Editor,
One subject no one brings up in conversation is Laguna Beach city government. The Indy front-page article (“Turnover at City Hall,” May 6 edition) about key people leaving city hall was a pleasant surprise. How could the city public works director, who supervises about 40 employees, make nearly $300,000 a year and when he retires make almost that amount. Only in Laguna.
Some city council members quietly report that City Manager John Pietig is a micro manager, nosing into every thing and driving anyone with ability to San Juan or some other city waiting for our talented personnel.
Citizens point to boondoggles like the bagel shop on Ocean Avenue waiting a year to move 40 feet and the new police chief, who may be very talented but turns her back on deliveries of pot, pot shops and speeding cars all over Laguna.
Whose fault is the talent drain at city hall? I would say the city council, our lackluster mayor and other city council members who sit by and do what the city manager tells them to do.
Roger Carter, Laguna Beach
I couldn’t agree more! Not quite sure what the new chief is doing besides hosting coffees, but I sure wish she’d spend an hour watching the traffic flow at Glennayre & Park. Pedestrians cross the street there at their own peril.
After several meetings with the man I know he doesn’t care about cell phone towers being in people’s back yards. Other cities have told the cell phone companies where they can and cannot have cell towers, they protect their citizens. Not Laguna Beach, they have allowed them to run unopposed, adding more and more towers with stronger signal strength.
There are valid studies showing that exposure to RF Emissions is unhealthy and can lead to cancer.
John Pietig does nothing.
As for speeding cars, North Laguna has become a race track, as people enter town or leave it appears they have to show a little muscle with their cars. This did not happen when we had our favorite cop at the top of the hill ready to ticket anyone that was not going 45. It slowed everyone down. Why is that person gone? We have had terrible accidents along that stretch of highway.
Laguna Beach taxpayers must turn their attention to the exaggerated base salaries and benefits being paid for public service positions of city staff and the retirement pensions received by city employees. Citizens need to pay attention to the salary increases City Council has unanimously voted to approve for City Manager.
A Citizen Oversight committee should be formed to prevent city government overreach of authority. We have enough key players involved in the many NGO in Laguna Beach to fill positions in a Citizen Oversight Committee. Many citizens serve as known volunteers for city government. Citizens know the names of thees puppets of city government who regularly speak during public comment when prompted by city officials.
I’m usually in agreement when it comes to curtailing bloated city employee salaries and pensions, but the City Manager’s position is one of those rare positions that warrants competitive pay. A good City Manager can literally make or break a city. And Mr. Pietag serves us well. I would encourage readers to focus their efforts on school administrative salaries along fire.