Letter to the Editor -- Richard de Teresa

How can the Santa Ana Regional Water Control Board sleep at night if

they are content to fine a prosperous organization such as the Balboa Bay

Club because of serious and repetitive violations, without issuing a

cease-and-desist order (“Water quality board fines Balboa Bay Club,”

April 30).

These fines seem to be but a slap on the wrist to the Balboa Bay Club,

which has graciously accepted the fine with a thank you, and continued

its obnoxious violations for over a 12-month span.

In these days of protection for our fragile environment, how can a

major organization within our community be so blatant and disregarding of

the concerns of the environment and rights of all our citizens?

Whether this is just an odiferous hydrogen sulfide, “natural waste” (I

believe sewage is considered natural waste also), it is unthinkable that

the city does not put an immediate halt to this dumping into the bay.

There is hardly a day you can’t smell the stench from Coast Highway. I

wonder how long a resident with a bayfront property could dump smelly

substances into the bay without being hauled into court immediately.

If John Q. Citizen plays his stereo too loud, he gets immediate and

strong fines and punishment.

Continue that every day for over a year, he probably would be in jail

or ousted from our community.

Shame on the water board and the city of Newport Beach not to act with

swift and decisive action to cease this pollution, and its constant and

flagrant repetitions.

RICHARD DE TERESA

Newport Beach