Mailbag: Poseidon project’s denial was a long time coming

Poseidon has spent the last 20 years lobbying for its desalination project and contributed to elected members of both parties, including the governor, to gain their support. Poseidon was seeking its final approval to build the plant and was stymied by the commission staff, which recommend a denial, questioning the large mortality of marine life, energy use, rising seas and the higher cost of the water.

A coalition of environmental groups including local activists led the speakers in asking the commission to follow its staff’s recommendation. Union members wearing hard hats and orange vests sought to convince the commission that the water was needed and approval of the plant would mean jobs. Some elected officials asked for approval on the grounds that Poseidon in mitigation for the high mortality rate of marine life would dredge the inlet to Bolsa Chica wetlands and help preserve it.

Ultimately the commission found that the mitigation was not enough to overcome the destruction of 5.4 billion marine organisms and voted to deny the final application.

Richard C. Armendariz
Huntington Beach

N.B. voters should reject ballot measure

It has been disheartening to witness the turmoil created by the Measure B initiative. For those of us paying attention, June 7 can’t come quick enough.

Over the past several months residents and business owners have asked me, in an almost apologetic tone, “What do you think of Measure B?” Often the question comes from longtime residents, including those who have served in our civic and nonprofit organizations.

When proposed by one of our council members last fall, Measure B split the council, eventually leading to a 4-3 vote to place it on the ballot. This brought some tension to the dais. I have great respect for all my fellow council members as we continue to conduct council business professionally despite our differences on this issue.

Our community is divided over Measure B, which is unfortunate given that council has a duty to work toward bringing citizens together. This is a good time to remember that the best council decisions derive from citizen impetus rather than a council-led project out of nowhere.

Newport Beach will continue to move forward regardless of the Measure B result. However, the passage of Measure B would significantly change our city’s governance, adding additional risk. Newport would become vulnerable to the vagaries of one person, the elected mayor, who would have near total control of City Hall. Even the best of humans make mistakes. Our country’s founders knew this and created checks and balances on power which allowed our nation’s democracy to thrive. We currently have such a system in Newport. It is a council of seven equals who, believe me, have no problem trying to keep each other in check.

An elected mayor would be the “go to” council member for those seeking favor. He or she would operate in a different civic universe than the rest of the council. There are many examples of elected mayor cities which have come to grief. The current Anaheim mess is a classic example.

Thomas Jefferson said, “The government you elect is the government you deserve.” Over the past seven decades, Newport has gone from strength to strength. No city of our population provides its citizens with a better quality of life. Our aspirational town reflects the optimistic hard work of its residents, businesses and civic leaders.

We have the city we deserve. Let’s protect it. Vote no on Measure B.

Brad Avery
Newport Beach councilman, District 2
former mayor 2021

Naysayers mislabel resident as ‘outsider’

My name is Henry Park, a name recently used without my permission on a hit piece mailer sent by the “No On B” campaign. They lied about me and claimed that my donation to help elect our mayor was “outside money.” Far from it: My wife and I have been raising our family here in Newport Beach for a long time.

Why would they lie about me? Why would they specifically name me and claim that I’m an “outsider”?

I donated to the Elect Our Mayor initiative because it’s the right policy for our city going forward. The mayor should be elected by us and accountable to us. Policy should be made solely by the people accountable to us, not by people farther from us. If you agree, then vote yes on B.

I also donated because I wanted to see the truth go out to voters. The lies in mail coming from the “no” crowd claimed that the initiative created an unaccountable “king” and would require hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra spending every year. None of that is true, and even the Orange County Register called those claims “utter nonsense.”

I didn’t expect the no campaign to turn around and lie about me. But they did, and that’s dirty.

It’s the current system, with these current behind-the-scenes politicos, that we need to move beyond. I’m exhibit A of the effect of their rot.

Stop the backroom deals. Stop the pettiness. Shine light and require the mayor to campaign in the open to us.

I urge everyone to take my cautionary story and vote yes On B.

Henry Park
Newport Beach

It’s a mistake to dismiss CRT

I was encouraged to read Matt Armstrong’s commentary (Newport Harbor teaches against hate, and there’s no CRT to be found, Daily Pilot, May 5) on how he instructed his students on racial discrimination and specifically antisemitism and the atrocity of Holocaust. He has done his research as noted by the books referenced for his teaching. As a former history teacher, it’s reaffirming to learn of a Newport-Mesa Unified School District teacher’s venture into such an overwhelming topic and make it of significance for his students.

My concern is his quick dismissal of critical race theory (CRT) as a real issue in public education today. Mr. Armstrong may remember the outcome of the “swastika incident” a few years ago. The school district immediately engaged the Anti-Defamation League. On the surface it sounded like a wise choice. The ADL (in the past) has been a champion for exposing antisemitism in numerous areas of our society. The ADL contract with the district was to provide training for the teachers and student Leaders. Unfortunately one key component was missing — the parents! Because the contract was “proprietary,” we were told by the district we could not see the training materials. This was brought to light at a district board meeting, and at my insistence with the ADL regional manager, they finally offered the parents a water-downed version of the training for our review.

What we received through a video and handout had minimal focus on antisemitism but a buffet of CRT subjects that included equity training; intersectionality; diversity training; white privilege; implicit bias training; gender spectrum training and nonbinary training. This was a stretch from dealing with antisemitism!

Mr. Armstrong may believe that CRT is a non-issue at Newport Harbor High School, but I disagree with him about the underlying goal of CRT and how it covers a broad range of topics that will not only undermine the way we educate our children but the very foundation of our country. We as parents and grandparents applaud those teachers standing in resistance to racism, antisemitism and bullying. But all of these issues have been codified in existing board policies. We just need to enforce what’s already been approved.

CRT is leaking into our district. It is coming from an agenda in Sacramento which usurps parents’ rights. School districts need to stand up against this aversion to local control. A great example is the Placentia-Yorba Linda School District who recently passed a “No CRT” resolution.

The rainbow flag incident at Back Bay/Monte Vista is a great example of CRT entering a NMUSD classroom. CRT does not need to be in the curriculum as demonstrated by the teacher who suggested her class pledge allegiance to the rainbow flag. This had nothing to do with curriculum but a teacher going rogue.

Mr. Armstrong states that he is “compelled” to correct Ms. Leece’s comments because he “cares for the truth.” That is a worthy call, but caring for the truth is quite different than standing for the truth. If he is so adamant that CRT is not being shared with our students then he should be willing to support a board resolution that would state the same. It’s always good to stand in defense of your words.

Bill Dunlap
Newport Beach

Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber.