SOUNDING OFF: Legionnaires thankful for city accord

Before extending the sincere thanks of the Laguna Beach American Legion Post and all veterans to the City Council, city staff, and our many supporters, let me provide a little background and history so you will understand the importance and sincerity of our thanks.

Veterans of WWI established American Legion Post 222 in Laguna Beach in 1927, the same year that Laguna Beach officially became a city.

Those veterans bought the land at Legion Street and Goff Street. Shortly after that the city built a new school at the current site of the high school. The old school house was auctioned off and the veterans purchased it and rolled it down the hill on old telephone poles to its current location, where they had built a foundation.

Somehow they moved it onto the lot. Over the years many improvements have been made, and it has become an important landmark for the city.

Some 25 years ago the city leased the building from the Post for use as a recreation/education facility and the veterans retained use sufficient for their needs as part of the agreement.

Some time later the city also used it as a senior center. With its wide variety of uses it has been a real asset to the entire community.

Now with the advent of the completion of the large and modern recreational facility and senior center on Third Street, it appeared the city might have no further use of the American Legion’s facility.

Accordingly, the Legion was informed that the lease would probably be canceled early in 2009.

Though not unexpected, the pending cancellation of the lease created a financial dilemma for the Legion.

The rent money is used to support all the Post activities, which include veteran charities “” especially for our hospitalized comrades “” youth events such and community activities.

And, of course, we would have no resources for maintaining the facility.

After extensive research by the Post’s officers, our situation was narrowed down to three optional solutions.

Option 1 was to request the city to maintain its lease with us for any new community activities or emergencies.

Option 2 entailed attempting to maintain the facility ourselves by renting out our meeting hall and offices.

Option 3 was a last resort that meant selling the entire property. Those three options were presented to the city manager, who indicated Option 1 would require approval by the City Council.

He provided our three options to the council, and Councilman Kelly Boyd put it on their agenda for discussion and public input.

That meeting July 22, and after extensive favorable public comment, the council unanimously approved that the city continue the lease with the American Legion.

This letter from the veterans in Laguna Beach is to express our heartfelt thanks to the City Council for unanimously voting to continue the lease. Additionally, thanks go to Frank and his staff who worked with Legion officers to see how the Post facility could be saved. Special thanks to the many citizens and veterans who stepped forward at the council meeting to request that the city continue leasing the American Legion Veteran’s Memorial building. Special thanks also go to the Board of “No Square Theatre,” whose representative, Bree Burgess Rosen, informed the city that they want to use the main hall of the Post for rehearsals and would pay the city rent to help offset the maintenance costs.

Of amusing interest to all who follow city politics is after veteran Arnold Hano and his lovely wife both spoke in favor of Option 1, Arnold commented after veteran Frank Ricchiazzi’s supporting presentation that, “City history had just been made where for the first time the Hanos and Frank Ricchiazzi were in complete accord.” That humorous quip was followed by a hearty laugh from the council, Frank and audience.

DAVE CONNELL is Commander of American Legion Post 222.