Mailbag: We need a national policy on the coronavirus

President Trump said the COVID-19 death toll “is what it is” during an interview with “Axios on HBO” last Monday night. He went on to tell Axios’ Jonathan Swan that the coronavirus pandemic is “under control as much as you can control it” in the U.S.

The only problem is medical experts resoundingly disagree. Which is to say, the distance between the science of solving the pandemic and Mr. Trump’s political view of the problem is greater than the distance between Orange County and Hawaii.

So where does this leave you and me? Somewhere between a rock and a hard place I am afraid.

Under Mr. Trump, America’s handling of the pandemic has been piecemeal. Depending on where you live, decisions about how and when to fight the virus have been made by states, counties and cities.

With early testing and tracing in disarray, does anyone believe only 4.8 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus to date? Ditto the 157,000 men, women and children who have died.

I’m guessing their families were shocked, but not surprised, by the president’s cavalier reaction to the passing of their loved ones. After all, “he is who he is.”

In my opinion, we need a national strategy to contain the coronavirus so the economy and our schools can safely reopen. Absent that, there will be more people testing positive and more deaths.

What this means is, sadly, each of us in O.C. is on his or her own. Mr. President, is this any way to win the war on COVID-19?

Denny Freidenrich
Laguna Beach

Salty words for the Poseidon project

While I applaud the letters from two Huntington Beach residents (Richard Armendariz and Randy Kokal) under the heading “Poseidon desal water project is all wet,” one thing must be said that has not surfaced in either the reporting or the letters to date.

When Poseidon first presented its project to the citizens of Huntington Beach at the beginning of the century, they claimed “it wouldn’t cost the local taxpayers a dime.” I believe that was a lie then, and the lies and misrepresentations have only compounded over the years.

Now the ratepayers of our water district will be on the hook for the expensive water transmission system (i.e. pipelines) installation and maintenance as well as contracts with a feckless Orange County Water District board that will guarantee both ultraexpensive desalinized water and annual raises on top of that for decades. This is not what we signed up for!

While the reporting and letters hint at it, nobody comes right and says that the Poseidon folks are scam artists and the desal project is the biggest boondoggle in Huntington Beach history. I’ll be glad to. The public has been flimflammed from day one, and the project’s partisan supporters (especially coopted officials) have repeatedly misrepresented or ignored the facts.

The fact is that OCWD ratepayers and Huntington Beach citizens will be soaked with a tidal wave of negative impacts, both economic and environmental.
-However, the Santa Ana Regional Quality Board and the California Coastal Commission need look no further than the fact that Poseidon is, in my opinion, untrustworthy and unscrupulous in considering the permits needed.

Tim Geddes
Huntington Beach

Looking at Rouda’s financial support

Harley Rouda likes to play himself as the people’s candidate backed by small donations from loyal constituents. On his Facebook and Twitter accounts, he accuses his opponent Michelle Steel of being beholden to big money.

However, history and even the current numbers paint a different picture. Back in 2018, the 48th district became the most expensive congressional race in history, due in large part to the Rouda campaign receiving a $4-million donation from Michael Bloomberg. In January of this year, Rouda returned the favor by endorsing Mike Bloomberg for president.

Furthermore, the current donation numbers indicate that 8.89% of Rouda’s fundraising originates from small-dollar donations while 10.99% of Michelle’s donations are from small-dollar donors. That means Michelle has 1.2 times more grassroots donations than Harley Rouda.

If Rouda wins reelection, it will be important to see how he votes on matters involving UC Irvine, the Walt Disney Co., and Newkirk Enterprises. Each organization donated $20,000 to his reelection campaign. If $4 million buys an endorsement, I’m sure those donations buy at least a vote or two.

Samuel Braun
Fountain Valley

Hopes for the climate change bill

I was pleased to read Tom Osborne and Ann Caenn’s letters to the editor regarding a solution to global warming.

Our government did not prepare us in advance for COVID-19, which could have saved many lives. Now our next even worst disaster will be global warming.

Scientists say we must act now to prevent a catastrophe. We cannot waste time like the government did for COVID-19.

The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act is the best solution. It will create jobs and innovation, clean the air, plus give citizens money each month. We must tell our congressperson to support HR763. It is supported by both parties and is the best solution.

Ginger Fitzpatrick
Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach has something to celebrate

This week, the president, after broad congressional support from both parties, signed the Great American Outdoors Act into law.

This law will finally permanently and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which provides much-needed funding to restore our parks and public lands by addressing severe maintenance backlogs.

Many local activists and environmental organizations have advocated for these provisions in Congress and on the streets of Laguna since the early 1980s.

While we’re happy to have the Great American Outdoors Act codified into law, there are still many important efforts ahead — not just on Capitol Hill but in state capitals all across the country and here at home in Laguna.

For example, we must continue to preserve our architectural and historical heritage. Laguna and its greenbelt have been recognized by the National Park Service as a Historic American Landscape, a “touchstone of national, regional and local identity” and a “fragile place ... affected by forces of nature, commercial and residential development, vandalism and neglect.”

Laguna residents are proud of this recognition. The City Council’s current efforts to weaken our historic preservation ordinance make our advocacy all the more critical.

Unless everyone values the beauty of Laguna Beach, we may lose what so many have worked for over the past 100 years to create.

Johanna Felder
President Village Laguna

Positive words for Herdman

Before running for Newport Beach City Council in 2016, Jeff Herdman followed in his father’s footsteps as a leader.

He served as president for seven years on the Little Island Property Assn. founded by his father, after which he threw his hat into the ring to run for City Council in 2016.

He also served as president of the Balboa Island Improvement Assn., where he put together a dynamic board of directors, a group of people whom Jeff describes as most giving and responsible. He is also extremely proud of his service, worship and involvement at St. Andrew”s Presbyterian Church.

On City Council, Jeff’s excellent communication skills and his conscientiousness have proven very useful in accomplishing the goals he has set out for himself. He is particularly proud to be the one who made the motion to defeat the construction of the Museum House Condominium project.

He is chair of the Aviation Committee and as such has been challenged to work with the FAA, John Wayne Airport, pilots and airlines to try to solve quality-of-life issues for those within our city who are affected by airport noise and pollution.

Being on City Council has afforded Jeff the opportunity to help people, which is what he enjoys most. Becoming advocates for his constituents and steering them in the right direction to solve their problems is what Jeff has valued in the various positions he has held. To him, it is all about “making a difference.”

Lynn Lorenz
Newport Beach

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