Mailbag: Numbers don’t add up in H.B.

Regarding your article “City makes information easier to find” (Aug. 26), the salaries and benefits you described seem quite generous to me. Now, the city should take the next step in its effort to provide us with more information. Why not outline the content of the benefits packages?

Secondly, I disagree with the city’s definition of a loan. According to the Webster’s School Dictionary, a loan is: “money lent out at interest” or “something loaned for the borrower’s temporary use.”

Based on this information, if what the city calls a loan does not have to be paid back while individuals remain in service, wouldn’t you agree that the term “salary enhancement” might be more appropriate?

If cutbacks have to be made, they should begin at the top so that an example is set for those who have to be furloughed — or what I call “temporarily laid off.”

Michael P. Di Gennaro

Huntington Beach

Park will bring community together

Thank you, reporter Mike Reicher, for the comprehensive story on the new nonprofit corporation Orange Coast River Park (“Talks flow for decade-old river project,” Sept. 2). We, the founding members, are very excited to now be in a position to work with the other stakeholders in this wonderful area at the mouth and lower reach of the Santa Ana River to fulfill the vision of an integrated park made up of the separate areas owned by the County of Orange and the cities of Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, in addition to the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy.

Supplementing the information contained in the article, it is important to note that each of the stakeholders has accomplished much in the Orange Coast River Park. Costa Mesa has made great strides in Fairview Park, creating a park of which to be proud. Across the river, the city of Huntington Beach and the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy have moved to restore and improve both wetlands on the coast and parks inland. Moving down the river, the County of Orange, OC Parks and OC Flood have been working in the Talbert Nature Preserve, restoring habitat and creating walking trails. Finally, at the mouth of the river, the city of Newport Beach is moving forward on Sunset Ridge Park, which anchors the south corner of the Orange Coast River Park.

Together, all of these government agencies and NGOs have made great strides improving habitat and recreation opportunities in each of their geographical areas. Together, all of these areas make up the Orange Coast River Park. The Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks committee has in the past and will in the future continue to provide a forum for these agencies and NGOs to collaborate and work together for the benefit of the plants and critters, including we humans, who spend time in the park. Orange Coast River Park, Inc. will be another NGO at the committee table working to collaboratively improve the habitat throughout the area called Orange Coast River Park through restoration projects, habitat management and possibly other projects such as consistent signage and integrated trail systems.

We look forward to being part of the stewardship team for this gem at the terminus of the Santa Ana River. We also look forward to collaborating with neighbors up river all the way to the headwaters to make the Santa Ana River corridor a major asset for environmental and societal needs for all of those that share the river.

Dennis Baker

Newport Beach

Editor’s note: Baker is the treasurer of Orange Coast River Park, Inc.

Poseidon approval is all wet

I strongly oppose Poseidon’s privatization of Huntington Beach’s water (“Public comments gush on water facility,” Sept. 9). This corporation has a disastrous history of incomplete projects and overruns. Desalination may be the way to go, but check out the company proposing to do it a little better, City Council.

Jean Roberts

Huntington Beach