Vigil honored those who have fallen I...

Vigil honored those who have fallen

I was one of the people who gathered for a vigil in honor of those

who have paid the ultimate price of war. People came from as far away

as Downey to express their sorrow and pay homage to those who have

been killed. As the group grew from about 30 to well over 80,

passersby would ask if this was a protest. One, a U.S. Marine,

related that he had lost several buddies in Fallujah, and another of

his friends was going there in a few days. When he found out that

this was a memorial vigil for the fallen, he expressed thanks for the

support that was being given. Others had various remarks from “go

Bush” to “God bless you,” and others joined in the vigil. No matter

what your political affiliation, to let the 1,000 plus deaths go

un-noted is a shame.

It is such a pity that the president has not found time to

initiate a similar type vigil and personally express his regret for

the dead. Department of Defense head Don Rumsfeld’s remark that the

loss of 1,000 is relatively small seems to be very callous. But then,

Rumsfeld has never been in the military nor have any of his children.

TOM HAMMAN

Huntington Beach

Complex shows city’s incompetence

It has become very clear that the city has little or no control

over it’s own bidding and spending process. How about an Economic

Czar? This person would not be controlled by the council or the city

staff, his or her job would be to insure that all projects are bid

competitively and proper funds disbursed. Let the council manage

ideas, let a professional pay for them.

As for the complex as it sits, finish it only when funds have been

returned to the coffers and do not raise any fees or taxes to cover

the mistake.

MIKE HOSKINSON

Huntington Beach

Sports complex a money-wasting fiasco

This project was originally intended as a sports complex for the

youth of the city. Through unconscionable lack of intelligent

oversight by the City Council the project has turned into a complete

fiscal and physical disaster. The management of the project is an

embarrassment to the city. To top it all off the sports complex is no

longer is for the kids.

What should the city do? Tear the whole thing down and hire a

developer to put revenue-producing condos on it. I don’t really care

if the adults have a place to play baseball and soccer at taxpayer

expense.

RICHARD A. SHIELDS

Huntington Beach

Don’t spend more taxpayer money

If the city doesn’t have the money to complete the sports complex,

it should be left unfinished. It is the incompetence of the City

Council that caused the problem by paying upfront to a contractor,

not properly checking out the contractor and biting off more than

they could chew.

The taxpayers have already spoken and no tax money should be used

to complete the project. Possibly a user fee has to be imposed, sad

as that is. It’s our kids who suffer for this irresponsibility by the

City Council.

CHLOE POLLOCK MIECZKOWSKI

Huntington Beach

Paper shouldn’t divulge star’s street

Had Dennis Rodman wanted the entire world to know precisely where

he moved, he could have announced this himself through full-page

magazine or newspaper ads. Or, even a radio or TV interview.

What the Independent did smacks of sleaze. Malicious invasion of

privacy. Gutter journalism from what is supposed to be a semblance of

a newspaper. Rodman is a family man desiring privacy for his small

children and wished to be respectful of his neighbors.

He reportedly leased the home through an intermediary to duck

publicity. But because of your nefarious tactics, Rodman’s solitude

and the quiet neighborhood may never be the same. Dennis, please

don’t judge the neighborhood by this newspaper’s actions.

Your newspaper owes Rodman and his family a sincere apology.

And I hope the person responsible for the asinine article learns a

lesson from this.

CON BLISS

Huntington Beach

Helicopters hover for no good reason

As I read, mouth agape, Stan Arakaki’s (“Support the police and

quit whining,” Mailbag Sept. 9) vitriolic diatribe I couldn’t help

but think how sophomoric it was.

Worse than the “put a pillow over your head” adolescent statement

made by some woman weeks prior.

Stan, I don’t know what “vast majority” you represent but,

literally everyone I talk to thinks one copter is more than adequate.

As I work out of my home office in south Huntington Beach (south

of Atlanta) I hear them every day.

Several times a day.

Guess what?

Well over 90% of the time I go to check what is going on, they are

hovering over a minor traffic citation.

I am awakened several times a month to their hovering over two

cruisers that are administering field sobriety checks.

This after the driver has been pulled over.

It seems they are out there hovering around all day, for what?

Great use of our taxpaying dollars.

I guarantee if this was on the ballot, your vast majority would

end up being a voiceless minority.

JIM RATLIFF

Huntington Beach

Lessons learned from Houchen controversy

If there are lessons to be learned in the downfall of Pam Julien

Houchen, the very first one is that no one is above the law.

Regardless of what can be proved in court, the perception of

misconduct by Houchen was inescapable from all of the news stories

(which is all most of us have to go on right now.)

A second lesson is that position and powerful friends can’t shield

you forever. The second-term council member and former mayor had

built a formidable base of support in the business sector and in the

public safety community.

However, once the investigations got out of bounds, her friends

couldn’t save her.

A third lesson is that you should expect to be treated as you

treat others. Houchen’s perceived arrogance in either throwing her

political weight around or in getting her way certainly rubbed a lot

of people the wrong way. It’s no wonder few are crying for her now.

Much the same lessons should have been learned with the Dave

Garofalo scandal, but weren’t. As long as the greed is good

philosophy espoused so well in the 1987 film classic “Wall Street” is

tolerated in our leaders, and they continue to mix business with

politics, there will be the prospect of ethical lapses in the future.

TIM GEDDES

Huntington Beach

First come, first served for parade

I believe that the practice of staking out areas for viewing the

parade should be abolished. I have lived in Huntington Beach for four

years, and I love it here. However, when I was first here, I went to

the Fourth of July parade just a few weeks after I moved in back in

2000. I live right near Main Street, so I just walked over. Of

course, there was no place I could even squeeze in without violating

someone’s staked-out spot, so I just stood back behind the sidewalk.

There was an elderly couple sitting in lawn chairs in someone else’s

staked out area right next to me. A much younger man (30, maybe) told

them they had to leave, that this was “his” area. When they refused

to do so, he escalated, and ended up ranting and raving at them,

being extraordinarily rude and obnoxious. There was plenty of room

for him and his family, but he obviously felt like he owned this

section of the sidewalk.

This was a very unpleasant experience, and I have not been back to

see the parade since. Being a newcomer to town, I felt very excluded

by the fact that there was no place for me to stand, because every

spot along the route had been reserved already.

In addition, when I walk on Main Street even now, in September,

there are remnants of tape and writing on the sidewalks -- not

attractive.

I believe the public sidewalks should be just that -- public.

Places to stand and watch the parade should be first come, first

served, as they are in other towns I have lived in where they have

parades (Santa Clarita, Mission Viejo).

BONNIE KAMPMEYER

Huntington Beach