My Letter to Mayor Melendez (Lake Elsinore)

It's been brought to my attention the Lake Elsinore residents are complaining about the mural on the back of the storage building of the Lake Elsinore Hotel and Casino and I feel the need for someone to actually COMMEND the casino's use of the building. It was in shambles. They've painted it, and put some colorful artwork that someone put there BY HAND. These people aren't able to appreciate the art and talent behind it. Yes, it promotes all of the company's offerings, what were they supposed to put there?! An image of the MX track, something to do with baseball, maybe a generic lake/desert scene? That, in my opinion, is tacky and has nothing to do with the historic building. There are very few things to do in this town, having grown up here, I know this all too well. The casino has something adults-only to do in this town besides hitting the dive bars. (If someone wants to complain about the image given off about the city, what about all the bikini bar events?) It saddens me that people think a casino's (now-deemed) signage is going to trash the city's reputation. Does Pechanga have a negative affect on the public view of Temecula? If anything, the Lake Elsinore Hotel and Casino is this city's ONE SHOT at competing for tourist dollars with the big boys like San Diego and Temecula. I'd rather see that mural and know that it's generating jobs and bringing in money to the city than some indecipherable graffiti from one of the local gangs that taints the city's image. What image, then, should Lake Elsinore strive for?

Amanda Hill
Life-long Lake Elsinore student and resident


If you'd like to read the North County Times story about the mural, here's the link: http://www.tinyurl.com/LERmural If you agree, or even if you disagree, let the mayor know what you think. melissamelendezforcitycouncil@gmail.com You do have a right to voice your opinions. The people complaining are doing it, why not you? The two big issues here are: 1. Is the mural a sign under code definition? 2. Is it an eyesore?
What do you think?