By Jim “Skip” Wehan, Dana Point
I have been the skipper of the Sea Scouts in Dana Point Harbor for 40 years in the Harbor Park. If Lisa Bartlett (county 5th District supervisor) issues a Request for Proposal, it will start the dissolution of the park that opens the Harbor to everyone regardless of ability to pay. Her contention is that since the RFP is only applicable to a parcel in that park, it will not affect the rest of the park. I contend that the parcel in question, which is used for community meetings and classroom instruction, weddings, sailing lessons and Sea Scout activities as well as storage of Sea Scout vessels and equipment, is the heart and soul of the park.
I also question the validity of the $300,000 subsidy. To date we have only been able to see a four-line financial statement.
Parks are not meant to be profit makers. Even so, let us see the total income and expense sheet for the total Harbor Park, not just one isolated part.
Lisa Bartlett claims that there is a large amount of misinformation going around. I disagree. It is clear that the RFP is the first step in the removal of the northwest corner of the Harbor from its historic role as a place where those who do not own boats might have free or relatively inexpensive access to the Harbor.
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