MAILBAG: Hospital negotiations legally must be private

The prospective sale of South Coast Medical Center has understandably raised concerns among the community members we have served for the past decade, and the questions raised in Bill Rihn’s letter of Oct. 17 are logical (“Neighbors want input in hospital issue”). However, as explained in this newspaper’s editorial of that date, and also by the City Council, there are practical and legal limits to what can publicly be disclosed at this time.

Many of those questions touch on issues that the attorney general will be reviewing once a recommended buyer has been selected from among parties who submit bids to purchase the hospital. As the agency tasked with protecting the community’s interest in such transactions, the attorney general’s office will hold a public hearing at which residents and local organizations will have the opportunity to ensure their concerns are heard and taken into account.

Our efforts in Laguna Beach remain focused on providing quality healthcare services as we seek a qualified successor to operate South Coast Medical Center.

In the meantime, we at the hospital remain sensitive to the concerns of our neighbors. We have committed to seek input from the City Council before selecting a purchaser, and welcome individual comments that community members wish to share with us.

BRUCE CHRISTIAN

Editor’s Note: Bruce Christian is president and chief executive of South Coast Medical Center.

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Marriage is a civil right for all

In response to the letter of two weeks ago from Randall Bell regarding Proposition 8 (“Council doesn’t speak for him on marriage” Oct. 10), I have to respond to this issue, as I have seen and heard enough lately supporting this unfair proposition.

First, the judges who overturned Prop. 22 were not “activists,” but were respecting the constitutional tenet of equality under the law. As Bell states, marriage is a “legal” union; therefore, if legal rights are guaranteed with marriage, all citizens must be allowed the same opportunity to marry.

He further states that marriage is a “biological” union, “primarily for the purpose of having and raising children,” and that “children fare best ... when they are raised by the two people who conceived them.”

Marriage does afford children legal status and security when their parents are legally married, which is one of the reasons marriage should be allowed to all. But to state that children fare best with those who conceived them is to deny and discount the many children raised by loving single parents, stepparents, grandparents and other relatives, foster parents, and in my family’s case, adoptive parents. This issue is very personal for me, at many levels.

First, my parents’ marriage was not legal in many states when they married in the 1950s, as my mother is Japanese and, therefore, the marriage was interracial. This issue was resolved because of the civil rights protests of the ‘60s. Second, many family members and friends are raising wonderful, happy children in loving homes that do not fit your prescription of “best” situation.

As the parent of an adopted child, I can tell you that your attitude is unacceptable, harmful and flies in the face of your self-image of “live and let live.” But we need to do more than live and let live, we need to live and give, live and support, live and take care of each other and live up to our constitutional mandate of equality.

PATRICIA MURPHY

Laguna Beach

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A vote against big political signs

Are your readers as annoyed by the huge signs around town as I am? I think we should all agree to vote against politicians who plaster the town with huge signs.

Big signs are not in keeping with the quaint Laguna Beach we all love. Although they are political free speech and legal, these signs would not be permitted for a business under the city’s sign ordinance.

Name recognition is, of course, important, and a proper activity is for a candidate to see how many signs can be placed by friends and supporters. These signs are typically 18 by 24 inches, and it is democracy in action to see them here and there around town.

Join me in voting for Verna Rollinger and Jane Egly for City Council, the candidates with signs in keeping with the village atmosphere of Laguna Beach.

GENE FELDER

Laguna Beach

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City needs good fiscal management

The next few years will be perilous financial times for local government. With property values falling, property tax revenues are likely to shrink. The poorly managed state government, combined with a recession that has only begun to hit, guarantees that the state will resort to its traditional solution of making up shortfalls by raiding local tax revenues. These times will call for experienced fiscal management in government.

Even in good times, examples of poor fiscal management by government abound.

In these critical times, Laguna Beach has the rare good fortune of having a certified public accountant capable of serving, and willing to serve, on its city council and to provide financial advice and leadership. It would be sad indeed if we fail to take advantage of her willingness to serve. Cheryl Kinsman’s reelection is essential to the stable future of the city we all love.

JUDGE JOHN KENNEDY (RET.)

Laguna Beach

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We support Kinsman for City Council

This letter is written in strong support of Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman for reelection in November. Kinsman has worked tirelessly for the citizens of Laguna Beach on numerous important local issues, but most importantly in working to preserve our local hospital and 24-hour emergency room. Not only did we have a child born there, we know the importance of having a local emergency room first-hand, as most parents do.

Kinsman is a certified public accountant by profession and demonstrates the fiscal knowledge and financial discipline to lead our city in very uncertain times when many cities are bleeding due to significant loss of tax revenues. We are in a safer position today now that our city cash reserves have been increased by 50% this year, and have Kinsman and her colleagues to thank for this. It is extremely important to have someone with credentials such as hers, and a proven history of strong fiscal representation, continue to lead us forward in a troubling economic climate.

Lastly, many of us have read of the highly critical claims that are being made about Kinsman in the recent editorials and circulars. We personally do not buy into any of this political nonsense. There is good reason that Kinsman is the only candidate endorsed by both the Laguna Beach Police Assn. and Fire Assn., and our county Supervisor Pat Bates. This is an easy decision for our family, and we hope that you will agree that Kinsman is the most qualified candidate running for City Council in this election.

GREG and MONIQUE BROWN

Laguna Beach

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Prop. 8 clears up ‘marriage’ confusion

On Nov. 4, the citizens of California will be asked to reaffirm the same definition of marriage that was overwhelmingly (61%) approved in the year 2000, that “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” Voting yes on Proposition 8 will make the distinction clear between union of a man and a woman and the union between two people of the same sex. If this distinction is not clarified, the concept of “marriage” will forever become a blur.

History and tradition teaches that “marriage” always referred to circumstances involving men and women, distinguishing that relationship by its ability to create children “” procreation. In many faiths, all human beings “” male and female “” are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such each has a divine nature and destiny.

According to biblical history, the first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife, and God commanded them to multiply and replenish the earth.

Further, for the 200 or so generations of civilizations’ recorded history, the “marriage” of a man and a woman has been at the heart of society for the purpose of creating life.

“Marriage” is society’s most pro-child institution. It promotes the ideal opportunity for children to be raised by a mother and father in a family held together by the legal, communal and spiritual bonds of “marriage.”

A mountain of studies is out there with overwhelming evidence that children do best when reared by a father and a mother.

Inextricably involved in the relationship between husband and wife is the capability of procreation “” not only an important element necessary to the continuation of the species, but the third element of “marriage.”

Never before has this concept been challenged so directly, and never before has it been as important for us to understand this distinction. Important, because a relationship that has the power to create its own children has the potential of offering primal protection and guidance for the children of the marriage more completely than rearing children in any other manner.

STANLEY C. KIMBALL JR.

Laguna Beach

Athens Group loses ‘vested rights’ claim

Let’s set the record straight about the Coastal Commission hearing and 12-0 vote to deny Athens’ claim to vested rights at Hobo Aliso Ridge on Oct. 16. The Athens Group does not have vested rights to the Driftwood Estates (Hobo Aliso Ridge) property “” this was the unanimous vote of the Coastal Commission. That Rick Zbur of Latham & Watkins, one of the largest law firms in the world, thinks this unanimous decision was because of inappropriate persuasion and impropriety by Penny Elia is surely absurd and laughable. If a huge law firm such as Latham & Watkins can’t even get one vote from the Coastal Commission, then it stares us in the face that their argument was not strong enough and that it lacked factual basis. Fifty Laguna Beach residents/activists were represented at the hearing,, and more testimony was given by activists from Ventura, Santa Monica and San Francisco as well.

We celebrate this victory because for far too long and too often we have seen the natural beauty of our community sacrificed on the developers’ block. We will remain steadfast and will fight to retain the existing environmental integrity of Aliso and Woods Canyon, Hobo Aliso Ridge and Aliso Creek.

Verna Rollinger, like the 12 commissioners who voted against Athens’ vested-rights claim, is on record as saying if developers attempt to circumvent established community standards and ask for numerous exemptions, variances, zoning changes, trade-offs and deals, and if the improvements aren’t evident, then they are not right for Laguna Beach, and she will not support them. Help protect our natural resources by voting for Verna Rollinger on Nov. 4. It’s time to elect a City Council that listens to us and respects our environment.

CHARLOTTE MASARIK