Mailbag: Costa Mesans should vote for Measure BB

Our current City Council is very proactive, tackling some of Costa Mesa’s biggest problems. One issue the council is trying to improve is the shortage of athletic fields. Everyone knows Costa Mesa has not provided enough, so they looked at building some next to the golf course.

The idea was dropped long ago, but not before some citizens started gathering signatures for an initiative to stop it. Before it started, it had become an initiative without a root purpose.

Somehow Measure AA got way out of control and became a serious overreaction. Imagine having to vote on a measure to allow the City of Costa Mesa to add Aa new concrete curb at Fairview Park. That, and more, would end up on our ballots if A.A. passes.

The athletics fields are dead, and Measure BB will ensure that citizens will have the right to approve it should any future council consider it.

Our city council is doing a good job improving Costa Mesa by solving problems and energizing our beautiful city. A no vote on AA will keep our ballots sane, and a yes vote on Measure BB will keep Fairview Park beautiful, natural and accessible to our community. BB stands for “Better, Better.”

Rich Russell

Costa Mesa

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Development is Banning’s best bet

Why save Banning Ranch in its present condition? It is a 400-acre, 70-year-in-the-making, toxic, off limits, oil field junk yard, in a prime Newport Beach location. Let’s clean it up and open it up for public access.

Let’s respect the wildlife and natural vegetation but also respect the rights of the property owner to develop the property.

Let’s find the middle ground between doing nothing and allowing limited desirable development that will allow the developer to pay for the cleanup from the proceeds of the development.

Let’s restore and integrate the 300-plus-acre open space area —which is not being developed — into the local residential communities with recreation trails, vista points, and selected landscaping with fresh and saltwater features, all for the communities to enjoy.

We can refer to it as “urban calming.”

Compromise won’t satisfy all of the participants but this compromise needs to be made, or the toxic waste from 70 years of dumping and neglect will seep further into the ground and poisoning everything it comes in contact with.

Robert Graham

Costa Mesa