MAILBAG - Jan. 25, 2007

Main Steet trial closure a waste of money

Your editorial (“Embrace change for downtown,” Jan. 18-24) is correct in identifying some merchants’ fear of change as the problem. This alleged trial will tell us almost nothing. A meaningful trial was sabotaged by the leadership of the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID). The city council caved to them as usual.

This alleged trial closure is a joke and a waste of $238,000 in taxpayer dollars. It is the district’s plan instead of a true trial. That’s why I voted against it. The closure on five large special event weekends will tell us nothing about increasing business because large crowds will be there anyway. The 12 Tuesday night closures are just a waste of taxpayer money. People want to enjoy outdoor dining in the daytime, not on cold nights. On the City Council trip to Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade, we were told that outdoor dining was key to their tremendous success.

I feel that the editorial staff’s pledge to withdraw support if this “experiment’” fails is a mistake. The improvement district’s leadership has designed this plan to fail. This plan isn’t a trial; it’s a sham.

As I said at the time of the vote, people will flock to the more appealing Pacific City and Strand projects when they develop. Main Street will sink further into its “booze and cruise” abyss. At some point, these improvement district leaders will beg the City Council to make Main Street a pedestrian mall. My guess is that a new council satisfied with the success of Pacific City and the Strand will respond, “Sorry, you’ll have to struggle along as best you can.”

Dave Sullivan

Huntington Beach

State needs a real Republican

Now that we know how to recall a governor, let’s get rid of the current Democratic wannabe, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and replace him with a real Republican, Tom McClintock.

Rod Kunishige, Huntington Beach

A helping of humor also feeds the soul

When I read “Soul Food,” I usually have mixed feelings. On the one hand, some of the articles are literate and inform- ative. Too often, however, there is an undercurrent of a sancti- monious, self-righteous attitude.

The latest column (“ ‘Borat’ is a tasteless, depressing and disturbing comedy at best,” Jan. 18-24) reflects the latter. After all, this is an R-rated movie, not to be confused with one of her “words to live by” articles.

I, too, was a bit uncomfortable with the scatological content and the nudity scene. But the rest was a hilarious unmasking of American society’s pervasive bigotry, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, etc. I wonder if Borat’s scene involving a fundamentalist revival meeting was a particular source of aggravation for Ms. Marr.

I would love to see the Independent’s editorials become more thought-provoking and reflective of issues that generate debate (unlike the DUI arrests and police files, which can only appeal to the voyeuristic and law-and-order crazies).

Javier Regalado, Huntington Beach

Poseidon water hard to swallow

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Tim Geddes for his insightful and factual letter regarding the Poseidon misadventure (“Poseidon supporters need all the facts,” Jan. 11-18).

I would also like to commend Drew Kovacs for his comments (“Desalinization plant doesn’t belong here,” Jan. 18-24). Mr. Kovacs pointed out the water from Poseidon (if they can afford it) will be used by cities further south of Huntington Beach such as Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and maybe as far south as San Clemente, so the logical site for Poseidon is the San Onofre power station. This site is not in a built up or tourist area.

Neither Mr. Geddes nor Mr. Kovacs mentioned in their letters the cost of a gallon of Poseidon water versus water we draw from local aquifers. This information has never been addressed by Poseidon or even Huntington Beach City Council. I attended all the City Council meetings, and the only thing discussed was the amount of money everyone was going to make if the project goes ahead.

As for Mr. Polkow’s letter (“Poseidon article recalls WWII event,” Jan. 18-24), I suggest his 200-word diatribe could have been whittled down to his last word: “Nuts.” It would have saved space for other letter writers.

I conclude by saying I am absolutely and unequivocally against any private corporation owning water. We have oil cartels, need I say more? The air we breathe and the water we use are basic human rights — do not take these rights away by privatizing water.

Mike Shrubsole, Huntington Beach