Main Street would be better as walkway...

Main Street would be better as walkway

I read the column by Danette Goulet in the April 15 paper and

couldn’t agree more with her view (“A plea for a pedestrian

walkway”). Main Street is such a small street anyway, that closing it

would be great.

I truly believe that it would bring more business to Main Street

because it would be so much more pleasant to eat or just relax and

read the paper or a book on the sidewalk tables while sipping iced

tea or something. Manhattan Beach has been through this dilemma also

and finally opted to pave the whole street for pedestrians, and it’s

wonderful, you can walk around with your children without having to

worry about the car cruisers running you over.

Not to mention, inhaling exhaust with your meal. I would

definitely eat Downtown more if meals came without exhaust on the

sidewalk.

The parking structure should accommodate our visitors and like you

said, with the Strand coming, it’s a good idea to start now.

Thanks for trying to push it through, we appreciate it.

MARIAN STUEVE

Huntington Beach

Waiving algebra won’t help students

As a former elementary school teacher, I was very distraught when

I read the article in the April 22 issue of the Independent,

“District waives algebra requirement for 40 seniors.”

As Assistant Supt. Carol Osbrink said, students and teachers were

well aware of the new regulation.

Why are we posting school test scores, motivating our children and

teachers to improve, and then backing down on the rules?

How do we expect our children to learn self-motivation and to hold

themselves to high standards if even their teachers, principals and

school boards do not?

Has anyone given a thought to mandating that these 40 seniors be

required to take a summer school course in Algebra I in order to earn

their diploma?

I want my children to be in a school environment where they are

challenged to be their best, not where excuses are made when they

fail, which is part of the reason why so many people have elected to

pursue a private education for their children.

DIANA BERBIGLIA

Huntington Beach

No, no, no. Requirements must be met; that is why they are

requirements.

No student is well-served by letting him slip by in the early

stages of education. He is then set up to fail later.

Let’s help our students from the beginning to get the basic

learning they’ll need.

NANCY BATES

Huntington Beach

My belief is that if the school district knew the state mandated

this in the year 2000 and that their students required it, they

should not have allowed them to go by without doing it. They had

plenty of time to prepare for it. And it’s no excuse not to. If a

person can’t handle algebra by the time they get out of high school,

they’re going to do a very bad job at fitting in in society without

those basic skills.

ARNOLD YACKLEY

Huntington Beach

Cruisers are the best part of Downtown

I think the cruisers are part of the attraction on Main Street.

All the cool cars and bikers that go down the street are fun to watch

even while eating and drinking at the restaurants outside.

I think the best idea is to make it a one-way street going toward

Pacific Coast Highway. And on Pacific Coast Highway, make it a right

turn only lane and get rid of the light. This would help traffic flow

immensely on both Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street, and it would

cut down on the annoyance factor on Main Street. It would also make

it possible to widen the sidewalks too. (And get rid of the stupid

parking meters.)

In addition, a footbridge should be put in over Pacific Coast

Highway and over Main Street at that intersection (Las Vegas style.)

It would be much safer and kind of fun too.

MARK FIORE

Huntington Beach