Condo dealings need some common sense All...

Condo dealings need some common sense

All we need is common sense in this condo conversion mess. If it

takes the FBI, so be it.

Common sense says if a person bought a condo, the people who sold

it to them knew they didn’t get the permits to convert it from an

apartment to a condo. The real estate person and the title company

failed in their jobs to be sure their client purchased a legal condo.

The innocent buyer shouldn’t have to pay a dime more than they

already paid when they bought the condo.

No rocket scientist is needed here.

EILEEN MURPHY

Huntington Beach

Yes, I think the FBI should be brought into this condo

controversy, because, look, these are the people on our Planning

Commission and our City Council. These are the people we elected to

represent us and it’s like Martha Stewart -- some people think

they’re above the law. Why would these poor people who saved up to

get their first home be charged for the fees that these people made a

tremendous profit on? I think the FBI should be brought in and who

knows, maybe even the CIA.

CHARLOTTE GITTLEMAN

Huntington Beach

I believe it’s appropriate that the FBI look into this conversion

situation. Not only from the point of view that there may be bank

fraud involved, now for the fact that we have a City Councilwoman

involved in this process. And therefore it is appropriate that

another outside agency, other than the county and city, look into the

situation and be sure that all the legal issues are being adhered to,

and that if somebody has done something wrong, let this be followed

up on and not swept under the rug.

PHILIP INGLE

Huntington Beach

Pets and children safer for efforts

Kudos to Vic Leipzig and Lou Murray for their July 22 column, “The

complicated life of a ground squirrel,” which explained the reality

of the California ground squirrel situation in Huntington Beach, and,

while being very cute and fun to watch, California ground squirrels

are officially deemed pests (varmints), which should be managed for

the better good of our local natural, restored and/or protected

environmental communities, as well as to protect our homes and county

infrastructure from possible damage caused by their burrowing

activities.

Kudos as well to Huntington Beach resident and environmental

activist (activist in the purest sense of the word) Merrilee

Madrigal, who single-handedly alerted residents (via several local

Internet message boards) and the proper authorities, that improper

means were being employed to control the ground squirrel population

in southern reaches of the Santa Ana river, which could have

endangered children and pets, and other wildlife as well.

TOM POLKOW

Huntington Beach

Listen to people: get rid of helicopters

I read the Mailbag every week, and there always seems to be talk

about the helicopters. The vast majority of residents have valid

claims on how they are not cost effective, too noisy and too

expensive. The only logical thing to do is to sell two of them and

put the other on standby and only fly it if called. I agree with

Harvey Broadway, William Winterrow, and all the other writers to get

rid of the helicopters. If this administration is not listening to us

about this, we should get ride of them too, like former Gov. Gray

Davis.

DENNIS BERKLEY

Huntington Beach

Andy Van Holt could not be more wrong about the Huntington Beach

helicopters (“Do research before ripping program,” July 15 Mailbag).

Van Holt says, “the helicopter can land where it’s safe and make an

arrest.” Yeah ... that could happen. I was a helicopter pilot. You

will never see Huntington Beach Police Department land and make an

arrest.

A few weeks ago, a Jack Harris wrote about the extreme cost of

these three helicopters (“Huntington could do without helicopters,”

June 30 Mailbag.) I agree with him also. Get rid of the helicopters.

TOM MILLER

Huntington Beach

Quit your whining, like it or leave it

My personal experience with helicopters is one of safety and

reassurance.

Back in the late 1970s and ‘80s, when I was a single parent with a

small child, there was a rash of robberies at restaurants near where

we lived in a cul-de-sac, and a helicopter was used properly,

apprehending the robbers, who, by the way, were on foot going through

our yard. I may hear them at night but I feel safer with them over

head.

I do agree with Andy Van Holt that if it bothers you that much,

move to another city (“Do research before ripping program,” July 15

Mailbag). I’m amazed at these people in the newer communities of

Seacliff, etc. What, you have more money so you can whine and

complain more? For some of us, who have been in Huntington Beach for

30-plus years, we are here because we love this city.

You don’t just move into a new area and decide to you don’t like

this so you’re going to whine about it. If they’re so dissatisfied

with how the city does things, including conducting the police

department helicopter program, they need to go whine somewhere else

in another city. It does make a little noise at night but you know

what, close your eyes and go back to sleep. I’m tired of these new

people complaining. This issue needs to go away. No comments about it

any further. Thank you.

BARBARA DICKENSON

Huntington Beach

Candidates need to be good students

When I was going to school, the three main qualities that made a

good student were knowing the material, doing the homework and

effectively participating in class. This provided a good foundation

for taking tests and quizzes, writing persuasive essays and making

effective presentations.

Much the same is true for what I look for in City Council and

school board candidates. They must know the material (the operations

of municipal government or the school district), they must do their

homework in understanding the issues and concerns before them, and

they must effectively participate in the decision-making process by

listening to their constituents and by looking at all sides of the

issues brought before them. Doing this will provide a good foundation

for making wise decisions, for communicating well with council

colleagues, staff and the public, and for exercising leadership in

moving us forward.

Those who seek to lead our city or school districts should also

seek to be good students of their offices.

TIM GEDDES

Huntington Beach