Dodge City Beach

Dear ER:

The article about the gun carrying event in Hermosa Beach has caused me such fear, disgust, and anger, I’m not sure I can begin to put my feelings into words (“Police say no handguns on beach,” ER July 1, 2010). I understand that we have the right to bear arms in this country, and although I’m in favor of gun control, I know that the basic right will never be abolished in my lifetime. But aren’t the guns supposed to be for hunting and protecting one’s home, property and family from intruders? The South Bay is a relatively crime-free, laid-back area filled with peace loving, fun loving, nature loving people enjoying the beach, ocean and small town community atmosphere. Do we really need to be armed for self-defense during our everyday activities in Hermosa Beach? The idea of people walking around Hermosa Beach streets carrying guns is outrageous. Will we soon see this group walking on The Strand with semi-automatic weapons across their chests, among the volleyball players, skateboarders, bikers, and families out enjoying the beach with their dogs and babies? Will they show up in town armed and after a few drinks pop into the bathroom to load up and return to shoot the guy who insulted them at the bar? Who will be accidentally shot in the cross-fire when some gun-toter decides to shoot in self-defense at one of our summer concerts? I know these hypothetical situations sound absurd, but the gun supporters are always warning that gun control is just one step down the slippery path leading to the abolishment of the right to own guns. Well I say that allowing people to march through town carrying weapons and ammunition is just one step away from Hermosa becoming the new Dodge City. We just got smoking banned from the beach. Will we have to propose banning guns from the beach next? And the idea of someone carrying a gun offering me water on a hot day, or serving meals to the poor — what’s wrong with this picture?

The spokesperson for this group says that I should not feel threatened by the group and its activities, but I do. I feel a threat both personally and to my way of life here at the beach. I proudly stand by my opinions and think I speak for many in this community, but you’ll have to sign me,

Fearful in Hermosa

Name withheld by request

Not entertained

Dear ER:

Hermosa’s current rotating ceremonial mayor Michael DiVirgilio, along with councilmen Patrick “Kit” Bobko and Howard Fishman, again intensified downtown liquor dispensing at their June 8 and 22 council meetings by adding live entertainment hours to the conditional use permit (that will now run permanently with the land) of a Pier Plaza restaurant.

What is it that these councilmen still don’t understand regarding downtown liquor saturation in all its insidious forms, least of which is that it’s costing the city millions per year to police over and above the revenue the city receives from downtown liquor selling businesses?

DiVirgilio even rebuffed a long-term resident upon her presentation of evidence proving that the restaurant they were dead set on expanding entertainment hours for, was already being advertised as a bar. DiVirgilio, preoccupied with his childish, electronic egg-timer device, cut off the resident as she tried to present her valuable testimony.

It’s amazing to many in this small city how DiVirgilio, owning no home, business, or having any other demonstrable stake in this city, can be such a micro-controlling little individual towards residents who take their own valuable time to bring information to the council.

There were no more than a few speakers at the meeting as usual, thanks to the crafty persuasion and control exerted over the council by their expensive contract city attorney Michael Jenkins, with his obvious distaste for the public speaking more than a bare legal minimum. For years Jenkins has effectively kept the very few bothering to attend to a minimum of questioning or bringing to light what’s going on.

Unfortunately we’re stuck with liquor-expanding Bobko for three more years, short of recall, but real concern now lies with rookie councilman Fishman’s willingness to find reason, no matter how flimsy, to intensify liquor dispensing in Hermosa’s liquor-saturated downtown.

Howard Longacre

Hermosa Beach

Cajun duel

Dear ER:

In all the back and forth about the Ragin Cajun’s need to move (“Rajun Cajun needs to move,” ER June 17, 2010), no one has mentioned that we are fortunate enough to have two Cajun-Creole restaurants in Hermosa Beach. The New Orleans is a lovely, little family restaurant with terrific food. And now that it seems the Ragin Cajun may move to a new Hermosa location, we will continue to have two Cajun-Creole restaurants. Restaurants aren’t permanent fixtures. We have a wealth of eateries here and even if some move on, no one in Hermosa will starve for variety.

Joan Arias

Hermosa Beach

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