GAINS & LOSSES

GAINS

MEASURE OF HOPE

The passage of Proposition 12 has given environmentalists hope for buying

the Bolsa Chica mesa and parents hope for the Huntington Beach High

School pool. Who knew on election day that this one measure could mean so

much to Huntington Beach? The state bond measure made the city eligible

for $4 million to improve air, water quality, parks and to preserve open

space. From that money, the city plans to loan a little less than $1

million to the high school district for the pool. The proposition also

has up to $415 million that could be applied for by local environmental

groups to purchase the mesa if owner Hearthside Homes is willing to sell

and offered a fair deal.

POOLING RESOURCES

The Huntington Beach Union High School District voted to use funds

recovered from the Orange County bankruptcy to help pay for the

Huntington Beach High School pool. That’s $269,399, in addition to the

$600,000 raised by the Take the Plunge campaign. And add to that the

possible $1-million loan from the city through Proposition 12. At an

estimated cost of $1.5 million, the pool looks like a winner.

PREPARING FOR THE WORST

You hope it never happens, but if terrorists ever do strike Huntington

Beach, isn’t it nice to know the city is prepared? Police, fire and

public works officials took part in a federal program to be trained for

an attack using biological, chemical or nuclear weapons. Huntington Beach

was one of three cities in Orange County to be selected for the program.

LOSSES

SAYING GOODBYE TO ZERO

Tower Zero, the lifeguard tower at the end of the Huntington Beach pier,

will be torn down soon, taking with it years of memories. Zero has stood

sentry over the waters of Surf City for 40 years, manned by lifeguards

year-round. In April, Zero will be replaced by a $270,000

state-of-the-art tower. But it won’t be the same.

NOT IN MY BACKYARD

The Huntington Beach Planning Commission voted 4-3 last week to reject

plans for a low-income apartment complex on Ellis Avenue by Beach

Boulevard after residents complained. The three-story building proposed

by Amwest Environmental Group Inc. would have created 107 apartments,

renting for about $500 a month. And we wonder why affordable housing is a

problem in the city.