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IN RESPONSE TO THE APRIL 12 LETTER FROM CHARLES PAYNE
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MICHAEL FROST, Dana Point
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Dana Point Times, Vol. 12, Issue 17. The DP Times (danapointtimes.com) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the SC Times (sanclementetimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
FOLLOW THE DANA POINT T IMES
For background: I certainly don't like wasteful spending, whether at the federal, state, regional or city level. But it appears to me that Mr. Payne didn’t watch the April 2 city council meeting and doesn’t know the facts. The "City of Dana Point” contributes no taxes to the TCA. Dana Point builders contribute development impact fees, which are only assessed on new development and essentially paid for by the development owners. In order to pull building permits, the owner must pay multiple outside agency fees, including school fees and TCA fees. The $6 million he mentions are development impact fees (from developers) that went only to the 73 Toll Road (otherwise known as the San Joaquin portion of the TCA). The Los Angeles Times article that Mr. Payne references is really about San Clemente’s fight with the TCA over the 241 extension (otherwise known as the Foothills portion of the TCA). In over 20 years of the TCA’s existence, Dana Point builders have contributed roughly $50,000 in development impact fees to the 241 extension. I believe getting into San Clemente’s fight over the 241 extension is a distraction from the real issues and improvements right here in Dana Point. In light of the fact that there is already proposed state legislation to stop the TCA from building new roads like the 241 extension (AB 1273), that the TCA boards had already placed the issue of audits on their agendas, and that Congressman Mike Levin had already sent a letter to Governor Newsom asking for oversight of the 241 extension, Councilmember Federico advocated for measured patience and moved to table Ms. Lewis’ resolution until we received the Governor’s response. The fact that Councilember Lewis (and Councilmember Wyatt) voted against exercising patience proves that her resolution was more about good theater than it was about good policy. Just like he did as a candidate for city council, Mr. Payne perpetuates Ms. Lewis' talking points without researching the facts, or intentionally misleads readers for political gain; I am still not sure which it is.
NOT ALL COLLEGE CONSULTANTS ARE CRIMINALS ELLEN GADDIE, Dana Point
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Dana Point Times April 26-May 2, 2019
Legitimate consultants are nothing like
college scandal creator William “Rick” Singer, whose alleged actions and those of his clients and accomplices were reprehensible. Like countless colleagues, I belong to the Higher Education Consultants Association, Independent Educational Consultants Association, National Association for College Admission Counseling, and Western Association of College Admission Counseling, and I hold a Certificate in College Consulting from University of California, Irvine. Common to each organization are three areas members uphold: 1. an obligation to ethically help students and families navigate the college admissions process; 2. a commitment to assisting underserved students through community-based organizations, charitable giving, or pro-bono service to increase equity and access to higher education; and 3. a never-ending responsibility to educate ourselves by attending professional conferences, college admissions briefings and touring multiple colleges every year at our own expense. At any time, a colleague could report me for unethical behavior and my association membership would be canceled. My clients come from all socio-economic backgrounds; some are firstgeneration, college-bound students, some are not, and some are pro bono. I am not in the business of packaging students for certain colleges, nor do I guarantee or “assist” with acceptance to any school— elite or not. Beware of those who do. I help students manage the process and find schools that are a good fit for them. Gaining admission to a UC requires much more than it did 25 years ago. Applicants are holistically reviewed, meaning essays (four), test scores, GPA, rigor of coursework and extracurricular activities are considered within the context of the environment and opportunities students have available to them. All of that, including whether or not a student fills an institutional need at a UC campus, means it’s even harder to guess who will gain admission. I am sickened by the college scandal news and hope the legal system will deliver just punishment to those who committed these crimes. But to lump all college consultants with the likes of Singer is not what we deserve. We act with integrity.
TRASH TALK DIANE CHEEK, San Clemente
Are you familiar with Palking or Pogging? These are portmanteau words made by changing the first letter to P. Both mean the same thing: “Pick up trash
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while walking or jogging.” In my case, it’s walking—a simple but needed idea that I have decided to try and one I’d like to promote. I focus on plastic trash, but all debris is targeted. The thing is, plastic has a unique distinction. Plastic does not decompose, which means it can hide in our shrubs, float in our ocean, blow in our gutters and pretty much hang around forever. It is well-documented that plastic trash has bloomed into a worldwide problem. It is clogging oceans, killing wildlife and littering public spaces. In our community, plastic trash can easily blow into the ocean or slip into our storm drains and float out to sea. I admit I have become rather hardcore. I carry gloves and a carry bag and go hunting. I have found that just five minutes in a parking lot can yield plastic bottle tops, plastic straws, plastic drink cups and lids, plastic water bottles, candy wrappers, chip bags and the ubiquitous plastic bag. This new practice of Palking has heightened my awareness, as I hope it will yours. April 22 was Earth Day, but, really, every day is Earth Day.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to lboyd@picketfencemedia.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday morning. Dana Point Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or information written by the writers. Limit your letters to 350 words or less. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published.
CORRECTION: In the article “Supervisor Bartlett Delivers State of South County Address” in the April 19 issue of Dana Point Times, it incorrectly stated that according to Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, 10% of the country’s population is homeless, but California contains 25% of the nation’s homeless population. Bartlett had stated that California represents 10% of the nation’s population, but California has 25% of the nation’s homeless population. The article also incorrectly stated that San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Irvine and Aliso Viejo are being sued by Orange County Catholic Worker, Emergency Shelter Coalition and Housing is a Human Right Orange County. The cities have been named in the suit but have not yet been formally served.
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