Time to spend the ‘rainy day’ funds...

Time to spend the ‘rainy day’ funds

The city is in a pickle. Last June’s calamity in Bluebird Canyon

will cost millions. The Federals have declined financial aid. We’re

on our own. Mayor Pearson-Schneider is accurate in her assertion that

taxpayers get good value for their tax dollars. The quality of

municipal services are excellent. We wouldn’t want to sacrifice any

of that.

We are told we have only two choices; increase taxes or reduce

services. There is, however, a third option that [City Manager] Ken

Frank and the City Council would rather we citizens be ignorant of.

We can draw the funds for emergency infrastructure repair from the

tens of millions of previously taxed dollars unspent in previous

years.

These invested funds are reported in the CAFR -- Comprehensive

Annual Financial Report. This report is available at City Hall. These

funds belong to the citizen taxpayers of Laguna Beach, not the

oligarchs. These funds represent a “rainy day” fund for precisely

this kind of disaster. Taxes may not be increased without citizen

approval, insist on full disclosure of invested assets the City holds

for us and select the third option. Don’t take the money from the

checking account, this is a savings account problem.

MATT SMITH

Laguna Beach

Pottery Shack will still lack parking

How many more times does it need to be said??

The Pottery Shack needs more parking than the 43 spaces already

approved. Everyone knows that. Everyone agrees. We’ve been preaching

and pleading that for well over a year.

And now that the $$$ signs are written all over the “EXTRA” spaces

if the 81are approved, the owner will be laughing all the way to the

bank. Just look at Haster Groves’ income from 15 spaces it has rented

to Surf and Sand as an example.

The Brooks Street building is already doomed! It’s too late in the

game to try and save it. As Norm Grossman said at the recent Planning

Commission hearing, he believes the Heritage Committee has sold out

the people of Laguna on this one. And I will remind you that

“hindsight” is often the best teacher.

According to my meager knowledge of the System it is supposed to

be expressly FORBIDDEN to consider economics when approving any plan.

I hear this stated at many City Hall meetings. And just as often I

still hear the pleadings and then see the considerations.

Toni Iseman could chain herself to the sycamore tree. Cheryl

Kinsman could “go after” Morris with a chain saw (or whatever else

she meant) when the Old Pottery Shack as we knew it is finished and

is unrecognizable.

But guess what, folks? We could have a few more parking spaces in

this South Village part of town. And pretty soon most people will

have forgotten.

As Carolyn Wood says: “If we had to Save the Canyon today it

wouldn’t happen.”

Nor, as I say, can we save the Brooks Street building.

RIK LAWRENCE

Laguna Beach

Seek an alternative to selling scout site

It was such a shock to find out that at the September 6 City

Council meeting, the Laguna Beach City Council will discuss the

possible sale of the two City-owned lots where the Laguna Beach Girl

Scout House is located to fund other city projects. The Girl Scout

Council of Orange County was graciously given that old house as a

tribute to all Girl Scouts here, and for the sole purpose of

promoting Girl Scouting for the future. Selling out the Girl Scout

House is a tough decision to tackle, let alone think about. I urge

the Council to extend the timing of this decision to allow Girl

Scouts and the City to work together on this issue.

Understandably there are many financial needs in Laguna Beach: the

Bluebird Canyon mudslides, constructing the Village Entrance, moving

the ACT V lot, and more. While the sale of the lots, leased to Girl

Scouts for very little, would bring in needed money, it would

devastate Girl Scouting locally.

Could Girl Scouts of Orange County consider purchasing the land

outright now? By September or October 2005? While famous for our

cookie sales, there’s something else to be aware of: Girl Scouts are

not allowed any other fundraising outside of cookie sales, and a much

smaller fall product sale of consumable treats. The emphasis of

scouting is to contribute, build bridges and make the world a better

place. Cookie sales is to keep Girl Scouting affordable and to

include every girl, regardless of ability to pay.

I appeal to our City Council to extend the timing of this decision

to allow for so many of us involved in scouting to partner with the

city to come up with other options. An extension would also allow the

Orange County Girl Scout Council to offer other options, as well.

Girls Scouts are involved in many community service projects,

contribute to our neighborhoods and enhance our quality of life, let

alone work toward being strong women leaders for the future.

Girl Scouting has a tradition of collaborating with others to make

a difference, and I am writing to urge those concerned to voice any

views, as well. This decision is a tough one to wrestle with, but

given the dedication and passion for scouting that many of us share,

I am confident that postponing this decision will only help our City

Council make a more comprehensive move.

LAURA W. WELLSFRY

Laguna Beach

Day labor supporters aren’t being honest

Whoa! Instead of stating facts, some people are making up

fantasies in their letters to the Coastline Pilot. An example is Gene

Cooper. In his recent letter he states that, when George Riviere and

Eileen Garcia speak against the Day Labor site, it is blatantly

untrue that their protest is about the city using community

assistance money to fund a project that does not directly benefit

Laguna residents. But there is no evidence at all that Riviere and

Garcia have any motive beside what they say. Mr. Cooper doesn’t have

to agree with them, but there is no justification for his calling

them liars.

When Mr. Cooper says “If the issue of legality is truly what this

whole thing is all about,” he is lying when he says “no sane person

believes this.” I am a sane person, and I believe it -- so I then

agree with him “send the lawbreakers back home.” It is not at all

clear why Mr. Cooper would claim that opposition to illegal

immigration exposes not-so-hidden racism and true racist feelings.

Did it ever occur to him that some people might be guided by

principle?

My parents brought me up to obey the law. All the way through

school, my teachers stressed the importance of respect for law and

order. They said we were lucky to live in a country where we were

governed by laws, not by the whims of despotic rulers. In my high

school civics class, the teacher raised the question of what to do

about laws we did not like. He taught us that the right answer is not

to break such laws, but rather to communicate our concerns to our

city council member, legislator, or congressperson. And if that

didn’t produce the desired result, then run for office and really

work toward bringing about change.

Now let me apply that principle to the Laguna Beach issue: the Day

Labor center. Because I believe so strongly in following the law,

there is no way I can condone the actions of people who come into

this country illegally. Nor can I condone those who aid and abet

illegal aliens. In the company I founded, we hired many immigrants,

from Laos, Mexico, Yugoslavia, England, and many more. But we took

care to make sure they were here legally. We thought, and I still

think, it is against the law to hire anyone who is in the United

States illegally. In consequence, I have great admiration for those

people, both nationally and locally, who are attempting to get our

governments to uphold the law and discourage the hiring of illegal

aliens.

It is rare when a person writes to a newspaper admitting he is

breaking the law. But that is what Wayne Peterson does in his letter.

I wonder how many of the employers pay in cash. Do they make

withholdings for income tax and social security, as required? If not,

it is unfair to all of us who do pay our taxes. Why should those who

don’t play by the rules take advantage of the rest us who do? It

would be highly desirable for those who operate the day labor center

to require proof from the employers that they are following the laws

that govern labor -- just as all legitimate employers do. Lastly, Mr.

Peterson cites a court decision that every person has a right to

solicit work. What he doesn’t say is that this decision applies to

legal citizens soliciting work, not those in this country illegally.

Notice that my view includes all who are acting illegally,

employers and workers alike. With that view, I suppose some would say

I’m prejudiced and call me a bigot. Yes, I am prejudiced -- against

those who don’t play by the rules. As far as labels, I rather prefer

that of law-abiding citizen.

BILL RIHN

Laguna Beach