Just enforce the parking laws we have...

Just enforce the parking laws we have

When I moved to Huntington Beach in 1975 we had parking control

patrolling our neighborhoods on a regular basis. If you left your

vehicle or RV parked in the same place longer than 72 hours you were

ticketed. If you were parked on the wrong side of the street you were

ticketed. If you parked a boat in front of your house, not attached

to a vehicle, you were ticketed. Our streets were free of RVs. If the

city would enforce what is in place now there would be no reason to

change what we have. The laws are only as good as the enforcement.

The RVs are not only eyesores, they are a danger. My wife and I,

while backing out of our garage, have almost been hit, several times,

due to limited visibility from RVs being parked on the residential

streets.

H. FULLBRIGHT

Huntington Beach

City should lead itself away from new law

Just once I would like to see the city of Huntington Beach in

accord on any one subject. Why the constant bickering?

Take the proposed RV ordinance the police chief is proposing. Why

is his staff writing ordinances? The present ordinance has been in

effect since 1975 and was passed only after the city staff, not the

police department, and a resident committee worked for six months to

enact an ordinance that was amenable to both the RV owners and city

staff.

The City Council in those days acted like elected representatives

of the people and would not accept for consideration any ordinance

their constituents did not want. Why the change of council attitude?

Wouldn’t a sworn officer, in an amateur way, trying to write an

ordinance, be in a better position in the field enforcing our 1975

ordinance that until now has proven effective? Why is it now

unenforceable when it has been successfully enforced for 29 years? Is

it because our police have changed their attitude and believe it is

easier to write ordinances than to give citations in the field? Or do

we have a small group of scofflaws that the police are afraid to

tackle?

In any case I believe our elected representatives should take the

side of their constituents and put our city’s ordinance changes, if

needed, in the right hands -- our city staff members’.

The police chief says enforcing the current ordinance is

difficult. Certainly, all laws are difficult to enforce if not

approached professionally with experienced personnel. Our new police

chief should take action to put our sworn officers in the field, not

behind a desk. Since taking his position he has proven that the

negative attitude of his predecessors were unfounded. We all wish him

well and, I am sure, the majority is gratified by his selection. I

hope he does not let leftover vendettas of the police officers’

association deter him from his initial goals of better communication

with his department and those they are sworn to protect and serve.

As for other influential groups: I wish they would show the same

protective action toward their fellow constituents(who enjoy the

outdoors as much as they and the birds do) as the RV owners. Our city

has not copied the mistakes of our surrounding cities in the past.

Their oppressive ordinances do not deserve emulating. We want our

city to be a leader, not a follower. Eliminating freedoms is not a

trait of a leader.

BOB POLKOW

Huntington Beach

Parking change is about dollars

First, we had a street sweeper program: Sweepers that travel 20

mph and do little to clean the gutters but raise revenue in the form

of parking tickets. Every time an event comes to town, the parking

structures increase their rates to raise revenue, gouging the public

because of limited parking. And now, to get into our pockets again,

they want to create an RV parking fee. The common denominator in all

three: raise revenue.

Really now, 10 complaints a day for RV parking? How many does the

city get for barking dogs, loud parties, motorized scooters and

skateboards? Are they next? We do have the cleanest air, should we

have a fee for that too?

TOM SIMPSON

Huntington Beach

Why did city pay for complex up front?

I just read the front page article “City tries to save part two of

sports complex” (July 29). The article states that the project was

abandoned by contractor Joe O’conner, who has a history of failed

sports projects. (Two named in 1998). Now I have just two questions.

Why would you hire someone one with this track record? and why would

you pay them before the project was complete? The Huntington Beach

taxpayers who paid for this, deserve answers.

ADRIENNE SANDUSKY

Huntington Beach

Bolsa development has strong red light

I am responding the your question on the Dave Brooks story “Fight

Over Bolsa Chica Mesa not over.” I live on Los Patos Avenue, the

street that would be most affected by the proposed development on the

upper Mesa. I have to ask why would the California Coastal Commission

hire, train and pay a professional staff, if members overrule their

recommendations? They clearly state that the proposed development

does not conform with state law. That would provide a strong cause of

action in any lawsuit brought against a decision to go against the

commission staff report.

Hopefully commission members, at the meeting today, will follow

their own staff’s advice and end this issue. Not mentioned in Dave

Brooks article, but very relevant, is the fact that the

Newport-Inglewood earthquake fault runs near the proposed

development. I believe this makes any building in the area dangerous

and unsafe.

Can we put an end to this long-running battle, or do we have to go

back to court and continue to fight this ill-advised scheme to

destroy one of the last remaining open spaces in the area?

RAY SHERRARD

Huntington Beach

Slope talk totally off balance

It has come to my attention that they city of Huntington Beach is

considering excluding the use and development of properties that

include a slope.

I live in Huntington Harbour, off water, and my property has a

slope. On my slope I have stairs, fruit trees, flowers, and a

cantilevered deck. I am absolutely stunned and shocked that the city

could create an ordinance that would remove prospective development

and/or use of my slope. My slope is part of my yard, part of our

property. Not only do we pay for all maintenance on our slope, we

also pay property tax on that part of our land.

If the officials in Huntington Beach actually represent the

people, then that includes me. I own property with a slope. How many

of you officials actually own property with a slope? I am sure if

even one of you do, you would not be in favor of removing your rights

to your own property.

It angers me that city leaders don’t have more important issues to

deal with in our city. It shocks me that they would even consider

this motion. If they represent me, with their own personal motives

removed, they will not pass this slope zoning change.

WENDY SAWYER

Huntington Beach

Review shed light on good movies

I would like to thank Allen MacDonald for his July 22 review of

“Before Sunset,” otherwise, I would not even have known the movie was

out, what with its limited distribution.

I eventually saw it at the Long Beach Art Theater on Fourth and

Cherry. For that matter, I did not even remember the name of the

first movie -- “Before Sunrise,” but after reading the first part of

his review, figured it out from his description.

I saw the first movie about two years ago on Showtime one Saturday

afternoon, quite by accident, when channel surfing. What caught my

interest was the basic concept of the movie -- an American traveling

through Europe.

Having lived in England for seven years, and traveled extensively

through most of Europe, I always found it interesting the way

Americans interact with Europeans and vice versa, since I experienced

this first hand.

What I liked about both movies is the excellent dialogue where

both stars discuss all sorts of philosophies of life set against the

gorgeous, European background, the character Ethan Hawke plays, an

unflappable American that, no matter how much is thrown his way,

remains calm, irreverent and humorous.

As for the latest movie, “Before Sunset,” maybe it is because I am

delving into screenwriting on the side, attending a CBS studios

working group monthly, that I found the format innovative and

interesting -- a real time movie, the 70 minutes of the movie

encompassing 70 minutes of movie time; one sure saw a lot of Paris in

the distance two people could walk in 70 minutes and the characters

sure got caught up with one another after a nine-year hiatus in such

a short period of time.

As for how the movie ends, does boy meet girl? I go to the last

two lines:

CELINE

You’re going to miss your flight.

JESSE

I know.

Thanks again for your review, Allen. Your review of both movies

was spot on.

JIM BEELER

Huntington Beach