MAILBAG - Nov. 25, 1999

It is good that Huntington Beach stands to collect $15 million in state

and federal grants (“City collects $15 million in grants,” Nov. 18). And,

it is good to see that the City Council has chosen to use the money for

equipment and services ranging from improving infrastructure to adding

police officers.

However, unless I am mistaken, grant money is one-time money. It does not

come to the city in perpetuity. Therefore, when we spend $750,000 in

partial funding for 10 additional police officers, and a portion of

another $750,000 to hire additional staff for the library, who will foot

the bill for the salaries and benefits of these new city employees once

the grant money has been exhausted?

My guess is that the ongoing expenses for these new hires will become the

taxpayers’ burden. The initial cost may indeed be absorbed by the grant,

but what about the future costs? Is there anyone on the City Council who

is looking out for the best interest of the people of Huntington Beach?

ED BUSH

Huntington Beach

Council’s vision is blurred

I admire how our City Council has a vision. I just don’t like what

they’ve envisioned.

I believe we need a 10-year plan for this city before we destroy it any

further. The environment should become a priority. We should do our part

to keep the ocean clean by working on the sewage lines here, making them

state-of-the-art.

Fair representation is another issue. If districts can’t be implemented,

consider voting sections. Divide the city into 20,000 per capita

sections. Let each section vote on issues involving their area.

Overcrowding, traffic and pollution are knocking at our door now. We need

to answer their demands with strong convictions or our imagination.

SUSAN DOMINGUEZ

Huntington Beach

Party is not a lot of money

The Independent has reported on a holiday luncheon for all Huntington

Beach city employees (“Party price balloons to $20,000,” Nov. 18).

Some residents, and of course a council member or two, will make an issue

out of this. If you put this in perspective to the entire city budget,

this amount is minuscule. In fact, if you figure out in a percentage

basis what this costs, to most people it’s about the same as taking a

couple of the neighborhood kids to McDonald’s.

As the new millennium approaches, Huntington Beach will face many uphill

battles. One of these battles will be the ability to hire and maintain

quality employees. Notice I used the word quality. With low unemployment,

high housing costs in this area, and neighboring cities offering creative

employment packages, Huntington Beach can no longer afford to employ on

the cheap.

If there is anything I have learned in 21 years of working for the city,

the root of government inefficiency is its desire to do things on the

cheap. For those on the council and city management who made this

luncheon happen, I thank you.

IRWIN FEUERSTEIN

Huntington Beach