mailbag - May 24, 2002

Laguna’s poetic history has another chapter to tell

A little history needs to be added to that which was given in your

article discussing poetry in Laguna (‘Pale Ale and poetry,’ Coastline

Pilot, May 10).

As far as I know, the first poetry meetings here evolved because Nan

Wing was sharing her work with Sue Blevins in their Canyon home.

These were expanded to include Long Beach State comparative literature

professor Peter Carr, Marc Josyln, Marta Mitrovitch, Orange Coast College

English professor Laurence Lieberman, Don Smith and Harry Harrison.

Having attended these meetings as both an artist and sometimes

participant, I remember the first year as 1960. Peter Carr’s Gallinas

Press published at least Nan Wing’s, as well as his work.

From this beginning, Marta Mitrovitch continued the group and took

over the organizational responsibilities of what became Laguna Poets.

I feel credit should be given where it is due. It would be interesting

to be informed by others of earlier poetry being created in Laguna before

this which occurred 42 years ago.

It would be another addition to our cultural history.

ANDY WING

Laguna Beach

Trash truck leaves customer in a stink

What a wonderful trash system we have in our city of Laguna Beach!

With their huge, noisy, heavy trucks that wreck our alleys.

But the worst was yet to come.

Last Friday the Green Waste truck lifted a trash bin so high it pulled

the roof corner of our building up and tore off the trip and the water

spout (rain gutter).

The man knew he did it, as he laid the pieces over to the side of the

building. He did not report it to his bosses, as he should have done.

Now the Waste Management say since I did not see him do it, they are

not responsible and will not fix the damage.

The Green Waste can is still right there with the damage to its back.

Also, who stands out by the alley to watch the trash pickup? They call

this progress.

CAROLINE HOOVER

Laguna Beach

Traffic signals welcome, finally

It is gratifying for city residents, especially those in North Laguna,

to see the start of construction on the additional traffic signals at

Beach Street and Broadway.

The city and Caltrans installed the present signals in 1995 and the

City Council noted with pride this accomplishment in its annual report to

the citizens in 1995.

These original traffic lights, long overdue, permitted safe vehicle

travel at this key intersection and, equally important, safe crossing of

both streets by pedestrians. It was a worthy and significant safety

improvement.

However, the safety problem was not completely resolved since the

additional traffic lights, currently being installed, were not included

in the project. The city has indicated that the additional traffic

signals were not originally planned by Caltrans. Caltrans advises the

lights were deleted from the project as a cost saving by the city.

Immediate and continuing appeals by a number of concerned citizens for

appeals for correction of this problem, which include letters beginning

as early as August 1995, were ignored by the city and Caltrans.

A personal one-inch thick file will confirm this assertion. One

interim action was taken. After repeated contacts with Caltrans, they

agreed to paint a Wait Here sign on the Broadway pavement to assist North

Laguna vehicles on Beach Street to enter when the traffic lights were red

on inbound Broadway. This sign was later removed.

In 2000, following numerous requests from citizens and the Laguna

North Neighborhood Assn. to the city and Caltrans, the project was

scheduled for Caltrans’ next fiscal year (ending June 30, 2001).

Contracts were to be let in January 2001, and the project completed in

March 2001.

Further delays were encountered including the need for the light poles

to be specially welded to meet safety concerns and the designated

contractor’s refusal to sign an agreement that included a performance

clause.

Evidently, based on construction activity on Broadway, all problems

have at last been resolved and the long-awaited traffic signals will be

operative in June 2002.

Congratulations to the city and Caltrans.

KEN ANDERSON

Laguna Beach

$7-million too much for park

Help!

I know I am getting old and senile, but I cannot understand the

miserable mess over the five-acre park to be created as a part of the

Treasure Island hotel complex.

How could five acres of grass, some shrubs, a sprinkler system plus

toilets cost $7-million? Are we buying back title to the land?

If this is the case: why? How can our City Council be manipulated so

easy by the Athens Group? As I recall part of the agreement to issue

permits was that the developer would install the park.

First we gave away a million dollars in permit fees and now the

taxpayers are being asked to pay out millions more. Were we deceived when

the referendum was put before us?

To me the solution is simple. Tell the Athens Group to install a park

or no license to operate will be issued. Let them keep title to the land

if necessary but be sure proper zoning is in effect so they could not

change the usage.

If the city is still stuck with buying the land, let us lease part of

it to fast food restaurants.

That would help us get part of our money back and a 3-acre park is not

too bad. Plus it might make the big shots at Athens a little more

cooperative.

Wake up fellow taxpayers and let that bunch at City Hall know we do

not appreciate being misled so badly.

They are the Laguna Beach City Council, not the representatives for

the Athens Group.

DAN HUSTON

Laguna Beach