MAILBAG - July 29, 2006

Expanding present senior center is bestI jog by the city’s present senior center often. It is on a prime block-long lot in the heart of downtown where homes sell for upwards of $1.5 million. I have not heard mention of the intended use of the vacated center if a new one is built in Central Park, or of who stands to profit. Could expensive homes appear there someday?

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that the current center is too small, it can easily be expanded at far less cost than building a center from scratch. Most of the current property is used for a giant parking lot, which is rarely, if ever, filled to capacity. Instead of arguing about whether or not we should encroach on a beautiful park, we should be discussing how best to remodel the current senior center.

ART GITTLEMAN

Huntington Beach

For senior center, check a sounding offI just read the July 13 “Sounding Off” commentary of Chuck Beauregard regarding the proposed senior center. I not only agree totally with his statement, but could not have said it any better. He’s right on target.

CHARLES DILDINE

Huntington Beach

Center decision is in best possible handsThere has been a lot of vocal controversy surrounding the proposal to build a senior center in Huntington Central Park on five acres of undeveloped land at Goldenwest and Talbert. But amid all the fervor, it is difficult to determine the will of the majority of Huntington Beach voters. So I applaud the City Council decision to approve taking the proposal to a charter section 612 (Measure C) vote on the November ballot and let the voters decide.

There doesn’t seem to be any disagreement on either side of this issue as to whether the city needs a new senior center. Most everyone agrees a new senior center to replace the existing pre-World War II facility and meet the needs of a younger booming senior population is past due. The controversy surrounds the proposed location. The city, however, did its homework. In October of 2005, city officials hired an independent consultant firm, LPA, Inc., a firm of architects and planners who studied the senior center proposal. The firm created a report including a demographic analysis, outdoor space summary and comparative analysis of facilities and service levels between the existing Huntington Beach senior center and other city senior centers in Orange County. City staff and LPA visited other senior centers in Orange County to make the comparisons. LPA then investigated and evaluated nine city locations based on criteria of site characteristics, access, special conditions, economic conditions and other pertinent data.

LPA ranked the Central Park location at Goldenwest and Talbert first among the nine locations. LPA reported their findings to staff, to the Huntington Beach Council on Aging board, to the public at two town hall meetings and to City Council. More information can be accessed on the city’s website.

I have to question what those who were opposed to putting the measure on the ballot were afraid of?

The Huntington Beach voters are traditionally active and civic-minded, and an informed decision to build the senior center at the premier site is now in the best of hands — the citizens of Huntington Beach.

TERI SIMONIS

Huntington Beach

What candidates need to do this fallI feel the people of Huntington Beach have to be assured that the candidates will work toward restoring trust in the elected officials. They must promise to act ethically, to not be pawns of special interests and to care about the environment.

VI COWDEN

Huntington Beach