Fans of desalination plant their support I...

Fans of desalination plant their support

I think that we as Huntington Beach residents should consider an

option like desalination. It would be another way to get water and

would generate much-needed revenue for our city.

LISA TRIPODO

Huntington Beach

Now is the time for the desalination plant.

PAT DAVIS

Huntington Beach

Desalination is the answer to the need for increased water supply.

I strongly support the Poseidon project.

CAROL SPEAKER

Huntington Beach

I would like to register my vote in favor of the planned

desalinization plant in Huntington Beach. It is a much-needed and

highly practical step in the solution to Southern California’s

current and future water problems.

GEORGE CROSS

Huntington Beach

Future sources of fresh water will be critical. I support the

Poseidon desalination project.

DALE L. DUNN

Huntington Beach

We are in support of the desalination plant in Huntington Beach.

DON and MARILYN MACALLISTER

Huntington Beach

Appreciative of

a good neighbor

Boeing will be sorely missed.

They have been wonderful neighbors for so many years.

As a member of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust they have been

unbelievably generous with our grants that they have funded for the

last 12 years.

What a shame to lose such wonderful caring people and a great

company.

This is really a sad day for Huntington Beach.

I wish them good luck.

EILEEN MURPHY

Huntington Beach

Of the Bolsa Chica and desalination

The Independent has always, in my opinion, used its power as a

media to publish both sides of controversial issues. Three writers

had articles published on May 5: “Enough progress already;” “An

invite to walk the wetlands;” and “Is cheaper water possible?” All

objected to my stand on progress and prosperity for Huntington Beach.

Two of the writers lowered the bar to a personal attack, which is

their prerogative, but their attack did not explain how progress or

filling in so-called wetlands was inferior to what they want.

One writer decried the condos built on the beach that were

probably built before he moved to our city and asked, “Do we need

more people and homes?” To that I say we have the people, what we

need is affordable housing to eliminate their long commute from other

cities to work in our community. He then talks of “beautification

projects we have had to endure.” Those projects have made it possible

to provide adequate salaries for the people who give our city the

services that benefit all of us. I think this writer is so livid in

his war against progress that he states, “Are we not going to have

any square footage where weeds and grass grow that are not paying

taxes?” This question stopped me for a while but the writer

unknowingly made a slip. That is correct weeds, grass, birds, insects

and reptiles do not pay taxes. I may be able to convert this writer

after all.

The writer goes on to invite me to leave Huntington Beach and go

to Victorville and Lancaster “They would appreciate [my] support”.

Sorry, but I worked at the Victorville Air Base upon discharge after

serving in World War II because I was offered a lucrative position

and salary to prepare B-29s that were stored there after returning

from the South Pacific. My job was to see they were prepared for a

safe “one-time flight” to Warner Robins Air Force Base for

refurbishment or salvage. My later visits pleased and astonished me

as Victorville is no longer a wide spot in the road with a cement

processing plant but a thriving, well-developed city with all the

amenities we have and more. And the developing is still going strong.

Lancaster and Palmdale people have homes in those two cities and

worked in the “skunk works” that built some of our latest state of

the art Air Force bombers and are also developing their cities

further.

One other writer, also lowering the bar to a personal level,

invited me to take a walk through the Bolsa Chica “and enjoy the

beautiful things nature gave us.” Sorry but I have been there and

done that. There is not enough insect repellent, with DEET, available

to entice me back to that swamp, or so called wetlands. I see more

beauty walking my neighborhood enjoying the well-kept lawns, flowers

of all colors and fragrances and well-chosen trees. My neighbors are

supplying more oxygen with their plantings than the hundreds of

pickle weed and whatever in Bolsa Chica’s hundreds of acres that is

going to cost the taxpayers hundreds upon hundreds of million dollars

to “develop” and maintain. I suggest Bolsa Chica supporters enjoy

wallowing in their victory in diverting money meant for clean water

to purchase land that could have been used for its original purpose.

The third writer urges us to use common sense instead of building

a desalination plant to make us less dependent on Northern California

and the Colorado river water. To me, taking advantage of a process to

convert the infinite supply of sea water to potable water is common

sense. During the late days of my career I spent considerable time on

a remote coral atoll, Johnston Island, in the South Pacific. Our only

source of water was from two huge diesel engines running 24 hours a

day operating a desalination plant. I drank it, showered in it,

washed my clothes in it and found it mixed good with bourbon. Ice was

a precious commodity so my colleagues along with me had to forgo that

luxury in our drink. I do not intend to demean our city-supplied

water but the desalination water tasted better. Please don’t invite

me for a sociable drink. My long career was interesting, busy and

diverse, but it left me with an ulcer and hypertension.

In closing let me say the only advantage one can enjoy after

getting old, is being to able to say “I have been there and done

that” and to encourage those that follow not to be content with the

status quo but take advantage of the benefits that intelligent and

intense well thought-out progress will bring and benefit those that

hopefully, continue to do so after we are all long gone and

forgotten.

BOB POLKOW

Huntington Beach