EDITORIAL: Issues fast and thick

The year 2009 has barely begun, and already the City Council has fielded a “hot-button�� issue “� public rancor over the ACLU’s constitutional lawsuit against Laguna Beach’s efforts to enforce anti-camping laws against the homeless.

While the lawsuit itself may be headed for settlement, we don’t see the issue of homelessness itself getting settled any time soon. It’s a huge problem that, as our columnist James Pribram points out this week, goes way beyond the borders of Laguna Beach “� even as the city finds itself at the epicenter of the question: What, if anything, can be done to help move people off the streets and into housing?

That said, there are a lot of other simmering issues within the city that will vie for center stage this year:

?The sale of South Coast Medical Center is slowly working its way through a state-mandated process via the attorney general’s office. Anger over the way Adventist Health handled funds donated to the hospital’s Foundation and calls for an investigation of the hospital group will need to be addressed, even though the community at large is generally pleased with the selection of St. Joseph Health System as the new hospital owner.

?The city’s effort to build a new, larger lifeguard headquarters at Main Beach has been stymied for more than a year by critics “� including a hotel owner “� who feel the beach is no place for a large public safety facility, even one dedicated to serving beach-goers. The City Council has its work cut out to make beach-adjacent residents and business owners happy while providing the type of facility the Marine Safety Department wants and deserves.

?The redevelopment of the beautiful and beloved Aliso Creek Inn and Lodge by Athens Group will hit the big time this year when the Draft Environmental Impact Report is released, sometime in early spring.

Other issues that will no doubt be in the news include how the city will assist local businesses to stay afloat until summer brings back throngs of visitors, and how the vaunted political shift in the City Council will play out, with Village Laguna activist Verna Rollinger joining her fellow Village Lagunan Toni Iseman on the dais.

Never a dull moment in Laguna!