SOAPBOX
GUEST OPINION | City Council Corner by Councilmember Mark Enmeier
Domes, Beaches, and Our Future
M
y family and I recently had the opportunity to visit Florence, Italy. Even though we were there during an historic heat wave, we managed to climb the steps of Giotto’s Bell Tower that overlooked the Duomo of the Florence Cathedral. It is fascinating to me that the building took 140 years to complete. More so, because when they began the work in 1296 AD, the plans called for a dome based on ancient Roman design. The issue was, at the time of its conception, the technology on how to build such a structure had been lost during the Dark Ages. The Florentines knew, though, that if they began the foundational work, their posterity would eventually find a solution. They also knew they would never see the completion of the Cathedral in their own lifetime. That is, to say, they knew that the project itself was more important for the future generations of their city, even if they did not reap the benefits personally. As I pondered that anecdote at the top of the Bell Tower, my heart and mind wandered back home. Just as the
Letters to The Editor ILLEGAL FIREWORKS PROBLEM CARTER & KATHRINE REDISH, San Clemente Well, we just survived another Fourth, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more ashamed and embarrassed for our town. First, the Marine-teen issue at Pier Bowl and now citywide disregard for using illegal fireworks, by far the worst we can remember, and we have lived here 49 years. A town of law-breakers. Fireworks are illegal for a reason. People get injured and some are killed, fires start, and it pollutes the air, not to mention the emotional distress to many people and most all pets. And not just firecrackers, the most powerful that people can find. They sound like a bomb going off. And skyrockets. Perfect for our dry vegetation. And such a great example for all the kids. So, what to do about it? The overworked police can’t respond to every incident and can’t always determine who is the one responsible. I propose a small drone force be deployed to pinpoint the locations where the fireSan Clemente Times July 27-August 2, 2023
Duomo is part of the identity of Florence, so, too, are our beaches the identity of San Clemente. I realized that our city is also laying the groundwork for CITY COUNCIL CORNER a 50-year project BY MARK ENMEIER of continual sand replenishment with the Army Corps of Engineers. It cannot be overemphasized how imperative this project is to maintaining our beaches. Without it, we will cease to be a beach community. If I am fortunate enough to see it to its end, then I will be 90 years old at the time of its completion. While I will see some of the benefits of the project, it will be my grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and future generations of San Clemente citizens to whom this endeavor truly belongs. Now it is time for the honest conversation, for these projects do come with a price tag. The first initial sand replenishment will come this November and will cover the area of roughly Linda Lane to T-street.
The federal government is paying for $10 million of the $12 million cost. Six years from now, when the next phase of the replenishment will begin, the federal government will fund only half of the projected cost. The city will need to accumulate the resources to cover the rest. How we find the revenues for that phase, as well as subsequent phases, is the question we as a collective society must ask. Furthermore, are we, like the Florentines, willing to invest in our city’s future even if we won’t necessarily see the fulfillment of that investment in our lifetime? I believe that the answer to that question should be an unequivocal yes. Whatever our future holds, I also believe that it will be better if we approach it together. Mark Enmeier was elected to the San Clemente City Council in 2022. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the DP Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the DP Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com.
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works are being set off. The address of the location could be determined easily in this age of Google maps and GPS. And then a ticket is mailed to that address. Just like Red Light cameras. Perhaps a $500 ticket would be a good deterrent. And would pay for the cost of the drone service. Yes, Big Brother, but do we have any other choice when people totally disregard the law, and have no regard or consideration for their neighbors?
support the elected district City Councilmember? Well, good luck. In some small cities, only one person steps up to the plate to run, and in some cases, no one runs in a district, and then the City Council appoints someone in lieu of an election. Several years ago, we had an election regarding district elections, and it was overwhelmingly defeated. However, several of our current City Councilmembers seem to have already made up their minds and favor district elections without fighting. San Clemente is not a diverse community that requires district elections so that a minority population in an area has adequate representation. In San Clemente, there is no such area that concentrates a heavy minority population. Our City Council is expected to decide on this issue next month. This is perhaps the most important issue that we face for representative government, and I urge you to speak your mind. Hopefully, our City Council will fight for representative government of five councilmembers and not just one councilmember you can elect. San Clemente is a fighter, and we fought the toll road, and this special city can certainly find the funds to fight unrepresentative district elections. (Cont. on page 8)
DISTRICT ELECTIONS TODD SINCLAIR, San Clemente District elections are less representative of city government. Why? Because you can only vote for one candidate, not multiple candidates. Recently, the city was sent a letter by an attorney demanding that we comply with state requirements that cities stop voting at-large and begin in the next election voting for one candidate in each district. So, should you have a city issue, instead of contacting all five city councilmembers, you will only get a response from the one who represents your district. The other City Councilmembers not living in your district will not feel obligated to response, as they do not represent you. Therefore, you will have less influence in helping to solve your city issue. And what if you did not vote or Page 7
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San Clemente Times, Vol. 18, Issue 30. The SC Times (sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the Dana Point Times (danapointtimes.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 2023. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. San Clemente Times is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, 34932 Calle Del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at San Clemente, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: San Clemente Times, 34932 Calle Del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624.
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