Looking at the proposals for vacation rentals in Seal Beach, I have to look upon them as a negative addition to the city.
If the city gives permission for the rentals the city will have to set guidelines that must be enforced by the city’s police members who will be taken off other patrols, etc., and this might endanger the citizens.
As a longtime resident of Seal Beach, I would not like to have a vacation rental next to my home.
We have several friends who live next door to vacation rentals and they say that they are frequently kept awake at night because of the partying that was going on after midnight.
Many of the proposed vacation rentals are used as cash cows to raise money for the heirs who inherit the property, live elsewhere and have little concern for Seal Beach residents.
Vacation rental concerns include:
• The small town atmosphere will be lost to the renters.
• Residents comfort will be lessened by out of town group’s activities.
• Outsiders bring their own positive and negative values with them.
• Looking at Seal Beach as a party destination leads people to think that anything goes because they pay a lot of money for the party house in Seal Beach.
• Absentee landlords do not supervise the vacation rentals.
• Vacation renters do spend money in Seal Beach but so do residential homeowners. Some of the money spent by the renters is for parties that do not support the small town atmosphere idea.
• There is no way to know the background, good or bad, of the renters who will come into our city. Some might even commit crimes because residents may feel safe and criminals can take advantage of this attitude.
• Landlords who live outside of the city do not supervise the property so the supervision of the vacation rentals will be left to the Seal Beach Police Department who will be asked to enforce local rules, some that are very vague.
Law enforcement comes with a cost to the community in taxes and inconvenience.
My wife, Barbara, and I want to keep the city of Seal Beach a small town, residential community and do not want it to turn into a vacation rental Mecca. We do not want to have the house next door turned into a vacation rental. That kind of a “business” for profit does not keep the “small town atmosphere” we love. Please help maintain our most valuable asset. Thank you for listening.
—Tom Blackman is a longtime resident of Seal Beach.
