Mailbag: If you want us to shop, don’t close the street

Our past City Councils encouraged us to shop in Laguna Beach, so why are they trying to make it impossible to shop here.

I do the majority of my shopping in Laguna Beach. Forest Avenue is a shopping mecca, I buy my clothes at Duet, Louises, Just Looking, Quicksilver for my grandsons and Bushards for an array of goodies. My dogs and I love Alessa.

So why is the council now trying to destroy Forest Avenue. If I can’t park, then I won’t shop or dine on Forest Avenue. Take the trolley, says the council. I don’t want to take the trolley laden with packages and waiting on the street. And, living in Mystic Hills, I would still drive my car to town.

Once you take parking away and the wonderful stores have closed what will the council say — sorry? Fashion Island is 15 minutes away. Think about it before it’s too late.

Martha Lydick

Laguna Beach

*

Anyone for a school calendar change?

I’m wondering if there are any Laguna Beach Unified School District parents, teachers or employees who would prefer to forego one of the two week-long breaks in February or April in favor of finishing the school year a week earlier?

If so, kindly contact me at cindy.cohn@cox.net so that we may pursue a potential calendar change together.

Cindy Cohn Hierbaum

Laguna Beach

*

Hooray for the trolleys

The Laguna trolleys start or end on Ritz Carlton Drive next to the RITZ. It goes as far north to Crystal Cove State Park (sorry not to the Beachcomber restaurant) and to the art festivals.

The Gray trolley line goes up Bluebird Canyon to the Top of the World for great hiking and views (also see Aliso Creek). Trolley hours until Aug. 30 are 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week.

Problem is, the trolleys bunch together causing sporadic pickups. On a sunny weekend, the trolley is packed with people and will not stop until room opens aboard. The wait is 30-plus minutes sometimes. See the 50 stops at https://www.visitlagunabeach.com/plan/transportation/trolley.

The OCTA $2 bus rumbles through too. I suggest going early and as far north or south as you want to go to beat the crowds and overloaded trolleys.

The Dana Point Woody trolleys — four of them — are well organized and are dispatched to keep them spaced 15 minutes apart. Sometimes you have to wait in the air conditioned trolley at a stop. See https://danapointchamber.com/pch-trolley-service-coming-to-dana-point-this-summer.

The route map shows the 15 stops. The limo vans are handicap accessible and can carry two bikes strapped on the front grill. They even have seat belts and music. I was told that dancing on-board is not allowed — JK. You can go as far south as Capo Beach Park and north to the Ritz.

Each city has apps to track the trolleys locations on your iPhone or iPads. Get up and go explore for adventure.

Patrick Crowley

Laguna Beach

*

Columnist right about downtown problem

Re: Hansen, “Summer of cars starts on discordant note.”

Thank you to David Hansen for capturing the spirit and essence of the June 20 Fête de la Musique in his column of June 26 and then pointing out the big difference between Laguna and our sister city of Menton.

I have been to Menton three times and my most lasting impression is always of that wonderful pedestrian area several blocks long. We have a lot to learn here.

Thank you for your efforts to awaken people here to an alternative way of doing things.

Ken Aubuchon

Laguna Beach Fête de la Musique Organizer

*

When will we learn that less guns is logical move

Between 1984 and the present, hundreds of innocents have been killed in mass shooting rampages in the United States.

Incongruously, now that guns can be carried just about everywhere — malls, churches, theaters, government buildings, universities, etc. — the NRA and our elected officials have created a culture ripe for those who hate and suffer from mental maladies.

The rest of the industrial world gets it, but we seem lost in the mist a self-induced convoluted haze. The axiom, “we reap what we sow,” could never be more accurate or more sad.

Randy Lewis

Laguna Beach