Virginia Ave. Park can be a winner

   To the editor:
   At a recent Planning Commission hearing, 25 of the 30 speakers criticized a park plan.....WHAT??!!
   I am the longest sitting member of the Virginia Avenue Park Advisory Board. I have witnessed four separate land addition purchases and worked through four separate designs under four different park department heads. This has taken over 10 years. More than anyone, I would like to see something get done. Let’s not confuse that with anything. Critics have correctly pointed out the current plan has three flaws. Flaws that can be minimized, if not corrected. Fix those flaws and we all win. It is quite simple.
   FLAW #1: The Farmer’s Market
   The farmer’s market is very popular. It has proven its worth and its continuation is justified. However, the market’s exceedingly large footprint on the park hogs the green. This was never meant to be.
   Viable options are:
   1. Partner with Santa Monica College to move the market two blocks west to the surface lots at Pico & 20th. It’s moving there anyway during construction of the park. It’s time to make a deal with the College and there is plenty to deal. The city staff, which admits they never even made a phone call, blew it big time. Fortunately there are people who can make this happen.
   2. Keep the market on its present corner location with a more efficient floor plan and “green up” the saved space, which could be substantial. This also avoids any traffic impacts the proposed plan has been criticized for.
   3. Use the north lanes of Pico Blvd to accommodate the farmer vehicles. A few orange cones and this immediately frees up 3/4 of an acre for green space.
   4. All or part of the parking goes underground. Ralph’s on Cloverfield and some lots in Beverly Hills are good models. Most of the added spaces in the plan are park user spaces. About 60 spaces are tied to the market need. If the market stays on the site, any elimination of parking puts cars on neighbor streets, but any parking space underground frees up green space.
   FLAW #2: The Pool
   The pool has a sizable hardscape footprint and is intrusive to surrounding neighbors.
Viable options are:
   1. The pool should be a water play / fountain type feature as originally planned. Fountain play has no standing water, requires no lifeguard, fencing, locking or winter play surface covers. It is infinitely less costly and more usable. It has less of a hardscape footprint and is less intrusive to surrounding neighbors.
   The city has not started on the 415 PCH pool, completed the Lincoln pool, nor opened the 2 new pools at the College which are a few short blocks from Virginia Ave Park. And then there is the dry sailboat pond at Douglas Park. Did you hear of the guy who got tired of making his first million so started on his second?
   2. The pool remains in the project and is located on the Pico or Cloverfield side, away from neighbors. The space options freed up by a new market solution could provide new placement opportunities.
   3. The pool remains as located and further mitigated by: a) maintaining a 150 ft. minimum distance to residences, b) sound proofing the mechanical equipment and c) providing a winter play surface cover that does not have a “drum” effect.
   FLAW #3: Sound Stage / Pavilion
Amplified sound must be directed to the Pico/Cloverfield corner, not down 22nd Street or at any residential property. Simple, easy, but staff and designers have refused.
   Virginia Ave Park can get more green, more play, retain the market, and not annoy neighbors. The staff, designers, boards, and commissions have failed but the residents can pressure the Council to bring it to bear. If you care - get on the phone, zap the email, send the message. After all these years time is running out. The proposal will be before the City Council this month.
   Peter Tigler
   Santa Monica

   Saddened and
   Angered

   To the editor:
   I was deeply saddened and angered when I read your article about Janis Belser Heaphy being booed off the stage at Cal State Sacramento. While I do not agree with all of her views, her right to express herself in a public forum should be a right guaranteed to all Americans. Apparently, these students never heard of Patrick Henry’s famous words, “I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
   Now I think, in all fairness, your publication should also condemn [students] at UC Berkeley, who booed David Horowitz off the stage for expressing his conservative views and support of the fight against terrorism, and their fanatical vows not to allow anyone on their campus who shares his views. It seems the ONLY free speech allowed at Berkeley is the radicals’ free speech.
   Ralph Pettit
   Santa Monica

   Humiliated
   and Hurt

   To the editor:
   On Saturday, December 8, I went into 711 at 630 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica. Upon paying for my Lotto ticket, I was requested to also pay for the ice cream the clerk claims she saw me steal on Friday, December 7.
   Needless to say, I was in a state of disbelief, a scene ensued and another clerk claimed she had seen me do it before. She was rude and insulting.
   The store had at least ten or more people in line. I have never in my life been as humiliated, hurt and angry.
   This clerk should have had me apprehended on the Friday, at which time I could have proved my innocence.
   711 better explain to their employees what defamation of character means.
   This entire matter ruined my holiday season. The accusation will be with me forever. Only those falsely accused of something can understand what I am going through.
   Courtesy and service certainly is not a slogan to describe this 711 store.
   V Craig
   Santa Monica