Tickets, Flags and Soccer Fields

January 5, 2002

Dear Editor,

The story about Mayor Feinstein not paying his parking tickets was great ("Parking Woes: Permits Pose Problem for Mayor," Dec. 27). I liked the part about how the Mayor has a problem with authority. I also enjoyed the Mayor's quote at the end of the story.

"I'm pathetic," Feinstein said. "Thank God I don't run the City the way I run my personal life."

Oh really????? I don't see much difference between the two. Is he claiming to be "Bipolar"? Does he suffer from multiple personality disorder?

Yours,
J.L.Jacobson
Santa Monica

December 28, 2001

Dear Editor,

(Re: WHAT I SAY, "Looking for a Silver Lining," Dec. 28.)

While Frank Gruber's "politically active, left-wing, rabbi" was leading his congregation in the singing of "God Bless America" on Rosh Hashanah, my congregation was voting to prohibit any type of official display of the American Flag.

At the Unitarian Church of Santa Monica the motion to display the flag was defeated by a vote of: 11 For, 66 Against, and 4 Abstaining.

The motion proposed was: (1) to permit the official display of the American Flag at the Unitarian Church of SM; (2) that a committee of five be selected to recommend what type/frequency of display be permitted; (3) that a vote be held on the committee's recommendations no later than Sunday, 3 Feb 02.

I recently completed a short documentary, "Memories of War," interviewing nine Veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. While they differed on the "goodness" of war, they agreed on the importance of our national symbol, the American Flag.

I have submitted a letter of resignation to the Unitarian Church of Santa Monica. (Editor's note: Following is part of the letter):

"As someone who has presented the American Flag to the 19-year old widow of a 20-year old husband who died in battle, I cannot honestly abide by any organization for which the American Flag violates its vision or its identity.

"The UUCCSM is the first and only church I ever joined as an adult. Had I known prior to joining that the UUCCSM is not only a 'Dedicated Peace Site' but also an 'American Flag-Free Zone,' I would not have joined.

"I hope some day soon -- not the 135 years it took South Carolina to change its flag policy -- the membership of the UUCCSM will reverse the decision it made... and will officially welcome the American Flag - at least on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. Until that day occurs I will remain a non-member."

Perhaps we will eventually get past Vietnam. It still has not happened everywhere.

John Medlin

December 27, 2001

Dear Editor,

I just read Bruria Finkel's letter regarding the possibility of beach soccer north of the pier. ("MORE LETTERS: Park Flaw, Beach Soccer and Lacking Spirit," Dec. 27.) While I am an advocate for the inclusion of playing fields in the city center design, I think beach soccer would also be a welcome addition to our city.

A year or so ago I proposed this idea to Santa Monica's Director of Community and Cultural Services Barbara Stinchfield. She told me that the city has plans to landscape the area north of the pier with grassy areas which would be called "village greens" and that soccer could possibly be played there, although that was not the original intent.

All that is needed to make this happen is the money. If our City Council were to fast track this element of the overall parks plan we could have village greens and soccer on the beach in short order.

I say let's do it.

John Petz

December 27, 2001

Dear Editor,

Is Ms Finkel going to sweep and hose down the soccer fields each day as the sand piles up. Maybe she'll squeegee the water after storm tides inundate the fields.

You gotta be ribbin' me???????????

Thirty years ago there was a plan to continue the Marina Freeway offshore and north to Malibu, wiping out the surf and beaches. That was the end of any insane discussions of abandoning the beaches.

Maybe this "desire" Ms Finkel heard about are the voices in her head. Surfrider Foundation, Heal The Bay, and every ecological group on the coast would shoot this nuttiness down immediately.

Bob Barnett

December 27, 2001

Dear Editor,

I find myself coming to your site and reading your letters to the editor and becoming more and more infuriated by the individuals that write in on a regular basis. My favorite ones to dislike are Bruria Finkel and her circle of friends like Alan Toy. They always talk about wanting open space, but then, they are the quickest ones to want low-income housing placed on it. I remember when Ms. Finkel stood before the City Council and told them not to spend her redevelopment money to purchase the RAND property.

The overwhelming majority of people in this city, when asked and informed about the RAND property, prefer it as a park. Yes, with dirt paths through it as jogging trails. I believe Ms. Finkel is talking about a process where they use ground up tires and other rubber recycled products as a base.

Now do Santa Monicans want recycled tires put into our beaches? In the winter time, when the storms run through there, they get flooded, thus leaching into the sand. So is this ecologically smart? I don't think so.

Chuck Allord
Santa Monica