MAILBAG: Left turns onto 133 dangerous, cause traffic

I live in Laguna Beach, and every work day I drive north on the 133 and turn right at El Toro. Directly before El Toro there is a school called Anneliese’s, and parents make a left turn against northbound traffic from about 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. every work day.

These drivers are causing major backups on the 133, and today I witnessed one of the reasons why. The driver in front of me ignored the green light at El Toro and the 133 only 50 yards up the road and stopped and let three of four drivers turn in front of him.

While this may seem nice and thoughtful, really, it just causes congestion and frustration from drivers like myself (not to mention it is illegal).

I have also seen drivers turning left aggressively pull out in front of on coming traffic forcing drivers to brake in order to avoid getting in to an accident.

Aside from the obvious danger, this also results in more air pollution as drivers are forced to sit in stop and go traffic.

This problem did not occur until after the school year started, so I feel this is a direct result from this one business, and their clients are causing unnecessary delays and dangerous circumstances.

While I don’t know all the ins and outs of Laguna Beach, I know that quality of life is something that we try to preserve. I know there won’t be an easy solution, but this is an issue that needs to be addressed.

Perhaps we can put a traffic cop out there for an hour every morning to direct drivers.

Please help me get the word out on this important issue. I don’t want to witness an accident or worse, a death, before something is done.

RAE GROSS

Laguna Beach

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Council doesn’t speak for him on marriage

As a Laguna Beach resident and business owner, I was disappointed in the four activist judges who overturned 4 million Californian votes on Prop. 22.

I was further frustrated with our own Laguna Beach City’s Council that now pretends to speak on our behalf regarding Proposition 8.

I embrace diversity, free-agency and a “live and let live” attitude. I am opposed to anyone or any organization that has a hate-based agenda of any kind.

However, the City Council’s actions are simply out of line with many of their constituents’ positions.

There are a variety of sensible positions surrounding Proposition 8, largely held by sincere and admirable neighbors, friends and colleagues. One such position is that, since the beginning of civilized life, marriage has been a social-biological-legal union primarily for the purpose of having and raising children.

Personally, I subscribe to this position, and I believe that children fare best under this social-biological-legal union, where they are raised by the two people who conceived them.

While both sides of Proposition 8 offer intelligent and valid points, in the end I will vote for the position that I believe best serves children and future generations.

I am not alone. Indeed, the last time voters had a chance to vote on this issue, 61% voted the same way. This is what might be called a “landslide.”

Certainly I consider myself to be tolerant. I believe that others are welcome to subscribe to other positions, and I would encourage them to vote accordingly. This is just democracy in action.

On the other hand, nobody is well served by activist judges and zealot city council members who attempt to insert themselves and legislate positions that are contrary to the will of the people.

RANDALL BELL

Laguna Beach