Letters to The Editor

from June 8, 2023

Some Good News for Local Beaches

Response To Council Appointment Outcome

DONNA VIDRINE, San Clemente

San Clemente voters, I know that many of you hoped the process of filling the vacancy on the San Clemente City Council created by Gene James’ resignation would lead to my appointment.

Given that I was only 23 votes behind Steve Knoblock in November’s election, I thought I was in a strong position to be appointed.

Unfortunately, that did not happen. Apparently, the votes of over 9,200 San Clemente residents cast for me meant nothing to the City Council.

I can assure you they still mean a great deal to me, so you can be certain I will continue to work on behalf of this community and set my focus on November 2024.

Memorial Weekend Sa N Clemente Riot

GENE OPITTEK , San Clemente

I was sickened to see and read about the riotous behavior of our local youth. Not in our beautiful city, against our beloved Marines, on Memorial Day weekend.

Even when told to knock off their dangerous behavior with illegal fireworks, this cannot be tolerated, it is not kids being kids, nor a way to blow off steam.

Where is the upbringing, the parenting, and/or the behavior/discipline policies in our local schools?

I fear it is a manifestation of the significant loss of the importance of faith and family in recent decades ( WSJ Poll, 3/27/23). This needs to be dealt with now.

Not just with penalty, but parental accountability, and feedback through our local schools and elected officials. It is like cancer and will only get worse.

MARINE BEATING

WAYNE EGGLESTON , former San Clemente councilmember

In just a few short minutes over Memorial Day weekend, a mob of teenagers destroyed all we have done in this community to honor our military and our Marine neighbors at Camp Pendleton.

Unfortunately, national news reflects upon the negative and not the positive.

San Clemente was one of the first, if not the first, to adopt in 1996 a Marine Corps unit, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines.

In 2005, Park Semper Fi was dedicated to all Marines, past, present and future. This small community had two, not one, Memorial Day ceremonies to honor our military.

I have received e-mails from friends and relatives all over the country who saw these terrible videos of these teenagers beating up two Marines at the Pier Bowl. As someone said in a social media site, “Parents need to plant the seed of morals, character and respect when they are young.”

It is obvious this was not done. Hopefully, these teenagers will get the maximum sentence by non-progressive judges who will not pat them on the head and send them home.

So, what can we do now to rebuild the trust San Clemente had to honor and respect our military? It comes from not only individuals, but also our Chamber of Commerce and City Council promoting the respect and honor for our Marines.

For individuals, when you see Marines on our streets, thank them for their service to our great nation. When you see them in a restaurant, pick up the tab.

San Clemente is pro-military, pro-Marine, and we have a history of respecting their service and honoring those who gave their lives in defense of our country. Hopefully, our Spanish Village by the Sea can regain that trust.

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CORRECTION: A feature story profiling the executive chef of Five Vines Wine Bar on page 24 of the San Clemente Times’ May 25 edition incorrectly reported the spelling and title of the chef’s name, as well as incorrectly referenced the nature of the establishment. Omar Ramirez is the executive chef of Five Vines, which is a wine bar in Downtown San Juan Capistrano.

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