SOUNDING OFF: Don’t throw out SUPER project

In the last issue of the Coastline Pilot, Martha Lydick said that she could not understand why anyone would oppose the SUPER project (“SUPER is needed”). She need only read the adjacent column by Charlotte Masarik (“Don’t be fooled”) to understand it completely. They oppose it because the Athens Group/Montage might receive some benefit from it and this is something that is anathema to her, Verna Rollinger, Ann Christoph and the whole Village Laguna crowd.

They seem to be obsessed with this as demonstrated vividly at the last Planning Commission meeting where they were out in mass to oppose, of all things, kayak rentals on the beach in front of the Montage Resort. They expressed “concerns” and “discomforts” about environmental damage, injured children, crass commercialism in the beach, and a host of other red herrings, but we all know the real agenda.

Unfortunately, our elected officials, who are mostly concerned about the next election, are afraid of these destructive organizations (Pillage Laguna would be far more apt) so they attempt to compromise with these misguided groups who just can’t accept the fact that the Montage exists and Treasure Island [mobile home park] does not. The fact that a previously inaccessible beach “” the same one where they now want to rent kayaks “” is now part of a gorgeous public park is irrelevant to them. Anything that might benefit the Montage must be stopped, regardless of its beneficial impact on other residents and visitors.

It is truly sad to watch this toxic malignancy infect our lovely city. I live at the mouth of Aliso Creek and I watch children swim in Aliso Creek despite all the warning signs about pollution, it is just too attractive for them to resist. The creek water is warm and it is calm. Curiously, the same people who oppose kayaking at the Montage because of the danger to the children are the ones opposing the SUPER project to clean up polluted water where children swim.

This ridiculous inconsistency only makes sense when you understand the real agendas of these groups. Please support the SUPER project.

It will benefit the Montage, but it will also benefit the all Lagunans, especially the little children who swim in Aliso Creek and will undoubtedly suffer far fewer mysterious ear and sinus infections if we clean it up.

DENNIS R. MORIN lives in Laguna Beach.