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6 S. Alta Mira LAGUNA BEACH | Three Arch Bay
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6 S. Alta Mira LAGUNA BEACH | Three Arch Bay
LAGUNA’S GO-TO DESTINATION FOR GROCERIES, DINING, FITNESS, WELLNESS AND MORE
PAVILIONS
REUNION KITCHEN
ASADA
JAN’S HEALTH BAR
ISLAND DENTISTRY
GRAZIE GRAZIE PIZZERIA
ENDLESS QUEST ROASTERS
• LIVEMETTA YOGA + PILATES
• KENSHO FITNESS
• INSPIRING MOTION
• LAGUNA BEACH AESTHETICS
+ INDIVIDUAL WELLNESS PRACTITIONERS
SERENITY SKINCARE
EMBODI WORKS
HEALING ARTS
THOMPSON THERAPY
MY HAPPY PLACE
SKINDRIP AESTHETICS
SKINCARE LOVE
KC AESTHETICS
CHANEL ESTHETICS
META BROW STUDIO (ONE SUITE AVAILABLE)
BY CLARA BEARD | LB INDY
When it comes to Laguna Beach Schools, Howard Hills is no stranger. He and his family have multi-generational attendance records spanning decades, weaving a unique connection with the local school system that, for the third time, has prompted Hills to run for an open school board seat in November.
“Our local schools have been good to my family since the 1930s,” recalls Hills, who graduated from LBHS in 1970. “After Pearl Harbor in 1941, teachers at LBHS made my uncle Bob and his classmates wait until May of 1942 to finish high school before going to Santa Ana and enlisting. My kids and our grandkids later attended the same schools my uncle and I did decades earlier.”
Hills’ “back-to-school” journey is unique. After earning his bachelor’s at Cal State Sonoma, he completed law school at Cal Western in San Diego. The Peace Corps then
beckoned in 1978, where Hills helped pen constitutions for new nations in Micronesia. At age 29, he became a Navy officer and JAG lawyer. Later, he was assigned to the White House as lead counsel for Micronesian treaty negotiations with the same island nations he worked with during his time with the Peace Corps.
“While I have never had a political appointment, I have had more than my fair share of dreams come true in the Peace Corps, as a U.S. Navy JAG, as general counsel for a high-performing federal agency, and as a constitutional lawyer in major court cases at the federal appeals and Supreme Court levels,” Hills said. “Not to mention actually working for and, on a few occasions, directly with Presidents Carter, Reagan and Bush at that early stage in my career.”
As a constitutional lawyer, Hills has worked for the Department of Justice in the federal appellate courts and as attorney of record
for the State Department. He was also the researcher and author of three books and numerous law journal articles on constitutional law, one with a foreword by a former Attorney General and, in 2007, another with a foreword by a former President.
Hills ran for LBUSD School Board in 2016 and garnered
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION: Are you concerned about crosswalk safety in Laguna?
Yes or No
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION: Did your household experience a smooth transition to CR&R waste hauling services?
Yes | 53.85% (21 votes)
No | 46.15% (18 votes)
TOTAL VOTES: 39
To vote, visit the poll tab at lagunabeachindy.com Submit poll questions to clara@firebrandmediainc.com
The LagunaBeachIndy.com poll is conducted using Crowd Signal polling software. To minimize fraudulent entries and votes, the software is set to block duplicate votes by cookie and IP address. While we cannot control users who change locations and use separate devices on different networks, this measure is the most stringent way to deter participants from voting multiple times. No polling software available online can block all attempts at fraudulent voting, as there are ways around most blocking methods. For this reason, we can’t fully verify the accuracy of this poll. Language from Crowd Signal’s software settings: Voting in a poll is rate limited by IP, even when no blocking is enabled. This means that a large number of votes coming from a single Internet address will trigger a cooldown block to help prevent cheating. Sometimes this is tripped by many people at one location (for example in schools and offices) voting in a short period of time.
Whether you love his Pulitzer Prize-winning plays or his numerous scripts written for Stephen Spielberg, Tony Kushner’s intelligence, insight, and humor promise a fascinating conversation for movie and theater lovers alike.
A Celebration of Life for G. Ray Kerciu will be held on Sept. 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Laguna Art Museum. Kerciu was a major figure in the art world and a local giant to all artists, especially the Laguna Art Museum. The public is welcome to attend. For more information, contact the Laguna Art Museum at 949-494-8971.
Village Laguna’s September general meeting will feature introductions and discussion from the five candidates running for Laguna Beach Unified School District School Board at a membersonly meeting on Friday, Sept. 27.
The forum will be recorded and will be available on the Village Laguna website the same day at villagelaguna.org.
Laguna Canyon Conservancy will host a panel discussion on Monday, Oct. 7, with the Laguna Beach Unified School District’s school board candidates, the second in a series of in-person dinner meetings for the fall season. Participating candidates include Lauren Boeck, Howard Hills, Sheri Morgan, Jan Vickers and Margaret Warder. Items for discussion include individual environmental contributions and ideas on preserving and protecting our open spaces, particularly in Laguna Canyon. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with socializing until 6:15 p.m., dinner from 6:15 to 7 p.m. and speakers will start at 7 p.m. to finish by 8:30 p.m. Attendees must RSVP. Dinners are available for purchase but not mandatory. To register, visit LagunaCanyonConservancy.org/ event.
TO PERFORM BENEFIT SHOW FOR LAGUNA
Bob Whalen was for a parking garage at the Village Entrance before he was against it before he was for it again!
BEACH POLICE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION YOURMOM 90s Pop/Rock to Now is tuning up for a benefit show for the Laguna Beach Police Community Foundation on Friday, Sept. 20, at Ivanz House. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the band performs at 9 p.m. Ivanz House, Mozambique and YOURMOM will be donating $5 from each ticket sold to support the Laguna Beach Police Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 2022 dedicated to enhancing the LBPD by providing scholarships to employees and their dependents, improving the work environment and training, assisting employees and their families in times of need; engaging the community through various programs like Citizens Academy, Teen Leadership Academy, and Police Explorer programs. You can learn more at lbpcf.org.
The Laguna Beach Cultural Center is hosting a series of eight events spotlighting the history of Laguna’s
hippie culture. Kicking the series off is the Design for Peace and Justice Art Show, which opened on Sept. 14 and runs through Oct. 3. The exhibition, which features posters for peace, aims to display the “encapsulation of the value of diverse perspectives and the rich cultural heritage of humanity. Hence, these exhibitions become crucial sanctuaries, fostering harmony, empathy, and understanding across diverse communities.” For a complete list of events during The Gathering, visit lbculturalartscenter. org.
CATMOSPHERE LAGUNA FOUNDATION UPCOMING ADOPTION EVENT
On Saturday, Sept. 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Catmosphere Laguna cats and kittens will be featured for adoption at its new location at Gelson’s Rancho Mission Viejo, 30731 Gateway Plaza, Rancho Mission Viejo. Catmosphere Laguna Rescue is a nonprofit feline rescue that serves Laguna Beach and the surrounding communities and dedicated
TeamLagunaINC_Combo_IndyAd_NEWsize_092024_X1A.pdf 1 9/18/24 10:42 PM
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BY CLARA BEARD | LB INDY
Laguna Beach Troop 35 Scouts and High Adventure Training (HAT) members recently completed a rigorous four-day, 44-mile backpacking trip into the High Sierras.
The group, led by Assistant Scout Master and HAT leader Allan Hundhausen, carried food and supplies in 40- to 50-pound backpacks for the trek into remote wilderness, which took place at Sequoia National Park from July 22 to 25.
The hike began at Mineral King at 7,200 feet and climbed to 9,500 feet after nine and a half hours. On the first day, the group covered more than 10 miles of trail, hiking on switchbacks often carved into granite.
The hikers climbed to 12,000 feet in nine hours on the second day. "Amazing vistas were the reward for hiking to an area few visitors ever see. We spotted Marmots,
deer, eagles, hawks and falcons during the trip," Sweeney said. "Water was filtered from glacier melt, and the group stored food in portable bear vaults away from camp each night. A favorite stop was the halfway point, Hamilton Lake, formed in granite millions of years ago. We relaxed and enjoyed fishing and swimming in clear, pristine waters."
Three leaders accompanied three scouts, who had prepared extensively for the trip. One of the scouts was an 18-year-old recent Eagle Scout honoree.
Troop 35 is active in scouting, making regular trips to build life skills like leadership, survival, and fitness. Celebrating its 75th year as a troop, the group welcomes new members monthly. Boys and girls ages 10 to 17, as well as volunteers of any age, are welcome. For more information, contact Troop Master Michael Lindsay at mlindsey500@ msn.com.
FOUR
Have you read Bob Whalen’s latest ad in the Indy that addresses overtourism in Laguna? His ideas, after 12 years on the city council, are to: “increase enforcement of existing laws on parking, speeding, drinking in public and littering,” “increase public safety and trash service levels for busy summer months, weekends and holidays,” “increase paid parking to cover costs,” and to “educate visitors on how to respect our local environment.”
Whalen has served as mayor or mayor pro tem for most of those 12 years. He has served businesses and advocated for more tourism to increase business. But now, he states, he finally hears us, the residents. Perhaps he hears us now only because he is again running for council and wants another four years.
Seven years ago, a 2017 study
• see LETTERS page 11
CITY HALL MEETINGS: Sept. 24 - City Council Meeting at 5 p.m. | Sept. 25 - Housing and Human Services Committee at 6 p.m.= HOW TO CONTACT THE CITY COUNCIL:
Sue Kempf Mayor skempf@ lagunabeachcity.net
Alex Rounaghi MayorProTem arounaghi@ lagunabeachcity.net
George Weiss Council member gweiss@ lagunabeachcity.net
Bob Whalen Council member bwhalen@ lagunabeachcity.net
Mark Orgill Council member morgill@ lagunabeachcity.net
Ann Marie McKay CityClerk amckay@ lagunabeachcity.net
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD | SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAYS, 5 PM LOUIS WEIL: lweil@lagunabeachcity.net | KRISTINE THALMAN: kthalman@lagunabeachcity.net | DON SHERIDAN: dsheridan@ lagunabeachcity.net | JESSICA GANNON: jgannon@lagunabeachcity.ne | TOM GIBBS: tgibbs@lagunabeachcity.net
Laura Parisi CityTreasurer lparisi@ lagunabeachcity.net
PLANNING COMMISSION | FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS, 6 PM STEVEN KELLENBERG, steve@kellenbergstudio.com | KEN SADLER: 616-0517, ken.sadler@cox.net | JORG DUBIN: 497-2618, |jdubinart@ cox.net | STEVE GOLDMAN: 203-554-2290, steveg415@ymail.com | SUSAN McLINTOCK WHITIN: 838-6317, whitinsusan@gmail.com
OTHER ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES: REP. KATIE PORTER, 1113 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-225-2415
ASSEMBLY WOMAN DIANE DIXON, 19712 MacArthur Blvd. Ste. 150, Irvine, CA 92612, 949-251-0074 FIFTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR KATRINA FOLEY, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701, 714-834-3550, lisa.bartlett@ocgov.com
Letters strengthen community ties and provide a community forum open to all. Due to space constraints we ask letter writers to limit
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JIM DANZIGER
This column is the second of two installments by Jim Danziger. The first, which ran in the Indy print edition on Sept. 13, can be found online at lagunabeachindy. com. - Ed.
Part I (last week) explained how our city government and Laguna residents have subsidized the costs of day-trippers by more than $34,000,000 every year since 2017 (and now probably more than $40 million per year). In the seven years since our citizen research team provided the detailed quantitative analysis that documented this subsidy, we have encouraged/ challenged city leaders to implement a strategy to capture a significant amount of new revenue from the day trippers. They have
done nothing.
So John Thomas and I developed an approach to generate substantial revenue that would come largely from the day trippers. The approach is based on revising Laguna’s Business License Fee system, which is thirty years old and hopelessly outdated. We proposed adjusting this fee, focusing only on the fee for bars and restaurants. Why? Because, apart from parking revenue, this is the most direct connection between day trippers and a revenue source that the city can feasibly and easily tap. The best data we can find from an independent consultant study suggests that perhaps 70% or more of the total annual revenue of our bars and restaurants comes from non-residents. We proposed phasing in the fee increase over a few years. It would be applied as a small percentage of the bar and restaurant bill. If it reached 3% of gross revenue, for example, it would
generate more than $10 million per year from day trippers.
Are there objections to such a fee? Of course. Would some daytrippers still pay nothing? Yes. And wouldn’t residents also pay this fee when dining in town? Yes, but at least a substantial amount of money would come from visitors. Won’t bars and restaurants suffer? Minimally, because a state law passed last January allows bars and restaurants to add any type of charge at the bottom of the bill. Our idea is that a 3% “city fee” would be added to the bill, just above the sales tax charge. It would not affect menu prices or the profitability of the bar or restaurant owners because they would pass on the increased business license fee as a minor charge paid by their customers and sent to the city. If someone bought an $8 taco, there would be a 24-cent additional charge just above the sales tax. If a bar tab was
$40, the bill would include $1.20 more. A $100 restaurant bill would add $3. The owners of bars and restaurants (many of whom benefit greatly from all the ways the city helps them prosper) would merely act as collectors of this fee from customers, largely non-residents, and they would transfer those fees onto the Laguna government’s revenues.
We presented and discussed a detailed version of this idea with the city council and staff. We asked councilmembers to allow a public debate and a citizens’ vote on the issue, even if they personally opposed it. Most citizens who spoke or wrote to council were in favor of the idea. George Weiss, Bob Whalen and Mark Orgill also supported putting this on the November ballot. We believe the
EXCERPTS FROM POLICE BLOGS
THURSDAY, SEPT. 12
Appropriating lost property, exhibiting a deadly weapon, assault. Jeffrey Paul Atyim, 49, of Long Beach, was arrested on suspicion of appropriating lost property under $400, exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm, and force with a deadly weapon (not a firearm) causing likely grave bodily injury. His bail was set at $25,000.
DUI. A 33-year-old Laguna Hills man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. His bail was set at $5,000 bail.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 13
Bench warrant. Brent Timothy O`Brien, 50, of Newport Beach, was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant. He was held without bail.
Battery. Onyema Bernard Osuhor, 32, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of battery on spouse, ex-spouse or date. His bail was set at $10,000.
Contempt of court, DUI, driving on a suspended license. Christopher Ayala, 36, of Moreno, was arrested on suspicion of disobeying a court order and driving drunk while on a suspended license. He was held without bail.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14
DUI. A 23-year-old West Covina man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and driving recklessly on the freeway. His bail was set at $3,000 bail.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 15
Suspended license. Nathan Leonardo Alvarez, 18, of Barstow, was arrested on suspicion of driving on a suspended license. He was held without bail.
MONDAY, SEPT. 16
Possession of a controlled narcotic, outside jurisdiction warrant, misdemeanor. Sergio Perezhernandez, 27, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled narcotic, an outside jurisdiction warrant and a misdemeanor charge. His bail was set at $10,000 bail.
July 21, 1999-September 10, 2024
Karly Peterson passed away peacefully at her home in Laguna Beach on Sept. 10. She was happy to spend the month surrounded by family and friends, and Laguna got to see her smile every day.
Karly found home in Laguna Beach after spending her early childhood in the Bay Area, Texas and Portland. She had visited Laguna many times as a child and was excited to enroll at Laguna Beach High School as part of the amazing Class of 2017. Karly quickly learned the rules: locals go barefoot, the pool at Surf and Sand is open to the public and riding the trolley on weekends is the best alibi for your whereabouts. Karly loved high school, her friends, and the community of family that is Laguna.
One of the happiest days of Karly’s life was learning she had been accepted to UCLA. Karly
expanded her friend network by joining the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, studied communications, spent a quarter in Florence, and received her bachelor’s degree in 2021.
Shortly after graduating, Karly moved to San Francisco and began her career in marketing with Rauxa where she received a promotion to associate project manager and worked on the Apple team. Most recently, she had moved to Santa Monica where she roomed with a friend from high school and near many of her sorority sisters.
Karly loved traveling with family and friends, taking the boat out to see dolphins, and figuring out how to get to Coachella every year. Karly saw much of the world, and still wanted to see more. She loved cities and wanted to experience living in all of them. And, as much as she wanted to go new places and experience new towns, Laguna was always home to her. Karly expanded her friend group wherever she went. Her friends were the world to her.
Friends and family are invited to Laguna Beach where we will celebrate Karly’s life in July 2025. Gifts in Karly’s memory can be made to the Karly Peterson Spirit of Laguna Award at the Laguna Beach High School Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 1569, Laguna Beach, CA 92652. Gifts to the Foundation can also be coordinated through Kay and Steve Munn at smunn92651@gmail.com.
ANNOUNCEMENT
BY SUSAN MCNEAL VELASQUEZ
Let's explore your relationship with your intuition.
Strengthening your knowledge about this gift may be exactly what your core self is craving.
Intuition
loves intimacy. It relishes making connections and building relationship bridges. It withholds, retreats, and withdraws its participation when faced with judgmental, isolating, harsh, or aggressively demanding people and situations.
It flourishes in environments that encourage acceptance, curiosity, wondering, imagining, and musing. Kindness and enthusiasm please it, and it will return the gift in kind.
Intuition loves to delve. Secrets intrigue it. It has eyes that see through pretense and can be quite fierce and confrontational when lied to.
Intuition pries things open and pins things down, so it is not to be taken lightly. It has ears that hear beyond the mundane into the very heart and soul of issues.
Intuition is self-preserving, and if you invite it into your life, it will sense directions that will yield the most benefit for your soul growth. It can tell you where betrayals are brewing. When you are confused, it can penetrate past surface bad behaviors and actions to uncover the scared child within.
It can shift your path from a
habitual attitude of “who cares?” to one of “let me sense, see, hear and know all that is available to me.” Intuition is your soul voice speaking, and all you have to do is listen.
Actually, listening will come to you fairly easily right after you’ve decided to really hear. It is the hearing part that takes some effort and commitment.
Let me say this another way. Intuition detests apathy. It requires attention. Even before attention, it must have a clear intent from you to court it. Yes, court. I can almost hear your response. “Oh no, this is starting to sound like work. A new relationship that is not one I can take for granted!”
Look on the bright side. When you intentionally set out to establish a relationship with your intuition, it will assist you in being more at ease in all your relationships. You may be thinking, “I don’t have the energy for this. Given my overloaded and demanding schedule, I am exhausted as it is, trying to keep up with the relationships I already have.”
Let’s take another look at how we are currently using our energy. Most of us have been taught to approach our lives with determination. We set our goals. We strive to accomplish them. We use persistent, focused determination to achieve predetermined results. There is another kind of energy available to us. I will call
• see VELASQUEZ page 21
BY RUSS GERBER
I remember hearing a radio interview with Shirley Temple Black many years ago. She wanted to discuss her work as the then U.S. Ambassador to then Czechoslovakia, but the interviewer kept asking her questions about her acting roles as a child star. While that’s not surprising, Black persistently steered the conversation back to her current work.
Finally, the interviewer asked why she seemed reluctant to say much about her landmark years in film. She answered politely but firmly that it simply wasn’t her. She explained that she was an ambassador and, as such, had a totally different purpose for her life and very different responsibilities to fulfill. As wonderful as those years in film were, she said repeatedly, “That isn’t me!”
Not a small point. We don’t realize how it undercuts our ability to develop as individuals if we’re not willing to leave behind old selfconcepts to shape totally new ones. If it repeatedly occurs to us that there has to be a different and better way to live our life, be prepared to find that it’s more than built-up frustration with current circumstances that we’re butting heads with. It could be we’re being prodded by an inner-felt need to change, the urge to discover something new about ourselves and the universe of ideas in which we exist. Think of it as a golden opportunity for development. What can break through entrenched, old self-perceptions and lead to new feelings of hope, vitality, and direction is the spiritual element we hadn’t been paying much attention to, but that is with us all along. It could be we’re feeling an intuitive sense to set our sights
much higher.
The transformation that gradually occurs within us as we’re open to higher concepts of ourselves begins to dispel feelings of dullness and empowers resolve. There’s a growing expectation of improvement and purpose. We’re attuned to seeing a new direction emerge, a new next step in our career, expanded opportunities we hadn’t seen, and meeting people we should get to know and who should get to know us. There’s an awakening to the fact that we’re capable of accomplishing a whole lot more, and of recognizing that which is of lasting value in life.
I was always struck by the invitation Jesus made to those ordinary fishermen who became his students. They were invited to leave the old for the new. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,” he said. He wasn’t asking them to abandon their career, but rather to expand it. It was about growth.
Following a similar line of thinking to leave the old for the new, we’re prompted to be true to something more than the frustrated, unhappy person we’ve become so familiar with. To begin the change, maybe we need to take a page from Shirley Temple Black’s playbook and instead affirm, “That’s not me!” If you’ve been longing to feel good again consider what it means to raise your sights and expand your selfconcept. This isn’t about something we don’t have that needs to be acquired. It’s something we do have that is within us, compelling us to discover how much better, infinitely better, we truly are because of it. Russ and his wife moved back home to Southern California after working in Boston as the media manager for the Christian Science church. With a background in publishing, most of his time is spent writing, reading, volunteering and grandparenting.
“No one has done more to promote public safety - especially fire safety - in this town than Bob Whalen. His leadership to implement critical wildfire mitigation measures, and replace outdated, seismically fragile fire stations has made Laguna far safer. We need to re-elect Bob to continue this vital work on Council.”
- Matt Lawson, Former Chair Emergency Disaster Preparedness Committee
“As a former Assistant Chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, I know the importance of maintaining a robust wildfire mitigation program. Bob has been a leader on wildfire safety for years and we are all safer because of his efforts. Having Bob on Council is good for public safety.”
- Bill Niccum, South Laguna Resident
The boys and girls squads participated in the Iolani Invitation held on Saturday, Sept. 14, at Oahu’s Hawaii Country Club grounds. The girls team finished 15th in the top division, facing strong teams, many from California. Hayden Joseph was the top runner with a 19:55.42 on the 3-mile course. On the boys’ side, the Breaker’s top runner was Aaron Moy, with a 17:48.32 on the course. Wade Jurkowski was the Laguna #2 runner with an 18:00.54 course time. Up next is the Woodbridge Invitational at the Great Park this weekend, and the league cluster meet is Oct. 2 in Silverado. For more information, visit lbxc.org for girls team info and lagunabeachcrosscountry.com for boys.
(3-6, 1-4)
The Breakers lost 26-13 at Rosary Academy (6-4, 2-2) on Sept. 11. Hayden CraneHenning was 19 for 31 attempts at quarterback for 217 yards, passing for one touchdown and scoring the other on the ground. Cameron Thomas caught seven passes for 512 yards, with Brighton Welch, the top defender, with seven flags pulled. On Sept. 16, they lost 32-0 at home to University (6-4, 3-1).
The Breakers hosted Portola on Sept. 18, are at Irvine on Sept. 23 and are home for Northwood on Sept. 28.
FOOTBALL (4-0)
Breakers Handle Tides 41-0 Laguna took care of business last
• see SPORTS page 17
At LAGUNA BEACH AESTHETICS, it’s back to school. As summer winds down, what better time to try our amazing Sculptra treatment!
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PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO CALL, TEXT OR EMAIL TO SET UP YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT!
Dr. O’Connell performs all procedures and consultations herself.
DR. ADRIENNE O’CONNELL
610 N Coast Hwy, Suite 208 Laguna Beach, CA 92651
info@lagunabeachaesthetics.com www.lagunabeachaesthetics.com 949.415.4310
is pleased to announce that he has joined Anderson Law Group (Nicole Anderson) as of counsel to the firm. He will continue to handle litigation and transactional matters, including business formation, real estate and business contract review, contract negotiations, and litigation management and avoidance. The firm also serves as outside general corporate counsel on behalf of for-profit and non-profit organizations.
DAVIS LAW, APC
1000 N. Coast Highway, Ste. 10 • Laguna Beach, CA 92651 phone: 949.413.4754 • email: tom@tpdavislaw.com
GUEST OPINION
BY EMIL MONDA
EMIL MONDA
Five years ago, I wrote a column for the Indy with the headline, “The New AntiSemitism.“ I am sorry to report that this abomination is growing and, as I said in 2019, it is a phenomenon of the progressive left that has found a home in many of our elite universities. Using the latest FBI Uniform Crime report for 2022, I’ve calculated the specific rates of hate crimes against Jews adjusted for a 100,000 population.
In 2022, there were 1,124 for a rate of 15.8 per 100,000. In 2017, there were 938, a rate of 13.8 per 100,000 people. This means that the rate of hate crimes against Jews increased by 14.49% over three years. During that same period, hate crimes against Muslims declined slightly to 6.75 per 100,000, even if you include all Arabs as Muslims.
The point is that Jews suffer the highest rate of hate crimes in the U.S., but it does not show that America is a racist country. There are, however, pockets of antisemitism in places where we would never expect it. I reference the Ivy League schools, our most prestigious institutions of higher learning, where the liberal staff and student body we might think are the most enlightened. But that is not the case.
A recent report by the Anti-
Defamation League and Hillel International found that, while many Jewish students felt physically and emotionally safe on campus before Oct. 7, those numbers have dropped to 46% and 33%, respectively.
Jewish students have found themselves the object of violence and protests, and the administrators of these universities were incapable of simply condemning antisemitism.
On Dec. 5, 2023, testifying at a hearing of a U.S. House committee on antisemitism on college campuses, the administrators of these schools, when pressed by Republican representative Elise Stefanic, had difficulty in simply condemning how Jewish Students on their campuses were treated. I believe almost all the presidents of our elite universities who did not outright condemn antisemitism on their campuses have resigned. They all said one would have to understand the context of antisemitism. These people have lost their moral compass. There is no situation or “context’ that makes antisemitism acceptable. Just like no situation or context makes racism acceptable.
Congressmember Elise Stefanik’s attempt to get a straightforward answer from the presidents of Harvard, Penn, and MIT to her pointed question: “Does calling for the genocide of Jews constitute a violation of (the schools) code of conduct,” can be found by a Google
• see MONDA page 19
Cont. from page 6
documented that day-trippers cost the city approximately $34 million annually. Residents have consistently asked the council to find ways to reduce the impacts of over-tourism. Yet the Whalen council majority allowed almost $2 million annually of the TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) to fund Visit Laguna, promoting tourism and directing day-trippers to our most treasured spots. And they have come by the hoards and disrespect many of those treasures.
Lately, we have found out the city has not been enforcing laws on parking, speeding, drinking in public and littering. Have you wondered why those trash cans at the beach are overflowing? Thank Bob Whalen. He admits that even the city trash service is insufficient. Is it news to him? Whalen now says that after 12 years, he has finally heard us and promises to increase enforcement on these items and institute others.
After over a decade on city council, Whalen could have initiated any or all of the above measures but has instead done little or nothing. Why would we give him another four years?
Join me in voting for George Weiss and Judie Mancuso for Laguna Beach City Council.
Johanna Felder, Laguna Beach
They say that history does not repeat, but it does rhyme. A Yahoo News story on Aug. 9 reported that the California 2nd District Appeal’s court sided with the Oxnard treasurer when it found that “city actions had largely stripped him of his role.” The article said the decision was unanimous and the latest in a yearlong conflict between the treasurer and the city of Oxnard. It was also reported that the case may not yet be over, as the city plans to appeal to the California Supreme Court.
The city had stripped the treasurer of most of his duties and reduced his pay to an amount similar to what councilmembers were paid—a significant reduction. What did the justices say?
The ruling stated that “a city
treasurer deprived of the office’s duties is tantamount to no treasurer,” with the presiding justice adding, “the city may not through legerdemain un-elect the office of city treasurer and defeat the choice of the voters.” The court restored the duties and pay of the treasurer and awarded him court costs. If this all sounds familiar, it is because the city of Laguna Beach has started down a similar road.
But it’s not too late for a course correction. Rather than having attorneys rack up fees to find a legal theory that will produce a desired outcome, the council can work with the voters to persuade them to support their plans and voice their agreement at the ballot box. The latter will not only produce enormous goodwill with the residents, but it will also likely be more cost-effective in the long run. In the meantime, it would make sense to assign the oversight of the investment outsourcing arrangement to the treasurer—not just for legal reasons but because the treasurer is the only staff member with the requisite knowledge, skills, and ability to do the job.
Sita Helms, South Laguna Beach
AGREE TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE
In last week’s Indy, former Laguna mayor Kelly Boyd called me some “guy” behind “horrible” “rude” ads placed by Advocates for Laguna Residents, including political cartoons that I helped create opposing Bob Whalen and his de facto running mate, Hallie Jones. Labeling my political cartoons criticizing Bob Whalen as “horrible” and “rude” is hyperbolic. The cartoons are making a case for why Whalen should not be re-elected for another four years (for a total of 16 years on the council). This is not personal against Whalen. Ironically, Boyd, a former Marine Room owner, presided over a venue that welcomed cartoon artists like the Interlandi Brothers, Virgil Parch and Charles Schultz. If I am part of that tradition, I wear it proudly.
While Advocates for Laguna Residents has support from some members of Village Laguna, it is not associated with Village Laguna, as Boyd implies. We represent all
walks of life in Laguna: Democrats, Republicans, Independents, taxpayer groups and members of the former “Let Laguna Vote” group, which opposed the reckless spending championed by Whalen. We oppose boondoggle white elephant projects like more parking buildings, taking over Laguna Canyon Road at an estimated cost of $141 million and taking over Coast Highway, which could result in significant generational debt. We are tired of subsidizing day-trippers trashing our town; we oppose the giant swimming pool at the high school that will upend the nearby residents, oppose turning a peaceful neighborhood church into an enormous apartment complex, and are frustrated with the lack of public safety improvements Whalen promised, such as street lights at pedestrian crosswalks on Glenneyre, but never implemented. We are frustrated with Whalen’s lack of leadership not advocating for Laguna in Sacramento – essentially sleeping on the switch without voicing opposition to the disastrous ADU law that is taking out residents’ views and view equity. And we find it remarkable that Whalen cannot
give up the power grab he has held on the council, ping-ponging mayor/ pro tem over seven of the last 12 years while stifling Councilmember George Weiss and former Councilmember Toni Iseman, who have supported residents and taxpayers over the real estate and the tourist industry in town that Whalen supports. Criticism of Whalen’s record and advocacy for fundamental change on the city council is not horrible and not rude. It is democracy in action. We can agree to disagree without being disagreeable.
Alan Boinus, Laguna Beach
FACTS OVER FEARMONGERING
If you prefer facts over fearmongering, feel free to ignore Jennifer Zeiter’s latest letter to the editor. I believe the founder of the Greater Laguna Beach Republican Club of MAGA extremists shamelessly follows the party playbook with her fact-free, cherrypicking assertions about crime in America. A simple Google search will confirm that violent crime has declined by well over 50 percent since the 1990s. (There was a blip
in 2020 during the pandemic when Trump was in office.) She’s also cruelly wrong about immigrants, legal or not. Studies for years have shown that they are less likely than US-born citizens to be incarcerated for committing crimes. They don’t eat pets, either.
Chris Quilter, Laguna Beach
On Aug. 16, the Indy ran an article titled “If You Don’t Get Finances Right, Nothing Else Matters.” This begs the question, is the city getting its finances right? With failing audit reports dating back to 2017 citing the same types of problems, it’s a fair question. As are the following. Is a functioning audit committee a council priority? When faced with the reality that the public wanted a resident-led independent audit committee, Bob Whalen suggested merging audit responsibilities with the Measure LL committee. When the measure was disbanded, the seven-member combined committee was reduced to a three-member stand-alone audit committee for a short time, until the council added
investment advisory responsibilities to create a new combined fivemember committee. During its fivemonth life, the stand-alone audit committee never met, and as a result, to this day, no audit committee has ever reviewed the 2021 year-end financial statements or reported results to the council.
Is the lack of audit expertise on the audit committee an oversight?
The city “audit” committee has never had anyone with credentialed accounting and auditing expertise. When given the opportunity to replace a departing LL member, the council chose one of the two nonCPA applicants rather than one of the three CPA applicants, with Whalen inquiring of one of the CPAs whether she could work well with the existing committee.
When it was publicly pointed out to council that the call for applications for the latest version of the committee did not include a requirement for accounting or auditing expertise, nothing was changed, and no one with accounting or auditing expertise was selected.
• see LETTERS page 18
9/17 @ 7:00 PM LINE DANCING FREE EVENT
9/19 @ 7:30 PM THE ALVAREZ BAND
9/20 @ 9:00 PM YOUR MOM 90'S TO NOW
9/21 @ 9:00 PM 90S WITH A GRUNGE VITALOGY (PEARL JAM) AND RED HOT TRIBUTE (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS)
9/22 @ 12:30 PM TOM DANTE QUARTET JAZZ BRUNCH
9/22 @ 5:30 PM EINSTEIN BROWN FREE SHOW
9/22 @ 7:30 PM UPSTREAM REGGAE
9/26 @ 7:30 PM KOKO & FRIENDS FEAT. BLONDIE CHAPMAN
9/27 @ 9:00 PM TIJUANA DOGS
9/29 @ 12:30 PM TOM DANTE QUARTET JAZZ BRUNCH
9/29 @ 5:30 PM EINSTEIN BROWN FREE SHOW
9/29 @ 7:30 PM ERROL BONNICK AND THE LIONZ REGGAE
10/02 @ 7:30 PM ADELAIDE PILAR LATIN NIGHT
10/04 @ 9:00 PM ENDLESS SUMMER DONNA SUMMERS TRIBUTE
10/06 @ 12:30 PM THE SUNDAY GOSPEL BAND JAZZ BRUNCH
10/07 @ 7:30 PM 133 BAND FREE SHOW
Cont. from page 9
DUI. A 19-year-old Corona man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and blowing on or over 0.08 BAC. His bail was set at $5,000.
Bench warrant. Matias Epelboim, 39, of Mission Viejo was arrested on suspicion of an outstanding bench warrant. He was held without bail.
Indecent exposure. Laquan Vaughn McDavid, 32, was arrested on suspicion of indecent exposure. His bail was set at $500.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 17
Trespassing. Glenn Edward Mendiaz, 54, was arrested on suspicion of refusing to leave a property. He was held without bail.
Trespassing. Jonathan Michael Smith, 39, of Pensacola, Florida, was arrested on suspicion of refusing to leave a property. He was held without bail.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18
Burglary. Christopher Damian Wooten, 28, of Laguna Beach was arrested on suspicion of a felony burglary. His bail was set at $50,000.
Obstruction. Resisting a police officer. Erick Kent Peyton, 42, of Compton, was arrested on suspicion of a misdemeanor charge and obstructing a peace officer. He was held without bail.
Carrying a concealed dagger, under the influence of drugs. Kay Youngjae Choi, 27, of Buena Park was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of carrying a concealed dagger or dirk and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Her bail was set at $500 bail.
BY CLARA BEARD | LB INDY
Beach police detectives have arrested a 24-year-old Fullerton man on suspicion of having sex and committing other lewd acts with an underage girl.
The incident was reported to have occurred in Laguna Beach. Detectives said the Culver City Police Department notified them of the report on July 27. Culver City authorities were already investigating Jonathan Xavier Cabral, who formerly worked as a walk-on assistant track coach at Foothill High School in unincorporated North Tustin.
After launching a joint department investigation, detectives reported they discovered Cabral met the girl, who was 14 years old, online, leading to the two meeting for sex and other lewd and lascivious acts.
The police arrested Cabral at his home on Aug. 14, reportedly without incident, and charged him with statutory rape, meeting with a minor for lewd purposes, possession of child pornography and numerous other charges related to the incident. He was released on $100,000 bail. Detectives said they believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Gutierrez at 949715-0984. To provide information anonymously, call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS (1-855-487-6227), use a smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google Play or the Apple App Store or visit occrimestoppers.org.
Cont. from page 13
Friday night against a good football squad visiting from Gig Harbor, Wash. The Breakers opened the game with a 47-yard kick-off return by Charlie Hunt, setting up a short 39-yard 5-play drive for the initial score. Gig Harbor appeared unstoppable on their initial possession until they went for a fourth down and one play on the Laguna 29. The Breakers surprised the opponents, stuffing the previously unstoppable Tides for a loss, changing the game’s momentum for good. Wyatt Bogdan and Redmond Chesley were key on the play. Six plays later, a perfect Jackson Kollock pass to Brady Stringham streaking under coverage deep in the Tides territory recorded the second score. Laguna scored again on their third and fifth possessions to take a 28-0 lead into the half. In the second half, Gig Harbor controlled the clock on a long 17-play possession that looked like a successful drive until Wyatt Degner picked off a 6-yard touchdown pass attempt for a touchback. The Breakers quickly responded to their discouraged opponent, marching 80 yards in five plays plus two Tide penalties to score again. The final period was on a running clock.
THIS WEEK: Friday, Sept. 20 vs #125 El Dorado at 7 p.m. at Guyer Field
El Dorado crushed crosstown rival Valencia (2-2) 42-12 last week and will be a tough opponent. Golden Hawks (22) upset the Breakers last season in the opening CIF contest at Guyer Field on their way to the championship game for D-7 (Lost to Mayfair/Lakewood 31-28). They are in the Epsilon League this season, one above Laguna’s placement, facing Huntington Beach, Foothill, Laguna Hills, Crean and La Habra.
Breakers on a Bye Week
The Breakers return to action on Friday, Oct. 4, in the league opener versus Northwood (#113), who are 4-0 and should be 5-0 when the teams meet at Irvine High
School’s stadium. Northwood appears to be stronger than last season, but lost to the Breakers in four straight meetings, 35-21 last year - but the team is still capable of snapping the Breakers' winning streak.
Visit calpreps.com for ratings, schedules, scores etc. Game video highlights are posted on Max Preps at maxpreps.com/ca.
GIRLS GOLF (2-4, 0-1)
Laguna defeated Costa Mesa 246-284 on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Ben Brown’s. Laguna’s Alani Sciacca earned match medalist honors, shooting 45 with Spencer Anderson with a 48, Sofia Carr 48, Glory Belland 51, Sienna Herdman 54 and Zoe Tran 55.
Last week, the team lost its second meeting with El Toro 224230 at Ben Browns on Sept. 12. Alani Sciacca from Laguna Beach earned match medalist honors with a score of 40. The other Laguna scores included Sofia Carr 45, Glory Belland 46, Spencer Anderson 49, Morgan Hofknecht 50 and Sienna Herdman 51.
BOYS SAND VOLLEYBALL (6-1, 2-1)
Laguna slipped by Capistrano Valley Christian this past Tuesday. On Sept. 12, they participated in a four-man tournament hosted by Newport Harbor. The Breakers went 2-2 in pool play but lost to Huntington 14-16 in the quarterfinals. Tesoro defeated Santa Margarita, Huntington and Edison in the finals for the title.
SEPT. 17 VERSUS CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN AT MAIN BEACH (WON 4-3)
Laguna will host a boys high school pairs tournament on Sept. 27 at Main Beach. In team play, they host Tesoro on Tuesday, Sept. 24, and Newport Harbor on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
GIRLS TENNIS (1-2)
Breakers will return to the courts on Sept. 18 at JSerra. And host Palm Desert on Sept. 20 and travel to University for the
opening league match on Sept. 26.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL (3-18, 1-1)
Laguna finally got into the victory column with a 25-22, 1325, 25-17, 25-14 win at Irvine on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Hollie Hooper was the kill leader with nine while Sadie Holmes (six aces) and Maddy Rootlieb (five aces) were effective in their serving. Holmes also had four blocks, while Mimi Spangler made her debut, recording 15 assists, six digs and two aces. Last week, they lost their league opener to Rosary 25-20, 25-15, 25-18. The Royals (12-6, 1-0) will host Laguna on Oct. 1.
Laguna was on the road this past week at Sage Hill and Portola, and next week, they travel to St. Margaret’s on Sept. 24 and host Northwood on Sept. 26, both of which are critical matches with playoff implications.
BOYS WATER POLO (6-9)
The Breakers finished 21st out of 32 teams in the annual South Coast Tournament last week, going 3-2 at the event.
This past Monday, Breakers were routed by San Clemente at the Triton’s pool 21-7. Scoring for the Breakers was Zach Hornstein with three goals, Dylan Williams had a pair, and Mason Gruba had one goal and a penalty shot.
Laguna begins league play on Sept. 26, hosting Northwood at the Laguna Community Pool.
Have a note on Laguna high school sports? Email Frank at frank@ twometer.net. Looking for 2024-25 High School schedules and scores? Check Laguna Beach High School on the Max Preps website or the schedules tab on the Athletics website at lbhs.lbusd.org/athletics/schedules. To get scores on the school site – select the sport and level, click year and move the “Show older events” toggle under the 2024-25 year.
“Mr. Weiss’ integrity and honesty are above reproach. He’s the only Council member with no personal, career or business agenda. He is a true public servant.”
BY MARK D. CRANTZ
I want to go on the record. I have a good feeling. Actually, it’s a great feeling. I’m going to win the Mega Million Dollar lottery. “Really?” you ask. Yes, and that’s only half the good news. I’m going to win the Powerball lottery, too. And if the feeling can’t get any better, the wins will be in the same week, with the same set of numbers. And get this, the numbers are quick pick. I don’t even have to come up with them. Oh, what a feeling. I’m off to get a haircut for the check presentations.
This feeling is very strong. It started in my toes and worked its way up to the tippy top of my head. Luckily, I’m below-average height, and it didn’t take long for me to feel like an overall winner. This terrific feeling flies in the face of conventional wisdom that advises women to date tall men. Don’t bother. Short men are winners faster. It’s not worth waiting for tall, dark and handsome.
I’m really lucky. The odds are 305 million to 1 to win either lottery. That’s the same outcome as flipping a nickel 29 times in a row and coming up heads. Don’t bother trying it. I did it for two days straight and found out that you can’t do it. Also, nickels don’t flip as easily as quarters. I didn’t try quarters because Google AI referenced nickels only. I never second guess AI because I’m SI or Stupid Intelligence. How lucky is this feeling? Well, according to Google AI, winning the lottery is the same as guessing the exact second of someone’s life spanning nine years. Again, I recommend taking Google’s word for it. In a blind test, I had someone try guessing the exact second I was thinking about over
a nine-year span. The test subject guessed the second. To my astonishment, he guessed right. Sometime later, the test result was disqualified because the test subject recognized my voice and picked the second that I flipped him, my old boss, the bird, for being mean to me. Somehow, I hadn’t noticed the mirror that gave me away. Stick with Google AI.
I’m feeling generous these days. Once I win, I plan to share part of the largesse with Laguna Beach. I just learned from Michael Ray’s “Musings on the Coast” column that Irvine has the hottest housing market in the United States. Irvine has added 13,000 new residents in the last three years. And these new hordes have hit the closest beach, Laguna Beach, according to Ray. So, let me help fix that problem. Any Irvine resident planning a day trip to Laguna Beach will be offered a $2 voucher to go to Barstow beaches. I know, I know. Once they get there, they’ll find out there isn’t a beach in Barstow. It doesn’t matter because the day will be shot by the time they get back to complain about it. Voila, one less day tripper.
Also, I plan on buying the South Laguna Community Garden. This purchase will require building a six-story parking garage on the site. Of course, while this plan requires residents to secure personal loans to purchase vegetables at nearby Gelson’s, the plan will help remove side street parking by day trippers.
City council will receive 100 dollars to build 36 roundabouts, 18 side by side on Route 133, so day-tripping traffic will always be let out of each roundabout going back to Irvine. I know you would only need one roundabout to send them packing back home. The other 17 are insurance that
Cont. from page 15
Is the failure to get the audit committee involved in auditor selection a coincidence?
In 2017, Whalen suggested removing from the list of proposed audit committee responsibilities the participation in selecting the auditors, suggesting that this was a management responsibility. This suggestion was never adopted as it is not best practice for audit committees. Nevertheless, since its inception, the audit committee has had little to no involvement in selecting outside auditors.
There is hope. New City Manager Dave Kiff has announced that cleaning up issues in the city’s finance department is one of his top priorities. He has already hired a new finance director with an extensive accounting, auditing and finance background. We can help by insisting that councilmembers include getting our finances right as one of their priorities.
Mary Locatelli, Laguna Beach
Former councilman and Marine Room owner Kelly Boyd’s letter encouraged a vote for his preferred council candidate. He was moved to write after seeing the “horrible” ad by Alan Boinus of “Advocates for Laguna Residents.” He failed to note what he found “horrible.”
The ad is an eye-catching cartoon criticizing Bob Whalen’s 12 years on the council.
The ad spotlights the $14 million Downtown Action Plan that would remove many trees on Broadway and Forest Avenue; the $2.7 million paid for Ti Amo restaurant without an appraisal for a fire station that was later deemed unsuitable; the $23 million for St. Catherine’s school, purchased without a plan; $13 million for the Blake-DuPuis parking structure plan negotiation with the Presbyterian Church that, after lease ending, the city would own nothing; the plan to turn the library into a parking structure, paying almost $1 million for Village Entrance Parking Structure after “Let Laguna Vote” proved a few years ago parking structures could
not pay for themselves.
The ad also illustrates Whalen keeping power as mayor or mayor pro tem for most of his 12 years on the dias and shows Laguna Beach roads and beaches overwhelmed by visitors. Yes, it is “horrible,” but all true.
Boyd was a businessman, and Whalen, although a gentleman, consistently voted for policies for businesses and tourism, and residents have suffered. Their ilk should certainly vote for the candidates promising parking structures, but I support Councilmember George Weiss, who has been consistently working for residents and environmental and animal activist Judie Mancuso for city council. The Fair Political Practices Commission requires periodic reporting. The FPPC goal is to minimize influencing government officials, then enriching oneself. Boyd revealed that my wife and I have contributed to “Advocates for Laguna Residents.” We’d like to be complimented for being good citizens; we certainly have no opportunity to make money by addressing political issues. If you think voters have the right to know about candidates' records, please join me in donating via Zelle to AdvocatesforLagunaResidents@ gmail.com.
Also, in his letter, Boyd criticized me and my wife and made Village Laguna guilty by association since we are members. Recently, Mayor Sue Kempf said downtown looked shabby. I think it looked shabbier before Chris Keller purchased the Marine Room. Councilmember Mark Orgill reported that San Diego got business owners to maintain the appearance of their buildings by shaming them. The Whalen-Kemp approach is different, authorizing $300,000 in the “Commercial District Beautification Ordinance” to incentivize the businesses. That’s just another $300,000 of taxpayer money not used to protect the quality of life of Laguna residents. Gene Felder, Laguna Residents First and Laguna Canyon Conservancy Treasurer, Top of the World Neighborhood Association President
• LETTERS
Cont. from page 17
Jennifer Zeiter’s letter in the Sept. 13 Indy is full of lies and misinformation. I’m not saying the US doesn’t have an immigration problem. It certainly does, but placing the blame on the Biden/Harris Administration without considering Trump’s role is reckless. The legislation, which would have made major changes to immigration law and received endorsements from the National Border Patrol Council and the US Chamber of Commerce, initially appeared to have the support to pass. But then Trump denounced the plan and demanded his allies in the Senate abandon the compromise proposal, leaving immigration an issue to pass blame in this election. Migrants who cross the border illegally do not receive the benefits Jennifer stated. According to the Homeland Security website, dhs. gov/immigrationlaws, migrants who are caught crossing the border unlawfully will face arrest, detainment, and removal from the country by the Department of Homeland Security. Migrants can face significant consequences: removal from the United States, a five-year ban to return to the US, and potential additional criminal penalties that remain on their permanent record for years. According to USA.gov, noncitizens, including permanent legal residents, cannot vote in federal, state and most local elections. The Cato Institute draws on years of research and debate and counters common myths against immigration with nonpartisan facts in their report. Myth: “Immigrants abuse the welfare state.” Fact: Immigrants use significantly less welfare than nativeborn Americans. Myth: “Immigrants increase the budget deficit and government debt.” Fact: Immigrants in the United States have about a net zero effect on government budgets — they pay about as much in taxes as they consume in benefits. Myth: “Immigrants are a major source of crime.” Fact: Immigrants, including illegal immigrants, are less likely to be incarcerated in prisons, convicted of crimes, or arrested than native-
• MONDA
Cont. from page 14
search. I point you to their actual remarks so the reader can decide for themselves whether these school presidents are so influenced by political correctness that they are incapable of moral clarity. Columbia University President Minouche Shafik resigned on Aug. 14 following mounting concerns over her handling of antisemitic complaints on campus and the recent resignation of three deans who were forced out of their positions over text messages that Shafik said “touched on antisemitic tropes.”
On a local level, we can all be proud of what our city council did when, on June 27, they adopted a resolution, proposed by me as the president of the Laguna Beach Republicans, condemning Hamas's acts of terrorism against Israel. Well-meaning politicians tend to try to be even-handed in these statements. Even our then-Mayor Bob Whalen and President Joe Biden have done this.
“The important thing to us [in passing the resolution] was to condemn the acts of terror and to urge two things,” Whalen said in a phone interview with the Daily Pilot. “One, protect the lives of innocent civilians, and secondarily, take all the steps necessary to eliminate the humanitarian crisis. Our focus there was to urge all parties to eliminate the suffering that’s going on and not take lives of innocent civilians.” While this is an admirable sentiment, it ignores the reality that it was Hamas who attacked the Jewish people on Oct. 7. There is no moral equivalence between Hamas and the Jewish people’s right and obligation to defend themselves. Going down this path of moral equivalence, in my opinion, will only lead to the murder of more Jews.
So, in summary, back in 2019, antisemitism was beginning to be a problem, and now that problem has grown and should not be ignored.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, there was a joint protest against Putin’s Russia on Main Beach by the local Laguna Beach Republicans and the Democratic Club. It’s time for Republicans and Democrats to stand together once again, this time against antisemitism.
Emil has lived in Laguna Beach for 25 years with his wife, Michèle and three sons. He is the president of the Laguna Beach Republicans and a member of the Laguna Art Museum Board of Trustees.
is a nice man . . . We just can’t afford you anymore, Bob 12 years is enough . . . 4 more is
BY LB INDY STAFF
The Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) has partnered with Laguna College of Art + Design (LCAD) to expand opportunities for high school students interested in art and design.
"This partnership with LCAD formalizes and expands the collaboration we’ve shared over the years, creating new avenues for our students to engage with the rich artistic community in Laguna Beach,” said LBUSD Superintendent Jason Viloria. “Building strong community partnerships like this is essential to enhancing student experiences and ensuring they have access to real-world learning opportunities. We believe that when our schools and local institutions work together, it benefits our students and strengthens the entire community."
LCAD students and faculty will work with LBHS students through classroom visits, mentorship opportunities and collaborative design projects. Additionally, LBHS students can tour facilities, attend guest speaker sessions and participate in design competitions and industry forums hosted by the college. The partnership will also explore avenues for scholarship support and funding for students pursuing further education at LCAD.
The move will also align the high school’s design curriculum with LCAD's when possible, ensuring that students are prepared for college-level coursework and beyond. LCAD faculty will collaborate with LBHS educators on design trends and best practices, promoting an ongoing dialog between the two schools.
"This relationship between LCAD and Laguna Beach High School marks a significant milestone in our commitment to strengthening the creative community of Laguna Beach,” LCAD President and CEO Steve Brittan said. “By fostering collaboration between our institutions, we aim to retain and nurture the local talent, ensuring that the artistic tradition of Laguna Beach continues to flourish. This
partnership provides a crucial foundation for both high school and college students, paving the way for a vibrant future in art and design."
The district said it plans to host community events, allowing the public to view the artistic results of this ongoing initiative.
Cont. from page 3
a few thousand votes, but was unsuccessful. He had planned to repeat the campaign in 2020 but was called back to Washington.
“To my surprise, in 2020, I was retired but essentially was ordered back into federal service as a senior advisor for State Department negotiations to extend for another 40 years the Micronesian treaties I negotiated in the 1980s. When the Biden administration came in, I was promoted as a senior advisor to the President’s Envoy for Pacific Compact Negotiations. The treaties we negotiated were signed in late 2023, so I came home to Laguna.”
After re-retiring from federal service, Hills said he didn’t anticipate running for LBUSD School Board again. However, the same concerns as in years past resurfaced.
“I was deeply concerned with how much more rigid and defensive the board had become, rather than open, transparent and tolerant about being questioned or criticized,” Hills said. “I decided to give voters a choice they otherwise would not have, for a board member with a proven record managing positive change for the better.”
Working with board members and staff, Hills said, if elected, he plans to draw from his experience as a former student, parent and grandparent in Laguna schools, as well as his career in governance law at federal, state and local levels, to propose measures such as taking back fiscal accountability, community consultation while planning school site development and capacity building, “so board members act for the community
with confidence and independence, end imbalanced dependence on consultants and costly litigation as a political tactic.”
Hills also said he plans to reverse the over-delegation of board responsibilities to staff and prioritize a fully established skateboarding program.
Hills considers his 40 years of experience negotiating bipartisan compromises and finding solutions in complex circumstances sets him apart from the other candidates.
“Having educators on the board always adds value, but we need diversity,” said Hills. “We should not have only educators supervising educators. The elected board members govern, and the educators
educate. The educators support the board in governing, but educators do not govern in an ultimate or final sense. Board members support educators but do not try to be educators.”
For more information about Hills’ campaign, visit ElectHowardHills. com.
LBUSD School Board President Jan Vickers is also running for reelection in November, while board member Kelly Osborne will not seek another term. Margaret Warder, Sheri Morgan and Lauren Boeck are also running for one of the two open school board seats.
For more information about Hills’ campaign, visit ElectHowardHills. com.
Digital Emergency Preparedness at the Susi Q: How your phone could save your life
BY LB INDY STAFF
In today's unpredictable world, being prepared for emergencies is more important than ever. To address this need, Susi Q is offering a new series of free classes to equip residents with the necessary knowledge and skills for effective emergency preparedness.
Spanning four Thursdays beginning Sept. 26 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. until Oct. 17, this program, led by Red Cross trainer Annie Wright, promises hands-on learning and practical applications to ensure participants are ready for any situation.
The first week is dedicated to harnessing the power of smartphones for emergency alerts. Attendees will review city and county emergency protocols to gain an understanding of local emergency protocols, preparing for various types of alerts and appropriate responses.
Participants will learn to enable crucial emergency alert features and SOS calling on both iOS and Android devices, sign up for local emergency alert systems to receive real-time updates and notifications, explore multiple methods to contact emergency services, and understand advanced smartphone features designed to detect falls and crashes, and to connect via satellite for emergencies in remote areas.
The second week focuses on creating a comprehensive medical ID on smartphones. The third week emphasizes the importance of having well-prepared emergency kits. The fourth week addresses the secure management of important documents.
Participants will learn to digitize crucial documents such as power of attorney, advanced health directives, wills, and more.
By the conclusion of this series, participants will have registered for city and county alerts, gained confidence in navigating the smartphone Medical ID profile, acquired the skills to scan and save important documents in the cloud, and assembled essential survival emergency kits.
Participants are required to bring a fully charged smartphone, Apple ID or Google account logins (usernames and passwords), and names and numbers of at least three emergency contacts (preferably two who are local).
To sign up, register here. Or, for more information, and to sign up for thepresentation, go to thesusiq.org and click on classes and registration. If you prefer, call Christine Brewer at 949-715-8105.
• CRANTZ
Cont. from page 18
the first one works. You can never be safe enough from California drivers.
The Laguna Beach Board of Education will be given $75 to allow the Pacific Marine Mammal Center the right to release all seals and sea lions into the new swimming pool. This action will save cute sea creatures from ugly ocean predators. Students will get free sea mammal rides.
No need to thank me. I’m generous to a fault.
Crantz tells the Indy that his likelihood of winning multiple times feels just as strong. Stick with a winner. Additional largesse could be on the way.
• VELASQUEZ
Cont. from page 10
it the energy of enthusiasm. It is unbridled. Exuberant. Responsive. The mistake we can easily make is to live our lives solely driven by determination while secretly hoping that enthusiasm will miraculously show up. When you lose vitality and enthusiasm for your pursuits, stop for a moment and turn your attention inward. Put aside your long list of what you believe you have to do and what you should be doing for just a moment. Ask yourself a different question. “If I had no restrictions, what would I love to do right now?” Allow your imaginative mind to whisk you away for a few moments. Your intuition can serve you by feeding up mental pictures that can soothe your soul.
What do you long for? Are you allowing yourself enough selfnurturance and self-care to keep your vitality high? These types of questions open a genuine conversation with your inner wisdom.
Remember, intuition is your soul voice speaking. Turn your attention inward and take a few moments to really listen.
Susan is a local author of "Beyond Intellect: Journey into the Wisdom of Your Intuitive Mind." beyondintellect. com.
• DANZIGER
Cont. from page 8
city manager also supported such a vote. But the mayor and vice mayor took it upon themselves to block a vote by Laguna residents. One seemed to care mostly that it might hurt the considerable profit margin of bar and restaurant owners.
The other also put restaurant owners first and confided that s/he simply did not believe the data and analysis that residents subsidize day trippers very much. Their two votes blocked the measure from placement on the ballot.
Due to the election cycle, we now must wait at least two more years before council can even allow Laguna’s residents to consider any serious revenuegenerating measure focused on day-trippers. That will be ten years since council first acknowledged the deep subsidy to visitors, at a total cost to our city and residents of more than $300 million in just that period. Meanwhile, these council leaders are hyping a PR campaign that visitors should be “considerate.”
That will not reduce the lifeguard interventions, the police and fire activities, the accidents, trash, and the many other costs mainly due to day-trippers. And the PR messages will actually alert even more day-trippers that Laguna is a great destination. I am convinced by the data that residents and the city are now subsidizing day trippers more than $40 million every year. An increasing number of residents are deeply frustrated by the complete failure of our city council to implement a single policy that would meaningfully reduce that subsidy. What do you think?
Danziger is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science and former Dean at the University of California, Irvine. His extensive, award-winning research has primarily focused on local government.
TICKETS and DINNER RESERVATIONS: 949-496-8930
9/20 WILD CHILD (THE DOORS T R ibu TE ) 9/21 DON WAS & THE PAN DETROIT ENSEMBLE 9/22 JANE MONHEIT 9/25 ANA POPOVIC 9/26 DEBBIE GIBSON Acoustic Youth 9/27 DAVE MASON 9/28 ORIANTHI 9/29 RICHARD STEKOL BENEFIT ft Honk/Missiles/133’s/Funky Kings 10/1 DELVON LAMARR ORGAN TRIO 10/3 ZEBRA 10/4 DAVE MASON 10/5 KIMBERLY PERRY (of The Band Perry) 10/6 DAVE HAUSE 10/9 AL DiMEOLA The Electric Years 10/10 HENRY KAPONO 10/11 HENRY KAPONO 10/12 PABLO CRUISE 10/13 JIMMY WEBB 10/15 MARIA MALDAUR - W ay P
10/16 JIMMIE VAUGHAN 10/17 GROUNDATION 10/18 GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP 10/19 BRETT DENNEN -
10/20 THE YOUNG DUBLINERS 10/24 WAYWARDS SONS 10/25 MIRAGE ( f l EETWOOD M ac T R ibu TE ) 10/26 STRYPER 40th Anniversary Tour 10/27 FREDDY JONES BAND 10/30 THE MUSICAL BOX 10/31 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS
11/1 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS
11/2 VENICE
11/3 THE WINEHOUSE EXPERIENCE
11/7 MATTHEW SWEET Acoustic Trio
11/8 COMMON SENSE
11/9 TYRONE WELLS
11/13 JOHN HIATT
11/14 THE SWEET
11/15 RONSTADT REVIVAL
11/16 JOSHUA RADIN & RON POPE
11/22 SPACE ODDITY (D avi D b OW i E T R ibu TE )
11/23 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
11/24 CRTL
11/26 LEONID & FRIENDS
11/27 LEONID & FRIENDS
11/29 THE PLATTERS 11/30 LEE ROCKER of the Stray Cats
12/4 LIVINGSTON TAYLOR and LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III
12/6 WHICH ONE’S PINK? (P
12/7 WHICH ONE’S PINK? (P
12/8 SANDRA BERNHARD
12/11 DAVID BENOIT 12/12 KY-MANI MARLEY
12/13 ABBA Holly Jolly Christmas
Cont. from page 4
to finding forever homes for homeless, relinquished, abandoned and special-needs cats and kittens. The adoption events are fun for the whole family, with snacks and giveaways. Volunteer opportunities are available. For details, contact Catmosphere Laguna Foundation at 949/619-meow (6369) or Teamfeline@catmospherelaguna. com.
The Laguna Beach Democratic Club has opened its campaign headquarters at 580 Broadway, Suite 204. The club will celebrate with an open house on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. Volunteers are encouraged to attend the open house, enjoy refreshments and pick up packets and instructions for door-to-door canvassing. Refreshments will be served. Approximate hours for September are Sunday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Merchandise, including yard signs, hats, and specially designed Kamala Harris Laguna Beach tees, are available to benefit the presidential campaign. Free yard signs are available for Senator Dave Min, Laguna Beach Democratic Club-recommended city council candidates Hallie Jones and Bob Whalen, and LBUSD incumbent candidate Jan Vickers. To get to the headquarters suite, enter from the east end of the openair garage to access the stairs and elevator to the second floor. Go to www.thelbdems.com for more info.
After Lagunatics’ award-winning 30th anniversary show at the Festival’s Forum Theater, the company will return to No Square Theatre in Legion Hall to perform its newest show, which features a satirical take on Laguna’s silliest moments and greatest hits. Called “Laughing Matters,” the performance will feature hilarious numbers about parking, goats, swimming pools, taxes, being overcaffeinated, and of course, it’s an election year! The show will run from Sept. 27 through 29, Oct. 4 through 6 and Oct. 11 and 12. Oct. 13 is the Lagunatics’ annual fundraiser gala. No Square Theatre is located at Legion Hall on Legion and Catalina streets. Visit nosquare. org for details and to check out the newly released 2024/2025 performance calendar.
ALL ABOARD THE ‘ROSH HASHANAH AIRLINES’
Prepare for take-off on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 4:30 p.m. at Chabad. The destination? A sweet new year! Grab your boarding passes and fanny packs and prepare for the best in-flight entertainment and snacks. Before boarding the "flight," create the perfect-sized honey infusion to take through security. As we take off, watch the in-flight Rosh Hashanah safety video to learn all about the Rosh Hashanah procedures. Feeling hungry? Enjoy your inflight Rosh Hashanah snacks catered and served to perfection: Pomegranate salsa, round challahs, honey cake and more! We'll play
some Rosh Hashanah trivia, hear a fantastic Shofar blowing, and create beautiful Rosh Hashanah-themed postcards. This program is geared toward children and families. RSVP by emailing perel@chabadoflaguna. com.
SUSI Q PRESENTS
“DEMYSTIFYING AI” WITH JEFF ROVNER AND PAUL FREEMAN
What, exactly, is artificial intelligence (AI)? And should we be excited about this amazing technological advance – or terrified? Global technology strategist and Festival artist Jeff Rovner teams with independent consultant Paul Freeman to help answer that question. Their presentation is designed to demystify AI for those of us who are befuddled or just plain curious about what its advent really means for society as a whole and ourselves. The free event will take place at the Susi Q on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 4:30 p.m. Visit thesusiq.org and click on classes and registration to RSVP or call Christine Brewer at 949-715-8105.
Learn How to Mount a Staghorn Fern at Hortense Miller Garden The Hortense Miller Garden is hosting a Staghorn Fern workshop on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 to 11 a.m.The staghorn fern is a forgiving plant. They are easy to grow and are a great plant for those who don’t have much time to spend in
the garden. Participants will learn to mount a small staghorn fern at the workshop, which they may take home. A materials fee of $20 per person and reservations are required to participate. To reserve a place for the workshop and a brief tour of the mid-century modern home, go to HortenseMillerGarden.org.
born Americans. Myth: “Immigrants bring with them bad cultures, ideas, or other factors that will undermine and destroy our economic and political institutions. The resultant weakening in economic growth means that immigrants will destroy more wealth than they will create over the long run.” Fact: There is no evidence that immigrants weaken or undermine American economic, political or cultural institutions. Jennifer remarked, “This election is the most important of your lifetime.” I agree. That means calling out the lies and clarifying how misinformation and demagoguery can damage democracy. In the heat of a tumultuous presidential race, with the threat of a more extreme second Trump presidency looming, there is an urgent need for truth.
Jill Cooper, Laguna Beach