Nothing ordinary about artist’s eye I was...

Nothing ordinary about artist’s eye

I was barely halfway through the first sentence of the Coastline

Pilot’s Oct. 15 editorial (“Taking the art out of public places”)

when I recognized the timeworn “I may not know that much about art,

but I know my kid could do better” tenor that the following

paragraphs would assume.

It seems that sculptural depictions of a woman shopper and a group

of people engaged in discussion is not discerning enough to qualify

for public art funding as far as the editorial staff is concerned

because this sort of thing happens every day in real life. This sort

of logic would also thus demand that there is no reason for any sort

of art that depicts anything with which we might be familiar.

Art is representation, whether it assumes the guise of the

abstract, the conceptual or the faithful rendering of the real. One

possible aim of an effort to represent the familiar might be to

elicit some degree of contemplation of what is easily taken for

granted -- in other words, encouraging seeing instead of merely

looking.

The editorial asks whether an overabundance of art in public

places would diminish its aesthetic worth and make the experience

“ordinary.” Perhaps this is what is required to transform the

ordinary into the extraordinary.

CLAYTON SPADA

Laguna Beach

Vilification of our public servants

Shouldn’t we be concerned about the level of anger in our

political system these days?

Thanks to those who have chosen to volunteer to do service for our

city and run for office in the past, Laguna Beach is acknowledged to

be one of the best run and financed cities in all of California. But

if you’ve tuned in to the City Council proceedings on Tuesday

evenings on our cable channel 30 or, better yet, attended a meeting

at City Hall, you’d never know how truly fortunate we are.

The case of Councilman Wayne Baglin is a good example of what’s

wrong. After more than 30 years of public service to the city during

which he was awarded and commended for his efforts and was

responsible for many of the amenities and activities that we enjoy as

residents, he was forced to spend tens of thousands of his own

dollars to defend himself against a suit brought against him for

political purposes.

Then, even after the jury and the courts acknowledged his

innocence, these same sorts of people, the ones who apparently have

nothing to do in life but complain, are now trying to tarnish his

exemplary reputation and have joined with others to form a political

action committee to destroy his chances of being elected again.

And Baglin is only one example. Everyone who volunteers works hard

for us all. Shouldn’t we be encouraging and supporting people like

this instead of vilifying them?

MARC WOODWARD

Laguna Beach

Why not take the logical route?

Why is this town so opposed to going with the most logical

choices? Here are two good examples.

Everyone is complaining about their views being blocked by the

fence at Laguna Beach High School. The logical choice is the fence

that can be raised and lowered when not needed.

Skateboard park at the dog park? How many kids’ deaths will it

take before they move it?

The logical choice is at Top of the World Park out on the vast

grassland near the fence. Gee, and I believe there is bus service up

and down the hill as well. Kids will be skating out to the dog park.

JANET KOELLE

Laguna Beach

Council not to blame for mansionization

No one denies that Village Laguna has been a steward to the

environment and was involved in protecting the land surrounding

Laguna Beach.

Village Laguna is now up to their old tricks, accusing the council

majority of supporting mansionization. I assume they are speaking of

Steve Dicterow, Elizabeth Pearson and Cheryl Kinsman. This is a

farce, as Dicterow came to the council in 1998, Kinsman in 2000, and

Pearson in 2002. How can Village Laguna accuse these three council

members of something that started in the late 80s or early 90s when

they were not even on the council.

Village Laguna, as always when election time rolls around, picks

their candidate and goes after a council member who is not in their

favor. Mayor Kinsman is the only member I know of who has opened her

home to anyone for her monthly “Soup” pot luck get-togethers and on

Monday afternoons Kinsman also opens her mayor’s door to anyone who

wishes to talk to her about anything. Kinsman loves Laguna, and for

the last four years, she has worked countless hours for the citizens

of Laguna Beach.

As a past council member, business owner and 60-year resident, I

urge the citizens of Laguna Beach to support Kinsman for four more

years as our council member.

KELLY BOYD

Laguna Beach

Some of what Village Laguna is about

We are sorry that Bill McDonald is still so upset about Village

Laguna (“It’s time to call it like it is,” Coastline Pilot, Oct. 8).

We know in the late 1980s or early 1990s he had problems in

getting his house approved before Design Review Board and the City

Council and attributed much of the difficulty to Village Laguna. I

was not active in Village Laguna at that time, but from what I can

gather from others who were, Village Laguna as an organization did

not participate in this process, though individual members may have.

We would welcome a conversation with McDonald to sort out what

happened at that time and, hopefully, to resolve any ill feelings.

His letter prompts me to clarify Village Laguna’s position on the

proposed move of the Corporation Yard to the Act V peripheral parking

area. Village Laguna is seeking the best possible solutions to our

Downtown traffic and parking problems. We favor capturing visitor

cars at the Act V lot to reduce downtown traffic, a solution I’ve

experienced in small villages in the Cinque Terre region of Italy.

Rather than pouring millions of dollars into moving the

Corporation Yard, we favor using city parking monies for moving ahead

with the award-winning design for the Village Entrance Project. This

project would provide Downtown parking, the Corporation Yard on the

bottom level of the parking structure, rehabilitation of the Laguna

Creek and a Creek Walk Park. These solutions reduce Downtown traffic,

provide parking, and create an entrance of beauty that is worthy of

the village of Laguna Beach.

GINGER OSBORNE

President, Village Laguna

Using tragedy is disgusting politics

I am appalled at the Village Laguna mailing against mansionization

that arrived in my mailbox.

I’m especially disgusted at the homes burning in the background,

including mine. Some people in this town, many of them Village Laguna

members, like to think that we fire victims consider ourselves lucky

-- we built mansions.

My home is 3,001 square feet, far from a mansion, and my old home

was 2,200 square feet and I would give anything to have it back --

the Christmas ornaments my son Chip made for us each year and the

pleasure it was to put them on the tree; the photos of my husband at

the age of 4 with his grandmother, irreplaceable; and my husband,

himself, who died prematurely due to the stress of rebuilding.

How dare Village Laguna take a tragedy and use it for their own

selfish reasons. They were here first so how dare anyone else follow

-- my husband bought in 1962. I’m sure there are other fire victims

who are viewing the picture on this political mailing with tears

running down their cheeks.

MARTHA LYDICK

Laguna Beach

Village Laguna hitting a low

The political action committee Village Laguna, once had

credibility in this town; these hit pieces they’ve been sending the

last couple of weeks is taking them to a new low.

In the first mailer they sent against Mayor Cheryl Kinsman, they

used a house that was re-built after the fire. How dare they use

someone’s misfortune to try to make a point -- an untrue one, at

that.

In another mailer against Kinsman, they said that the Open Space

Fund -- established to help the city preserve and protect

neighborhoods and the environment -- is depleted. I checked with the

city and the Open Space Fund presently has a balance of $557,846.

This is an increase from when Kinsman joined the City Council -- when

the balance was $557,533. To send out a mailer to everyone in town

saying that the City Council majority has depleted the Open Space

Fund is a flat out lie.

It’s too bad Village Laguna has become synonymous with everything

that is negative and bad about politics.

I hope other residents, like me, speak out and vote against

Village Laguna -- both their tactics and their candidates.

ARTHUR CASEBEER

Laguna Beach

Campaign tactic is unscrupulous

Last week I received phone calls on both my home phone lines

asking me not to vote for Wayne Baglin for City Council. Both calls

were in the form of a recorded message wherein the “caller” did not

identify themselves or the organization, if any, they represented.

In talking with other people in Laguna Beach I found that many had

received the same recorded message. From this I assume I was not

specifically targeted by the caller but rather just a small part of a

larger campaign to try and defeat Baglin in the upcoming election.

As a 20-plus year resident of Laguna Beach I am both appalled and

embarrassed by the subversive nature of this campaign. Whether or not

I am a supporter of Baglin is of no consequence. If someone is

unhappy with Baglin they should have the strength of character to

identify themselves and the courage to engage the caller in a

conversation rather than leaving a terse message of no substance. It

is hard for me to understand how anyone could harbor such animus

toward an individual that they would spend the time and resources on

such an endeavor. If they have an issue with Baglin let them confront

him in one of the many candidate forums being held prior to the

election rather than leaving anonymous recorded phone messages.

I think all of the citizens of Laguna Beach should be outraged by

this style of dirty politics. I believe the persons responsible for

the phone calls should immediately identify themselves and then be

willing to air their grievances in a forum that allows Baglin to

respond.

For the record, I have known Baglin for more than 20 years and I

have not always shared his point of view on issues. But one thing I

am certain of, he is a man of highest character who can always be

trusted to be honest and fair in his actions. He is a good man and

does not deserve to be targeted in such an underhanded manner that

does not allow for any discourse.

MICHAEL GOSSELIN

Laguna Beach

We certainly live in sad times when a group that calls itself

Citizens of Good, Honest Government and Civility in Local Politics

has been spreading such vicious lies in a most uncivil manner that it

has surpassed anything Laguna has ever experienced.

Last week the senior vice president and general council, W.

Douglas Kari, of the Arbitech Corp., who launched this new

independent expenditure group, was quoted as saying, “the company no

longer had a grudge against Baglin” and “that he did not recall any

first-hand experience of incivility or dishonesty on the part of

Baglin.” Huh? And “that the company was behaving altruistically in

its effort to unseat Baglin”

Give me a break. This does not pass the smell test. The campaign

being perpetrated against Councilman Wayne Baglin has to be costing

some serious money and it is not believable that Arbitech alone is

behind the effort. Arbitech and Kari must assume we’re all brain dead

in Laguna if he thinks his explanation is the least bit feasible.

However, there could be a reasonable explanation and that is

Arbitech is fronting for someone or something else. Now who or what

could that be?

This is a campaign that has nothing to do with altruism and

everything to do with sleaze. It is a campaign that is so over the

top that it is most likely to backfire.

JOHANNA FELDER

Laguna Beach

Politics as unusual in Laguna Beach

Politics and the use of the ugly smear seems to be getting worse

in Laguna Beach.

Gene Felder knows full well that Kinsman has said over and over

that she was not informed of Bruce Rasner’s flier or his unauthorized

use of her name until well after that election was over. Felder’s

insouciant wish that Kinsman had disavowed the misuse of her name

rings with the same truth as Captain Renault’s “shock” at his

discovery of gambling at Rick’s.

Kinsman’s only “fault” was to have given credit where it was due

to Rasner’s efforts in the organization of the Committee to Save the

Festival, resulting in the city’s accomplishment of that feat --

while Felder was nowhere to be found. In fact, except for the

incessant waving of his mouth, he is never to be found when real work

is needed in the interests of Laguna.

It is a pity that he has managed to put himself into positions of

influence with neighborhood associations with the dissemination of

his garbage. Organizations such as Village Laguna and Top of The

World Neighborhood Assn. should take swift public action to

disassociate themselves from Felder and to remove him from any

offices he might hold and make it clear to the rest of us they do not

approve of the sort of dirty politics Felder is using in his personal

vendetta.

However, Felder’s comments pale in comparison to a campaign that

has just started against Councilman Wayne Baglin, and this one by

outsiders attempting to use their dirty politics not only to corrupt

and influence the Laguna Beach political process, but in a crude

attempt to bludgeon the city into not enforcing their blatant

violations of the zoning code.

It seems an outside company, called Arbitech, has moved into the

former storefront of the liquor store on Thalia Street, and has begun

the conduct of a light industrial business, right in the middle of

our residential/commercial/office neighborhood. Baglin, whose office

is across the street, along with other residents of the neighborhood,

had the temerity to complain about the trucks, pallets, cartons of

merchandise and other problems of Arbitech’s industrial activities.

Arbitech’s response, rather than an attempt to work out problems with

the neighbors, has been to mount a vicious smear campaign against

Baglin, funded with tens of thousands of dollars of Arbitech’s money,

in the apparent belief that it will intimidate him and/or the other

members of City Council.

The basis for the smear is the indictment against Baglin last

year; omitted from the message, however, is any word of the

acquittal. We must stand together as a city to reject the efforts of

these outsiders to come into our city, and try to use a campaign of

slander and innuendo, to influence the electorate, not for the good

of the city, as they pretend, but merely to condone their violations

of the zoning laws and illegal uses of their property that is so

disturbing to the neighborhood they have invaded.

Wherever you stand on the issues, including Baglin’s legal issues

of last year, and whomever of the three candidates you support, it is

important to the integrity of our city to reject the efforts of these

mongers of political slander to infect Laguna Beach. None of us is so

naive that we do not know that is the way of politics in the big city

or county, or state. But we also know that the among the important

reasons we choose to live here is precisely because our way is

different, as much in politics as in land-use planning, and vastly

more important than who is elected to City Council is the principle

that the integrity of our town must be preserved against such

political invasions as strenuously as we defend against the attempts

of developers to invade our coastline and hillsides.

Baglin has worked long, hard and honorably for the city, and

notwithstanding that I often disagree with him, that he frequently

rules against me and my clients, and that he sometimes angers me on a

cosmic level, he still deserves to be evaluated on his merits as a

candidate and council member, and not on the basis of the political

slander by which he is being victimized.

GENE GRATZ

Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach

Arbitech, taking over

The neighbors that live in the vicinity of Arbitech have had

enough.

Arbitech, you ask? What is Arbitech? A lot of residents in Laguna

don’t even know what or who Arbitech is.

Arbitech is the business that took over Reef Liquor located in the

Nolan building on the corner of Glenneyre and Thalia streets. They

claim to be a computer company, but what they really are is a

computer distribution center with more than 40 employees, god knows

how many delivery trucks going in and out and boxes all over the

street and parking lot. All you have to do is hang around for 20

minutes and you can see all the action.

Why the city let a business like Arbitech in I don’t know. Maybe

they told city hall that they were going to use the space for

something else. Who knows? We all know how hard it is to do anything

in this town without the proving that we (business or resident) have

enough parking spaces. All we neighbors know is that there are

employee cars and distribution trucks all over our neighborhood --

blocking our driveways (last week I had to call to get someone to

move their car because I couldn’t get out of my driveway) and trash

and beer cans being thrown in our yards.

The delivery trucks go up and down the streets and block Thalia so

it’s dangerously impossible to see when turning into the

intersection. Enough is enough, but now I hear that, apparently, the

owner (or owners) of Arbitech want to buy the entire Nolan building

to expand their distribution center. What now 100, 200 employees?

Come on guys, I know you wouldn’t want us to turn your neighborhood

(where our kids play) into an employee parking lot. (

Also, I just heard that apparently Councilman Wayne Baglin has

been trying to fight them (or bring this problem to the attention of

City Hall) and now Arbitech has hired a public relations firm to ruin

Baglin in this election. This is when I thought enough was enough. We

have tried to be nice and get along with each other, but when a big

outside company tries to come into our city and take over and tries

to screw with locals, enough is enough. Arbitech needs to be out in

an industrial park in Irvine not in our beautiful town that is

already getting too crowded and already has parking problems.

GWEN GRIERSON

Laguna Beach

Kinsman is off-base about MTV show

Mayor Cheryl Kinsman’s recent comments to a newspaper regarding

the MTV reality show, that a majority of Laguna Beach residents have

opposed, were offensive and out of touch with Laguna’s character.

I am shocked that Kinsman is of the opinion that this shallow,

superficial pseudo-reality will be positive for Laguna Beach.

Even more shocking is her hope that the show will make Laguna more

glamorous, as “90210 did for Beverly Hills.” I find it appalling that

our mayor possesses such a conspicuous lack of understanding for

MTV’s negative influence on kids and society. I am further troubled

by her desire to make Laguna Beach anything like Beverly Hills. If

Kinsman likes the glamour there so much perhaps she should move

there.

She may have high hopes for the value of the numerous properties

she owns around Laguna, but this town wasn’t founded on superficial

notions of glamour or riches. It is a special village with casual,

worldly, kind inhabitants who are generally modest -- regardless of

whether or not they are wealthy.

MICHELLE JAMISON

Laguna Beach

Gene still thinks leaders should go

The Coastline Pilot published letters-to-the-editor very critical

of me regarding whether Mayor Cheryl Kinsman supported Festival of

Arts President Bruce Rasner after he pursued licensing the Pageant of

the Masters. The letters-to-the-editor did acknowledge that I am

absolutely correct in stating that for the Fall 2003 Festival of Arts

board election, then Festival President Bruce Rasner sent out a

mailing to Festival members. Then Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Kinsman and

then Festival of Arts Vice-President John Campbell were listed

prominently under “We Support Bruce Rasner for the Festival of Arts

Board.”

Clearly, this was done as Rasner felt it would be helpful for him

to win another term on the festival board. The letters-to-the-editor

were very long, but did not mention what Kinsman did to inform the

voting festival members or the public that her name was being used

without her permission.

Those of us trying to replace Rasner would have been eager to

disseminate such information to the voting festival members.

Luckily, we did not need either Kinsman or Campbell’s help, Rasner

was defeated after receiving 293 votes of the 1,377 cast.

Kinsman is running for reelection to the Laguna Beach City Council

and John Campbell for the Festival Board. Although they work hard and

certainly are well intentioned, they both should be replaced.

GENE FELDER

Laguna Beach

Defacing signs is un-American

I have heard stories lately of people removing political signs and

stickers from homes and cars. These stories come from both parties.

Sorry to say it is not isolated to the right or left.

How sad it is. No matter where you stand politically, it is your

right to support your candidate with a bumper sticker, sign, or

placard. I respect that right, and feel proud to live in a country

where we have discussions, discourse and differences of opinion. I am

embarrassed for those people that have the audacity to remove or

deface signs. They are un-American.

Let your voice be heard make sure to get out and Vote on Nov. 2.

PEGGY WOLFF

Laguna Beach

Everyone should have open minds

I would like to respond to the letter claiming that the Good News

Clubs in the public school is “bad news.” (Coastline Pilot, Oct. 1)

The author may have legitimate concern when the philosophy of the

Good News Club differs from her own, that is, if she encourages

sheltering her children. But she equates the Supreme Court ruling

about the clubs with slavery, discrimination and even

Japanese-American internment camps. This is a rhetorical punch that

can be made on both sides of the argument. In the polis, the law is

what we go by in civil action. Her attacks in this regard should be

toward her own Supreme Court, not faulting the Good News Clubs.

The author is also concerned about the Good News Clubs

proselytizing young people. But where are the parents in all of this?

If parents don’t want their children in the clubs, then they should

say keep them out. In addition, aren’t parents supposed to be talking

with their children about the things they learn each day? If children

are impressionable to the Good News Club, they are even more

impressionable to their own parents who are supposed to be spending

time with their kids.

My hunch is that the Good News Club sounds much better than

allowing the television to baby-sit our kids in the afternoons which

too often happens. Many parents send their kids to Good News Clubs

because it is one of the few places left in our society where

children can actually receive moral teaching, especially for families

that cannot afford private education. Many parents are grateful for

this, Christian or otherwise.

In addition, the author is concerned that the public school is a

new location to recruit children. But the school has already become

an arena to recruit children in the ideas of an atheistic secularism

in their classroom. Anyone with an amateur understanding in

philosophy would know that it is so. There is no neutral ground; and

let’s not pretend there is. Besides, isn’t it a virtue today to be

open-minded? Why do we want to shelter our children from a wider view

of knowledge?

With the oncoming force of postmodernism and spirituality in our

culture, I think it is healthy for parents to move into the 21st

century and discover that it is good for our children to be exposed

to spiritual things. Our children may actually grow up more adjusted.

Don’t forget, it was Ted Bundy who claimed that he murdered 40 women

because he couldn’t justify the value of human life based on his

secular education.

I think none of us should underestimate the power of ideas. We

cannot avoid them. What we should be doing is allowing our children

to learn to think by exposing them to different ideas and engaging

them with intelligent conversation at home, rather than immersing

them in another group think activities that helps neither American

values nor our children when they one day become Supreme Court

justices.

DALE FINCHER

Laguna Beach

Some views from Top of the World

Last year, I served as vice president and have just recently been

elected president of the Top of the World Neighborhood Assn.

I write this letter to inform residents and ask for support from

all Lagunans. Throughout many years, the association’s board of

directors has been primarily focused on stopping the airport at El

Toro and preserving public views, particularly around the Alta Laguna

Park. Thanks to leadership from association board members Gene

Felder, Tom Falkowski and Todd Thornton, along with many others in

Laguna Beach, we think the airport battle has been won.

We have made progress with the five lots at the north end of Alta

Laguna Boulevard, which of course would decrease public views when

homes are built. We believe that the public view from this location

is an important and unique Laguna Beach public resource deserving the

utmost protection by the city.

The association board has asked for a balance so that public views

would be maintained as much as possible. Board member Gary Schwager

has provided the crucial dedicated leadership. We think the Design

Review Board has done an outstanding job, particularly with the

approval of the newly constructed house at 3345 Alta Laguna Blvd.

This should provide guidance for the other lots.

That house is now a happily lived-in home, and the Design Review

Board has approved reasonable plans for the lot next door at 3335

Alta Laguna Boulevard. The story poles are still up, but the approval

is for a home that is one foot lower. Kevin and Michelle Struss, the

lot owners, currently live in Top of the World, and are very good

neighbors. They obtained their design review approval after just one

concept review and one Design Review Board hearing on their project.

They met with neighbors, Top of the World Neighborhood Assn. board

members and Design Review Board members. We certainly thank them for

working with us as they build a beautiful new large home. Kevin and

Michelle have reasonably preserved public views while showing exactly

how to obtain Design Review Board approval in a most consultative and

speedy manner.

We still have concerns. The association’s board opposed the City

Council action removing three Conditions of Approval (maximum limits

as to building height and width and a required on-site turnaround)

for the lot at 3355 Alta Laguna Boulevard. Clearly this lot protrudes

furthest into the open space and can most adversely impact public

views. We will be asking for all Lagunans support when a new proposal

is submitted to the Design Review Board.

Other issues impacting TOW are:

* Attempting to reduce the number of John Wayne Airport flights

flying over Laguna Beach at less than 7,000 feet;

* Changes to Park Avenue or Third Street which would constrict the

flow of traffic for Top of the World neighbors;

* Fire hazards, excessive dog droppings and unsafe bicycle riding

in the Laguna Greenbelt due to inadequate management of the open

space.

Many Lagunans are often in the Top of the World neighborhood.

After all, we host two of Laguna’s schools, the Alta Laguna Park and

Laguna Heights, the most actively used portion of the open space. You

are most welcome, but please slow down and drive safety.

The 471 acres of Laguna Heights open space surrounding Top of the

World was purchased by the city in 1988, primarily using funds from

California Environmental Bond Proposition 70. Therefore, it is a

municipal and State of California resource. When Lagunans have

visitors from out a town, a must-stop is up to Top of the World and

the 1,000-foot elevation Carolyn Wood Knoll that affords 360-degree

views, including the Pacific Ocean and Saddleback Valley. We don’t

call it Top of the World for nothing.

PIERO WEMYSS

President of the Top of the

World Neighborhood Assn.

Laguna Beach

* NOTE: In order to avoid campaign letters that give candidates no

time to respond, the Coastline Pilot will not run letters concerning

the upcoming election after this issue.

If you would like to submit a letter, write to us at P.O. Box 248,

Laguna Beach, CA 92652; fax us at (949) 494-8979; or send e-mail to

coastlinepilot@latimes.com. Please give your name and include your

hometown and phone number, for verification purposes only.