Editor’s Note: the following letter is in reply to the letter “Develop the DWP” in last week’s Sun Newspapers.
DWP owners’ lawsuits alienate Seal Beach City Council
“Win the battle, lose the war … ”
“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you … ” “One good turn deserves another … ”
These bits of wisdom found their way into our culture because there is a great deal of truth in them. By taking the city to court over allowing access to the San Gabriel River bike path and the River’s End, the Bay City Partners are continuing to alienate the City Council. Will the city grant a zoning change to people who are costing us $800,000 in legal fees as Earick Ward seems to think we should in his letter last week? Has Mr. Ward been to any of the city council meetings pertaining to the DWP?
If he had, he would have seen the overwhelming majority of people lobbying against the last “modified plan” that completely surrounded the property with homes. Did Mr. Ward miss the last election that passed Prop Z with over 70 percent of the votes? These are the people who would poll against the old plans. Is Mr. Ward aware that the current zoning calls for the front 70 percent of the property to be open space? It seems to me that the new plan is not accommodating, when the developers are asking to be paid to do what was in the zoning on the property when it was purchased?
I do agree with Mr. Ward that the property should be developed.
It will generate a great deal of income to the city, and done tastefully, will enhance Old Town. What Mr. Ward needs to understand is that there is an equally vocal group that would see any development as a positive move.
If Mr. Ward had truly read my column, he would have realized that I am more in favor of the new plan than against it.
Mr. Ward needs to move towards the middle ground, as I have, instead of furthering the divide by taking the extreme opposite position.
Maybe then, we as a city, can agree on a reasonable course that everyone will be happy with.
Joel Davidson
Seal Beach
Rossmoor interests in conflict
On the agenda of the Rossmoor Community Service District Board meeting last week was a request by the Los Alamitos Girls Softball League to reconfigure one of the softball fields at Rossmoor Park in order for it to be consistent with the other two fields.
It involves removing a significant area of grass in the infield and converting it to dirt.
This proposal drew opposition from the Rossmoor Homeowners Association.
Many residents attended the meeting and spoke against the proposal because, they said, it presented a number of potential negative impacts to the park and the community.
Two of the RCSD Board members hearing this proposal have or have had a strong connection to LAGSL: Director Ripps was a former LAGSL Board member and newly appointed Director Kahlert is presently an LAGSL Board member.
As a result, there were public requests for them to recuse themselves from voting on this issue because it presented a conflict of interest.
The RCSD’s legal council opined that there was no legal conflict of interest because there was no remuneration for being on the LAGSL Board. The two directors then declined to recuse themselves and voted for the proposal, which passed 3-2.
When it comes to this sort of situation, there is a higher standard of behavior to consider here than just the legal aspect, and that is the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Long ago, Shakespeare famously wrote that “Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion.”
And very recently newly appointed U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, though she didn’t have to, recused herself from a case before the court because she had a connection to it when she was solicitor general.
If that is good for the Supreme Court, it should be good enough for the RCSD.
It is disappointing that the RCSD Directors did not display the necessary sensitivity to take the high road on this matter.
Erwin Anisman
Rossmoor
Great role models at surf school
I would like to commend M & M Surfing School of Seal Beach.
The staff with whom my grandson Josh has been associated: Mike, Mike Jr. and Lindsey, have been such great role models.
Mike, Mike Jr. and Lindsey not only give surfing instruction, but practical, everyday guidance to live a better, kinder life.
They do this by example, not preaching.
What an asset this business is to Seal Beach.
Gayle Merrill
Long Beach
