MAILBAG - Nov. 17, 2006

Bates not a friend of Laguna

Last week, the Coastline Pilot published the article “Bates takes supervisor seat,” written by Barbara Diamond. In it, Diamond wrote that Pearson-Schneider stated that Pat Bates’ election was a boon for Laguna, and quotes Pearson-Schneider as saying, “Pat is a friend and will be a friend to Laguna.” The article goes on to comment that during Bates’ term on the Laguna Niguel City Council, she also chaired the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency Board of Directors.

This is the exact same Transportation Corridor Agency that bulldozed our Laguna Canyon and built the underused toll road that is now on the brink of bankruptcy! The same toll road that so many Lagunans and their true friends protested. Oh, and by the way, council members Steve Dicterow and Cheryl Kinsman also supported Bates.

It was also noted that Bates supports the completion of the planned Foothills South Toll Road. Another Transportation Corridor Agency project that will bisect a California state park at San Onofre, the Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy and could possibly ruin the world famous surf break, Trestles. Many Lagunans and their friends are against this unnecessary toll road as well.

Pearson-Schneider may call Bates a friend, but with friends like that, who needs enemies?

CAREY STROMBOTNE

Laguna Beach

Mayor welcome on chamber board

Sometimes we are encouraged at the way things turn out, which is evidenced by the news that our mayor, or soon to be ex-Mayor, Steve Dicterow, will join the board of the Chamber of Commerce. This is good news to those neighborhoods that have been impacted by the lack of concern on the part of bar and restaurant owners as to the adverse effect on the quality of life in those neighborhoods as a result of the noise and actions of patrons.

Dicterow has experienced first-hand the urination of patrons on his front lawn as well as the noise generated by the late-night revelers.

We are sure, knowing his experience with the problem and his interest as the co-chair of the council-generated parking study, that the chamber will be offering edicts to members and nonmembers alike that some action will be taken by the chamber to alleviate the current problem, not only in the neighborhoods included in the study, but in all neighborhoods in the city.

Good luck in your new relationship, and as we say back home, “be careful what you wish for.”

TOM GIRVIN

Laguna Beach

She’s the student, not the teacher

I thoroughly enjoyed Barbara Diamond’s article on the Nix Nature Center opening but wish to correct a small point. It’s true that biologists and Fullerton College professors Allan Schoenherr and Lenny Vincent have been involved in the docent program since the first class in 1992 [the Red Hat docents], but as instructors, not students. I didn’t teach them about the park; they’ve been teaching me for years!

ELISABETH BROWN

Laguna Beach

[Editor’s Note: Brown is president of Laguna Greenbelt, Inc.]

Public school on a par with private

In response to the last sentence of letter “Coastal review unfair to school, students” (Nov. 10): “The price for delay will be borne by the kids who deserve to be educated in a safe and modern facility,” I wholeheartedly agree and respectfully suggest that the Laguna Beach School District offers such safe and modern school facilities, albeit secular.

If the parents of students decide otherwise, their children will have to “pay the price” for their parents’ decision.

NIKO THERIS

Laguna Beach

Tight race was disappointment

Democracy functions best when those who get the most votes are wished well by those who have lost. Those who have lost cannot be asked to violate their beliefs and principles, but they should genuinely respect the voters and allow the new majority an opportunity to enact their agenda.

I supported Verna Rollinger for the Laguna Beach City Council, and the newspapers reported that she was defeated by Kelly Boyd by a 178-vote margin with Boyd getting 4,142 votes.

At midday on Sunday, the Registrar of Voters showed the vote 4,896 for Boyd and 4,763 for Rollinger — a margin of only 133 votes. I was so much looking forward to Verna being an outstanding council member and am torn by what we, her supporters, could have done to pick up an additional 134 votes.

Maybe the registrar has more ballots to count, but if Kelly Boyd ends up with more votes, the voters have spoken, and I certainly wish him the best, hoping he does a superb job serving Laguna Beach.

In the U.S. Congress, the Democrats now have the majority. The voters have elected George W. Bush as president and now the Democrats as the majority in both houses of Congress. Hopefully, they will work together for the good of our country.

GENE FELDER

Laguna Beach