Mailbag - April 11, 2002

Let’s create five districts in Huntington Beach

I am definitely for the city being divided into five districts.

LAWRENCE BARNARD

Huntington Beach

Five districts would be divisive

Regarding this proposal of slicing Huntington Beach into five

districts. Is this the same Scott Baugh who tried to rig an election?

Don’t trust him. And not only that, if you want trouble, boy are you

going to get it with divvying up the city like this. There are too many

cultures in this city and it’s best to leave things alone until we learn

how to get along and live with one another.

PAUL FONTES

Huntington Beach

Districting would be a disaster

Former Assemblyman Scott Baugh has proposed an initiative thatwould

divide Huntington Beach into five districts and pare down the City

Council from seven to five members. This is a bad idea for many reasons.

It is, first, a cynical attempt to divide and conquer the community

interests that have elected a moderate local government dedicated to

maintaining our quality of life through a balance of economic progress

and environmental protection.

Secondly, it is an attempt to make it easier to reclaim a majority on

the City Council (some would say “buy”) for alleged pro-business and

development interests.

Nevermind that this could return us to the corrupt and incompetent

“bad old days” when the needs and concerns of the community took a back

seat to the special interests that only cared about power and profits.

Districting could deny the best qualified and most committed citywide

candidates from serving on the council while setting up “turf warfare”

that would pit the interests of one district against the needs and

concerns of another.

Huntington Beach is neither large enough (like L.A.) nor small enough

(like Seal Beach) for districting to work. Anaheim voters rejected

dividing their city into five districts in the 1990s because they

realized the concept’s inequities and shortcomings. So should Huntington

Beach citizens.

If Baugh is truly interested in good government for our city, he

should drop his plans to pursue this divisive initiative.

TIM GEDDES

Huntington Beach

Five districts, seven council members

How to vote over the Huntington Beach districting proposal is going to

be a tough decision. In reviewing the pros and cons, there are numerous

supportive arguments for each position. Districting would provide for

more opportunity for individuals to run for City Council and reduce

campaign costs, as well as allow individuals in their respective

districts greater success in developing a grass-roots support group. It

would also facilitate greater accountability to local citizens, and

assure their needs be addressed at City Hall.

On the flip side, districting could cause greater dissension among the

council, and greater difficulties in coming to consensus. It could

compromise future decisions for the greater good of the whole city. It

could also contribute to favor-switching and compromising votes in order

to achieve what one council person wants for the specific district.

The reduction to five council members is a separate issue in the

initiative.

It is of concern that three people would make major decisions for a

city the size of Huntington Beach, when historically the number has been

four of seven.

A secondary issue not mentioned previously, is the fact that council

members serve as liaisons to numerous committees in the city and the

county. This would impact the quality of representation in these

committees and community meetings, as well as reduce the viability of

candidates who work a full-time job. The idea of government is that

citizens like you and I, are the people who represent us.

A suggestion that seems to have been overlooked, is the continuance of

seven council members; five district council members and two at-large

council members. This would have allowed for more continuity, as well as

an infusion of change that deserves thought and merit.

The public comments and review of the written initiative will

hopefully clear up some of these concerns.

DIANE LENNING

Huntington Beach

Development is ruining the city

I’m calling in regards to your column on Pacific City, cute name. I’ve

lived in Huntington Beach almost all my life I’m 68 and I loved

Huntington Beach the way it used to be.

Yes, I was against the Waterfront Hilton -- hate it, hate it, hate it

-- been there twice since it opened.

I hate the Hyatt. I hate all the development, it’s ruined the city. We

lost our small town. I liked Maxwell’s, the Golden Bear, you’ve only been

here two years you have no idea what this city used to be like.

I’d rather pay more property taxes and have this city be the small and

wonderful and quaint like it used to be . It’s too small to be like Long

Beach. We’re just jamming everything in. This city won’t be happy until

they develop every piece of sand, dirt that there is.

My kids used to ride their horse down where Seacliff is now. They’ve

taken all the charm, I’m hating it, and I’m ready to leave. Again, I’d

rather pay more property taxes and have it be the town it used to be.

CONNIE TUTTLE

Huntington Beach