MAILBAG - July 6, 2000

The recent proposal to build a refuge for low- and very low-income

workers and the elderly in Huntington Beach, if they qualify, was

adamantly opposed by “representatives” from the Huntington Beach Tomorrow

group [“City nixes low-income apartment complex,” May 18]. My wife and I

were at one time enthusiastic members of this group because we admired

the foresight of the chairpersons in the group. However, the hierarchy

has changed, and because of this influx of naysayers, we want to distance

ourselves as much as possible from their views and obstructive attitudes.

In my opinion, the name of this group should be changed to Huntington

Beach Yesterday. The chairpersons, especially the newly installed, object

to any proposition that appears to be a step ahead in the overall future

of our city. Instead, their near-hysterical objections to

forward-thinking proposals would have us take two steps backward. They

would have, apparently, those who perform the low-paying tasks in our

city live outside of our city limits or double and triple up with others

in available housing to share even the lowest rentals available.

I am sure there are many in our city that have had experiences with

large groups of individuals moving into rentals in their neighborhood and

witnessed the rundown appearance those rentals soon develop.

Think about it, Huntington Beach Yesterday -- oops, I mean Tomorrow.

Would it not be better to give those low- and very low-income workers

essential to the needs of our city a place of their own, well-managed,

and improve their pride and possibility of job progression than to force

them to be cramped with others who have been denied a chance to have the

privacy of a place of their own?

Everybody did not start out with the middle and upper incomes our

Huntington Beach (you name it) group enjoys. I have learned never to

argue with success. The surrounding cities that have approved single-room

occupancy developments, some considered more affluent than Huntington

Beach, have proved that the development of these so-called SROs have

benefited their cities. Why should Huntington Beach remain in the dark

ages and ignore success just because of a small group of dissidents

hiding behind a title that is totally misleading?

BOB POLKOW

Huntington Beach