Letters to the Editor: Mariner’s Mile should not be widened to six lanes

Many of my neighbors and I in the Heights are in opposition to the construction of a six-lane “freeway” along what is fondly referred to as Mariner’s Mile. To turn several established neighborhoods upside down to construct a six-lane highway for such a short stretch of land appears to us, in Newport Heights, Cliffhaven and Bay Shores, as a frivolous act with no discernible benefits to the community or to visitors passing through our neighborhoods.

It is doubtful that these extra lanes will have any effect on traffic flow while they will turn our “village-like neighborhoods “ upside down, creating dangerous conditions for tourists who want to visit the businesses along the stretch, schoolchildren who will have to cross the highway to get to schools in the Heights, and residents who will find their streets used as byways to an even greater extent than they are now.

Turning Pacific Coast Highway into six lanes is totally incompatible with revitalizing the Mariner’s Mile Area as a “walkable village type” community, the other goal espoused by the city. I strongly urge the city of Newport Beach to abandon this unpopular idea.

Lynn Lorenz

Newport Beach

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A few questions for a councilman

As citizens have reviewed and examined the record of Councilman Scott Peotter and several disturbing questions have arisen. Peotter owes the community answers to these questions.

In 2015, Peotter reported $10,000 to $100,000 income from Capitol Ministries, a religious organization whose web site indicates “ministers … must be capable of raising funds for their ministries.” Did Peotter solicit donations from undisclosed parties to support his living expenses? If so, from whom and how much did they provide for Peotter’s personal expenses?

In July 2014, Peotter was cited by the city clerk for accepting contributions in excess of the legal limit from persons associated with Woody’s Wharf restaurant. Why did Peotter then schedule a September 2014 fundraiser at Woody’s and fail to report the expenses associated with that fundraiser until cited by a resident in 2015? Peotter was later the deciding vote in reversing a prior decision on Woody’s Wharf and settling litigation on terms highly favorable to Woody’s.

When it was clear that the public rejected Museum House, why did Peotter refuse to rescind the approvals of the project?

Peotter should provide clear and complete answers to the public or he should resign.

Kristin Cano

Corona del Mar

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