Letters to the Editor

Editor, I would like to offer my perspective regarding the recently proposed 2019-2020 LBUSD calendar, not only as a local parent with children attending our schools, but as a prior student of TOW, Thurston and LBHS schools. I have blissful memories of those final days of summer...

Editor, Not so many years ago, without public notice and only two minutes of actual deliberation our school board voted to approve a senior staff plan to start the school year in mid-August. Public opposition forced reversal, but only after one board member tearfully revealed...

Editor, I’m not sure if many are aware but the school board is making a hard push to drastically change the school calendar to make summer break June 11- Aug. 21, which will significantly affect the families, festivals, and businesses here in Laguna. The board has just released a...

Editor: I live in Arch Beach Heights and belong to the Nextdoor group here. One thing that came to my attention this week is a survey that is going out which appeared to be official coming from the city.  Many in our Nextdoor group thought it was a follow-up to the surveys we...

Editor, Kate Buckley, Laguna’s first (and possibly final) poet laureate, finishes her year-long term at the end of this National Poetry Month. During her appointment, she organized a series of readings of her own work, either alone or with poets she selected, including one who...

Editor, Art is all about aesthetics. Laguna Beach is an art town. Ergo, Laguna Beach is about aesthetics.  Isn’t that really why we choose to live here? Laguna has charming homes, beautiful beaches and great open spaces.   It has clean air and wonderful light.  So why have we...

Editor, The article “Sparks Fly at Open House” should have been followed by “City Attempts to Shut Down Free Speech Opposing Undergrounding”, because that is exactly what Asst. City Manager Shohreh Dupuis (now living in a $1.6 million house paid for by our taxpayer dollars) and...

Editor, Planes from John Wayne continue to fly a concentrated path over south Laguna, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel and San Juan Capistrano. It is a concern not just for us, but for communities all over the country—from Los Angeles to San Francisco to Washington D.C to New York.  In...

Editor, California Government Code §54964(a) prohibits local agencies from expending public funds to advocate for or against a ballot measure or other voting initiative, with some exceptions for educational/informative materials.  I believe that the city has already crossed the...

Editor, The city staff and Council have made up their minds that we need utilities undergrounded.  This is a classic case of government telling you what’s best for you.  They won’t tell you the facts, or at least all the facts.  Just the ones that they want you to know. This is...

Editor: Recently, behind closed doors, Orange County Board of Supervisors decided to join the federal government in a lawsuit against the state of California over its stance on immigration sanctuary. Now, there are neighbors on Nextdoor.comwho seem to want the city of Laguna...

Editor, Recently the city council agreed to provide funding for the Park Avenue Plaza. At that same meeting a discussion ensued about how to best change/modify Broadway, Ocean, Forest, Park and Legion streets in hopes of maximizing traffic flow on Coast Highway. Part of the...

Editor, For decades, the Marine Mammal Protection Act has protected marine mammals from seismic surveys, preventing oil companies from exploring off California and elsewhere. However, there are two bills winding their way through Congress that would speed up permits for seismic...

Editor, It was instructive to note that on April 2 a Superior Court judge ruled that a full environment impact report is required to assess the impact of a proposed Los Angeles residential project on traffic, public safety and land use patterns. The parallels between that project...

Editor, I really enjoyed Ann Christoph’s March 30, 2018, column “Craving for Community.” I found the historic information she shared intriguing and I appreciated learning more about Laguna’s forefathers and how the town became established, and how it has evolved.  Another...

Editor, The Indy’s coverage of the Park Plaza controversy seems one-sided.  There is a huge local backlash against this ill-advised project that doesn’t seem to be sufficiently represented in the Indy.  The parklet supporters are a small and noisy minority. The Indy seems to be...

It was exciting to watch our city decide March 27 to make our first downtown public plaza a permanent reality. After fans of the Park Plaza experiment this fall showed up in force at city hall, the City Council voted unanimously to reinstitute the block-long stretch near Main...

Editor, I’m thinking our Police Chief Laura Farinella is not familiar with the tried and true adage: “Nothing good ever happens after midnight.” I read her recent comments regarding the proposed downtown parklet with utter disbelief.  Our police chief was quoted in the local...

Editor, “Uber car in autonomous mode kills first pedestrian.” Days later details of the crash in Tempe, Ariz., emerge.  What wasn’t initially mentioned was the accident occurred at 10 p.m. when 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg, wearing dark clothing, was pushing her bicycle with...

Editor, Re: Roger Carter’s letter, page 16, March 30 edition, mentions city employee pensions and roughly quotes Elizabeth Pearson: “our city pensions are out of whack and will eventually bankrupt the city.” Some facts about Laguna Beach County Water District illustrat...

Editor, I was pleased to read Tom Osborne’s article in last week’s Indy (March 30 edition) regarding global warming and the new group, Climate-Wise Laguna. While most of us in Laguna know how to reduce our carbon footprint and we try to live by that, it is always good to be...

Editor, Last week I was delighted to encounter two coyotes during a morning walk on the trail above my neighborhood. I was equally delighted and awestruck this morning to see a beautiful white-shouldered hawk perched on a neighbor’s balcony. Spring is here and many wild animals...

Editor, (This was also addressed to council members.) Regarding the decision about the parklet on lower Park Avenue, we register a vote of no. We love the idea of outdoor spaces to enjoy the ocean view, grab a quick bite to eat, or wait in a lovely place for friends, just not on...

Editor, (This letter also went to council members.) My experience at and the comments below are in addition to the polls you will receive from the  Park Plaza team. The following summarizes responses from residents, visitors, students and shopkeepers I interviewed during the...

Editor, Regarding Steve Judson’s comment on Cox’s monopoly, although I receive excellent internet service from Cox I’m appalled at their price gouging as they’re “the only game in town” and able to get away with surreal pricing and significant...