MAILBAG - July 20, 2007

Caltrans site is a public nuisance

As a 36-year Laguna Beach builder, I frequently drive the lower portion of the canyon for supplies and other construction-related businesses.

Then, too, as a long-term resident and commuter, I’ve noted like many others the erratic traffic patterns created by this zone.

Constricting gridlock is common when leaving town. Most veteran drivers coming into town anticipate the opening up, the one lane-to-two lane dynamic, and start hitting their accelerator pedals. In other words, it is a chaotic and distracting spot for newbies and locals alike.

Cars and loaded trucks crossing the Canyon Road and driving toward the beach from any activity in this vicinity is the vehicular equivalent of running a life-threatening gauntlet, for both the merging cars and the existent traveling ones.

Repeatedly, I see the workers running across the road, literally risking their lives as well as creating potentially catastrophic crash conditions. As tourism intensifies year round, they only exacerbate the confusion.

The placement of any commercial enterprise on the westerly, relatively nondeveloped side should be forbidden.

No development should be allowed, the city should outright deny any applications for such endeavors to avoid exposure and defend it as unbuildable, permanent open space.

Regardless of who purchases and/or leases the present-day laborer site, I’m wondering about negligent liability. As a known hazardous, unsafe condition, who carries the insurance, who indemnifies this site now and who is presently paying the premium or will pay for it in the future?

As it attracts or draws pedestrians without a traffic signal, it is a dangerous yet avoidable public nuisance. As it fulfills several parameters or legal definitions for negligence (culpable, contributory, et al) if a calamity occurs, it is a major lawsuit waiting to happen.

Some attorney will certainly file for millions regardless of the injured party’s residency status. Does the present tenant or current landlord (Laguna or Caltrans) have such a policy to provide 100% shelter?

Will the city or Caltrans demand such “hold harmless” insurance or bond of a future property owner? Would taxpayer funds be used to defend the city or State of California if litigation occurs during the interim?

If we’re on the hook due to our support of the current managers or green-lighting future owner occupancy, then these liability exposures should be openly addressed and resolved at a City Council meeting. Pronto!

ROGER E. BUTOW

Laguna Beach

Keep pets away from coyotes in Laguna

A fully grown coyote was spotted by my neighbor July 17 at 3 a.m. in the Hare Krishna garden at the corner of Ramona Avenue and Legion Street.

Please, pet owners, keep your beloved pets in at night or you could risk losing them.

The coyotes are everywhere in Laguna. They can travel fast and be on one street and then another in a matter of seconds, seeking your pets. So don’t think for a moment they won’t be visiting your neighborhood.

ELAINE WRIGHT

Laguna Beach

Traffic monitored more than once

I read, in the July 6 issue of the Coastline Pilot, Barbara Diamond’s article on the settlement of the lawsuit against the city filed by me.

This is just to clarify that the settlement was not for only a one-time monitoring of the traffic levels three months after the community center opened, but rather for traffic levels to be monitored “beginning after the project has been opened for a period of three months.”

Obviously, a one-time monitoring event and monitoring for only three months would not be effective to truly monitor additional traffic levels.

MARK O’CONNOR

Laguna Beach

City is helping lawbreakers

You have asked the question, “Should the day labor site be sold for development?” My answer is YES! We don’t need a taxpayer-funded place for workers to find jobs. The plain and simple truth is that this day labor site is used by illegal aliens and law-breaking employers who want to cheat on their taxes.

I don’t want to see another taxpayer dime spent to help illegals and lawbreakers cheat the IRS! U.S. citizens looking for work don’t need this place either. They can go to Manpower to find work. Supporting illegal immigration hurts everyone “” citizens and illegal aliens alike. Laguna Beach should stop being a part of the problem. I say sell the land!

LISA SCHOENEBERGER

Lake Forest

Labor site hurts other communities

Re: “Should the day labor site be sold for development?”

Definitely. First of all, the taxpayers of Laguna Beach should never be funding a site that encourages breaking the federal immigration laws. Technically, the people hiring these illegal entrants to the country can be fined just for picking them up. ICE raids are possible.

When talking to the residents here, they do not want the day labor site because they believe it encourages more illegal immigration “” something we are all sick of.

Furthermore, the illegal immigrants cannot afford to live in Laguna Beach, so they go to Lake Forest and cause several problems in town: loitering on public property, graffiti, chain migration of poor family members and a decrease in property values because of culture clash, unclean living conditions, petty theft, vandalism and several other crimes that range from drunkenness in public, drug trafficking and prowling.

The standard of living here is in the toilet! It’s almost as ugly and dangerous as living in Santa Ana. Housing prices have taken a nose dive “” no one wants to live in Tijuana HERE.

All day labor sites should be prohibited from functioning because they all cause the same problems for the surrounding neighborhoods.

It’s not the poor I’m worried about. It’s about raising my family in a decent neighborhood, free of crime and the impoverished malcontent; free of drugs and graffiti and gangs, free of the headaches and ugliness the immigrants bring with them.

I want my house to be worth more than it was when I bought it! Feeding the poor is not my problem “” it’s the problem of the Mexican government. And Mexico is where the day laborers need to go back to. Not my problem.

TRACEY STAHL

Lake Forest

Day labor site fosters illegal activities

Should the day labor site be sold for development? Yes. The city has no business supporting illegal activity.

They tried to do right, but they did it all wrong.

Then, when the critics and advisors came forward, the city ignored the criticism and advice that should have solved the problem.

The city was told time and again to check for immigration status of the laborers at the center and remove the illegal aliens.

Had the city done so long ago, then Eileen Garcia and the Minutemen would not have had to get involved.

Instead, the city followed the feel-good trail, thinking they had support on the moral issue, so they must be doing it right. However, they were admonished time and again for supporting unlawful activity.

GERRY NANCE

Fullerton

Labor site promotes illegal immigration

The City of Laguna Beach is clearly engaging in illegal activity by funding the day laborer hiring site on this property.

What a lesson city officials are teaching their children; divert tax dollars from legitimate charities/groups to fund an operation that promotes illegal immigration.

The city manager previously said this site was located because Laguna Beach residents lodged volumes of complaints (harassment, theft, public urination, etc.) against the day laborers who were “all over the city.” He said it was an unsafe situation.

Now, city officials say they have a safe situation with the hiring site. What hypocrisy!

They imply that it is safe to hire illegal aliens, some of whom may have criminal records, some who may bring diseases from their home country.

They imply it is OK to violate our tax laws. And if one of these day laborers is hurt while you are employing them, don’t be surprised if MALDEF steps in to sue and take your property.

This is what city officials call a safer environment? Safer for whom?

There are many legitimate employment agencies that provide temporary labor. The city doesn’t need to fund this type of endeavor.

I hope the property is sold to a business that will generate tax dollars that city officials will spend on legal and legitimate groups/endeavors that will truly benefit all of the residents of Laguna Beach.

That is what they were hired/elected to do.

AJ CHANDLER

Temecula