City not handling the graffiti problem well...

City not handling the graffiti problem well

I am writing to express my frustration with the lack of response

from the city of Huntington Beach to the increasing problem of gang

graffiti.

I have repeatedly reported graffiti to the city’s hotline, but the

graffiti does not get removed. After calling the hotline regarding

the same graffiti for three weeks in a row, the city employee

informed me of the following:

1) The city only has one person working graffiti removal for the

entire city.

2) This person only works one day per week

3) The city cannot afford any paint, so the city is using donated

recycled paint which only comes in two colors and does not match the

surfaces they are painting. This explains all of the Beige paint on

Green utility boxes in our city.

During the three-week period I have being trying to get the city

to respond to graffiti in my neighborhood, other gangs have tagged

the original graffiti, increasing the resources ultimately required

to remove the graffiti.

On Oct. 11, I spoke with Councilwoman Debbie Cook about the

situation in general and specifically about the graffiti on Graham

Street and Slater Avenue. As of Oct. 16, that graffiti is still

there, and more gang graffiti has emerged on it and nearby.

What message does the city’s lack of response send to the gangs

who roam our streets?

What does the city’s lack of response say about our leaders’

commitment to our streets being safe and free of crime?

I am asking our city’s leaders to reevaluate how resources are

expended in the city and shift resources to the increasing problem of

gang graffiti within the city of Huntington Beach.

DAVID CLEWETT

Huntington Beach

Surf City is full of Democrats

Wake up and eyeball the precinct lists. The majority of Huntington

Beach is Democrats. Reporter Dave Brooks’ “Surf City, a genuine

Republican stronghold” on Oct. 14 should have appeared on the

editorial page as an endorsement by the Independent and not as front

page news. The Vote for Brandt and Kerry-Edwards signs are all over

Huntington Beach.

PHILLIP GOOD

Huntington Beach

Let’s discuss ways to make city better

I’m not sure if I agree with Bob Polkow’s conclusion (“Newspaper

slanting down swampy path,” Sounding Off, Oct. 7), but he brings up a

good point. Has our city leadership been preoccupied with Bolsa Chica

and taken their eye of other important balls?

I’m all in favor of turning the abandoned oil fields into a real

nature preserve, but I would also prefer that someone have a vision

for improving the livability of the city for all residents and

maximizing home values. I would like to see Huntington Beach become

“all it can be” -- prosperous, modern, safe, inviting. That requires

some sort of vision, a plan, and a great deal of attention. The

backbone of the city, Beach Boulevard, has a Stanton-esque look in

many places with cheap liquor stores and newly empty business places.

In past months, both Coco’s Restaurant and 31 Flavors closed their

doors near Garfield Avenue, following Ralphs market a few years ago.

It’s amazing that in a big and wealthy beach city, the best choice

for going out to dinner or shopping are to leave town.

I would also like to see Huntington Beach be a “greener” city.

Those interested in the Bolsa Chica environment might also be

interested in the air quality and traffic volume closer to home. With

oil reaching record highs and no signs of going down, it might be

time to consider making Huntington Beach a more bike friendly city so

bicycling commuting can be made safe and convenient.

Now, trying to taking Adams Boulevard to Costa Mesa is a

life-endangering experience. I would like to see bike corridors with

concrete curbs to protect cyclists if not dedicated bike paths so one

could go North to South or East to West via bike.

The sports complex is a nice idea in general, but why was it made

so grossly grandiose? Eight fields with two teams each means we have

144 players who must play at the same moment -- a level of enthusiasm

that would warrant a change from Surf City to Softball City since

there is never more than a few dozen surfers at a time.

Regarding the $1 million loss, is someone going after the

scoundrel? I bet if I didn’t pay my water bill the city would not

just write it off. Was it impossible to find a California contractor

to do the job, if not a an Orange County contractor?

Surely a local government must understand the value of supporting

local businesses and recycling our money back into the local economy.

And what kind of excuse is it that the city paid out a million

dollars because it was a time of confusion?

Confused employees should be replaced with alert and responsible

employees. And how many years is it going to take to finish this

project? And what happened to our tax rebates for the city’s over

taxation on homeowners?

I filled out the form but never heard back from them, meanwhile

they have raised other fees that more than compensate. Perhaps there

are many aspects to these things I am unaware of, but it seems that

there are many things the city leadership could be looking into to

make Huntington Beach a better city to live in, and a better city in

the future. I appreciate that the Independent allows for discussion

on these issues.

GREG MOORE

Huntington Beach

Campaign signs are getting out of control

The campaign signs posted around the city of Huntington Beach are

out of control! I very much agree with Marie Flynn’s comments

(“Political signs need a toning down,” Mailbag, Oct. 14) and just to

be fair, I don’t believe the situation is limited to just Norm

Westwell’s signs. Some of the other candidates are posting up to

eight to 10 signs in one intersection also making unnecessary clutter

too! Westwell’s just seem to be placed in the more inappropriate

locations.

If the candidates cannot have the respect and consideration

(especially in residential areas) to citizens when they post those

signs, then the city must step in and invent an ordinance to control

it. Maybe limit the posting to only business districts and only one

on each corner per candidate, in residential areas only allow on

private property such as on a (supporting) citizen’s own lawn or

front window, post no earlier than 30 days until the voting date and

must be cleaned up no later than 72 hours after, and lastly, make it

a misdemeanor so the threat of a fine and/or imprisonment can be

attached.

I realize the candidates need their freedom to express and spread

their individual campaigns, but with some type of restriction(s)

implemented they might resort to other forms of media such as:

newspapers, magazines, local TV, the Voter Information Pamphlet

and/or even go door to door.

It’s not that hard and it would probably get more people involved

in the process rather than a bunch of upset residents.

JASON SMITH

Huntington Beach

Few shouldn’t be able to ruin park for all

It is a case of a few ruining it for the many in regards to the

article, “The kids aren’t all right,” Oct. 7. This park offers a

unique sunset view that cannot be found anywhere else in the city.

The city must maintain the park’s availability to everyone. While I

am sympathetic to the concerns of the adjacent homeowners , they

should not receive any special consideration that restricts the

public’s enjoyment of the sunset.

A closing time of one hour after sunset should be suitable to

allow the public’s enjoyment of the sunset and allow the adjacent

homeowners adequate privacy.

What the park really needs is improved landscaping. With improved

landscaping, more people will visit the park and those current

attendees will not be left with enough privacy to engage in hanky

panky.

CHRISTOPHER SMITH

Huntington Beach