And that's what the Long Beach City Council should display tonight -- an open mind -- withour commitments, taxpayer funds or any substantive decisions tonight -- in seeking a city management report on the feasibility of having private investors use private funds (NOT public funds, subsidies, grants or governmental euphemisms) to build, maintain and operate -- with rent and revenue for city taxpayers -- the original Cyclone Racer roller coaster, one-of-a-kind in its design that hasn't been duplicated elsewhere and even in its final year brought hundreds of thousands of visitors to Long Beach annually.

Feasibility means an arms length look at regulatory and legal issues, including Coastal Commission and Coastal Act issues that must be addressed, as well as considering potential City revenue from parking + rent + concessions + visitors (not just for "special events" but a continuing stream) making purchases at downtown area businesses.

When now-Congressman Alan Lowenthal was the 2nd district Councilmember, he grasped that the area needed a "wow factor." He was right, and it's especially true now that City Hall has (unwisely in our opinion) stripped the area of its Tidelands protections to invite non-"wow" "outlet" stores (presumably rivaling Barstow.) Long Beach needs and deserves more.

Tonight, the Council will hear engineering/historical expert Larry Osterhoudt describe why the ride was unique and remains unforgetable for so many today. There are real engineering reasons for this, but there is one other that Long Beach would be unwise to disregard. It was part of a classic CA shoreline experience. It can't be reproduced by corporate theme parks in hot, smoggy inland areas. They're too expensive. They're artificially recreated.

What Long Beach is being offered is the real thing.

This isn't about nostalgia. It's about realism, about honestly acknowledging that Long Beach needs more than it has now.

The shoreline doesn't belong to one Council district. It belongs to all of us. Long Beach residents have watched for years as the shoreline they own has underperformed for taxpayers while city officials made more and more excuses for lower and lower expectations. Under the circumstances, any Long Beach official unwilling to learn if possibilities are possible will show that they are part of the problem and not the solution.

We urge the Council to direct city management to examine the feasibility of allowing private money to rebuild the original ride.

Feasibility first, then public input, with good minds open to possibilities.