MAILBAG - June 24, 2000

It never ceases to amaze me how we abuse our dominion over the animals

(“Squirrel poisoning raises concerns,” June 14).

I was employed at Grand Canyon National Park during the infamous shooting

of burros from the air. These creatures were brought into the canyon to

help the miners; then, to show their gratitude, they were abandoned

there, left to encroach on the other natural animals’ food sources.

As park service workers watched the bighorn sheep disappear, they decided

to poison the burros, which did not work. So they started shooting them.

Just like those rabbits in Leisure World in Seal Beach.

People who understand that dominion over the animals stepped in to save

the burros. The shooting stopped, the airlifting began and to this day,

you can see adopted burros all over Arizona.

Folks living near and visiting Inspiration Point in Corona del Mar better

take cover. Yes, I know the city’s general services director said that

shooting won’t happen, but what choice do we have?

We cannot have the natural process of erosion from wind and rain affect

our enjoyment of Inspiration Point. Maybe we can figure a way to have

dominion over the wind and rain--poison it, shoot it?

I watch Newport Beach try to figure out what that smell in the bay is. I

read about Huntington Beach trying to figure out why no one can swim at

the beaches. Now, I hear about camouflaged poison being laid out “for

years” in a place where wind and rain wash the soil toward the pedestrian

path, the beach and ultimately the ocean.

Now that the “controlled squirrels” are no doubt diseased, deformed and

obviously immune to the poison, what are we to do?

Newport Beach, have you heard of nontoxic and cruelty-free animal traps?

Yes, they might cost more money then a trip to Home Depot and might use

more manpower, but at least you won’t have to airlift.

Just trap those earth-destroying creatures and relocate them. Could be an

ongoing, slow process; but it beats an ongoing, slow, painful death (for

them and us) led by the poison that “you or I” could buy at Home Depot.

Or, here is an idea: We could just skip the middleman (in this case

middle squirrel) and sprinkle the poison directly on our paths, beaches

and water.

CHRISTIE WOOD

Balboa

Look elsewhere for cookie-cutter homes

I wish to voice my support for the Costa Mesa City Council decision to

enact a 45-day moratorium on the building of multifamily residences.

During my 10-year residence in East Side, I have tried to encourage the

Planning Commission and City Council to limit the proliferation of these

developments. Unfortunately, they have continued to grant variances which

include fewer parking spaces and smaller setbacks then required. Without

the granting of variances to the zoning, most of these projects could not

have been built.

As Robin Leffler points out in another letter to the Daily Pilot

(“Feedback,” June 15), “Section 13 of the Costa Mesa zoning code says the

projects must be compatible, harmonious and in scale with the

neighborhood.” Tell that to people who have multiple two-story houses

ringing the privacy of their backyards.

The council has finally addressed the problem and realized that these

developments will destroy the quality of life and home values in our

still-charming neighborhood.

The rights of residents must take precedence over the rights of

independent developers that continue to level existing structures and

build several unsightly cracker boxes along one driveway. The developers

have no long-term interest in our neighborhoods because most of them do

not have to live here. Their only interests are in building and selling

homes.

I am not against people making a profit, but this profit leaves the

residents with an unfair burden, diminished quality of life and decreased

home values.

The fees and taxes collected do not neutralize the long-term costs to

residents and city services.

I am not against people who choose newer, smaller homes with no yards. If

people choose this style of living, I encourage them to look in some of

the other areas of Orange County where this style is “compatible,

harmonious and in scale with the neighborhood.”

Do not wait until builders start tearing down the house next to you. If

you share these opinions, the only way to save our neighborhood is to

contact City Council members today by phone, fax, e-mail or letter. They

are our voice in government and they need to know your opinion.

CHARLES J. ROLLINS

Costa Mesa

Getting short shrift on city budget

Tom Egan is too generous to City Hall in his letter about Costa Mesa’s

budget process (“Mailbag,” June 8). Yes, the time for public comment is

far too short. But the public also doesn’t get to comment on most of the

budget items.

City officials produces a line-item budget that lists every proposed

expenditure for the coming year. They are required by law to do so, and

no doubt this is what the council uses to determine its approval. But the

public never sees this budget.

Interested citizens are handed a thin, glossy booklet--little more than a

pamphlet really--with broad, general categories for expenditures and a

lot of self-congratulatory platitudes. The real budget is kept secret,

locked behind closed doors.

Maybe if the public really had a chance to get involved with the budget

process and had some input as to what was done without taxpayer dollars,

City Hall might be able to do something constructive for once. Instead,

it wastes millions of dollars on consultants, such as the ones in charge

of developing the disastrous West Side plan.

BILL BEARCE

Costa Mesa