SURFING SOAPBOX: A never-ending re-rinse cycle

Is it just me, or does everything pertaining to Laguna politics remind you of that old, forgotten washing machine in the corner that you just can’t wait to get rid of? The only problem is that we can’t afford a newer one. In fact, we can only afford one of the same quality, which means that “Laguna politics” will remain stuck on the re-rinse cycle.

Of the three candidates, two have already sat on our City Council for too many years to even count. Ironically, our mayor, Jane Egly, still doesn’t know what the people want, and is asking the residents of Laguna Beach, “What would you like to see done with our town?”

Wow, Mrs. Mayor, if you don’t know by now, you really are stuck on the re-rinse cycle.

Let me refresh your memory for all of the residents, in no particular order:

1. Save the hospital.

2. A new headquarters for the lifeguards that will sustain their many needs and be of adequate size.

3. Resident parking in the downtown area.

4. Support our local businesses.

5. Stop making or seeking city laws that can’t be enforced or are ridiculous, like neutering sick sea lions before releasing them back into the ocean.

6. Ditto No. 5 with another ridiculous example of time and money wasted: no more sister cities in France.

7. Please not another pathetic traffic study.

8. Look to No. 4, support our local businesses; we have enough Starbucks.

9. Laguna Beach needs to step up and help our people who suffered through the Blue Bird slide.

10. Residents, residents and residents. If you don’t know what the residents want by now, please exit the Council Chambers, and thanks for coming and playing bingo on our time.

11. Elect Kurt Mahoney.

Honestly, I feel like all I am doing is writing about the same topics I have written about so many times before. The same rinse cycle. The same council. The only things that actually change in this town are the businesses and the residents — the two things we don’t want changing over and over again because it only hurts our community.

One of the biggest problems I see with our council is that it’s a full-time job that doesn’t get paid to be a full-time job and that is why we are stuck on this never-ending re-rinse cycle. Because there are people who truly care for this town and want to lead this town in a new direction but, because they still have to find a way to make a living while being on the council, their hands are tied.

It is a fatally flawed system.

I know, because I looked into it.

Peace.

JAMES PRIBRAM is a Laguna Beach native, professional surfer and John Kelly Environmental Award winner. His websites include AlohaSchoolofSurfing and ECOWarrior Surf.com. He can be reached at Jamo@Aloha SchoolofSurfing.com