Mailbag: Thanks for fighting illegal smoking
As we enter an even drier-than-normal fall and winter, I would like to extend a huge thank you to all those who pressed for increased fines for smoking near Alta Laguna Park and the surrounding open space.
At the top of the list of those to thank is Councilwoman Toni Iseman for driving hard on this issue and allowing police and fire officials to have some teeth with real fire-prevention. The fine increase to $1,000, along with the added signs and increased vigilance by police, is a real deterrent for those who may be thinking about lighting up.
Now when Top of the World neighbors are walking their dogs around the park and open spaces, they can point to the signage if they see people smoking in a non-smoking area. On several occasions, those folks have gotten up and left, not wanting to pay the huge fines.
Fire safety and prevention is on all of our minds here at TOW. We are extremely grateful for any help we get in protecting our homes and families.
Carey Strombotne
Laguna Beach
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Iseman should bow out gracefully
Did Councilwoman Toni Iseman miss her exit?
It is important in life to have a good exit strategy. When all the signs say it is time to take a new road in life, we need to read the signals, turn in the right direction, seek new horizons.
Mayor Elizabeth Pearson showed us how it is done. In a dignified way she let us know she would not seek another term. No drama, no surprises, a class act.
As a result, Pearson leaves intact a strong legacy, including her truly inspired and unsurpassed leadership as our mayor during the Bluebird landslide crisis. Despite the national media spotlight, she stayed focused on coordinating policy and programs that not only enabled a full recovery but averted costly lawsuits and facilitated relief to victims in need of a helping hand in the face of real hardship.
Pearson generously shared credit for what was accomplished on her watch with the City Council, city staff, Resource Center, Board of Realtors and all who contributed. That is why it seemed more than a little desperate for Iseman to pat herself on the back for the Bluebird slide as a success story for her at the Village Laguna candidate forum.
Iseman has done good in our community that she can run on. Why embarrass herself by exaggerating her role just to inflate her resume? If she does not think she has enough to show for her 16 years on the City Council and needs to embellish her record to make it to 20 years, maybe she should have taken the last turnoff before the point of no return.
Now her record must be put to the test. Fortunately, there is time for us to do that in a respectful but clear and accurate way before the election. The voters of our town deserve no less.
Howard Hills
President, Laguna Beach Republicans
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Festivals appreciate residents’ patience
Summer in Laguna means tourists, beachgoers from neighboring communities and the art festivals — all good for our economy. But it also means traffic congestion and resulting annoyances to many locals.
On behalf of the artists, board and staff at the Sawdust Art Festival, I would like thank the community for its support this past summer and patience when traffic slowed to a snail’s pace.
Jay Grant
Sawdust Art Festival Board of Directors
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Keep the common sense in police work
I walked out of church Sunday morning and a Laguna Beach Police Department parking enforcement officer was ticketing a motor scooter that was parked “on the sidewalk,” as she said.
Seriously? This is the sort of poor judgment, lack of discretion, thoughtlessness and abuse of power that erases all sorts of good karma and deeds performed by the department.
Nothing was being blocked. Nothing was being harmed. Issuing this ticket was mean-spirited and wrong — even if the scooter was technically in violation of a parking prohibition.
The Police Department should be ashamed. I wish no ill to the parking enforcement officer — I pray that some day her heart softens and that she is enlightened by the concept of human kindness.
Maurice Possley
Laguna Beach