Mr. Kramer states, “Outside of some possible, very minor changes, the 2006 corps plan must be accepted as is.” I understand that the plan the corps brings to the table now will most likely be very similar to the one from 2006. I also feel that some minor changes might make a world of difference. In fact, some minor changes, and a willingness to address the concerns of residents, might have made a lot of people feel better about the proposal in 2006.

While the corps does its thing, there are plenty of things we can do that are more productive than laying blame and living in the past.

The city is paying a coastal engineering firm, Coastal Planning and Engineering (CP&E) to aid them in their negotiations with the corps. As the corps re-evaluates the project, we should be encouraging a productive dialogue between the city, CP&E and the corps. We should make sure our concerns are being heard and encourage officials at all levels to cut the red tape so as to allow our island to truly receive the best protection.

The city is currently moving ahead with plans to rebuild the boardwalk. We know from that the majority of Long Beach residents want a boardwalk that will protect us from future storms. Mr. Kramer states that we must move forward “based on science and backed by evidence.”

Science and evidence are not limited to the corps — solid storm barriers have proven effective in storm protection and a wall and dune combination has been recommended by CP&E as the best means to protect us. We should encourage the city to find a way to make a protective boardwalk a reality. We should encourage them not to move too fast and to make sure that what they are planning will mesh with an Army Corps plan.

Decisions being made now about the boardwalk will also affect our local economy for years to come. The city has the opportunity now to design a boardwalk that incorporates commerce provided by local businesses. This will make our boardwalk even more attractive, generate revenue and keep the revenue in Long Beach. We need to encourage the city to see past its immediate desire to have a boardwalk in place for the summer and think instead about the long-term impact.