READERS RESPOND -- City, chamber snared in political Web?

I believe the city should remove the Chamber of Commerce Web site link

from the city’s Web site if [the chamber] continues its anti-Greenlight

campaign literature.

GERALD SPRINGER

Newport Beach

No, absolutely not!

This censure from a group of obstructionists is fully reprehensible. I

fear for my right to vote when some non-declared committee not only tells

me what I may read, but what a reputable organization may incorporate

into its Web page.

Does suppressing one side of an argument lend weight to the other

side? I am appalled at this crass display of censure.

The Chamber of Commerce has the right to their opinion as much as the

dissenters do.

Let us remember that the Chamber of Commerce is a positive influence

within our community.

JIM ANDRE

Newport Beach

The city should remain neutral and either carry politicalmessages for

both sides of every issue or none.

For example, the chamber took a strong stand to weaken the residents’

protective Traffic Phasing Ordinance in support of major developers.

Nothing was featured for the residents’ side of the traffic issue.

Only three other cities in Orange County carry direct links to their

chamber on their home page. Newport Beach should be as circumspect as the

majority of OC cities. Or it should give Greenlight equal featuring on

its home page.

PHILIP ARST

Corona del Mar

*EDITOR’S NOTE: Arst is one of the founders of Greenlight, the group

proposing an initiative to limit growth in Newport Beach.

More than 10,000 citizens registered to vote in the city of Newport

Beach signed a petition to place the Greenlight initiative on the

upcoming November ballot.

If Greenlight passes, voter approval would be required for any

proposed major change to our zoning laws (thus requiring a general plan

amendment).

Subsequently, a second and adversarial initiative sponsored by

developers and the Newport Harbor Chamber of Commerce has qualified for

the November ballot. Between now and November, voters will have the

opportunity to weigh arguments for both initiatives and vote accordingly.

The Newport Beach City Council is obliged to take a neutral position

on these two initiatives and let its constituents determine which of the

two is in the best interest of residents.

However, the official city Web site offers a link to the Chamber of

Commerce Web site, which presents anti-Greenlight views. If such a city

policy is allowed to continue, the city Web site will start to resemble a

link to a newspaper editorial page.

Taxpayer money must not be spent on such a policy. Thecity Web site

should be used only for nonpolitical public service information. The City

Council should direct staff to immediately remove from its Web site any

link to the Newport Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

MEL MANN

Newport Beach