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
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