6 lagunabeachindy . com JUNE 21 , 2024
Letters LETTERS CAN BE MAILED TO : EDITOR @ LBINDY . COM
Affordable Housing in Laguna
Hats off to our local Neighborhood Congregational Church and its willingness to use excess space to build low-income housing . This is such a Christian act . We have a large number of residents who would qualify for this type of housing . These individuals are facing challenging difficulties and navigating the increased rental costs happening all over Laguna . Many of these individuals work in our stores and restaurants . They have been good citizens for a long time . The rental situation is constantly changing in Laguna as landlords find they can get more money for their rentals . It would be a shame to lose these great workers because there is no affordable housing in town .
Laguna Beach Unified School District has worked with the County of Orange to establish a 55-year agreement , allowing National Church Residences to transform a vacant school into 70 units of low-income senior housing in south Laguna . One of our servers from a local restaurant finally cleared the waiting list , and she was able to move into this wonderful residence . This move has made all the difference to this older individual ’ s ability to stay in Laguna comfortably and pay her rent . The renters have added to the neighborhood , bought goods and services from local merchants , and not caused any problems over the last 50 years .
I am sure the Congregational Church will be a good steward of its land and involve its neighbors in making decisions that will make the projects work and fit into the community .
I hope that our other churches , which are wealthier and have more land , will consider this Christian act of providing housing for needy residents .
Jim Kelly , Laguna Beach
A Sin Tax for Drinking Alcohol as a Revenue Source ?
I watched and listened to the City Council meeting last Tuesday night , June 11 . Desperately seeking revenue sources to fund the humungous pile of Capital Improvement Projects ( CIPs ) plus operation and maintenance costs , community services , etc ., I didn ’ t hear anyone start a conversation about “ sin taxes ,” in this case , alcohol-serving establishments . Maybe the fines from tickets for open container violators , plus DUIs ?
I wondered how many drinks are sold by our bars or alcohol-serving restaurants per year .
Since they often abuse our police department ’ s time for various complaint calls , create nuisances near these businesses , are often loud and obnoxious in our local favorite spots and jeopardize our lives when they get behind the wheel , maybe add 10 % to libation costs , earmarked and deposited directly to the city ?
LETTERS , PAGE 8
theIndyPoll
LAST WEEK ’ S QUESTION
Do you support Neighborhood Congregational Church ’ s affordable housing project , which hopes to bring 72 affordable units to Laguna Beach ? - Yes : 50.53 % ( 384 votes ) - No : 49.47 % ( 376 votes ) TOTAL VOTES : 760
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EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR Clara Beard clara @ firebrandmediainc . com
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DESIGN DIRECTOR Tracy Powell
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ADVERTISING SALES TEAM Carol Josepher Chris Mattingley Adrienne Kruse Mara Hertel
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A publication of
PUBLISHER EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Steve Zepezauer
CREATIVE & MARKETING DIRECTOR Tracy Powell
PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING Scott Sanchez
CITY HALL MEETINGS :
June 25 - Laguna Beach City Council at 5 p . m . June 26 - Administrative Design Review at 3 p . m .
HOW TO CONTACT THE CITY COUNCIL OUR LETTER POLICY
Sue Kempf Mayor skempf @ lagunabeachcity . net
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
Alex Rounaghi Mayor Pro Tem arounaghi @ lagunabeachcity . net
SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAYS , 5 PM LOUIS WEIL : lweil @ lagunabeachcity . net KRISTINE THALMAN : kthalman @ lagunabeachcity . net DON SHERIDAN : dsheridan @ lagunabeachcity . net JESSICA GANNON : jgannon @ lagunabeachcity . net TOM GIBBS : tgibbs @ lagunabeachcity . net
George Weiss Council member gweiss @ lagunabeachcity . net
Bob Whalen Council member bwhalen @ lagunabeachcity . net
PLANNING COMMISSION 1ST AND 3RD WEDNESDAYS , 6 PM STEVEN KELLENBERG , steve @ kellenbergstudio . com KEN SADLER : 616-0517 , ken . sadler @ cox . net JORG DUBIN : 497-2618 , jdubinart @ cox . net STEVE GOLDMAN : 203-554-2290 , steveg415 @ ymail . com SUSAN McLINTOCK WHITIN : 838-6317 , whitinsusan @ gmail . com
Mark Orgill Council member morgill @ lagunabeachcity . net
Ann Marie McKay City Clerk amckay @ lagunabeachcity . net
Laura Parisi City Treasurer lparisi @ lagunabeachcity . net
OTHER ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES :
REP . KATIE PORTER , 1113 Longworth House Office Building , Washington , DC 20515 . 202-225-2415
ASSEMBLYWOMAN DIANE DIXON , 19712 MacArthur Blvd . Ste . 150 , Irvine , CA 92612 . 949-251-0074
FIFTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR KATRINA FOLEY , 333 W . Santa Ana Blvd ., Santa Ana , CA 92701 714-834- 3550 , Lisa . Bartlett @ ocgov . com
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