Anti-hospitality night letter went too far Having...

Anti-hospitality night letter went too far

Having read Gene Cooper’s letter about Hospitality Night,

(“Hospitality Night missing hospitality” Coastline Pilot, Jan. 9) it

is unfortunate that Cooper experienced an evening that was not to his

liking. It is also unfortunate that he believes “the vast majority

[of merchants] use the night just to extend daytime working hours.”

I find it hard to believe that the “vast majority” is an accurate

statement. While Cooper may have experienced a number of merchants

who didn’t have food and beverage available, my experience tells me

that more provided refreshments than did not.

The traditional Hospitality Night referenced by Cooper is and

should be an opportunity to bring local residents and business people

together in a spirit of celebration at the very least. Food and

beverages are nice, but not entirely necessary if Cooper believes in

a true spirit of celebration. As to enhancing a business’ bottom

line, Hospitality Night has, in the past, been a “show and tell” for

merchants’ merchandise and not a particularly good sales event during

the hospitality hours. Our residents are looking, eating, drinking,

greeting, congratulating, visiting Santa Claus, etc., and yes, doing

some shopping.

Name calling, i.e. “greedy merchants, crass consumerism,

Philistines ... cold-hearted strip mall” are hardly in keeping with

the traditions of Hospitality Night. Presumably, Cooper is evidencing

his disappointment, but this should not be thought of as the Village

character. Considering the lack of such letters since Dec. 5,

apparently most people did enjoy themselves.

As a merchant in Laguna Beach, my family and I have been very

pleased with Hospitality Night over the years. Do we expect sales

during the evening -- of course we do. Can we say that the sales

justify being open with its inherent costs -- not really. However, as

Cooper suggested, meeting and greeting the residents and customers

from within and around Laguna Beach is the joy of the evening and the

holiday season.

The Weinstein family invites Cooper and his family as well as all

residents in and around Laguna Beach to visit Ropage Beauty and Salon

throughout the year. Especially, we invite everyone o visit us on

Dec. 3. Cooper, we promise you as well as everyone else that you

shall be met with courtesy, assistance and, at various occasions,

refreshments.

LEN WEINSTEIN

Laguna Beach

People need to slow down on our streets

Re: “Do you think people drive too fast on roads leading in and

out of Laguna?” (Coastline Pilot, Jan. 16)

Most definitely, people are driving too fast and carelessly.

I wish someone would do an article on residents speeding on

neighborhood streets. I live on Cress Street, we had the speed limit

changed to 25 mph from 50 mph years ago. Everyone races by at least

doing 40.

LYNN GILES

Laguna Beach

Discussion of sewer laterals well done

Congratulations to the City Council, city staff and fellow

citizens.

At the Jan. 21 City Council meeting during the discussion on the

proposed ordinance on “private sewer laterals,” the staff presented a

reasonably thorough study on why we need the proposed ordinance and a

description of the proposed ordinance. (Just in case you don’t know,

the lateral is your sewer pipe that connects your home to the city’s

main sewer line.)

The council members asked searching questions of their staff,

which demonstrated that they were concerned with the severe financial

and emotional impacts the ordinance would have on the citizens. Then,

the citizens spoke of their concerns with various aspects of the

ordinance. (For example: many Realtors were opposed to the

requirement to have sewer inspections and any repairs made during the

sale of a property; my concern was the heavy costs and the

dictatorial approach; others were concerned with tearing up their

yards and streets to make repairs; etc.)

The council members actually listened to the citizens’ comments

and responded to our concerns. The reason I congratulate both the

city and citizens is that everyone, regardless of their particular

concerns, were working toward a common goal. That goal being to

prevent our nasty and too frequent sewer spills. Everyone appeared to

be in agreement that both the city main lines and our laterals must

be kept in a functional condition to prevent spills. Incidentally,

since tree roots appear to be one of the major causes of our sewer

spills, may I suggest, (as I have done for many years now) that you

do not plant trees or any deep-rooted shrubs near or over your sewer

lateral lines. All but the newest homes have clay pipes whose

connections and cracks are easily penetrated by thirsty vegetation.

The way everyone worked toward achieving the common, and

necessary, goal was the good part of that agenda item. However, the

initially proposed “Private Lateral Sewer Ordinance” as presented by

staff was extremely dictatorial, demanding and costly to almost each

and every citizen.

Planned modifications brought up, and more or less accepted,

during the discussions will hopefully make this ordinance a better

and less-costly tool that will still accomplish the same goal. Again,

that goal being to eliminate or at least substantially reduce sewer

spills.

Achieving this goal is necessary to keep the EPA and all of their

expensive fines from impacting the city and of course, to help keep

our own streets, homes and ocean clean and sanitary. A modified

ordinance will be brought back to council at a later meeting and any

concerned citizen should be there to hear the results of this past

excellent meeting.

DAVE CONNELL

Laguna Beach

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