What to do in the new year

Happy New Year, Laguna.

And what a year it has been. Let’s start off this year on a positive note and say thanks for the free meter parking that we all enjoyed downtown during the holiday shopping season.

My only thought is, How many of us who live here in town actually shop here in town?

If I do, it is the mom-and-pop stores that I tend to visit, or, more accurately, the locally owned stores.

My worry is that another half-cent tax hike will hurt our locally-run businesses because it is these smaller stores that need the local clientele in order to stay in business -- unlike the deeper pockets of the larger stores that will continue to attract out-of-towners.

My resolution No. 1 for the city: Continue to support your locally owned and run businesses.

Resolution No. 2: Let’s have fewer decorative streetlights and more naked statues.

Resolutions Nos. 3 and 4: Let’s hear less about personal agendas of council members and more about what is good for Laguna and respecting the roots this town was built on.

Resolution No. 5: Can we please slow down the building of new homes in town and start looking for ways to clean up Aliso Creek and find support within our own city and outside?

On a separate but related note, did you know this city lends no support to the quarterly beach cleanups -- monetarily or otherwise-- that are administered through the Clean Water Now coalition?

Let me restate something I said years ago: “What good is the beach if we can’t enjoy the ocean?”

Without our beautiful beaches and clean ocean, Laguna Beach will be no different from anywhere else.

Resolution No 6: Do your part in preserving our town, whether it’s picking up trash, helping a neighbor or saying hello to someone you don’t know. Together we can all lend a helping hand.

I invite all of you to attend our next environmental committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in conference room A at City Hall, as we listen to four respected speakers on the topics of water quality and marine protection.

Let’s make this year the “year of the people and respect for our environment.”

Peace.

* James Pribram is a Laguna Beach native, professional surfer and founder of the Aloha School of Surfing. He can be reached at jamo@alohaschoolofsurfing.com.

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