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Mailbag: Losing Chief Small is bad for H.B.

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Our wonderful Chief of Police Ken Small has announced his retirement (“Police chief to retire, May 16”).

It is a sad day for Huntington, as Ken truly cared about the safety of our residents and would often go beyond the call of duty, always answering phone calls and emails. He was approachable, which is a rare quality.

Our chief supported the work of Save Our Strays of Huntington Beach and OCSPCA, also a Huntington Beach organization, even though for the most part this city views the group’s goals as irrelevant — animals never generate revenue, and we are the only coastal city from Seal Beach through San Clemente that does not have our own shelter.

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Though he is probably approaching retirement age, my opinion is that he was not supported or given the respect he deserved by past City Council members, and Ken is a man of integrity, not political gain, which was apparent when the city ignored his pleas, as well as those of our chief of the Fire Department not to legalize the sale and use of fireworks. The council doesn’t have to deal with the injuries and the aftermath.

Ken, you will be missed, and as life goes, all good things must pass.

Lynn Copeland

Huntington Beach

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Thanks for help, still seeking cat

I would like to take the opportunity to thank hosts Chuck and Ruthie, as well as Ron and Jeannie, for their help in trying to find my lost cat at Bolsa Chica State Park.

They have worked very hard to get the word out to all the campers, rangers and maintenance personnel. I appreciate everyone’s efforts in trying to locate Baby, a long-haired tiger-striped cat who escaped from my trailer April 21.

Unfortunately, we must return to New Mexico without her. If anyone sees a cat with a wart on her head, we love her — warts and all — and would appreciate you contacting the camp hosts at Bolsa Chica State Park, who will continue to be on the lookout.

Nancy Abrams

Santa Fe, N.M.

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Meat, climate change link

A review of 12,000 papers on climate change in the May 15 issue of Environmental Research Lettersfound that 97 percent of scientists attribute climate change to human activities. Although we’re unlikely to reverse climate change, we can mitigate its effects by reducing our driving, energy use and meat consumption.

Yes, meat consumption. A 2006 U.N. report estimated that meat consumption accounts for 18% of man-made greenhouse gases. A 2009 article in the respected World Watch magazine suggested that it may be closer to 50%.

Carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, is generated by burning forests to create animal pastures and by combustion of fossil fuels to confine, feed, transport and slaughter animals. The much more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are discharged from digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools, respectively.

Each of us has the power to reduce the devastating effects of climate change every time we eat. Our local supermarket offers a rich variety of soy-based lunch meats, hot dogs and veggie burgers and soy- and nut-based dairy products, as well as an ample selection of vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts.

Product lists, easy recipes and transition tips are at https://www.livevegan.org.

Harold Undell

Huntington Beach

Have a letter to the editor? Email it to john.canalis@latimes.com or alicia.lopez@latimes.com. Please put letter to the editor in the subject line and include your name, city of residence and phone number for verification.

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