MAILBAG - Dec. 1, 2006

Permit parking would help residents

Let the residents of the affected area decide if they want permit parking. With the opening of nearby new businesses, they will be adding more cars to an already bad situation.

If a business employs a substantial number of employees they should have the responsibility to provide safe, designated nonresidential parking for them, even if it means shuttling workers to their cars at night.

The front of our homes and the narrow streets of our quaint cottage neighborhoods are not parking lots.

Residents should not lose their privacy and well-being due to late-night activities caused by evening business patrons and workers.

No nonresidential parking from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. works for us. Bring on the permit parking now!

LYNN AND TOM GILES

Laguna Beach

‘The 12 Days of Beach Trash’

(Sung to the Tune of “The 12 Days of Christmas”)

On the 1st day of Christmas, beachgoers left for me...

A smashed Corona bottle under a palm tree.

On the 2nd day of Christmas, beachgoers left for me...

Two McDonald’s shakes (and a smashed Corona bottle under a palm tree).

On the 3rd day of Christmas, beachgoers left for me...

Three abandoned flip-flops...(repeat verse)

On the 4th day of Christmas, beachgoers left for me...

Four “Smirnoff Wild Grapes”...

On the 5th day of Christmas, beachgoers left for me...

Five pull tab rings...

On the 6th day of Christmas, beachgoers left for me...

Six beer cans laying...

On the 7th day of Christmas, beachgoers left for me...

Seven cigars a swimming...

On the 8th day of Christmas, beachgoers left for me...

Eight kids’ milk cartons...

On the 9th day of Christmas, beachgoers left for me...

Nine ladies’ panties...

On the 10th day of Christmas, beachgoers left for me...

Ten rubber thingies

On the 11th day of Christmas, beachgoers left for me...

Eleven water bottle caps...

On the 12th day of Christmas, beachgoers left for me...

Twelve plastic beach toys...(repeat verse to end).

Admittedly, the author took a bit of poetic license, however, most of the items mentioned were picked up, not in 12 days, but just within a two-hour window on one weekend.

Everyone, please take the time to pick up beach trash and show up again for the next clean-up! Happy holidays to all.

JOANNE SUTCH

Laguna Beach

Newspapers litter his property

If it wasn’t bad enough to have my driveway invaded by two weekly papers, two monthly magazines and numerous not-asked-for fliers, folders, ads for tree service, pizza, phone directories and super once-in-a-lifetime coupon deals, now in addition to all of that, I have delivery of a daily newspaper called the OC Post.

Once I went away for a two-week vacation and, in spite of asking a neighbor to look after things (and who had box of papers and fliers saved up for me), it was still like returning home to a newsstand on my front steps.

A perfect invitation for a would-be burglar.

I asked the city attorney and was told it is freedom of speech. Well, what about my freedom of privacy and safety? Besides the litter and notice to burglars that I am not home, why should my driveway be a depository for someone else’s efforts to make a buck? Seems like their freedom of commercial speech is worth more in Laguna than my right to private privacy.

We have “do not call” lists, so why can’t we have a “do not litter” list? Do I have to post a Do Not Solicit sign?

That would look nice, if even allowed.

KEN DENTON

Laguna Beach