MAILBAG: Dome Village activist’s proposal ignored

A year or so ago a dear friend of mine, Ted Hayes, the homeless activist from Los Angeles whom many may know as the man who created the successful Dome Village, asked me to get him in touch with our City Council so he may offer his assistance with our homeless situation.

Hayes has been a guest in my home many times, and my family and I have participated in several of his marches and rallies. Ted and I even shared a stage at the Nixon Library where we both gave speeches in the early presidential campaign.

He is an incredible man, an inspiration to all who know him, and a kind and loving soul.

Ted had a plan for Laguna Beach to replicate a mini Dome Village much like what he had done in L.A., where the homeless each would have their own unit that would require chores and responsibilities.

The Village would have an improvement/job center, rules, and be self-contained. He wished to lay his plans out for Laguna Beach to consider.

I called City Hall and learned the council member most likely to take an interest would be Kelly Boyd. I got his cell-phone number from the city website, called him, explained that Ted Hayes, founder of Dome Village, wished to speak with him and gave him two phone numbers where he could be reached.

Boyd said he would be interested in speaking with Hayes and assured me he would call him right away.

To this day my friend, Ted Hayes, tells me that no one from the city of Laguna Beach has spoken with him or even left a message at either number. How sad. How sad for Laguna Beach.

Eileen Garcia

Laguna Beach

? SUPER Project must be moved forward

Editor’s note: The following letter was addressed to City Manager Ken Frank and the Laguna Beach City Council.

My wife and I have lived in Laguna Beach for more than 30 years and at our current residence for 10 years and would like to lend our support for the Aliso Creek SUPER project.

We have walked in and around the Aliso Creek runoff areas and are appalled that nothing has been done to clean up the polluted water that runs through our community and into the ocean.

Is there anything we can do to help get this badly needed restoration project on track?

Ron And Debbie Marshall

Laguna Beach

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Taxes should not be used for homeless

We all know what being a good Samaritan implies “” compassion and outreach to those less fortunate.

Most everyone has extended a helping hand to another person in need, either personally or through voluntary contributions to charitable organizations, i.e.; Red Cross, Salvation Army, and other like efforts, the list is endless.

However, a similar distinction prevails throughout all these charitable endeavors.

They rely on voluntary contributions of personal funds and/or involvement.

The original good Samaritan also made an individual decision to aid a needy stranger. He didn’t ask or expect others to join him.

The current City Council Advisory Committee and the Homeless Task force should consider a similar premise, that any assistance to our transient homeless visitors is addressed primarily through voluntary contributions of private funds and personal commitments and services offered by County of Orange.

There is no reasonable justification to expect the city of Laguna Beach, which represents the best interests of all our residents, to assume an ongoing financial obligation to provide housing, feeding, and counseling services for a few transient visitors.

Let’s applaud those persons who follow the lesson of the good Samaritan; however, they should not expect nor demand that the entire community fund their efforts with public tax-supported programs.

We believe the majority of Laguna’s good Samaritans would prefer to make their own choices as to who they wish to assist through charitable means.

Laguna Beach residents, who have similar concerns, or have personally experienced any intimidating behavior or witnessed offensive conduct, should let the mayor and City Council members know their feelings on this serious local issue before final decisions are made.

Call (949) 497-7053 for further information.

Karl Koski

Laguna Beach

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Editor’s note: Karl Koski is a member of the Laguna Beach Taxpayers Assn.