Fond memories of Bob Barker I remember...

Fond memories

of Bob Barker

I remember Bob Barker fondly. He was my mainstay when I wanted to

get an honest, fair and reliable answer for anything that was

happening in the city. He attended all the city council meetings,

Coastal Commission hearings, came to our save the Bolsa Chica events

and reported about them all objectively. He covered the entire city’s

events. What a treasure he was. I personally have missed him since he

retired and was saddened when I read about his recent surgery. Best

of luck Bob and know that you are still loved and missed by many of

us here in Huntington Beach We’re rooting for your recovery.

EILEEN MURPHY

Huntington Beach

Helicopter was a reminder of safety

I was in Huntington Beach a few days ago and happened to read a

“Sounding Off” article in the Huntington Beach Independent for Sept.

18 about the value of the Huntington Beach Police helicopter.

(“Police helicopter has been invaluable”)

I am a former resident of Huntington Beach, and a former reserve

police officer for Westminster Police Department (13 years). I am now

a resident of Idaho Falls, Idaho and a lieutenant with the Bonneville

County Sheriff’s Office.

When I lived in Huntington Beach near the corner of Newland Street

and Talbert Avenue, I often heard the helicopter overhead, and was

thankful for it. There is peace of mind and comfort in hearing the

helicopter overhead, knowing that there is a watchful eye. I was a

strong supporter of the helicopter unit.

As a reserve police officer for Westminster Police Department, I

had the benefit of the helicopter as a backup several times. In one

case, on a very busy night, the helicopter was my only backup in a

short pursuit that terminated at the end of a Huntington Beach

cul-de-sac where the street lights were out. Two officers were killed

in an ambush in a similar setting in another Southern California

area. For several minutes, and until the suspect’s intentions were

known, the helicopter was my only support. Thankfully, the situation

stabilized quickly, and I went home safe that night.

While in Huntington Beach this last trip, I heard the helicopter

over my hotel several times at night. Again, I was thankful to hear

that non-obtrusive sound of the watchful eye.

While I am sure the helicopter program is costly, I would

challenge those who might want to do away with the program to think

of the cost of the alternative.

BUD LANGERAK

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Desalination plant would benefit area

Recent letters and articles in the local newspapers complaining

about Poseidon desalination facility planned for Huntington Beach

were based on incorrect information. Desalination plants emit no

odors, create minimal noise and clean up smelly waters. If the people

and planning commissioners who are in opposition to this facility

would look up facts about desalination plants they would be

pleasantly surprised. For example, when a desalination facility was

proposed for the Virgin Islands, the local population was concerned

the salt, which is the major by-product of such a facility, would

damage the already fragile bays. Much to the surprise of the locals,

when the facility was in operation for a short period of time the

waters surrounding the facility became clear and pristine as it was

before people moved into the area. The same thing will result after

the proposed Poseidon desalination plant is operating.

The local area will be improved; the region will be improved, as

the water that will be supplied will be of far better quality than

what is presently supplied to the residents of Orange County. Another

benefit from the Poseidon facility is the increase in the property

tax revenue.

In the past, voters of Huntington Beach made a mistake of not

taxing the natural gas used by the AES. All the users in Orange

County would have shared the small increase in electrical rate but

Huntington Beach would have received all the tax.

Don’t make the same mistake again by placing roadblocks in the

approval process of a facility that does not generate any negative

environmental conditions and at the same time improves the

surrounding environment.

LOU DEBOTTARI

Huntington Beach

Coalition is not against Pacific City

Contrary to the misinformation being circulated in regards to the

Pacific City Action Coalition, we are not opposed to or are trying to

stop the development of Pacific City. This growing community group’s

concerns are, however, that the nature and status of soil and

potential groundwater contamination on the site be properly evaluated

and not granted an exemption from proper clean-up by the city,

particularly given the untimely deaths of five children who lived

near each other and may have been exposed to some type of

environmental contamination within the city.

To help allay these fears, the coalition demands that all work on

the Pacific City site be halted until the site is fully characterized

through independent testing by a firm, mutually agreed upon by both

the coalition and developer Makar Properties.

Additionally, the coalition demands full disclosure of any and all

environmental testing on the site, including but not limited to the

following:

1. 2002 groundwater test results and reports including maps for

the west central area of the site. 2. Any and all records or reports

of Chevron’s gas plant. 3. Test results or reports which generated

the 2003 Initial Study statement on the possible presence of benzene

and toluene on the site due to the gas plant operation. 4. Test

results or reports which generated the posting of the Proposition 65

sign warning of cancer causing chemicals. 5. Lead testing conducted

as a follow-up to the 1996 Phase II Study. 6. Boring maps from the

1999 Soil Transport Study (Final Environmental Closure Report for the

Grand Coast Resort.) 7. Boring maps and test results from the 2002

Remediation Plan.

Likewise, the Pacific City Action Coalition demands that the

project itself be built in a responsive way, so surrounding

neighborhoods will not be adversely affected by future encroachments;

in regards to traffic, parking, proper street alignments and density.

JOHN SISKER

Huntington Beach

Commissioners hid nothing from public

I need to correct a few misunderstandings that appeared in last

week’s letters section (Mailbag, Sept. 25).

First, it is important to note that when Commissioner [John]

Scandura contacted me, and I suspected that he might have unknowingly

violated the Brown Act, I suggested that he talk to staff and get

their advice as to what he should do. Scandura not only talked to

staff but to the City Attorney’s office as well. And then he admitted

his actions, in public, in front of the cameras.

There was nothing hidden from the public, in fact, the exact

opposite is true. It was my intention to bring a possible violation

into the open, which is precisely what happened. To equate the

exposure of a Brown Act violation with trying to hide something from

the public (“Mayor right in resignation request” Sept. 25) is, and

I’ll be charitable here, most likely a misunderstanding of the facts.

Second, for all its inexperience and all of its faults I am proud

of the work the Planning Commission has done this year. We’d tackled

one of the most technical EIR’s in the history of Huntington Beach.

Regrettably, since I was removed before the final vote, the

commission was not able to muster a majority opinion on the issue.

But I think even the most vehement opponents to the Planning

Commission will admit the Poseidon issue was thoroughly examined.

Third, I believe that the Planning Commission is about to usher in

a new opportunity to bring the public into the planning process.

Planning commissioners are supposed to be citizen representatives.

And I believe that the interests of the citizens of Huntington Beach

have been fought for during my term as chair and that the fight will

continue under its new leadership.

RANDY C. KOKAL

Huntington Beach