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
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