to keep it going. It’s

something that some parents have a difficult time talking to their

children about, so some kids don’t get the information and the

know-how to say no in school, they may never get it. So it would help

all students to even be exposed to such an education.

STEPHANIE MOTSKE

Lakewood

Yes, the DARE program should be continued. The city should cut

funds in other areas to continue this very important program for the

children.

There’s enough development and too much focusing on Downtown

Huntington Beach. They should stop funding programs down there and

keep it where it’s important. The developers can go ahead and get

their own funding and tax benefits and credits.

DAVID PLANTE

Huntington Beach

You bet it’s worth saving. I don’t know how we can not afford to

find the money to keep this program alive. It’s the only program

worth saving, if you ask me.

I can’t believe our City Council can’t find a way. I think they

need to look in the mirror; take a hard look at where they’re

spending their money and, moreover, about how they raise money.

Maybe they’re not doing a nice enough job being business friendly

enough to get sales tax revenue high enough so we can afford a

program. We can’t afford not to have this program.

My sixth-grade daughter, Natalie, just graduated from the DARE

program at Eader Elementary. She stood up in front of 500 people and

read her DARE essay about how she pledges to stay away from drugs. If

it wasn’t for Officer Bradley, she wouldn’t be saying those things.

We need more than just parental help. We need this program.

As far as Mayor Connie Boardman, Councilwomen Pam Julien Houchen,

Jill Hardy and Debbie Cook, I’m disgusted with them. Their lack of

leadership, their lack of insight is going to hurt our children. I

think they’ve failed us and I’m really upset that this program has

not been given the time nor the vigilance from the council to find

the money.

They’ve known, long enough, it’s been in jeopardy, and two lousy

grants that they tried writing for it have failed. That to me shows

they don’t care enough. They can’t afford not to care enough.

I tell you what. How about we all light up cigarette on the Fourth

of July Parade in thanks for their decision last week?

NANCY BUCHOZ

Huntington Beach

The DARE program is an immensely important program that helps

incredibly to keep kids on the right track, motivating them in other

areas and keeping them away from things like drugs and alcohol.

Not only am I a parent of a fifth-grader in Huntington Beach, but

I’m also a teacher, not in Huntington Beach but in the Westminster

School District, and I’ve seen what it can do for kids.

So ... let’s keep it going. Let’s don’t lose an important part of

creating, strong, independent citizens of tomorrow.

CHRIS RHODES

Huntington Beach

Students should be allowed to use gyms

Certainly the students from the middle school should be allowed to

use the new gyms. They are a great asset to the community, and it’s

wonderful to keep children, particularly teenagers busy.

CHARLENE BAUER

Huntington Beach