Editorial from January 31, 2006

"In Defense of a Friend"

By Dana DuVall

   Recently a friend of mine was maligned by a local newspaper. This friend gained semi-notoriety last year when was she depicted in a political cartoon because of the stand she took on the local swimming pool issue.

   It seems that in Big Bear valley when you take a stand for what you believe in then suddenly you are depicted as being against children, America, apple pie and everything good. How sad, but true.

   When I was very young my father told me to pick my friends based on “Who would you want in your life boat trying to reach land?” Well I certainly would want Denise Proffer. She gets things done. She stays on track. She reaches out to help her fellow citizens.

   Why does she keep on trying to help her community since she doesn’t get paid, she gets no rewards, no plaques and no accolades for her dedication? Could it possibly be that she does want good things for her community? Horrors! Then the local printed newspaper must have gotten it all wrong.

   Most of this uproar started when the County Recreation & Parks in partnership with a local service group started a campaign for a local swimming pool. Citizens of Big Bear valley were warned that they could attend the swimming pool committee meetings but they were not allowed to speak or ask questions. The “pool committee” consisted in the beginning of many people, including local politicians, investors, real estate agents and county employees. The number of members has now dwindled, but the routine continues. Come and watch but you cannot ask questions. Not even the reporters. After all the years have passed the Chairman of the group cannot even come up with any monetary figures that are even in the ballpark. In the beginning of the pool project it was said to the property owners that money would be raised via fund-raisers, grants and even a $1 million grant from Supervisor Hansberger. But now they are talking of billing the property owners for the whole tab! Millions of dollars are going to be extorted from the property owners via a ballot which will be sent out in the next few weeks. If you don’t send in your ballot you possibly will be helping to cut a hole in your financial pocket for the coming years.

   Denise Proffer has tried valiantly to inform people of what is happening and she has been ridiculed.

   Proffer has pointed out that for years the County Recreation & Park District has ignored the East end of Big Bear Valley. Sugarloaf Park used to have functioning tennis courts and basketball courts. For years the courts have been in disrepair. It seems strange that Park District has only recently murmured about doing repairs to Sugarloaf Park. Strange since people know that key people in Big Bear Valley want the pool and want to placate the east enders and silence their voices of discontent.

   The Community Services District (CSD) and several private citizens voiced the need for a park in the east end of the valley. Viola! An Ad Hoc committee was appointed by the CSD. Denise Proffer was asked to be on the committee. It is running smoothly and plans are being made to erect a community park on Paradise. The park is envisioned to include a professional skateboard park, picnic grounds, baseball diamond, community building and perhaps in phases down the road, a swimming pool. And guess what folks? It will be built entirely on donations and grants. You won’t get a tax bill for it!

   This has the Park District and Pool Committee in the west end of the valley really worried. They have even stroked the interim general manager of CSD, Mike Mayer, encouraging him to nip the east end park in the bud! Egad the plotting that the Park District resorts to. Their playpen is getting crowded folks. They want to stop the operation in the east end because they are afraid their pool project might fail if people realize that a park can succeed without taxing the already stressed out taxpayers.

   Maybe now some of you can realize why Denise Proffer is so severely maligned. Sometime ago this internet paper told of what happens to those who speak out and ask questions. The ridicule and gossip that results discourages most people. But some survive and continue to inform citizens of the happenings in the community. It does get wearying sometimes. You want to quit, you want some rest, you just want to relax with friends and forget the hatred and gossip.

   I would rather stand up and be counted as a friend of Denise Proffer. Our community needs the voices of people like her, those who are willing to take on the political bullies and the gossip mongers. So I say to my friend, Denise Proffer: Way to go lady!  

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