Lido Marina Village due for a face-lift...

Lido Marina Village due for a face-lift

I am very supportive of Lido Marina Village being revamped. Many

years ago, we kept our sailboat there. We enjoyed the quaint shops

and drinks on the patio of the then Warehouse and burgers and

mushroom soup at the Camelot.

However, the shops are outdated, the Warehouse is gone and, other

than the marina, there is no destination. I am in favor of updating

the marina with vital and interesting boutiques and eateries. I could

even be supportive of mixed-use; condos and retail -- if it were done

without taking away the charm of the village.

BARBARA JOHNSON

Newport Coast

Design of Village flawed from the onset

As a longtime Lido resident, it saddens me to see the sorry state

Lido Marina Village has fallen into. Lido Marina Village was ill

conceived from the beginning. If it had any semblance of good design,

it would have thrived over the years and would be an asset to the

community today. I applaud the developer who is willing to take the

challenge, risk and abuse it takes to fix this problem.

I am baffled by the knee-jerk hostile reaction many have expressed

regarding efforts to improve this blight. This is not a case where

anyone should just say no. We need to view the plans, let the

environmental review process take its course, see whether the plan

ultimately addresses legitimate public concerns, then decide.

JOHN DOBROTT

Newport Beach

El Toro base is an almost perfect airport

Martin A. Brower, must be getting worried about the planned El

Toro International Airport when he essentially tells airport

proponents to shut up and give up (“Good night, El Toro, airport

fight, sleep tight,” Tuesday.)

No land-use planner could possibly oppose the planned El Toro

International Airport. It has no one in the noise zone. El Toro might

just be the best-planned airport in the world. It is inland away from

the coast, the airport was there first, and all we have to do is turn

on the lights.

We’ve heard from the housing developers, who created the effete

NIMBYs. Now let’s hear from the business community, which desperately

needs the planned El Toro International Airport, which provides $19

billion income locally and 134,000 jobs.

DONALD NYRE

Newport Beach

Editorial cartoonist keeps laughs coming

I’ve been reading the Daily Pilot for more than 40 years.

For the first time in a long time, I got quite a chuckle from the

“Pain in the Arst” cartoon (March 21, Community Forum).

It reminds me of the same feelings I used to get from the

long-dropped “Gloomy Gus” characterizations of our community.

Please continue with the chuckles; this area of the world has

become way too serious.

STEVE BARRETT

Newport Beach