READERS RESPOND

AT ISSUE: The Greenlight initiative, which will be on the city’s ballot

in November.

Now the real power struggle begins. With the rapid success of

Greenlight’s traffic control initiative being placed on the ballot, the

developers in our city must be having a few sleepless nights.

It is much easier to influence a majority of the City Council to smile

favorably on your project than to convince an entire voting populace to

put up with aggravated traffic and lower quality of life for the sake of

your huge development.

Prepare for the spin doctors to tell us that the initiative will result

in the end of life as we know it.

I know they will certainly have a hard sell convincing me to vote against

the initiative, and I hope the rest of the voting population of this city

will be able to see through their propaganda, as well.

VERONICA SHAVER

Newport Beach

I intend to vote for the Greenlight initiative. My opinion is that for

some time the City Council has put the developers’ interests above those

of the Newport Beach homeowners. Those of us who live in the “original”

Newport do not want to see it turned into a Miami Beach clone -- concrete

jungle, high-rises and traffic congestion. The council says we need more

development and the income it generates. But at what price? In my

business, we not only consider how much income there is, but how wisely

it is spent. Those of us who support Greenlight hope that it will put a

stop to this never-ending development and expansion.

DORIS HOPE

Newport Beach

The Greenlight proposal concerns major projects which should properly

have citizens’ approval before adding to traffic and other dislocations.

The normal periodic elections should be adequate to deal with these. The

only reason for special elections for major projects would be to satisfy

developers’ desires.

GORDON H. WEST

Newport Beach

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Because of the way the Greenlight initiative is written

-- requiring that 80% of the increases in density during the last 10

years count toward the thresholds -- even smaller projects in certain

areas will require a citywide vote.

This initiative here is very, very confusing. And I can’t see how you can

fall back on projects that have already been done over the past 10 years

and start changing the language and the meaning of what happened then and

bring it in today. I think it is just poor government, and it is very

confusing.

PHILLIP GLASGOW

Newport Beach

In regard to the Greenlight initiative, I just feel that it is not the

right way for our city to govern itself by having an election for

everything that comes along. I am in favor to a degree with the things

that Greenlight wants to accomplish. But I think the method of

accomplishing it is wrong.

ARTHUR GRONSKY

Newport Beach