Letters to the Editor: Airlines must act to reduce noise impact their planes have on Newport Beach

Jan. 10’s article, “Newport and FAA reach settlement to move JWA departures closer to the bay,” is more of a love-fest among the powerful than it is news.

In the article, Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer claims the settlement “is a satisfactory resolution to more than a year of conflict over altered flight paths in and out of John Wayne Airport.” This comment alone indicates just how out of touch with reality he is.

The heralded, two-turn departure path is nothing new; it was announced early in 2017 and originally scheduled for implementation in fall 2017, then December 2017, and now “in a few weeks.” City staff have already stated that not all planes flying out of JWA may have the technology required to fly the new path.

But more important — and the key to solving the bulk of the noise/pollution problems faced by Back Bay-adjacent and Balboa Island residents — is that the planes achieve maximum altitude on takeoff and fly over the bay and island at the lowest-possible power level (obviously taking safety considerations into account) until they are well out over the ocean.

There is no reason why they cannot do this. Unless all airlines flying out of JWA are convinced — through PR campaigns, boycotts or legal measures — to implement previous noise abatement practices, Newport Beach residents will continue to suffer.

Susan Menning

Newport Beach

There is no reason to retain congressman

I heartily agree with Eliza Rubenstein’s letter (“Rohrabacher should follow Royce and Issa and leave office”), but I was distressed to read that Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) has announced his intention to seek yet another term. Yes, Rohrabacher is a partisan puppet of the far right. Yes, he does not adequately represent the constituents of his district. Yes, his Russian baggage comes in steamer trunks.

But another reason he should be retired comes from a sobriquet shared by many of his opponents: “Do Nothing Dana.” He is 70 years old, has been in office almost 30 and has almost no accomplishments to show for it. He has been decidedly anti-community in dealing with his own constituents. His views are now out of step with most residents of his Orange County district. There is no upside to keeping him in office.

Tim Geddes

Huntington Beach

Congress should impeach Donald Trump

Editor’s note: The following letter repeats an expletive recently used by the president.

Fifty or so years ago, a young Donald Trump was determined ineligible to serve in Vietnam, due to bone spurs in his feet. Despite having graduated from New York Military Academy, Trump was forced to sit on the sidelines and watch his high school friends go off to war.

Today, a 70-something Trump serves as president of the United States. As New York Times columnist Charles Blow recently commented on CNN, “It is impossible to live your life under the microscope of the presidency and not have your true nature revealed.” That certainly was the case when Trump characterized the homeland of immigrants from Africa and Haiti as “shitholes.”

I believe it’s time Congress explore the notion of impeaching Mr. Trump. Not so much for what he said about immigrants, but because those testy old bone spurs clearly have gone to his head. As my wise father used to say, “Stay away from that guy. His elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top floor.”

America deserves a president who is fully capable of executing the requirements of the job. As a lifelong student of politics, I am shocked Trump’s comment hasn’t been completely rebuked by the GOP leaders in the House and Senate. I am sorry, but Speaker Paul Ryan’s reaction that Trump’s hateful outburst was “unfortunate” really doesn’t cut it.

It’s time to look in the mirror, people. What does your reflection reveal about you and this country now? It’s not too late to change what you see.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

How to get published: Email us at dailypilot@latimes.com. All correspondence must include full name, hometown and phone number (for verification purposes). The Pilot reserves the right to edit all submissions for clarity and length.