lagunabeachindy . com NOVEMBER 4 , 2022 41
Letters
PAGE 36
Advisory Board Members , Cynthia Clotzman , Stacy Ison , Steve Lewis
As a Republican and 49-year law enforcement leader ( former police chief for three cities ), I support candidates — regardless of party — who prioritize public safety and get things done . For that reason , I ’ m urging Laguna voters to elect City Council candidate Alex Rounaghi .
At the County level , I have worked closely with Alex on initiatives related to illegal sober living homes , the fentanyl crisis , and law enforcement funding . Alex ’ s experience / ability , integrity , and his commitment to public safety , would serve him well as a city council member .
Alex is endorsed by the Laguna Beach Firefighters , Laguna Beach Police , the Orange County Deputy Sheriffs , and he has my wholehearted endorsement as well . Dave Snowden , Laguna Beach
Be careful what you wish for when it comes to the “ D ” word and Measure Q …
I know we are not supposed to use the “ D ” word in Laguna but since there really is no developable land left in Laguna , it ’ s actually all about re-development . I am a proponent of reasonable and responsible re-development . It ’ s the fresh stream of water that brings oxygen and nutrients to a stagnant lake or community and keeps it healthy . I know he ’ s not going to like this , but let ’ s take my friend Joe Hanauer as an example . Joe is what I call a responsible re-developer and property owner . His re-development of the Pottery Place in 2006 is , ( and I think most would agree ) a model of charm and character but has a current , updated look , feel and necessities to attract solid tenants . If measure Q were in place , this , and because of the ill constructed “ Cumulative Effect ” language , smaller , ( much smaller ) projects would require a community vote in addition to the already overwhelming approval process we have in place . No reasonable , responsible re-developer , property owner or small shop owner would , could or will attempt the additional process ’ s , risk , time and costs .
My second problem with Q … Our whole democracy is based on representative government . It ’ s why we have elections . We elect leaders to represent us and our views . The idea of having a community vote on everything is Chaos and fortunately our founding fathers understood this principal long ago . We already have systems in place , in fact a very restrictive system and it works , so as my father use to say , “ if it works don ’ t fix it ”
Third and not my last but probably best so I don ’ t lose you . The Voting Threshold , this was either written Naively or Deliberately , both are
just as bad . Q calls for a “ Majority of the Electorate ” to approve most any project . The fact is there are about 18k voters in Laguna ( this is the “ Electorate ”) But only 60 % or 10,800 of us ever vote . This means a shop keeper would need to survive the current approval gauntlet , then pay for a campaign that must achieve 80-90 % of the votes ! Who is crazy enough to make that bet ? Certainly not the kind of responsible and reasonable shop owners and property owners we want and need to keep our charming little town healthy and alive .
Again , be careful what you wish for ,
do we really want to stop ALL reasonable and responsible re-development in Laguna ? Please Vote NO on Q . Steve Samuelian , Laguna Beach
Those in favor of Measures Q and R would have you believe that they would only require a vote for “ major ” developments — like when we voted on the Montage project . If the measures would only require a vote for these once in a lifetime projects we ’ d be having a very different debate in Laguna . The devil is in the details and these measures are simply too broad and would touch too many projects .
WHEN HAVE DEEP POCKET DEVELOPERS EVER LOOKED OUT FOR RESIDENTS ’ RIGHTS ?
A developer ’ s primary goal is maximizing profits by squeezing every last cent out of a project ’ s potential value . Sometimes this comes at the expense of residents who are burdened with new community infrastructure costs and a diminished quality of life .
Developers often see resistance to their projects from residents as a nuisance . Unfortunately , when City Council members team up with developers to pursue their agenda , residents can be ignored , silenced and treated disrespectfully .
As in Laguna ’ s case , residents often get stuck with insider deals they don ’ t support .
Your vote can change this . Please vote wisely .
jeromepudwill4citycouncil . org
That includes much smaller projects than Montage — that ’ s the whole reason that anti-development groups put Q and R on the ballot in the first place .
We elect our Councilmembers for a reason — let ’ s focus on electing some Councilmembers who will represent our interests , and let those elected officials and the Planning Commission get into the details on development projects . I for one don ’ t want to be voting on projects like the South Laguna Fire Station that don ’ t belong on the ballot in the first place .
Emily Moore , Laguna Beach
Paid for by Jerome Pudwill For City Council 2022 – Candidate No . 1453600