Hail to the Chief
All of us residents and particularly those who live west of the I-405 freeway and who are patiently putting up with the tremendous traffic backup and long lines getting across the bridge will appreciate this.
Several days ago I was sitting in the long line and finally made it to three cars from the front vehicle in line.
While waiting for the signal to turn green a white Honda Civic driven by a middle-aged male bypassed all of the lined up cars on the right and pulled right to the front squeezing in next to the front car.
When the light turned green he accelerated right in front of the first car and made it to the next signal I’m sure thinking he had really pulled a fast one.
Well, here is where the good news starts: A black and white Seal Beach Police cruiser was several cars behind me and the officer saw what the Honda driver did.
The officer pulled around several of us and put on his red lights stopping the Honda by the Ayres Hotel.
As I passed, the officer was just getting out of his vehicle. I rolled down my window and yelled, “Way to go and thanks a lot.”
I was very surprised to recognize the officer as none other than our relatively new police chief, Joe Stilinovich, who I have met several times this year at Seal Beach events.
I have been (as many of my friends are) very impressed with the chief.
Now I am even more impressed and am very grateful for his actions in nabbing the cheater!
My hope is that the cheater got a nice big fine and that others so inclined to do what he was doing will take heed and wait in line like the rest of us.
Perry Watson
Seal Beach
Los Alamitos Town Hall to discuss big changes
Kudos to Los Alamitos’ City Council for scheduling a “Town Hall” type meeting to give local residents and businesses an extra chance to learn more about and give input on big changes being considered in Los Al’s Land Use Plan.
One zoning change being considered could result in four- and five-story mixed use buildings along Los Alamitos Boulevard from Farquhar to Cerritos.
Planners propose allowing greater density in hopes of a renovated downtown with thriving retail businesses on the ground floor.
Will it work? Maybe.
It’s certainly an innovative approach to addressing a “downtown” many consider shoddy at best.
That’s just one of at least a half dozen significant changes being proposed.
Others would switch some light industrial zoned land to residential and retail uses.
Residents who care about Los Al’s future should take advantage of websites such as LosAlGeneralPlan.org, LetsFixLosAl.com and NewsEnterprise.net to learn more and share their perspectives.
Hopefully the News Enterprise (a sister publication of the Seal Beach Sun) will be able to devote considerable coverage over the next two weeks to exploring the pros and cons of what has been proposed, as well as other possibilities. The Town Hall meeting is set for 7-9 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 12, in the Council Chambers.
That’s one week before the council plans to vote on the draft of the Land Use Plan to be set for the Environmental Impact Report.
Los Alamitos residents and businesses would be wise to save the date and make plans to attend.
Dave Emerson
Los Alamiitos
