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
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.