Imperial Beach thrives because of Mayda Winter ?  (quote: Diane Rose)

 I take exception to Ringstad's characterization of the unparalleled progress that has taken place in Imperial Beach over the past eight years as being solely due to "individual initiative and soaring real estate prices."

Tremendous efforts, and hard work by both the City Council and staff in neighborhood revitalization, code enforcement and public safety, as well as careful stewardship of our financial resources, have resulted in what your newspaper named "the urban success story." Yes, property values are rising, along with neighborhood pride. Families are now reinvesting in their homes instead of moving away.

Council member Mayda Winter has played a pivotal role in this success for the past eight years, working hard for the future of our community. Kudos' to the Union-Tribune for its endorsement of her candidacy for re-election to the Imperial Beach City Council.

DIANE ROSE
Mayor, Imperial Beach

Ringstad is correct when he states that there are two growth camps in Imperial Beach. However, he mischaracterizes both. One camp calls for planned, appropriate growth. Mayda Winter and Fred McLean stand firmly in that camp. The other can only be characterized as the "do whatever you want because it's a bother to have to follow the rules" camp.

Ringstad's letter misses the more important question: Why is the Union-Tribune endorsing a candidate (Bill Medlock) whose rationale for running for public office, vision, and platform can all be summed up in a single sentence ("I want to sell more ice cream")?

Medlock offers nothing to the 28,000 residents of Imperial Beach. To paraphrase a famous quotation, "Mankind cannot live by ice cream alone."

NOREEN SULLIVAN
Imperial Beach

Imperial Beach has seen tremendous progress and yet supporters of City Council challengers Bill Medlock and Steve Futterman can only tear down IB in their quest to elect their pro-growth candidates.

Their concept of uncontrolled growth is exactly the rhetoric that IB voters repeatedly rejected. Prior pro-growth council members found themselves unseated.

Ringstad's letter attempts to convince voters that nothing good has happened in IB over the last 14 years? Is he Rip van Winkle?

Wake up and smell a new IB, one that enjoys a very low crime rate. Home ownership is up, business receipts are increasing (see Sav-On) and homeowners are rebuilding at a record pace.

Contrary to Ringstad's contention that our City Council has no idea how to reinvest the redevelopment money: At public Redevelopment Agency meetings, residents overwhelmingly support redevelopment of the aging shopping center at 9th and Palm. The council voted to spend $8 million to accomplish just this. This could be the most important investment in IB's history. The Sav-On Drug store has greatly exceeded revenue projections and tax revenues generated for our city, and 9th and Palm promises to do so as well.

IB enjoys a very different reputation today than we did before Diane Rose and her colleagues took office.

We have had managed growth in IB at a height and density that were enacted by the citizens of IB via the initiative process and supported by the council. Our quality of life issues hinge on the environment because IB is surrounded by a unique open environment. Mayda Winter is knowledgeable in this area, and the CODAR ocean water testing system she brought to IB is a gem.

Mayda Winter listens to residents and responds in a positive fashion that has helped turn IB around.

BRIAN JONES
Imperial Beach

I have been a resident of Imperial Beach for over 43 years and have always participated in critical issues facing the city. As chair of the General Plan Review Committee incorporating the California Coastal Act in the early '80s, I supported the first successful battle to stop high rises on the beach. I also supported limits to height and density in Proposition P in the early '90s.

Since then, we have been fortunate to have councils that respected the peoples' wishes and who have worked hard to stabilize our economy. Residents have seen Imperial Beach become a community of choice and a respected voice in the region.

Mayda Winter has consistently supported the community's desire for a high quality of life. She is able to work cooperatively with colleagues on the council and will bring new economic promise to town with renewed vigor and unity of purpose. Don't let a few strident spoilers destroy our vision for the future. We need reliable leadership for the next four years and Mayda Winter is someone we can trust to do precisely that.

REUBEN BINGHAM
Imperial Beach