6 lagunabeachindy . com OCTOBER 7 , 2022
Have you had a close-call crossing at a Crosswalk on Coast Highway in Laguna ? On Sept . 20 at the City Council meeting , I testified that Laguna is in a crosswalk crisis . It was reported that the pedestrian crosswalk lights at Oak Street were working . After I left City Hall , I went to the Oak intersection to make sure they were working . They were not working !
When I arrived at Oak , I had to stop two young girls from continuing to walk across by yelling “ get back !” as a car sped by , missing them by inches before they took that next step . I saved their lives . It was a miracle that I was at the right place at the right time .
We must find common ground to solve this deadly crosswalk crisis in Laguna Beach . Laguna needs safety emergency physical intervention now . I have a solution .
It is a “ two-week temporary plan ” for immediate intervention while a permanent solution is implemented . 1 . Immediately use the white flag system for pedestrians . 2 . Change the blinking lights from yellow to red . ( Everyone knows yellow means proceed with caution , while red means stop . 3 . Uniformed crossing monitors . 4 . Increased police support by hiring more police , some earmarked for crosswalk protection . Laguna Police are very understaffed . 5 . An All-School poster contest titled “ Laguna is in a Crosswalk Crisis !” with awards . 6 . A banner on Forest Avenue , “ Laguna is in a Crosswalk Crisis !” 7 . More safety ideas are welcome and encouraged .
All these steps can be implemented this week . The City needs to buy umbrella stand containers for opposite sides of the crosswalks .
We could start the poster contest . We could print a makeshift banner for Forest Avenue . Crossing monitors to make sure all cars are stopped . We can do it . We want to do it . So , let ’ s do it !
Beth Leeds , Laguna Beach
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There has been much misinformation circulating about Measure Q and the 9 / 23 column in the Indy by Michael Ray tops out as the winner . If you want to know who the developers are and who supports major development in Laguna Beach , they are the ones displaying the Peter Blake signs and the No on Measure Q signs .
Lagunans who support Measure Q want to preserve and promote the village atmosphere of Laguna Beach . We please consider financially supporting the campaign by mailing a check to Laguna Residents First , PO Box 285 , Laguna Beach , CA . 92652 or at least publicly endorse Measure Q by emailing that statement to LagunaResidentsFirst @ gmail . com . Johanna Felder , Laguna Beach
I urge Laguna residents to vote no on Measure Q for compelling public safety reasons .
Measure Q is a lengthy ( 18 pages single-spaced ) poorly written initiative with serious flaws affecting public safety . First , it does not exclude public projects , including critical infrastructures like fire and police stations . Second , Q ’ s required vote for public ( and private ) projects is a majority of the “ electorate ” which Q does not define , but Webster ’ s defines as “ people entitled to vote ,” meaning all registered voters , not just the much smaller number who actually voted . Using the 2018 mid-terms , where 66.3 percent of the City ’ s registered voters voted , just a mere 16 percent “ no ” vote would kill a critical public safety project . ( 100 registered voters ( the “ electorate ”), 51 vote majority to approve the project , 66 people actually vote - takes just 16 “ no ” votes to fall below the 50 percent majority ). This is not hypothetical . Fire Station 4 serving South Laguna is 75 years old , outmoded and inadequate to meet the community ’ s needs . Even
worse , the old building is not seismically resilient and could be lost in an earthquake leaving South Laguna exposed . Replacing Fire Station 4 is one of Laguna ’ s most urgent public safety needs . Fortunately , the City has located and is acquiring ideal replacement property consisting of three parcels that must be merged into one . That merger subjects the project to Q ’ s public vote because it combines parcels exceeding 7,500 square feet .
Realizing this serious flaw , Laguna Residents First PAC posted an open letter to Fire Chief King in last week ’ s Indy , arguing , “ the fact is , a simple lot line adjustment is all that is needed .” This claim is false .
Measure Q defines “ Combining Lots ” as the “ merger of two or more parcels .” LRF argues their own initiative can easily be skirted ( even by developers they vilify ) by a lot line adjustment to create one parcel for
LAST WEEK ’ S QUESTION
Are you for the Promenade becoming a permanent fixture in Laguna ?
- Yes 61 % - No 38.94 % Total Votes 416
THIS WEEK ’ S QUESTION
Are you concerned about crosswalk safety in Laguna ?
- No - Yes
To vote , visit the poll tab at lagunabeachindy . com . Submit poll questions to clara @ firebrandmediainc . com .
LETTERS , page 18
Staff
EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR Clara Beard clara @ firebrandmediainc . com
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PUBLISHER EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Steve Zepezauer
CREATIVE & MARKETING DIRECTOR Tracy Powell
CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER / PUBLISHER Scott Sanchez
CITY HALL MEETINGS :
Wednesday , Oct . 12 . Laguna Beach Administrative Design Review Meeting at 3 p . m .
HOW TO CONTACT THE CITY COUNCIL
Sue Kempf Mayor 439-3001 skempf @ lagunabeachcity . net
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD 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 DEBORAH NEEV : dneev @ lagunabeachcity . net
Bob Whalen Peter Blake Mayor pro tem
Council member
497-0796
584-1224 bwhalen @ lagunabeachcity . net pblake @ lagunabeachcity . net
Toni Iseman Council member 494-7648 tiseman2 @ aol . com
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
George Weiss Council member 295-0832 gweiss @ lagunabeachcity . net
Ann Marie McKay City Clerk 497-0309 amckay @ lagunabeachcity . net
Laura Parisi City Treasurer 949-497-0327 lparisi @ lagunabeachcity . net
OTHER ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES :
REP . MICHELLE STEEL , 1113 Longworth House Office Building , Washington , DC 20515 . 202-225-2415
ASSEMBLYWOMAN COTTIE PETRIE-NORRIS , 19712 MacArthur Blvd . Ste . 150 , Irvine , CA 92612 . 949-251-0074
FIFTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR LISA BARTLETT , 333 W . Santa Ana Blvd ., Santa Ana , CA 92701 714-834- 3550 , Lisa . Bartlett @ ocgov . com
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