MAILBAG - Sept. 28, 2006

Too many too quick to jump on police

Some people seem to think that a couple of big bullies (police) with a need to shoot resulted in the killing of Ashley MacDonald. That viewpoint is myopic. Would public sentiment be different if MacDonald instead was a large man, possibly a minority, or if final word comes out that one or both officers were petite females? Before the facts are known, why the tremendous public outcry focused on gender, age and color on both sides of the issue?

Does anyone else not see the irony in the vilifying of our police force in regards to a girl with a knife being shot when the only two homicides so far this year in Huntington Beach were committed either wholly or in part by young females with knives?

KRISTIN R. STILTON

Huntington Beach

Tree problem just first to sprout

The Sept. 14 Independent story regarding the destruction of eucalyptus groves on the Bolsa Chica mesa raises an interesting conundrum (“Trees dying at Bolsa Chica”). It seems that Bolsa Chica wetlands advocates went to court in 1999 to force the eucalyptus groves on the Bolsa Chica mesa to be designated as environmentally sensitive habitat areas, not to be destroyed by developers, then “mitigated” through off-site restoration. However now, in 2006, the actions of those same wetlands advocates are apparently causing the devastation of those same eucalyptus groves and most likely will end up destroying them completely within a year or two.

Now, it seems to me, this may mean that those groups and government entities (the wetlands “developers,” if you will) who are responsible for flooding the restored inner tidal basin with saltwater are now themselves in violation of that appeals court order (and a Coastal Commission edict as well), and that a cease and desist order should be issued immediately to attempt to save those precious trees and raptor habitat. Meaning, of course, that the ocean inlet and harbor tidal gates should all be closed and the inner tidal basin drained until this environmental mess is fully assessed and/or fixed.

If this very serious, but unforeseen, issue has already occurred so soon after the “grand opening” of the Bolsa Chica wetlands restoration project, what else — what other “surprises” — may lie in store for us, and our beaches, in the future?

TOM POLKOW

Huntington Beach

Park funds being taken from residents

It is tragic that so much energy was expended at the Sept. 18 City Council meeting to justify that it was legal to spend Quimby Act money from the Pacific City developer and other funds to bankroll the proposed community facility, a.k.a the new senior center, in Central Park and not enough attention given to the fact that our park development fund should be serving all segments of our residents in all areas of our city, with parks and recreation improvements as the first priority.

My neighborhood park needs attention and so do others in the surrounding area of my section of the city, the southeast. We have been told that it is a lack of funding that is the holdup. Central Park itself is in need of sprucing up, especially its restroom facilities, which are atrocious. What about the needs of the majority of our residents?

My suggestion is to let the developer fees go into the park fund now and take care of pressing park and recreation needs in our city first. If there are leftover funds, then see what happens after the Measure T vote in November.

Short of this, I would label Measure T for “Tragic” for hijacking our park funds that could contribute both to the quality of life for our locals and to the beautification and attraction factor for our visitors.

TIM GEDDES

Huntington Beach

Present spot the best for senior center

In Robert Dettloff’s letter about the proposed senior center in the Sept. 14 Independent, he is concerned about the possibility of liquefaction on the present senior center on 17th Street if, as has been suggested, a new senior center were built there.

He better tighten his seat belt if he’s worried about liquefaction. The proposed Community Center he is sponsoring in Central Park is adjacent to the Shipley Center. Shipley’s walking paths this winter were underwater due to the high water table in the park area.

I’d say there’s less chance of liquefaction at the present site of the senior center. The old center could be demolished and a two-story building with underground parking replace it. The land on 1st Street is dedicated to a senior center so there’s no problem with rebuilding it at this site.

As a senior we need a new center but not at the expense of irreplaceable park land.

EILEEN MURPHY

Huntington Beach