Editor,
Gelsons is taking Haggen’s place in December, but as you have heard from neighbors and friends there is great resentment against the bloated, city government for not encouraging other market chains to bid for Haggen’s.
One city councilmember emailed me and said the city had no business interfering in the process. I found his email absurd since the city makes contractors and residents wait months and sometimes years for permits to make improvements or begin new construction. The downtown bagel shop waited almost a year and spent thousands for studies to move 50 feet. Merchants are called to city hall to describe in detail the items they plan to sell.
Laguna Beach citizens talk daily about how the city will interfere in their way of life next and yet now we have only one competitive grocery market in town with a large number of shoppers leaving town to buy groceries. To say Laguna Beach residents have lost faith in the city council and the huge, expensive city government is the understatement of the day and now we face 2016 with a new mayor, Steve Dicterow, who in my opinion is inept and unqualified to be mayor.
Roger Carter, Laguna Beach
I totally agree with you, Roger. Assuming what you say is correct, I suspect there was something very under-handed going on in the city.
As a shopper at one of the many supermarkets at this location for almost 30 years, I am furious that the city cares so little about it’s residents. This is not the kind of market we want, or need. I certainly hope residents will remember this action at election time.