Waves of Reaction to Beach Closure

* As a water quality advocate, I was appalled to read that Assemblyman Scott Baugh (R-Huntington Beach) has proposed legislation that may degrade public health and result in more people swimming in polluted water (Sept. 2).

The legislation would not say this on its face, but a careful reading of Baugh’s proposal clearly shows that this will be the result.

Baugh’s bill would allow local city officials to overrule the Health Department’s beach closures during times of possible contamination. Obviously, if the beaches are not closed during sewage spills, etc., the public’s health is at risk.

The Health Department’s sole function is to protect the public’s health. Any city council or city official faces a myriad of competing priorities, including keeping local merchants happy.

Take for example the current situation in Huntington Beach, which happens to be Baugh’s district.

Merchants were pushing for the beach to be reopened in time for Labor Day. City officials were scrambling to preserve Huntington Beach’s reputation as “Surf City.”

The Orange County Sanitation District had spent over $400,000 looking for the cause of the pollution and still had no clear idea where the contamination was coming from or when it would end.

Under Baugh’s bill, city officials would have the ability to simply shut down the Health Department and declare the crisis to be over. No one would have the authority to stop them.

Baugh’s proposal would make a terrible bill. We have a right to know when our ocean playground is contaminated with sewage waste, and have confidence that the beach will be reopened only when the water is truly clean.

SUSAN SKINNER, MD

Newport Beach

* Having the beach closed at Huntington Beach has been the saddest event I’ve witnessed since my family arrived here in 1972. But there could be a silver lining to this tragedy.

The City Council may finally understand that people come to Huntington Beach because of the ocean. It’s not the Hilton or Dukes or anything the Redevelopment Agency would want us to believe. It’s the water.

People have come to Huntington Beach since the ‘20s to enjoy swimming, wading and peaceful contemplation at the ocean’s edge. When I dive in the water my spirit is lifted and I feel like a child. I’m sure many feel the same.

City Council members, especially the mayor, should take an hour and go down to the water before it’s too late. They should bring their families and enjoy this living, breathing miracle.

CLEM DOMINGUEZ

Huntington Beach

* I lived at beaches for 15 years. When you live there you can’t help but be more aware of the environment.

Unfortunately, we can’t depend on any one person to ensure clean living, or our county to take care of us when pollution turns on us.

Complacency allows things like pollution to creep up on us. We, the people, must become more involved and demand more responsibility of ourselves and of our county leaders.

We must push for slower growth and scrutinize every project that is forced upon us. It can be done.

If we want clean air and clean coastlines in our county, we must be united in taking a stand against all polluting projects, for you can’t turn back the clock.

LINDA JONES

Irvine

* Re “Runoff Tied to Offshore Bacteria,” Sept. 1:

Orange County Sanitation District technical director Robert Ghirelli is mistaken to assume that people do not swim in the ocean during the winter.

Many residents of Orange County, including myself, surf year-round in the ocean off Huntington Beach.

If Ghirelli believes that the public safety problem is reduced because the water temperature drops a few degrees, he is revealing ignorance beyond public official thresholds.

Two months and $400,000 later, his investigators are throwing low technology fruit at the problem with no clue to the sewage source.

DENNIS SATO

Huntington Beach

* Re “Runoff is Blamed for Beach Woes,” Sept. 4:

The recent beach closures reinforce the need for continued oversight and strict enforcement for public safety.

Unfortunately our public leaders have more interest, once again, in the almighty dollar than the environment and public health issues.

Rather than complain about the beach closure hurting local business, the vocal elected officials would do better to put some energy into finding the cause and fixing it.

I wonder if any of them have considered the over-building and continued environmental abuses as possible causes of this contamination.

I think we can now safely say that a clean environment does definitely translate into good business.

HENRY WOOD

Huntington Beach