Commentary: Why so much filth and neglect downtown?

I took my guest, who was visiting from Texas, for a nice walk to the end of the Huntington Beach Pier and down Main Street to have a good breakfast at the House of Pancakes. It is shocking to see how deteriorated the area has become.

I have watched it flourish with clean cement and benches, well-maintained rails, intact trash containers and nicely maintained cement inserts on the pier. Now, skylights in the restrooms are filthy, surfer plaques that were once well-maintained are sinking and the sidewalks look stained and dirty.

All of the beautiful tiles on the walkways by Pierside Pavilion are dirty and breaking down. Holes, stains and filth are everywhere. What is going on?

Huntington Beach is not a poor city. New construction is ongoing excessively, taxes and tourists are pouring, parking fees are high — and the area is not being maintained.

I am embarrassed to show my guests so much ugliness. The city should look pristine and appealing so people will want to visit here again and again instead of taking their business to other beach cities that maintain their amenities. This is the famous Surf City. We have so much more to offer.

We are building more attractions but not keeping up with the aesthetics. It’s time for a facelift before things get much worse. The hat doesn’t match the shoes and the dress.

Someone needs to pay attention and enforce the preservation of all our structures, walkways and extras and punish offenders for destroying public property.

Boim is a resident of Huntington Beach.