Mailbag:

Superior Court Judge David Velasquez should be lauded for his decision to stop the senior center in the park (“Judge stops senior center in park,” Oct. 1). Also to be lauded are Dr. Larry Geisse and the Parks Legal Defense Fund, who filed the suit. As a 93-year-old, 25-year resident of Huntington Beach, I wanted a new senior center, but not in a park and not under these circumstances. The vote should not have been taken before an environmental impact report was obtained. The alternatives were never properly considered by the group that pushed this through. If the city appeals, they should realize there was no mandate from the people for this center in the park. The vote was 51% to 49% and a low voter turnout. Huntington Beach wants a new senior center. There are many alternatives that are more economical and more accessible.

Judge disregarded people’s vote

How very sad that Judge David Velasquez ruled Tuesday in favor of the Parks Legal Defense Fund and against the Huntington Beach and its seniors. He has overruled the majority vote to build the much-needed new senior center at Goldenwest Street and Talbert Avenue for the 40,000-plus seniors in our city.

Velasquez’s ruling is only delaying the need to build and replace the old outdated 1940s senior center building that is being used as best it can under such miserable conditions.

I have volunteered for more than 10 years at this senior center, and I would invite the judge or anyone in the city to come down and take a look at why we need this new center now in the location where the voters in the city agreed it should be built.

I am confident that the City Council will continue to support the seniors, but in the meantime, many of our seniors waiting so patiently for a more comfortable location might not see the new senior center. How sad for one more long delay!