Opinion
Our letter policy

    Letters to the Editor are important - it's a Laguna Forum Letters to the Editor have been a community right in Laguna Beach for a long time and this paper will provide space to all who wish to express their opinions on just about any subject - whether it deals with local issue or not. Full Story
SCMC: use it or lose it

    Editor: Everyone in Laguna Beach should know how fortunate a city as small as ours is to have our own community hospital. Small hospitals all over the country are in trouble. Full Story
Student driving season

    Editor: Before my daughter got her driver permit recently, I never gave much thought to student driving season. I call it that because she and many of her friends are now on our roads or soon will be. I realize that it is an ongoing occurrence and always has been, however it has taken my teenager being on the road to send me a wake up call. Full Story
Disrepair and dangerous conditions at Thousand Steps Beach

    Ed. Note: This letter was addressed to Assistant City Manager John Pietig I would like to make you aware of what I believe to be an extremely dangerous situation at Thousand Steps beach. The vacant house at the southern end of the beach, "Chateau De Relaxo", is in a serious state of disrepair. The house, built on pilings, is literally falling apart. Full Story
Kinsman is dedicated, hard working

    Editor: I served with Cheryl Kinsman on the North Laguna Community Association (NLCA) Board of Directors and strongly support her bid for re-election to our City Council. Cheryl was dedicated, hard working, and thorough when we served together and brought those attributes with her to the City Council, where she combines her experience with her financial background. Full Story
Safety concerns

    Editor: Verna Rollinger, a member of Village Laguna, under the guise of maintaining the village atmosphere has ignored safety issues. As a member of Village Laguna, prior to the 1993 fire, Verna fought against and stopped the Top of the World underground water tank. How many houses would have been saved with adequate water pressure? Full Story
$99 fundraiser

    Editor: What is Cheryl Kinsman hiding? I noticed a fundraiser for Cheryl Kinsman's re-election to the Council campaign hosted last weekend by her friend, attorney Gene Gratz, who was asking for a $99 donation to attend. The amount, $99, seemed odd, as most political fundraisers ask for even amounts, like $100. I wondered why. So I checked. Full Story
We're safe with Cheryl

    Editor: With many cities in this country in deep financial debt Laguna Beach is in very good financial shape because of our mayor pro tem, CPA Cheryl Kinsman's expertise. Why would we vote for a retired city clerk who has no idea how to balance a city budget? Full Story
"…one very mediocre group of…petty tyrants."

    Editor: I attended the candidates' forum on Monday night expecting to see the usual anemic local democracy in action and instead found a local democracy that was DOA. With such an unrobust citizenry it was easy for Cheryl "Stonewall" Kinsman and Jane "Ditto That" Egly to breeze through the event last night without breaking a sweat. Full Story
Simple question

    Editor: By now, every Lagunatic has probably seen city council person and candidate for re-election Cheryl Kinsman's big signs and many heard her say our wonderful firemen are endorsing her. But face it. When you vote, the big question many will ask is really, rather simple. Full Story
Osborne was a victim of council bias

    Editor: Given Tom Osborne's qualifications and contributions to the Environmental Committee, his extensive effort toward the City's involvement in the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement and the universal support he enjoys on the Committee, there can be only one explanation for the Council's vote to not reappoint him to the Environmental Committee: Full Story
Tom Osborne's voice is a voice we need

    Editor: I have known Tom Osborne for many years. I know his dedication to his students, to his college, to South Laguna, to Laguna Beach, to our environment. I know the countless hours that he has dedicated to the work of the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement in Laguna Beach. Full Story
The four voters against Osborne should hang their heads in shame

    Editor: As an original member of the Environmental Committee and a clean ocean activist, I was shocked at the news that Tom Osborne was not reappointed to the EC by the current City Council. Tom was the moving force behind the City becoming part of the many cities, nationally, who joined the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. Full Story
Kinsman's sponsorship claim "disingenuous"?

    Editor: Let's talk about Laguna Beach's Climate Protection Plan. As you will see, Laguna is greatly indebted to Tom Osborne, who has been the primary force behind this plan. Next is Cheryl Kinsman's unwarranted claim about her involvement in the plan. And the upshot is Cheryl's role in denying Tom a second term on the Environmental Committee. Full Story
The response doesn't match the questions

    Editor: Last week a quote I made was taken out of context, and included in an [article] about recent selections to the City's Environmental Committee. My letter was [sic] in response to the questions: "Why do you feel a high school student, Graham Harris, was chosen over university professor and incumbent Tom Osborne? Full Story
Letters from "your neighbor"

    Editor: I recently received an unnerving letter that had the appearance of a letter from the Uni Bomber with a return address of " your neighbor". I knew it was a campaign piece because it was addressed to my first name, which I never use. Full Story
For thinking yet confused Christians & Catholics

    Editor: A psychologist for over twenty years, I work with individuals and couples, primarily heterosexual in nature. I also see gay couples, people of all faiths and no faith. Some of my clients are Republican, some Democrat, some will vote "Yes on 8", others will vote "No Way". Full Story
"Open and Affirming" congregation

    Editor: Although Neighborhood Congregational Church has not taken a formal vote on Proposition 8, the church is on record as being an "Open and Affirming" congregation. Full Story
Society can only be preserved by Yes on 8

    Editor: I am concerned if Proposition 8 does not pass it will have dire effect in our social structure. Traditional marriage between a man and a woman provides a well-defined family structure to procreate children in an environment best suited for their nurturing. Full Story
Why Are Mormons, Catholics, and Evangelicals so upset?

    Editor: Many may ask why are the Mormons so upset about Proposition 8? Why are they driving down from Utah by the thousands to help with the YES on 8 campaign? For those of us who are not Mormon, it may seem that it is simply an outrage similar to those who are evangelical, conservative, or Catholic, but it goes much deeper than that. Full Story
The Supreme Court's decision debunks Yes on 8 fear claims re: churches

    Editor: Proposition 8 is a very important issue and your vote will have direct impact on hundreds of same sex couples of Laguna Beach and their families. Proposition 8 was heading for defeat until a couple of weeks ago. Now, with new media campaign by Yes on 8 and millions of new dollars there has been a reverse in the polls with Yes taking a slight lead position. Full Story
No vote on Prop 8 will not sacrifice any values

    Editor: This election, California voters will have the opportunity to decide whether to change California's constitution to deny gays and lesbians the rights they currently have. Supporters of Proposition 8 say you must vote Yes to protect churches from being denied their tax free status and to prevent young children from being taught about gay marriage in schools. Full Story
Constitutionally, Prop 8 is a Trojan Horse

    Editor: Proposition 8, which seeks to amend our state constitution by "defining marriage", is a Trojan horse that may eventually backfire on those who are supporting this initiative. Full Story
A worthy starting point

    Editor: Obama's plan to "spread the wealth around" is such a good idea you wonder why nobody thought of it before. If we want a truly just society where everyone is treated equally, shouldn't we take from the haves and give to the havenots? Full Story
Tired old leftist rhetoric

    Editor: TC Borelli's letter last week about voter fraud, this year's elections, the financial crisis, and the glory of socialism made me both laugh and cry. It reminded me of the same, tired old leftist rhetoric that I thought had faded away. Full Story
Copter hunting

    Editor: In his praise of the Alaska politician [Palin will be an asset - 10/17], what Mr. Petersen fails to ask is the question: How low on the scale of evolution is someone who shoots animals from a helicopter? And this winking ____ (supply your own expletive) aspires to the Vice Presidency of the U.S.? Full Story
Political choices

    Editor: The consensus in our country is that we need change in Washington. Although I agree we need change, I am not at all sure how real change can occur with a two-party political system heavily influenced by corporate donations that control both our information and our elections. C-SPAN aired a Third- Party Presidential Debate Sunday. Full Story
Democrat's brainwashing

    Editor: After reading Jim Rue's letter last week seeming to blame all the world's ills on Bush and the Republicans, I have to say that Hitler's propaganda minister, Goebbels, would loved to have had Jim Rue on his staff. Their style was based on, if you tell a lie often enough and distort and tell halftruths long enough that the people would eventually believe it. Full Story
John and Sarah rallies

    Editor: Apparently, all those screaming mobs behind John and Sarah at their rallies are earning more than $250,000 annually. Why else vote for this ticket unless you want to stay in Iraq indefinitely and endure four more years of Republican economic and foreign affairs debacles? Full Story