To Sun Post's editor...

10/23/07

In the interest of editorial disclosure as it relates specifically
to San Clemente, may I be so bold to suggest a subtle but
necessary (as in - long overdue) editorial (Truth in Disclosure)
one-word deletion to your regularly published 'Hall Around Town'
qualifier - which appears regularly at the end of each John Hall
social-rant-adnauseam's,

"...Halls opinions are his own and {not} necessarily those of this paper."

My wife and I moved to SC 10 years ago.
Most of that time (3-SP editors worth) we've subscribed to the OCReg / SP.

You will conclude from the tone and direction of my 'in-the-public-interest'
request, an advocacy for Open Space Protection as it relates to SC's
ongoing Quality of Life issues, i.e. traffic - healthy ocean - clean air -
respect for SC's on-going Historical Legacy: Ole's original dream,
"A Spanish Village by the Sea," albeit ersatz in conception (as was
Santa Barbara), Ole's magic perseveres today.

But ironically, not in the wordy intentions of John Hall.

Curiously, one would think (hope) the oldest among us
would care the most about preservation of Ole's Legacy.
Why destroy that?
Makes no sense economically, environmentally, historically,
or civically as the greatest reward is always in Preservation.

But Hall's SP pontifications would quickly plow ol'Ole under.

How much Hall must SC suffer.

10-years of Hall's biased opinion's, masked in fluffy, over-stuffed
social chit-chat, as he blasts negative-salvo after negative-salvo
at all things Preservationist - as if Saving is a bad thing?, a tiring
read and counter productive to any vibrant civic dialogue.

"Mean-spirited" is the phrase I most often hear describe Hall.
His reasons are his own.
I wish Mr. Hall no ill will.
But I do wish him less ink - or at least, a regular SP competing voice,
on the side of SC's Quality of Life issues. Its supportive audience
at least as large as Hall's Chamber of Commerce cronies,
and growing exponentially.

I offer two either-or Hall suggestions:

1. The one-word deletion:

From Hall's Hall Around Town' wrap-up-qualifier - Delete the word 'not.'

SP, long ago cemented Mr. Hall's angry-social-philosophy as its "own."
Possession is 9/10 of the law.
In Time-of-Possession and amounts of ink dispensed you own Hall's
social-angst exclusively.
If that is untended - it is the public perception on all sides.

Regarding your claim: San Clemente's Hometown Newspaper?
Come on.
I doubt any columnist, in any Daily, in this county or the next
are allowed the absolute free and over abundant one-sided ink
to bash at will its town's "Legacy" constituency with no competing
voice allowed - to the degree Hall is allowed.

Many here claim, Sun Post serves as Hall's private bully pulpit.
That Hall is the Post.
Or, the Post is Hall, where in between restaurant tidbits and
Hollywood show-biz nostalgia, over-spiced with college football
(ex-sports writer's unite in SC!) minutia Hall regularly dices and
slices anyone concerned with the actual physical health of this
city as it relates to Real-World Quality of Life issues versus Hall's
Quality of Night-life issues woven disproportionately into his weekly
barrage (fueled as a youngster, sitting grandpappy's knee, as SC
struggled to take hold, burdened by The Great Depression?).

SC is awash in Hall's negative ink.

2. Give Voice to Hall's loyal-opposition in equal volumes of ink.
Turn the Sun Post into SC's True hometown rag.
As in hearing Both Sides?
What a Concept.

Because, as it reads now, Sun Post is Hall's Chamber of Commerce
pedal-to-the-metal vehicle with the occasional wink and a nod
to those in SC who care-most about SC's overall civic-health.

Must we suffer Hall to the point of cancellation?

In Hall's Friday, Oct. 19th 2007 SP-utterance he aptly scribed,

"These are tough times for everybody, especially newspapers."

Hall missed a word - "relevant."
As in, "relevant newspapers."

Relevant opinions.
Relevant public dialogue.
Relevant to both sides in San Clemente's on-going development,
and or, over-development debate.

If we all agree, San Clemente is a treasure - how will we treat our treasure?

Because, whether we choose to leave SC under our own power,
or we're carried out - sooner or later we all leave.

In affect - we're all renters here.

So, what will we leave behind?
That is finally, the only relevant question.

The winds of change are blowing in SC.
With eyes wide open, some choose to preserve and protect our
special treasure of a village with its many natural gifts not yet lost
to private-interest so-called progress.

Is the Preservationist side given equal time in the Sun Post?
I don't see it.

If you are - our relevant SP Hometown Paper - it need be.
As painful as that might be to John Hall and his build
like there's no tomorrow fan-club.

Hmm, maybe they believe, there is no tomorrow?

I hadn't thought of that.

Thank You,

Jerry Collamer
A concerned SC resident -
concerned for the future of the Sun Post
and the future of SC.