MAILBAG: Signs work for big business; look at Coke

Editor’s note: Tom Williams owns My Laguna Office.

I read with astonishment the following quote from Planning Commissioner Norm Grossman, regarding the “Shop Local” sign campaign.

“Every business having the same sign in the window, after a couple of weeks, becomes desensitizing and redundant,” Grossman said. “It would not make any difference after a while.”

According to Grossman’s theory, Coca-Cola has been totally stupid by placing their signs on every single location they can.

I don’t know why I should be astonished, of course, since Grossman was also quoted as saying a few weeks ago there would never be a stationary store in town because Staples delivers.

This, in spite of the fact that we have been here for three years and Grossman regularly attends board meetings of the Laguna Canyon Foundation, which is three doors away in the Broadway plaza.

TOM WILLIAMS

Laguna Beach

Hearing on toll road must take place

The Transportation Corridor Agencies appeal hearing scheduled July 25 regarding the proposed 241 Toll Road has been postponed and possibly canceled. The reason given was an expected public turnout of approximately 10,000 people. With numbers that high, it is now crystal clear Southern Californians deserve to voice their opinions and they are allowed to speak on behalf of our state parks and open spaces that were set aside in perpetuity. It’s imperative that we do not let [Commerce] Secretary Gutierrez back down on his promise to hold a public hearing. Please e-mail your comments to: gcos.comments@noaa.com

CAREY STROMBOTNE

Laguna Beach

? We can pray for parking

The idea of spending $40,000 just to study the concept of placing a third story on top of the existing parking structure on Glenneyre Street is dubious (“Council studies adding level,” July 11).

Shortsightedness got us into our present parking quandary so we need a broader vision.

I suggest we tap into an omni-visional source by all of us attending one of the many houses of worship in Laguna Beach and praying for a solution.

It’d be a lot cheaper and statistically has only a 50/50 chance of not working.

What’s to lose? What’s that!? Church parking facilities are inadequate? Oh ... nevermind.

NIKO THERIS

Laguna Beach

Planning meetings should be televised

I would like to respond to the letter regarding televising the Planning Commission sessions.

It is much appreciated that the City Council sessions are televised so that we can have the choice to watch it live in Council Chambers, at home or record the evening for later viewing. Besides the knowledge we gain, it allows us to better appreciate the excellent work of our City Council!

The Planning Commission also has late-into-the-night meetings but these are NOT televised. I would like to see the meetings televised for the following reasons:

There have been some significant issues on the Planning Commission’s agenda such as the revision of the General Plan, Aliso Creek Inn, the Housing Element and the Downtown Specific Plan and these types of decisions will impact all our lives for years to come.

The public should be encouraged to participate in these important decisions and a way to accomplish that is to televise the meetings.

It would not only afford the general public a view into how decisions are made, but also should allow our City Council the opportunity to see the proceedings as well as give the Planning Commissioners the ability to review their own sessions.

If nothing else, Lagunans would be impressed to see the considerate and thoughtful concern that the hard-working Planning Commissioners have for Laguna.

It could well inspire us to give more of ourselves to our community.

So, to our diligent city staff: It is to all our benefit to have our Planning Commission meetings televised. Please help us make that happen.

CHARLOTTE MASARIK

Laguna Beach

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The places you can go

I took the northbound trolley to the northern most stop in the new Heisler Park. Walking south, off Divers Cove, you could see a group of junior guards swimming with staff from our Marine Safety Department. Farther along the new paths “” beautiful Picnic Beach and Rockpile and in the park palm trees, two new restrooms, plants and Melaleuca trees near the gazebo. The north side also offers Shaws Cove, Crescent Bay beach, Crescent Bay park where the seals hang out on Crescent Bay Drive, probably a 15-minute walk from the trolley’s Coast Highway and Cliff Drive stop.

The alleys in north Laguna are fun to walk, as are the streets. Take a trolley to the Festival of Arts, Art-A-Fair and the Sawdust and enjoy a side walk by going east to Woodland and up to three lanes “” Fairywood, Roosevelt and Victory Lane. No cars here. Take the trolley south to the hospital and take-out or sit down for breakfast. Walk one block south to Ninth Street and go down Thousand Steps to a remarkable beach. In South Laguna village, 100 feet from Coast Highway on South Table Rock, go down the stairs to Secret Cove, a beach that will remind you of Hawaii and 1,000 feet north of the West Street stairway is the famous gay beach, West Street “” probably the biggest expanse of sand in Laguna.

How about a trolley and fire in the rings at Aliso Beach or a barbecue on the braziers in the Village Green park in South Laguna. Brown’s Park up from Hotel Laguna is a great overlook, as is Thalia Street overlook where you can see surfers and skimboarders. Oak Street overlook, Mountain Avenue, and Diamond Street, with Bette Davis’ home, along with Wood’s Cove with its “grand staircase” to the beach is beautiful. Moss Point at the end of Moss Street with the famous Ark house on the north as you walk down to Moss Point is good, too. But of course, a walk on the beach is the best walk.

ROGER CARTER

Laguna Beach