MAILBAG: Community must use shops, or lose them

On reading Cindy Frazier’s Lumberyard Logs column [“Keeping the ‘there’ in downtown,” Coastline Pilot, May 30] about the “walkabout” with city officials last week, I was somewhat amused, but also disheartened to read the following quotes:

Planning Commissioner Grossman: “That will be another art gallery,” he said of the storefront that used to house a much-missed stationery store.

City Councilman Kelly Boyd: “We used to have a men’s clothing store and a stationery store. That’s nice to have.”

Grossman again: “You will never have another stationers,” Grossman said. “Staples will deliver. It is an economic reality.”

My Laguna Office will celebrate its third anniversary in July. And yes, we are a full line office supply store.

The economic reality is that if you want a vibrant business community, you should make your purchases from the stores that pay the taxes that you levy.

Perhaps if the planning commissioner allowed businesses to have better signage, Grossman would have seen there is an office supply store two blocks from City Hall.

TOM WILLIAMS

Laguna Beach

? Why a rug store and not a surf shop?

Let me see if I have this correct.

In an article written by Cindy Frazier, (Lumberyard Logs, “Keeping the ‘there’ in downtown,” May 30) it was noted that the City Council members voted “no” for Jack’s Surf and Sport Shop, which would have been a major “retail attraction” thus bringing consumer traffic and excitement to a very tired Ocean Avenue and instead, voted “yes” to put in a Persian Rug dealer.

That is perfect! A rug dealer in a small, quaint, beachfront community. A great fit!

No foot traffic, no buzz, nothing other than stacks of rugs.

What next, council members, a western wear hats and boots?

JOSEPH F. RUVOLO

Laguna Beach