Mailbag: Special Olympics are a boon to the area

Re: “Irvine to Play Host for 2015 Special Olympics,” (Aug. 15): I was happily surprised to hear that the 2015 Special Olympic World Games are going to be held in Los Angeles.

Thirty years ago, L.A. hosted the Summer Olympics, but no comparable event has been held so close to home since.

After learning about the basic history of the Special Olympics and the positive effects these games have on the participants and spectators, I was pleased to hear that Irvine is going to be one of 100 cities that will host the people who will be coming to the area for these events.

I would like to know how day-to-day traffic in Southern California is expected to be affected.

Additionally, I think it would be great for our community to have the chance to meet and interact with these remarkable people. This event is a wonderful and unique opportunity for people of all ages to be reminded of what can be accomplished, no matter the obstacles. I would like to know, as a resident of Irvine, if we will be given this opportunity.

Brittney Weaver

Irvine

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Why I oppose Measure Y

I have been following the progress of Newport Beach’s Measure Y, which claims to remove development rights while actually approving huge new developments in Fashion Island and around the airport.

Despite so many residents speaking up at council meetings asking for less traffic, our city could be adding 9,200 traffic trips per day to our congested streets, with most of the effect around Fashion Island.

Supporters are ignoring the traffic analysis rules set out by the Greenlight Initiative in 2000 and have designed their own special traffic analysis that says this new development would reduce, not increase, traffic.

When called out on this fallacy, they claim that their assessment of Measure Y is perfectly impartial and appropriate, although there is no mention of the new developments in the ballot summary, the city attorney’s “impartial analysis” or anywhere on their website.

I’m going to vote no on Measure Y, and I encourage all of my neighbors to do so as well.

Christine Carr

Newport Beach