Tales of Balboa site worth keeping up

Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing. People can take what they

will from any statement, but everyone’s welcome to make one.

Last week, a few comments were made in Newport Beach that nearly

produced an unfortunate side effect.

At a meeting of the Balboa Business Improvement District, a

discussion rose as to whether TalesofBalboa.com, which advertises and

links to Balboa Peninsula businesses, should drop its advertising of

and link to FreeNewport.com. Some merchants said they thought that an

affiliation with the latter group, which has criticized the city of

Newport Beach on occasion, was inconsistent with the merchant group’s

goal of promoting local business.

The merchants asked their city liaison his thoughts on the matter

and he said it was Tales of Balboa Webmaster Jim Fournier’s choice as

well as “the choice of the [business improvement district] who they

link with, and those links and sites should be consistent with the

[district’s] mission.”

Fournier didn’t take to the comment and responded thereafter by

posting on his site that it would soon end. It was a shame that

Fournier reacted that way. His Web site has much to offer the area

and those afar, who can check out six different Web cam views of the

peninsula.

“I really shut down the Web site because I was frustrated with all

the politics,” he said. “I spend a lot of time putting everything

together and I lose money on it every month. And all I get is this

massive amount of flak.”

However, Fournier has since changed his mind and made the right

decision to keep the city’s and merchants’ asset going. He said

several people wrote to him to protest his decision. The Web site has

had more than 100,000 visits since its beginning, further proving its

worth.

Fournier will continue linking to FreeNewport.com, advertised as

“The Web our leaders don’t want you to see.”

It really doesn’t matter whether Fournier links to the Web site or

not. His own Web site is worth the visit and keeps visitors busy with

Balboa and Newport history, handy information, feedback and weather

readings. The site has found a niche and Fournier should be

encouraged to continue it for as long he can.