Letters to The Editor

WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR BEACH PATROLS?

GREG STOLROW, San Clemente

We do not have to look far to find examples of how poorly our Spanish Village by the Sea is managed.

My wife and I walk the Beach Trail weekly and happened to see for the first and only time the two security guards that are supposed to be part of a 24-hour vigilance of our treasured Beach Trail. We can report that other than our sighting on a recent Saturday at 10 a.m., number, seeks to curtail veteran and servicemember suicide. SB 726 seeks to honor our military heroes with a 100% VA disability rating, many of whom live on a fixed income, by significantly reducing their property taxes.

Assembly Bill 46 has returned to the frontlines of Sacramento this year after facing a few defeats in previous legislative sessions.

CITY COUNCIL CORNER BY VICTOR

CABRAL

As a result of both actual and threatened lawsuits over the past few years, 190 cities, 270 school districts, 74 community college boards, one county board of supervisors, and 50 water district boards and other special districts have transitioned from “at-large” to “district” elections.

Each of them has, in my opinion, weighed the likelihood of success of litigation against the prohibitive cost of litigation, and concluded it is best to move voluntarily to “district” elections.

There is, however, one case brought by the City of Santa Monica that has had some success in litigating against “district” elections.

The case is before the California Supreme Court. Although no final decision has been reached, I do not expect that case to be decided in a manner that will assist San Clemente opposing “district” elections.

Also, it’s important to note that Santa Monica has incurred an estimated $10 million in legal fees thus far, and, win or lose, it will be responsible for an additional estimated $30 million in plaintiff’s attorneys fees, expert witness expenses, and court costs.

In 2016, the residents of San Clemente voted overwhelmingly to reject a referendum to transition to “district” elections; that’s a strong indication of the voters’ these guys are missing in action and nowhere to be seen. What are the odds we could walk the entire trail and never see one or both of them? Not to mention, they were standing together chatting on the beach, staring off into the ocean. preference.

This is an incredible waste of money, over $50,000 a month. At a minimum, why would we not have them at opposite ends of the trail crossing paths as they approach the pier? I would also note this initiative, which is supposed to back up the sheriff deputies, has, at best, just shifted the encampments inland.

Our North Beach neighbors that feed the homeless regularly continue to encourage a dozen or more of these souls to return to the beach in the morning for donuts, milk and coffee. We are just kicking cans down the road here.

But, today, we must look seriously at our limited options. The demand letter we received comes with time constraints and financial implications. If the city voluntarily decides to move to “district” elections at our next meeting, the plaintiffs would be limited to recovering $37,000 for their demand letter.

If we fail to agree to their demand by Aug. 24, it will likely cost the city a minimum of $300,000 to $600,000 for attorney’s fees, experts, and court costs.

We could mount a legal battle, but we have seen several cities that have opted to litigate to preserve their at-large elections, and after spending several million dollars, none have succeeded.

As an elected councilmember, I have a duty to make a prudent assessment of the options and vote for a path forward that serves the legal, public policy and financial interests of our citizens.

Fighting this process in court is likely to cost our residents millions of dollars, and, at present, it appears the odds of winning are negligible.

I welcome your advice and counsel on this important decision.

Victor Cabral was elected to the San Clemente City Council in 2022.

AB 46 calls for the tax exemption of military retiree pay. California and the District of Columbia are the only entities within the U.S. that still draw an income tax on servicemembers’ hard-earned retirement pay, and it is time for California to catch up with the rest of the country on this one.

To those of you stationed nearby and those who have served, I sincerely thank those of you stationed nearby and those who have served, I sincerely thank you for your service and cordially invite you to join the conversation—not just for yourself, but for those servicemembers and veterans to come.

Please reach out to my office via email to assemblymember.davies@asm.ca.gov or call 949.284.6371 and express your willingness to be part of my Military Advisory Council.

Laurie Davies is a small business owner and former mayor who was elected to the State Assembly in 2020 and reelected in 2022. She represents the 74th Assembly District, which includes Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano in South Orange County—down through Camp Pendleton, and Oceanside, Vista and part of Fallbrook in North San Diego County.

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When will we have leaders with gumption and insight to permanently and effectively solve this issue and secure our beaches and Beach Trail?

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HOUSING SHORTAGE?

HECTOR HERNANDEZ, San Clemente

I was reading how Southern California supposedly has a housing shortage.

The last time I traveled through SoCal, there was a tremendous amount of land for future development. The problem isn’t a shortage of land, it is a shortage of highly desirable land.

Developers can get back much more on their investment in South County than San Bernardino County.

This push by developers to rezone and remove building restrictions has nothing to do with the well-being of SoCal or South County residents. It has everything to do with the well-being of wealthy developers’ pocketbooks.

My hope is that San Clemente can survive this onslaught. Just look at what developers have done to Dana Point. Do we, the residents of San Clemente, really want the same?

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