Arts Festival Should Stay Put

Re “Arts Board Shows Plans for Complex in San Clemente” (Sept. 17):

Sherri Butterfield and other project backers said they rolled out their plans now so that members of the festival would have a clear choice before they cast their recall ballots. To quote Butterfield, “Certainly if there’s a recall, most of this can’t happen. We had this [unveiling] to say to people, ‘Here’s your choice.’ ”

It is unfortunate that these plans were not available the entire summer in Laguna Beach on the grounds of the Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters. If these plans had been available to the voting membership, it would have saved thousands of dollars that have been wasted over the past months trying to convince the members why our beloved festival belongs in San Clemente. Perhaps this money could have been used to enhance the arts in and around Laguna Beach.

Laguna Beach has been the home of our beloved festival for the past 68 years and that is where it should remain. That is my “choice,” Ms. Butterfield!

DIANNE REARDON

Artist, Festival of Arts

Laguna Niguel