Sewer assessment not flush with interest

The tremendous turnout last Saturday at City Hall for the workshop

for equitable consideration for special sewer assessment, was

pathetic due to a grand total of five people (including myself) who

could be bothered to show up.

Unbelievable that only five people in the entire town were

concerned about lowering their annual tax assessment.

The discrepancy being: a 15,000-sqaure-foot estate with seven

bathrooms and a guest house with two bathrooms on the ocean is being

assessed the same as a 600-square-foot one bedroom, two-bath shack

out in the canyon.

Also, the fact that a large percentage of this special assessment

is going to be used to replace old with new pumping stations and

generators for the exclusive use of the privileged few living on the

ocean. This divine entitlement belief system is not shared by me.

The homes using the pump stations and generators (below Pacific

Coast Highway sewer main elevation) should be specifically assessed

and only paid for by those who use them (or in most cases -- the

family heirloom trust).

I wish this article was of a more interesting and lofty subject

matter, but it is not. This apathetic lack of concern is a sad

commentary on Americans regarding taking charge and making change: on

a local municipal level, but also it is apparent on a national

political stance.

We are blessed living in a Democracy with freedoms shared by all.

“I believe one person’s poverty is not caused by another person’s

wealth.” -- John Howard, Jan. 2, 2004

I agree with John, with the exception of:

1) Outsourcing jobs;

2) Living trust set up by granny to protect granny (from runaway

real estate prices equals property tax). But granny has been dead for

35 years. Now who is benefiting is some lackluster, underemployed

Republican offspring who has obviously used up all the possibilities

inherent to youth;

3) and, of course, this stupid sewer issue.

The complacency of the fluff bubble we have all grown to love

called Laguna Beach is accompanied by the shallow ennui of

make-believe, self-imposed serious problems: for instance, which pair

of shoes goes best with this outfit, or the edgy dilemma of, “Should

I drive the BMW today, or might it be the Hummer with the lighted

spinning hubcaps shouting out “Look at me -- look at me -- I’m very

important.” (Size does matter.)

Well, I’m looking at you and you can’t stand yourself. That’s why

Prozac is a big seller.

This is not a dress rehearsal! Get involved.

Christopher N. Nelson

Laguna Beach