In his recent Indy column, David Raber, a principal member of Laguna Residents First, says Joe Hanauer got the LRF PAC Initiative all wrong in his recent Indy column. If you are just tuning in, Hanauer is the hometown developer everyone likes. In the movie of his life, he will be played by Tom Hanks. That makes his opposition to the Initiative a blow to those who see it as the only way to stop those developers who are not like Hanauer, and whose bulldozers are idling out past Big Bend ready to scrape the town. Although I urge everyone to read the initiative—which I have —I can’t tell you whether Hanauer or Raber has it right. What I can tell you is this: If the LRF PAC Initiative has confused a savvy developer like Joe Hanauer, what hope is there for the rest of us?
Chris Quilter is an advocate for housing and senior issues, and a past co-writer of Lagunatics.
Chris Quilter Joe Hanauer claims he is confused so he can elicit the exact response that you gave. He is not confused, in my view, but if he is then David Raber can certainly “deconfuse” him but only if Hanauer so chooses.
Here’s a question for you:
When it comes to the development of Laguna Beach, whose ballot initiative are you going to trust more:
The one written by deep-pocket developers, commercial landlords and the City Council members they’ve contributed campaign funds to
Or
The one written by local residents who want to want to retain a higher quality of life for citizens by setting limits on overdevelopment and overtourism? And even those limits can be overturned by a popular vote from residents.
Mr. Hanauer may be confused and mean well, but here’s a simple fact:
The Laguna Residents First ballot initiative is the only initiative that gives residents the right to vote on and approve of oversized, architecturally incompatible projects.
It is the only ballot initiative that closes all the loop holes, insider workarounds, and crony politics that allows for overdevelopment. (As things stand, just three Council members can override ordinances and offer variances on practically all projects – residents have absolutely no say.)
If you want the right to have a say in your town and how your taxes are spent, if you’re tired of overtourism, if you fear that Laguna is going to lose its small town village charm – then voting yes on the Laguna Residents First ballot initiative is your only choice.
Otherwise – say bye-bye Laguna, hello Huntington Beach.
PS. Why do you think developers and their paid-for City Council members are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to create an alternative ballot initiative and spread misinformation to defeat the residents’ initiative? It’s certainly not out of the kindness of their hearts.
Similar initiatives have proven successful in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and now – belatedly – in Dana Point . . . and you can see what’s happening to Dana Point because it didn’t previously have its initiative.
Vote yes for the Laguna Residents First ballot initiative – written by residents, for residents – and help save Laguna.
Thank you Jerome. You so easily resolve the developer/investor confusion issue and the potential for city government leadership corruption:
“It is the only ballot initiative that closes all the loop holes, insider workarounds, and crony politics that allows for overdevelopment. (As things stand, just three Council members can override ordinances and offer variances on practically all projects – residents have absolutely no say.)” Jerome Pudwill.
You nailed it. And so will the LRF Ballot Initiative.
LB LOCALS VOTE YES!
We’ll see. Just five endless months before we get to vote.
Mr. Catsimanes:
You’re on the right track!
Joe is sandbagging those who read his propaganda and then either keep drinking the kool-aid or convert. Fear of the unknown is a powerful weapon.
As for those already suspicious of the Initiative, uncertain about change, confirmation bias is difficult to overcome.
The campaign that our Pal Joey and his developer friends, enabled and assisted by their empty headed minions of darkness shills (via LTE, columns, SM, etc.) can only be sustained with false allegations, most of which border on being catastrophic and cataclysmic.
You’re creating a mythology, a bogus story line.
C’mon, Joe, you cannot be serious: You’ve been in the real estate development/redevelopment business for many many decades. This isn’t your first rodeo.
Who in their right natural mind should believe that a millionaire with your portfolio is actually confused?
You’ve no doubt read, digested and then negotiated far more complex documents than this one.
And being a millionaire you could always afford to pay someone to provide you with the Cliff Notes synopsis version.
Smoke and mirrors, this campaign of yours and your ilk (“Oh, gee willikers, I’m sooooo confused!”) is reflective of how shallow you believe locals are.
And trusting rubes might convert or those on the bubble be convinced due to the sheer volume, the tsunami of the false narratives that superficially appear truthful, that’ve been created by your campaign.
“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie — deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth — persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”
— John F. Kennedy