Perhaps it’s just the new style. Those who we disagree with have to be made into villains. This is the example that our president is setting for us, such as the “villainification” of CNN. It is unfortunate to see the spread of accusations that paints a group or class as villains rather than sticking to a healthy, open debate on the underlying issues of disagreement.
While I am certainly not here to defend Village Laguna and all, or any, of what they do and stand for, making them out to be a band of marauders who swoop into Laguna and control all that goes on here, and to lay all of the city’s problems at their doorstep, is a vast overstatement and oversimplification. We know that some of the candidates bitterly disagree with Village Laguna, what it stands for, and what it has accomplished in the past. Many of us have disagreed with them at times. Goodness knows that even Village Laguna has disagreed with itself on a few occasions in the past. This is all part of a healthy democratic process.
Can’t we all just address the issues without villainizing those who we disagree with? If someone has tried to work around various height and mass restrictions in the past and have been thwarted, then is it really productive to rail against those who support these common-sense limits to what the rest of us want for Laguna? Just tell it like it is. If you want a bigger, denser, taller, and more congested downtown, then let that be your rallying cry. Realize that the rest of us are not under some magic spell from an evil group. Awaken from that dream. It’s just that your vision of Laguna and our vision of Laguna differ, which is ok. It being ok really is what makes Laguna, Laguna.
David Raber, Laguna Beach
The problem is Laguna Village visions for of our town are history, they long for the good ol days. They wish they could freeze time and the development of the city. They fail to realize Laguna has never stopped growing or changing and will never cease to, remember the dance hall on main beach? The reality is the structures they treasure the most (lifeguard/gas station tower, hotel Laguna and the Heisler Building etc) would never be able to be built now because of the Village. Not to mention the hypocrisy when they fight rooftop decks but bring visitors to show off views.
CNN has come out publicly and said they make up stories about our President. I don’t think any more evidence is required for that rags agenda. Mind you a President who is getting more good things done in two years for our country than other Presidents have accomplished in decades. I love our country and I love President Trump. He is just what our country needed. The democrats have proven to be horrible losers and can not get over the 2016 elections. The seem to want to do any and everything to destroy our republic. SHAME SHAME!