Election, or action?

We find ourselves in a reelection year for three seats on City Council and this means ? nothing really, as for the most part we have the same people running again.

I mean what’s new about this town? Not the powers that run our town. Sure it is stated that Laguna Beach is one of the hippest towns round with bigger and flashier new homes. We have MTV. The Montage. Mozambique.

And we still have Aliso Creek ? 17 miles of polluted creek that discharges 3 to 5 million gallons of urban runoff into our ocean every day. Not even the skimboarders seem to care, even though they compete in a contest there every year with no concern of just how polluted that beach has become.

So why will another member who has already sat on City Council care?

Can you say “platform”? Perhaps a better word is “reelection.”

What about our Marine Protection Officer? It has been months since he resigned. The money already budgeted. Maybe it comes down to priorities.

Again, how long are you actually going to keep our lifeguards hidden away in the north corner of Main Beach ? over a stinky sewer pump?

With the federal government now coming in to relieve costs of the Bluebird slide area and a half-cent raise in tax, isn’t it time that one of these people seeking reelection at the very least recognize this inadequacy in guarding and protecting our beaches?

After all, our beaches are our main attraction, are they not?

Can you say “Mar Vista project?” 17,000 square feet.

Some 22,000-square-feet of dirt removed from the hillside. That 17,000 square feet does not even include the garage, which is another 4,700 square feet. In the good old days that garage alone would have been a big home here.

When people moved to Laguna Beach it was for its culture and its friendly neighborhood environment.

As one person said to me, “People aren’t buying bigger lots, they are buying more lots.”

Perhaps it is time we set some mansionization guidelines?

Or one may also use this as a reelection platform?

Ask yourself at this current pace, what will Laguna Beach look like in five years?

The bottom line is how can our City Council claim that they have done such a fantastic job when our town is still plagued with the same public-safety concerns? A polluted creek that ranks in the top five in the nation? Do I even dare mention traffic and parking concerns?The good news is that there is an Adopt-A-Beach cleanup which is administered by the Clean Water Now! Coalition this Saturday in Laguna Beach beginning at 8 a.m., so please do your part in keeping our beaches clean.

Peace.