MAILBAG: Political-sign thieves strike at both sides

Recently our “McCain” sign was stolen from our front yard, so I feel a kinship with Bill Rihn who wrote last week that his “Obama” sign was stolen from his yard.

I don’t want to debate political views since I think every citizen of a democracy has the right to his or her own opinion.

Everyone who exercises their obligation to vote does it, hopefully, because they feel their choice is the best for our great nation.

This letter is directed at the cowards who unlawfully trespass on private property with the mistaken idea that by stealing a campaign sign, they can manipulate the right to free speech!

Bill, you should know that the “Obama” signs still stand in our neighborhood, so perhaps the sign thief is nonpartisan!

SANDI WERTHE

Laguna Beach

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Look at options for hospital property

Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Kinsman has quoted herself as saying, “Our hospital is not leaving. I may be strapped up there on the side of the tower, but it’s not leaving.” Her reelection campaign is now being positioned around keeping the hospital and its 24-hour emergency room in Laguna Beach.

This is a great example of the problem with many of our current council members. No one has explored and presented the options, there’s been no public discussion of them, and yet Kinsman has already made up her (closed) mind.

I don’t know about you, but I would like the council and city manager to lead a thorough, factual exploration of options for the future of South Coast Medical Center. One option could well include restoring a truly community-oriented medical center (if that is financially viable to some prospective buyer of the hospital).

And rather than automatically coupling discussions about the future of the hospital with the need for local emergency services, I would like our officials to explore the full set of options, including alternatives such as a free-standing emergency care unit of some kind.

Instead of stepping up to lead the community through this process, we’re presented with Kinsman’s pat answer in the form of a campaign slogan.

It’s apparently “her way or the South Coast Highway.”

If that’s our mayor pro tem’s leadership on this important city issue, then maybe we should take her up on her offer to be strapped to the tower!

TONY SARRIS

Laguna Beach

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Return festival incumbents to board

The heritage and future of Laguna Beach rests with the arts. However, we cannot take for granted that our elected and appointed leaders will preserve and protect this vital asset to our community.

Recently, the Pageant of the Masters and Festival of the Arts was threatened by the possibility of light and sound intrusion from a new planned housing development. The current board, including board member, John Hoover, was instrumental in crafting a deal which ensures the integrity of the pageant and festival. Undoubtedly there will be future threats in coming years.

Festival members will be receiving ballots this week. It is critical that John Hoover and his fellow incumbent board members be reelected.

ALAN BOINUS

Laguna Beach

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Legion welcomes peace monument

Regarding Roger Carter’s question in his last week’s letter, “What does the American Legion stand for, war or peace” (“‘Wild’ ideas can actually improve Laguna,” Sept. 19)? It was a rather rude and inane question, but I will answer it anyway.

Roger, the American Legion motto is “For God and Country.” We stand for the United States. Nobody is more interested in peace than those who have to fight the wars so you and others may be safe and have peace. Military personnel do not enjoy living restricted lives away from their families, going into harms way, living at risk, or killing or being killed. But that is what it takes to have peace and not be destroyed or enslaved.

For your information I have talked with Bruce Hopping and told him if he wants to raise the funds for a Peace Monument and prepare a design that is suitable to the city and to the Legionnaires we would be happy to have it join our many other monuments to those who served. Remember, “Freedom is not, was not, and never will be free.”

DAVE CONNELL

Laguna Beach

Editor’s note: Dave Connell is commander at American Legion Post 222.

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‘Sea change’ for beaches over the years

What a change a century makes.

I was born in 1950, and recall when my family would drive back inland we tossed tin cans at the “tin can beach” off the Pacific Coast Highway. Thousands of coast highway drivers threw cans at the pile alongside the roadway. The pile formed a mountain of roadside trash. I recall the tin can target zone was near Huntington Beach.

Now, in this new century, I was energized to do my small part in the Coastal Cleanup. No longer is it fashionable to toss cans by our beautiful coastal highway.

In fact, hundreds of volunteers even scrounge and scour the inland riverbeds and roadways to [stop] trash from entering our Pacific Ocean. The volunteer “people power” during the annual coastal cleanup is amazing, heartwarming and growing in numbers of participants. We can congratulate ourselves for the part kids, seniors and all others play, giving time to retrieve the harmful ocean-damaging trash from entering our sea.

Roger Butlow and his band of cleaners greeted me at Main Beach for the annual clean-up event. The best part of the experience is that it is un-organized to the extent of ability and direction. Most coastal cleaners come back with loads of rubbish. And a smile, of sorts, on their faces. The kids, especially, return with bags of trash and a new enlightenment that will last a lifetime.

Many of the Coastal Cleaners do the effort each time they visit the seashore. We know the cigarette butts pollute and do not biodegrade for years, and the six-pack plastic can kill a dolphin or strangle a seagull any time of the year.

However, our coastal cleanup is a special day for all. Even the observers on the sand, as tourists, seem to get the message.

I saw seagulls strolling directly up to the coastal cleaners, unafraid to come within three feet of the volunteers. The gulls were not looking for food.

The most remarkable thing is the gulls seemingly were silently messaging “thank you” “” what a difference a new century makes!

PAUL MERRITT

Laguna Beach