Mailbag: Don’t delay necessary improvements to fire station, library
Many in the community are dismayed by the proposals to indefinitely delay the needed update of the combined Corona del Mar library and fire station. These are among the oldest public facilities in the city and both suffer from significant deferred maintenance and outdated design. This project was ready to be bid for construction in December, but bids were rejected after coming in a bit high. Rather than rebidding or making some adjustments to its scope, the new council is considering indefinite deferral.
Former Mayor Nancy Gardner had been a strong advocate for the library and had worked hard to keep this facility relevant to the many young families and neighbors who regularly use it and to preserve high-quality fire department response times for Corona del Mar. Dropping this project appears to reflect the ambivalent support of District 6 Councilman Scott Peotter, who had previously proposed canceling funding for project and has supported this indefinite delay.
Peotter has proposed draconian cuts of more than $3.5 million annually in the business license taxes, which would create a huge deficit. Fortunately, Councilman Will O’Neill has demonstrated leadership and independent thinking in addressing the city’s facilities and has been working with the city manager and community leaders to preserve funding for the combined library/fire station in the upcoming budget. The project is fully affordable today. .
Keith Curry
Newport Beach
The writer is a former Newport mayor.
Trump rally coverage fell short
There were only four initial arrests, all counter-protesters, despite your cover photo showing a man in a Trump hat with a gleam in his eye wearing brass knuckles, apparently ready to punch someone and your quote from a marcher stating that, “I hit him five times with the flag over his head.” Aren’t brass knuckles illegal? Isn’t hitting someone in the head with a flag considered an assault?
There are other disturbing aspects of the story that should have been investigated and reported. Your article states that an anti-Trump protester doused marchers with pepper spray. The OC Weekly provides a completely different perspective, as their interns and photographer were attacked while trying to cover the march. The O.C. Register interviewed a witness that saw a protester wield pepper spray in self-defense and reported that banners with swastikas were seen. Your coverage of the march was not the comprehensive journalism I expect as a long-time reader.
Mary Camarillo
Huntington Beach
Remake Mariners Mile for mariners, residents
Widening Coast Highway along Mariners’ Mile is absurd. Why?
We already fought this battle in the early 1970s, when similar forces were also at work for private economic gain. We won that battle with good reason: to tone down the “race track” and to keep Newport a civilized seaside town.
More lanes, and narrower ones at that, being proposed invariably mean faster, more-dangerous driving conditions. Already, between Dover Drive and Avocado Street, there are three lanes in each direction, and it is clear that the extra lane is no solution to a traffic jam.
The last thing the Newport Beach City Council needs to spend money on is the widening of PCH, when money could be put to much better use in paying down the debt for City Hall, not to mention the city’s pension responsibility.
Every beach city between San Clemente and Sunset Beach has two lanes, not three, in each direction. Newport should be supporting small businesses, not ripping them out by widening PCH.
Just leave it alone. The city surely has more important things to do. Better to focus on helping to make Mariners’ Mile really for mariners.
David A. Grant
Newport Beach
Residents don’t want so-called trolleys
Re. Balboa Peninsula Trolley survey finds support for red bus — and no bus (March 22): This is how the article leads: “If an online survey is any indication, Newport Beach could have a bold red shuttle bus to carry visitors and residents through the Balboa Peninsula during busy summer weekends.”
But this is how it should read: “If an online survey is any indication, there will be no bus.” This is headed under the presumption that the second-to-top vote-getter will somehow be the one that wins, and is an example of the media presuming victory of an unpopular source rather than simply citing the facts as given. As is proven by the numbers and the meetings on this subject previously, there will be serious resistance against this wasteful expenditure, and none of that is reflected in the media. Why is this? Is this not important for readers to know?
The extreme plurality (204 of 572) voted for “no bus,” and that is despite the fact that the city intentionally shut down the option to vote for hours on end — a huge story unto itself — and yet for some reason, went unreported. Why is this? Is this not important for readers to know?
Somewhat ridiculously, this is not a trolley. This is a bus, despite what the city may call it. There is a very real difference between the two, and incorrectly leading readers to think it is a trolley is something that elicits a different response than the truth does. As you might be able to tell, this is going to be an issue I take up going forward. This is a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars. Expect unusually high attendance on these meetings and a loud base moving forward.
Mike Glenn
Newport Beach
More details needed about legal settlement
Re. “Newport pays $200,000 in attorney’s fees to settle documents case,” (March 17). Why didn’t the Daily Pilot reveal the details surrounding this settlement? Pilot reporters were made aware of the fact that there was alleged city and Sister City Assn. misconduct going back as far as 2014. To me, this boils down to a serious lack of oversight of a city-sponsored, nonprofit association, which ultimately cost taxpayers and the plaintiff a lot of money. What a waste.
Tim Stephens
Corona del Mar
Why did award go to anti-Trump professor
Re. “Professor who made anti-Trump comments will accept OCC Faculty of the Year award,” (March 24): Is this the state of our education when the best teacher is the one who says the election of our president is an act of terrorism? There has got to be better candidates!
Rick Nicholson
Newport Beach
Sightless dog provides great insight
So often I am reminded of the lessons dogs present to us. Among these lessons are the ability to enjoy the moment without worrying about what the next thing is. The art of forgiveness when they have been wronged or not treated well. The true empathy that is not in any way phony or contrived.
You see, dogs are great teachers, and one of the Huntington Beach shelter dogs that has a great truth to share is our Manotas. He has taught me that it is not with the eyes that we truly see, but with the heart. Manotas is visually impaired but a sweeter spirit you will never find. He finds so much joy in our walks, and especially loves to sit at the curb with me on the Edison Access Road and snuggle into my arms when we share special time together.
He is a special older gentleman with so much more life left to share. Manotas walks well on the leash and is as cuddly as a dog can be. He loves to snuggle and have his neck and back petted and is trusting and good-natured.
The fact is that he has been at the shelter entirely too long while waiting for his special someone to come along. What is also impressive about him is that unlike many of the dogs who have resided in the pens for a long while, he is in no way depressed.
Rather, he finds joy in every moment, and when you talk to him he is thrilled. Manotas takes no kindness for granted. He appreciates every kind word and returns it tenfold.
I know there is a special someone who also has the ability to see with their heart instead of only with their eyes -- and will understand the beauty of our Manatos. Please feel free to pass this tale on to anyone who might be willing to open their heart and home to our sweet boy.
Jackie Maleck
Huntington Beach
Laguna Beach offers respite to this travel
Re. “Welcome to Laguna Beach — here are a few pointers,” Dave Hansen column, March 8: Soon after my wife and I arrived at the Comfort Suites I found a copy of the Daily Pilot. This morning I read your piece with its pointers. Well done!
Admittedly, I really haven’t spent much time in Laguna these past few decades. In the ‘70s, I’d hang out with friends or family at the beach or at the Festival of Arts. Once I was rescued by a Laguna lifeguard after struggling in a rip current. That made for a great story that I still tell today at the age of 61.
All your pointers reinforce the idea that only a few, hardy visitors should make the pilgrimage to your hood. We live in San Marcos, in northern San Diego County, which lacks a beach and Laguna’s ambiance, but does offer a California State University campus and a wee bit of mountain hiking with spectacular views. If only we had a few of those vegan paleo places you decry! We do have plenty of traffic but offer more than three ways in and out of the city, which helps a lot.
Oh, and we don’t have the tourist population you do, but do have loud motorcycles, leaf blowers and other noise pollutants.
So should we venture into Laguna again some day? I wax nostalgic when I think of the beach I knew back in the day and a brief romance I once had. But these days maybe I should just leave your town-by-the-sea to the throngs that desire the myriad amenities Laguna Beach offers.
Lorenz Osen
San Marcos
Public safety treated man with humanity
While doing some shopping at the CVS on 17th Street and Orange Avenue in Costa Mesa on a recent Friday afternoon, I stumbled upon a sad event wherein a very large man was virtually passed out in front of the store with various liquor bottles near him. The security guard for the shopping center where CVS was located called for the police and an ambulance. .
The officers and the paramedics appeared to be very gentle, even taking the time to check his blood pressure and attempting to talk to him. I was touched by the kindness and the time the officers took to help the guy. He was eventually placed in an ambulance and taken away. Kudos to the men in uniform from Costa Mesa for being human and understanding to someone who obviously is in very poor shape.
Bill Spitalnick
Newport Beach
Give us Congressional healthcare
Congress should work on providing all with the same healthcare plan as it has for its members.
Ahmad Sanati
Mission Viejo
GOP needs to hear climate change message
Re. “Commentary: Some conservatives are concerned with climate change,” (March 18): Let’s hope Congressional Republicans listen to the solution James Baker, George Shultz, Henry Paulson and other leading conservatives have recommended to deal with climate change. They might.
Denial in Congress is overstated by the media. True, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) and Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) are rabid deniers, but they are the exception to the rule, not the norm.
And now climate change is the Republicans’ responsibility, as the Climate Leadership Council correctly points out. Congress, like most of America, knows we must address the issue. We can still be optimistic, despite the Trump team of deniers.
Farrah Hedayati
Costa Mesa
CSU fee hikes reflect lack of accountability
My question is what happened to the estimated $6.8 billion taxpayer money the state is collecting as a result of Proposition 30, which was intended to take care of education programs through 2019 and help with tuition hikes? Gov. Jerry Brown and Lt. Gov Gavin Newsom cannot account for the money collected thus far, and only give ambiguous excuses for spending the money elsewhere, but perhaps someone else can explain.
I am genuinely curious as to why we continue to elect leaders who are unaccountable for their actions.
Juli Hayden
Newport Beach