We’ve had a huge turnaround regarding the celebration on the Fourth of July recently. The fireworks display is now guaranteed by the backing of the Board of Realtors under the leadership of President Bob Hartman. Board member Rick McIntire is our present day “Paul Revere” by riding into the board meeting Feb. 25 with this cause in hand, and inspiring the members to unite in their support. Michael Gosselin is truly my hero for his explosive role in taking charge of this American small-town drama.
City Manager Ken Frank, Mayor Elizabeth Pearson and our City Council could not have responded any more quickly during the March 2 council meeting in reestablishing the city contract allowing the Fourth of July to explode with color and sound.
As far as the money, the more you give is the more of a *BANG* you’ll get out of the Fourth of July! Send your checks (marked Fourth of July Fireworks) to City of Laguna Beach Finance Department, 505 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, CA 92651.
JIM HOWARD
Laguna Beach
Forest closure would hurt shops
Having participated in the design of the successful Pear Street Mall in Boulder, Colo., and having participated in the design of Reston Town Center, Reston, Va.; designed multiple projects for the Rouse Co.; lived and worked in Annapolis, Md., “the most pedestrian-friendly town in America;” won the second annual Smart Growth Award for the state of Maryland, the state that began Smart Growth; and living in Laguna Beach for seven years, my professional opinion is that closing vehicular traffic on Forest Avenue for a pedestrian mall will create the following problems:
?The need for the city to build structured parking on an adjacent block, because if the anticipated success is so great the city will need to provide additional parking.
?The fire accessibility to the storefronts will be more difficult.
