Problems With Wetlands Bill

State Sen. Marian Bergeson’s Bolsa Chica bill (SB 1517) misses the mark on many points, in addition to those raised by The Times editorial (May 10). This bill basically represents a vehicle to give a risk-free federal handout to a private developer, Signal Landmark Inc., and it puts responsibility for restoration of the wetlands to the same private developer, which has been fighting tooth and nail against restoration of the Bolsa Chica wetlands for years.

This bill essentially puts the proverbial fox in charge of the henhouse, and uses federal funds to do it, to the tune of $89 million. Moreover, while Signal is the beneficiary of this federal boondoggle, Signal has no obligation to pay this money back, showing the power of this company at both the federal and state levels.

I just don’t understand why Sen. Bergeson, a supposed moderate, would be so obsequious to Signal. On the other hand, she has recently bent over backwards to help the Irvine Co., the Koll Co. and a developer-sponsored transportation superagency. I guess she’s found out which side of the bread the butter is on.

JAN D. VANDERSLOOT

Huntington Beach