SOAPBOX GUEST OPINION: By Linda Sadeghi
GUEST OPINION: By Charles Mann
What’s My Line? I n reading Mr. Eggleston’s article regarding Playa del Norte, we are reminded of that old TV show, “What’s My Line?” Maybe you remember it; a panel tries to discern the identity of a hidden celebrity guest by asking questions. Well, we are trying to discern the true identity of Mr. Eggleston, and here are some sample questions: 1. As a council member you voted to sell city land for a new Target store in town. Although the community welcomes that project, will it promote the “village” character you advocate? 2. As a council member you joined the community and other council members to unanimously vote LAB Holding as the design/development partner to fix North Beach. You were aware of our local resume in restoring historic buildings, and our awards for community revitalization. You knew we had presented the smallest, village-scale project, and were the only ones to offer to pay the city fair market value for the land. Why have you now withdrawn your support? You have stated that the project has changed, but now that it is half its original small size and without a view blocking parking structure. Is it not even more “village” scale? 3. This project has been vetted and approved by the Design Review Board, Planning Commissioners, citizens via Measure W, an Environmental Impact Report, the City Council and lauded by the California Coastal Commission as being “one of the most responsible projects we’ve seen in a decade.” Why do you feel these agencies, including the community, must all be wrong? 4. Do you prefer the Christmas tree lot to remain vacant dirt at the entrance to the city? Would that be in keeping with the “village” character of San Clemente? 5. You realize that income generated by new city parking in North Beach will flow to the General Fund and could potentially be used to purchase and restore the Miramar.
Without Playa del Norte, that income will not exist for any purpose. If you demand we save the Miramar, why are you sabotaging an easy route for the city to achieve that goal? 6. You claim there are exciting plans to restore the Miramar, but you are actually supporting the owner’s plans to demolish part of that structure and build a four-story, Huntington Beach style, view-blocking hotel. Will that add “village” character to North Beach? 7. You state that funds used from the city’s existing parking fund to build new parking in North Beach would be a subsidy to the LAB somehow. Then wouldn’t it be a subsidy for everyone in North Beach who would use this including: Kaylani (Coffee Co.), restaurant Ichibiri (who currently does not meet parking code), the Metrolink riders, the casino, and the Miramar? Aren’t you just manufacturing a subsidy story much like Charles Mann’s $27 million fake check in Measure W? 8. You are stating a $1 million sales price for three acres, but you know that the real price tag, should the LAB even exercise an option, will be closer to $5 million to $7 million for under two acres. You are an appraiser yourself; how is it you are so confused with the numbers? 9. Are you happy with the village character of those no to Measure A people who have stolen signs, slashed banners, egged and paintballed houses, put graffiti on our historical buildings, intimidated local businesses and called cities and reporters where the LAB has other community projects to slander our company? And those ethnic slurs you’ve uttered yourself, which village are they promoting? What’s your line, Mr. Eggleston? PLEASE NOTE: The opinions offered here are solely those of the guest columnist and may or may not be shared by the San Clemente Times staff. We appreciate, however, their willingness to share their views, and we invite responses to be sent to letters@sanclementetimes.com.
No on Measure A T he (developer) LAB shopping mall at North Beach is the brainchild of three councilmembers whose professional backgrounds are: Insurance salesman, retired fireman and schoolteacher. The wife of LAB developer Shaheen Sadeghi wants the mall so she can sell blueberry pancakes. Recently, real estate lobbyists from Sacramento gave $45,000 to the Sadeghis so you get more misleading junk mail about this shopping mall. Cut the fluff. Measure A is a clear choice: sell city-owned beachfront land to a developer for a 48,970-square-foot retail and office project or keep it as convenient beach and trail parking. Please remember, we’re voting on Measure A because many in town were sure this Council was out of touch with residents. They launched a referendum so voters could decide. In 28 days, over 7,500 San Clemente registered voters signed the referendum, double the amount required. Here are six reasons to vote No on Measure A: 1. The $1 million giveaway: The city will sell our prime 2.8 acres of beachfront land for as little as $1 million. Given the ridiculously low sale price, the city’s actions are absolutely irresponsible. 2. Taxpayer subsidies*: San Clemente residents will pick up the tab for at least $4.5 million of the LAB’s infrastructure and parking costs. The city is using our Beach Parking Fund to pay for the private developer’s employee and customer parking. This fund is not allowed to subsidize a developer for their private gain. 3. Loss of convenient parking: Too much of our close-by beach, trail and ocean parking will be eliminated. Replacement parking will be built a
half-mile up the hill on (Avenida) Pico across from the U-Haul (facility). Families will have to make that trek and cross the newly-widened six lanes of traffic on Pacific Coast Highway, all this with kids, strollers and beach gear. 4. Eminent domain seizure: The oceanfront site was private property until the city seized it by eminent domain, for “… parking, public park and public use.” Since then, the land has served as a park and parking for the ocean, beach club, and beach trail, benefiting over a quarter million people annually. It’s wrong for the city to take private property and then sell it so a developer can make a profit. 5. Blighted properties remain untouched: The LAB development won’t fix the Miramar Theater, 7-Eleven or any other North Beach properties. All are privately owned and have nothing to do with the LAB’s awful deal with the city. 6. Cleaner ocean and open space: The LAB says its shopping mall will clean up the coastline. Not so, with restaurant odors and garbage along with delivery trucks spewing diesel fumes. They say the mall will add open space. Look out at the ocean from North Beach now. Then imagine doing it with a three-story shopping mall. Which space is more open? Those are the facts without developer fluff. We encourage San Clemente residents to vote no on Measure A. Let families continue to own and enjoy their oceanfront at North Beach. Visit: www. visionsanclemente.org *Parking fees were funds collected through development fees. PLEASE NOTE: The opinions offered here are solely those of the guest columnist and may or may not be shared by the San Clemente Times staff. We appreciate, however, their willingness to share their views, and we invite responses to be sent to letters@sanclementetimes.com.
A photo rendering of the Playa Del Norte project at North Beach. Courtesy photo
San Clemente Times March 3–9, 2011
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