CAROL WILSON, Dana Point
A week or so ago, a retiring councilman penned a long letter to the Dana Point Times about the financial condition of the City of Dana Point. Numbers can be interpreted in various ways and emphasized to make things look good or bad. What is telling though is what actually happens to our residents when the revenue falls short.
One of the first things that has been cut that affects all residents is code enforcement. It is getting harder and harder to get any results or response from code enforcement to act upon the complaints regarding sober living homes, short-term rentals, building done without permits and other infractions. It often takes several complaints and referrals up the ladder to the City Manager to get any action on a code enforcement issue. Dana Point used to have three code enforcement officers now we have two with no plans to replace the third person. With short-term rentals and sober living houses proliferating our community we need more code enforcement not less code enforcement. What an invitation for more of these in our neighborhoods with the knowledge there will be even less code enforcement. Code enforcement on weekends? Forget about it.
Other areas of the budget cuts include a shorter fireworks show on the Fourth of July, less free concerts in the summer and maybe even a move from Sunday concerts to week night concerts because it’s cheaper. Oh, and no money for our wonderful Dana Point Symphony, the city can’t afford that.
As you evaluate who to vote for on Election Day, Nov. 6, look to see if the incumbents that made these budget cuts are working on your behalf, or outside interests. Personally I think we are overdue for a change in the old guard in Dana Point. That’s why I am endorsing Joe Jaeger, Mark McGuinn and Charles Payne for Dana Point City Council. Let’s get some council people who will listen to the residents and put them first.
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