SC SOAPBOX San Clemente
VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS
GUEST OPINION: Catching Kindness by Michael Kaupp
Going Viral New columnist wants to hear stories about the kindness shown to you
R
ecently, I read an article in our local news that made a profound impact on me. The article was about one woman and what she was doing to combat bullying. Her name is Anna Mendez. After the suicide of her son, at the time a sophomore at San Clemente High School, she began a journey that that inspired me to dedicate a series of columns about kindness and character and why they are so important in our lives. In the midst of overwhelming grief, Anna wrote a book about her son, Daniel, and the nightmare of his years of being bullied. If These Halls Could Talk is the wrenching story of Daniel Mendez’s last years on this earth. I contacted Anna, introduced myself and
Letters to the Editor HAVING TREES AND AN OCEAN VIEW ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE MIKE VAKILI, San Clemente
There is a branch of mathematics called “game theory” which establishes a strategy for decision making in any conflict. It is also called decision theory. It has been proven that in any conflict the best outcome is when both parties negotiate, compromise, give and take as the situation evolves. At the end, both parties are satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations. This letter is not about the field of mathematics. However, the tree debacle in San Clemente seems to be a proper model for game theory. The environmentalists and “save the trees” group argue that it takes 10 years for a new tree to mature and protect the environment. Old trees are also beautiful and prestigious for our city. The environmentalists are fighting for a good cause and many people, including myself, support their cause. On the other hand, because of tall trees, several homeowners have lost their ocean and hill views, and because of that, they claim that the value their homes is plunged by $50,000 to $100,000. Some San Clemente Times July 31-August 6, 2014
asked where I could buy the book she had written. I told her how moved I was by the article and that I was interested to talk with her to see if I might join her cause. When I met with Anna, CATCHING she brought along a KINDNESS By Michael signed copy of her book, Kaupp a gift. After talking with her for almost two hours I went home and started to read one of the most difficult stories imaginable. It took me weeks, with a lot of down time to recover from the sadness. There were nights when I was lucky to get through a few pages. Bullying and mean spiritedness is not confined to youth and school yards, it has many faces and exists throughout life and in unlikely settings. Anna has inspired me to do all that I can to focus attention on the value of kindness, tolerance and character in an often times sadly hostile world. Several weeks ago I received a call from the San Clemente Times offering me a bimonthly column. My friend Joan used to say to me, “Information comes to you when you need it.” It seems that opportunities
trees have damaged the sidewalks as well, and it costs the city and the homeowners to repair them. The homeowners also have a case as well. Here is a mathematical model that it can possibly solve the problem: • The trees, which block views or damage the sidewalks, should be trimmed or removed. • Environmentalists have given up more than their share. Now, in exchange, for each tree removed, five to 10 new trees should be planted in a different part of the city. Since this is a rough model, the numbers should be adjusted accordingly. Obviously, cost is a major factor. • Homeowners: now that you have your view back, you should contribute possibly $500 to $1,000 for removing and planting new, low-growing trees. This is not a bad investment to increase the value of your house by $100,000. Homeowner’s associations should contribute as well. I must emphasis that this letter is just a model, not “The Model.” All terms are open for negotiation. For instance the homeowners may pay their share in an installment of two or three years. Or, maybe, the cost of planting the new trees become a part of the city budget and accomplished it within a reasonable time. The extremists from both sides should step aside. They do not solve problems. They are the problems. Having trees and an ocean view are not mutually exclusive. But, we can have both and that should be our goal.
come to when you need them as well. So I am taking this timely opportunity to devote this series of columns to kindness and how it can change our lives, but I need your help. I want this to be everyone’s story. Tell me things that have changed your life in a positive way. Tell me what you have done to make your day, your year and the world a better place through kindness. Tell me what someone has done for you, no matter how big or small, as long as it made a difference. I want to be buried in emails about kindness. Come on, crash my computer with a flood of good news. I want to share your stories in my column each month. As the kids say, get at me at mwkaupp@cox.net. And let’s kindly go viral. Michael Kaupp is the owner of Stanford Court Antiques on Avenida Del Mar. He served 14 years on the San Clemente Planning Commission and has served as president of the Downtown Business Association. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC 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 SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com
Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday at 8 a.m. at Café Calypso. Emmy-nominated producer/director Pamela Peak and members of the cast of “Orpheus Descending” will be the guests at this Friday’s Beachside Chat to discuss the upcoming production at the Cabrillo Playhouse. Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times editor Jim Shilander. All are welcome.
DECOMMISSIONING SONGS SHOULDN’T FALL ON TAXPAYERS MARILYN MAN, San Juan Capistrano
Why should the taxpayer be on the hook and have to pay for the decommissioning of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station? The responsibility should be the designer, the developer and the builder. The design was flawed and who knows what happened in the building of the station. The city and the state are too quick to push the cost to the taxpayer. Put the blame and the cost where it belongs.
34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 www.sanclementetimes.com
HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Jim Shilander, 949.388.7700, x109 jshilander@sanclementetimes.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE
Lauralyn Loynes, 949.388.7700, x102 lloynes@sanclementetimes.com DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS
Tricia Zines, 949.388.7700, x107 tzines@sanclementetimes.com BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@sanclementetimes.com
PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett
> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)
EDITORIAL
> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)
Group Senior Editor > Andrea Swayne
OPERATIONS
City Editor, SC Times > Jim Shilander
Finance Director > Mike Reed
Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale
Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett
City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Papagianis City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Brian Park ART/DESIGN Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point)
Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Amanda Huffman, Catherine Manso, Sean Robb, Dana Schnell, Steve Sohanaki, Tim Trent
San Clemente Times, Vol. 9, Issue 31. The SC Times (www. sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (www.danapointtimes. com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www.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 2014. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
FOLLOW THE SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@sanclementetimes.com. San Clemente Times reserves the right to edit readersubmitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers. Please limit your letters to 350 words.
Page 6
www.sanclementetimes.com