SEAL BEACH : City Given $1,500 Toward Pier Repair

Mayor George Brown’s one-man fund-raising campaign on behalf of the damaged Seal Beach Pier is beginning to gain momentum.

HealthNet recently agreed to give the city a check for $1,500 after Brown sent the California health-care provider a letter soliciting donations. It is the first corporate donation.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called Brown after receiving his letter. She pledged to see if any federal grants or loans are available to help repair damage caused when a fire burned portions of the pier, Brown said.

The May 21 fire caused about $350,000 damage. The damage is covered by insurance, but the city must pay a $100,000 deductible--as it did in 1992 when a similar fire struck the pier.

In an effort to help pay the deductible, Brown has written letters to the heads of several major corporations explaining the city’s financial problems and asked for help.

Brown said he was pleased with the way his campaign has gone so far. But he said he hopes HealthNet’s donation is just the beginning.

Brown said he expects to hear from several other corporations within the next few weeks.

“There are other people considering us,” he said. “I am hopeful.”

City officials said that paying the insurance deductible will not prevent them from presenting a balanced budget later this summer. But they said the added expenses might force additional cuts in city programs.