In the eye of the beholder Last...

In the eye of the beholder

Last week Bonnie Hano accused me of being a “pleasant man” but

felt I was attacking Village Laguna’s actions in the last local

election. Yep, guess I did (sort of) by saying some of the Village

Laguna troops were making attacks on persons as well as issues, and I

maintain that is true enough.

But, sadly, Hano and I suspect other Village Laguna supporters,

apparently blinded by their loyalty to Village Laguna, do not see it

that way. It’s all in the eye of the beholder I guess.

Hano, like her husband Arnold, are wonderful people who are almost

solely dedicated to the causes and ideals of Village Laguna. Maybe

that is why she did not recognize that some of the Village Laguna

supporters’ letters seemed “nasty and/or vindictive” to me, even

though they may not seem that way to them.

Actually, I pretty much agree with everything Bonnie said, and she

comes to about the same conclusions that I said in my letter of weeks

ago. That is, I said, (in different words maybe) pretty much the same

thing she said in her last week’s letter that in elections we should

stick to issues and avoid personal attacks.

However, Bonnie says she refuses to believe that nasty attacks are

the name of the game. I concur that it would be nice, but reality

forces me to acknowledge that “nasty” was common in state and federal

elections as well as our local election. Can it be avoided locally in

future elections? I don’t know, but I hope so. Now hopefully we can

enter the new year and fight over the best way to solve city problems

and issues without involving personalities.

Merry Christmas to all and a very happy and healthy new year.

DAVE CONNELL

Laguna Beach

Village not thrilled with course addition

Village Laguna has serious concerns about the proposal of the

Montage Resort and Spa/Athens Group to lease publicly owned land next

to the Aliso Creek Golf Course from the County of Orange for the

development of an additional nine holes of golf.

Aliso Canyon is one of the last remaining undeveloped coastal

canyons in Southern California and the second-largest system of

coastal canyons in the state. As part of Aliso and Wood Canyons

Wilderness Park, it is a treasured asset of thousands of Orange

County residents. Expansion of the existing golf course into this

area would disrupt sensitive habitat, and such use is specifically

prohibited by the area’s designation as “wilderness park” and by the

provisions of the Natural Communities Conservation Program.

Wilderness is rare and endangered in Southern California. We do not

want to see dedicated parkland developed by private interests.

County staff has spoken of possible public benefits from the

proposal, and we understand that these might include preservation of

hillside open space, trail access and improvements to the water

quality of the creek. We feel that bargaining with public open space

is unacceptable. In any case, the public will have the opportunity to

pursue such benefits when the developers submit their plans for the

area that lies within the city to the normal permit process.

We oppose the proposal to develop this vital, public, open-space

resource and encourage those who share our concerns to write to the

county supervisors and urge them to reject it.

GINGER OSBORNE

President, Village Laguna

Laguna Beach

We’ll have to learn to live with new council

Everyone attending last week’s City Council meeting was again

reminded it’s the best Tuesday night show in town.

I’m wondering how many TV viewers were added to the overflow crowd

at City Hall. Numbers would be very interesting.

Some revealing information about our city servants comes to the

surface when salary issues are shamelessly discussed. Just imagine

our certified public accountant earning only $425 a month. We go from

the disingenuous Cheryl Kinsman to the dis-generous Ken Frank (except

maybe when it comes to Corporate Yard employees).

But fast-forward to the senior center item. We all know how costs

can skyrocket. There’s a saying for this, “When we snooze, we lose.”

And who was asleep at the helm for the Montage fiasco?

With the new peanut gallery lineup, we can expect very different

posturing. Our new mayor, Elizabeth Pearson, appears eager and ready

to rule the roost as an iron-fisted maiden from who knows where?.

Our former mayor Kinsman is seated next to Ken, and the two will

be joined at the hip.

Somebody has to support somebody some of the time.

Councilman Steve Dicterow is the only rooster in the hen house.

The feathers will begin to fly soon enough, and I predict he will

survive.

Toni Iseman never forgets who put her in office, though I sense

her struggling with her conscience. She will stand up to the heat on

an as-needed basis as the fireworks continue.

Now, for the final wild card, Jane Egly. Most of us are wondering

just what is hiding under the covers and, of course, behind those

intense blue eyes? What did she learn from those campaign strolls,

and how will she apply it? Many are waiting anxiously to see what she

will deliver from the torture chamber.

The Planning Commission’s huge agenda items this week on parking

issues bear watching closely. What has been learned these past many

months on this hot-button issue? And more importantly, what will they

do about it?

The Pottery Shack plans are growing by leaps and bounds, like the

parking monster it is.

Tortilla Flats -- Mozambique, seems to have been listening to

direction and done something to move forward.

The Montage parking seems like manna from heaven but in reality is

the hard-won efforts of many voices crying in the wilderness and on

formerly deaf ears.

But these are not the last; they are just the beginning.

Coming attractions are Haster Grove, Pearl Street and more Montage

(big time again).

Not to mention the Design Review Board Task Force recommendations

and the heritage code revisions and neighborhood parking stickers.

We in Laguna now have no choice. We must put our faith in the

faces and hearts of that peanut gallery, and it won’t be long before

we know which path they want to take us.

RIK LAWRENCE

Laguna Beach

* The Coastline Pilot is eager to run your letters. If you would

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