Letter: Why Did City Turn Blind Eye to Imminent Trouble?

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It was a disturbing spectacle, not unlike a scene out of “A Clockwork Orange.” Armed thugs from opposing camps battling it out in the lobby of the century-old Hotel Laguna. One has to ask, how was Laguna’s “jewel in the crown” landmark allowed to evolve into such a toxic soup? For years, despite clear evidence portending imminent trouble, why did our City Manager and our City Council choose to sit on the sidelines and sleep at the wheel? Why, time and again, did they turn a blind eye time to a pattern of brazen disregard for municipal building codes and policies? No approved plans, construction without permits, failure to pay contractors and workers and bullying those who called for a public review. The writing was on the wall for everyone to see. Still, they bought the snake oil when any observer with the slightest sense of veracity knew they were being played. Our public stewards, entrusted to act in the residents’ interest, botched it. And their inattentive leadership will impact our community for decades to come. What has happened to the Hotel Laguna is a shameful embarrassment for a once proud city.

Randy Lewis, Laguna Beach

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8 COMMENTS

  1. Here we go, blame the city. Randy, exactly what could our city have done? Give us some specifics, please, from a legal standpoint.

  2. Randy Lewis take a valium.

    Your whimpy Laguna way is nothing more than digital pandering (of the mouth).

    There’s millions of dollars in private capital at stake and security guards are the right way to secure property.

    Being as you’ve never owned or operated as a Capitalist you should STFU, and lead, follow or get out of the way.

  3. Editor: I’m surprised you allow replies from the fake user: “Martin S Lishon” or “Martin R Lishon Sr.” (from a reply to 28April23 LTE: “More Cover-Up Behind the Scenes”) that include well-understood profanities: WTF and STFU. This user(s) has no online footprint except those found in LTE responses to Indy letters. Please do better, even with your limited resources, to disallow the small chorus of pro-developer/pro-Chamber voices to sway the discussion with fake users, especially those that are profane and discourteous.

  4. The City (Mayor Whalen, City Manager Dupuis and the City Attorney) had the legal documents shown to them that proved them MOM group had a legal right to operate both 14 West and Hotel Laguna and that Mo Haranarkar was the trespasser. But again as has happened in the past the City Manager aided and abetted by Bob Whalen and the City Attorney chose to use the excuse that this was a civil matter and that both sides were going to be punished thereby favoring Harnarkar. This was an armed invasion of private property pure and simple. From what was described at the City Council meeting IMO it is equivalent to one buying a home and having the deed to prove ownership. Then previous owner using armed thugs breaks down the door of the the house trashes it and steals money. The police are then called but instead of arresting the the armed thugs they kick the owner and their guests as well as the armed thugs out and lock the home. This could have only happened IMO if the whole scenario was pre planned. So IMO the Mayor, the City Manager and the City Attorney were complicit in a total miscarriage of the law. And for what purpose? Harnarkar had no legal right to be trespassing with armed guards.

    That was an armed invasion endangering employees, hotel guests as well as residents. Imagine being awakened in the middle of the night by police telling you that you had to vacate your hotel room! The Mayor, the City Manager and the City Atorney IMO should all resign. Enough is enough!

    I am curious to see if the new owners will sue both Harnarkar and the City. I don’t think they will sue the City as they now have seen what favors can be had if you play along with the power structure. IMO Harnarkar certainly had more than his share of favors, especially from the City Manager and her staff.

  5. Gee Billy. How about no work without an overall plan? There is no such plan now on file with the city. What about removing load bearing walls with no permit? Or illegal asbestos removal? Or removing steps to the beach with no permit? Or being redtagged how many times? Or marking off a beach as private getting Coastal Commission involved? How about stone cold silence from City Council on any of these things except in a Brown Act violation in closed session where they gave the go ahead despite all these problems?? Need I give you more examples? If you had been paying attention these last two years you would have known this.

  6. Thank you Randy, Chris and Michele. I agree with your comments. No more examples are needed to show the City’s negligence to me.

    I hope City officials have learned what can happen when they admit-tingly “bent over backwards” as Community Development Director Weiner stated they had done for Mo Honarker who continually disregarded our building codes, laws and staff.

    Wonder what the cost to our City is in such high-paid staff oversight, constant monitoring and CC and CCC dealing with all the issues over several years? Yes, enough is enough!

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