Oct. 27, 2023, marks the 30th anniversary of the devastating 1993 wildfire that destroyed more than 400 homes in Laguna Beach. Those of us who were here then will never forget the howling winds, the smoky skies and the pure speed of the fire as it first hit Emerald Bay and then headed east where it leapt across Laguna Canyon Road, went through Canyon Acres and across Mystic Hills. Thankfully, and remarkably, no lives were lost, but it was the wake-up call of a lifetime for the City.
It is nearly the Fourth of July holiday weekend, and the peak of our busy summer season is upon us. This is the time of year we remind ourselves of just how lucky we are to live and work in a community as beautiful as Laguna Beach.
As we head into Memorial Day weekend, the summer season is upon us (the sun will come out soon!), and the crowds will follow. The city is gearing up for summer with enhanced services and new staff members to help navigate our busiest time of year. Our marine safety, public works, fire and police departments are all turning it up a notch to make sure that the city is safe and clean. Let me give you a rundown of our plans.
I was pleased to hear of the positive progress being made by our police department in our annual crime statistics report from Laguna Beach Police Chief Jeff Calvert at the March 21 City Council meeting.
Now that the election is over, we’d like to take the opportunity to provide you with the truth and facts regarding our police department recruitment efforts which have been challenging cities across the nation and to highlight our success in implementing new programs and opportunities for police officers.