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Mailbag: Cut city salaries or city programs?

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The city of Huntington Beach’s top officials — the city administrator (Fred Wilson), and two deputy city administrators (Paul Emery and Robert Hall) — collectively pull down more than $608,000 in annual salary, plus more than $110,000 in annual benefits; plus, each official receives a minimum “auto allowance” of $500 each month.

And yet, at the City Council meeting Aug. 16, there was more talk about cutting programs back for our children, such as the Children’s Library reading programs and potentially the recent Huck Finn Fishing Derby.

You be the judge: $500 a month auto allowance versus the Children’s Library reading programs.

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Where would you make the cut? I guess we’ll all see soon.

Tim Karpinski

Huntington Beach

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Keeping ocean clean should be priority

Regarding the question “Does the current City Council ignore residents’ concerns?” (“Boardman is in, DeLong is out,” Aug. 12):

The current City Council is making decisions that benefit land developers and corporations that promise revenue from new jobs and tax revenues and then ask for water bond subsidies and tax forgiveness because they “discover” that they cannot make a profit for their investors and executives without government (local, state and federal) funds. We all know that government funds are taxpayer dollars.

The citizens of Huntington Beach know that there is no free lunch. However, we do not need to elect City Council members who are not looking out for the best interests of Huntington Beach citizens/taxpayers.

The best way to attract visitors to Huntington Beach is to ensure that our beaches and ocean are as clean as possible. The Bolsa Chica marsh is a natural filter of water that goes to the ocean. A huge desalination plant that kills marine life and deposits tons of concentrated chemicals and minerals will not improve our ocean quality nor the shore ambiance.

Armida Brashears

Huntington Beach

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Huntington will lose some business now

Regarding “Non-residents to be billed for emergency services,” Aug. 19:

I live in Westminster. I will reduce my driving in Huntington Beach because of their new crash tax for people who are accident victims, with a huge schedule of possible charges for them.

Services such as this should be part of the commons. I will not be patronizing theaters, bookstores, restaurants, classes and grocery stores. I guess Huntington Beach will have enough business from their own residents.

I can find other equivalent businesses in Seal Beach and Long Beach, which are equally close by. People will need to stay in their own cities or in cities without crash taxes. Long road trips may become problematic.

I will also not buy a car in Huntington Beach. I bought four of them over the years. I do not use their beaches — and they seem to blame beach tourists for city expenditures.

Lauren Gascoigne

Westminster

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