Mailbag: Independent needs more Huntington Beach

What has happened to the “Huntington Beach” in the Huntington Beach Independent?

You eliminate a popular column (Natural Perspectives) written by Huntington Beach residents, on matters that concern many Huntington Beach residents, and what do we get instead?

On Dec. 6, what we got instead was two columns from people who live in Newport Beach, another column from someone who lives in Costa Mesa, and a column on the Newport Beach boat parade from the Daily Pilot.

Huntington Beach is also bordered by Westminster and Seal Beach — will they be represented in the Independent next week? At what point is the Independent too dependent on other communities for its articles?

While at times it is interesting or important to know what’s going on in surrounding communities, and to hear different voices, this week it just felt like too much of the paper was taken over by non-Huntington Beach (and non-Fountain Valley, for that matter) sources.

There needs to be a better balance if the paper’s main focus is to stay on Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley. Otherwise, just combine Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa into one big community paper already, because that’s what the Independent has started to feel like.

Julie Bixby

Huntington Beach

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Vote on Pacific Mobile Homes good for community

The article “New council picks mayor” (Dec. 6) certainly couldn’t cover all of the things mentioned in the new City Council’s first post-election meeting.

The key sentiment expressed by new Mayor Connie Boardman was that the incoming council majority would focus on what’s best for the city and best for the residents.

The article missed that this sentiment was immediately put into action by revisiting the conversion/subdivision of Pacific Mobile Home Park in light of the Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates decision this month by the California Supreme Court.

In a nutshell, the court ruled that the conversion of a mobile home park in the coastal zone from tenant occupancy to residential ownership is a “development” covered by California Coastal Commission jurisdiction. Boardman prudently decided that the City Council needed to review the subdivision scheme proposed by the Pacific Mobile Home Park ownership.

The vote was 6-1 with only “Dr. No,” Councilman Matt Harper, dissenting. This issue and vote was clear progress for the residents of Pacific Mobile Home Park, the manufacturing housing community here, and the citizenry of Huntington Beach. It signals that “grassroots” representation is now the priority of local government.

This should be welcome news to almost everyone living in our city.

Tim Geddes

Huntington Beach