Peninsula needs redevelopment Certainly, [a parking structure...

Peninsula needs redevelopment

Certainly, [a parking structure on the peninsula] is a horrible

idea that our mayor has suggested. At a cost of $6 million to $12

million, it’s ridiculous.

Councilman John Heffernan has a great idea: Use the structure

that’s already going to be built eight blocks away and run a shuttle

for 50 cents or for free. It’s ridiculous. I frequent the beach every

morning. I buy a city pass.

The only time there are problems are on weekends except during the

summer; otherwise, it’s not too bad.

To build this just for a couple of restaurants is ridiculous.

What should be done, is eventually the whole area should be

redeveloped like the downtown Huntington Beach area.

Not just the parking structure, but all the businesses, all the

junkie businesses.

So if you really want to do the right thing, redevelop the whole

area, put in high-end retail stores like in Huntington Beach, not a

snow-cone store.

BARRY MYCORN

Newport Beach

Newport not a perfect tourism spot for all

I am writing in response to Steve Smith’s recent column entitled

“Out with the old, in with the Newport,” Feb. 2.

Though I take strong issue with the content of Smith’s column, I

must admit that I am hesitant in taking pen to paper.

Even at this moment, I am unclear as to whether his column is one

of the most distorted accounts of Newport Beach ever written, or a

masterfully crafted satirical damnation of everything that is wrong

with its public policy.

While Smith’s assertion that “you won’t hear or read anyone

describing how the city has purposely kept out blacks, Latinos,

Asians, or any other minority by establishing rules prohibiting them

from living [in Newport Beach] ... because it’s not true” is

technically correct, it fails to reflect the recent City Council

decision that barred the expansion of the grassy areas at Big Corona

under the pretense that they would attract a greater number of

Latinos.

Similar forms of discrimination can be found in the overtly

blatant police policy of harassing ethnic drivers and owners of

dilapidated vehicles through routine traffic stops.

My 24 years as a resident of Balboa have afforded me the

opportunity to witness more than enough summer days marked by the

presence of not a few minority families pulled over to the side of

the road with a police cruiser behind them.

In fact, these occurrences make me wonder whether the giant squid

mentioned so lovingly in Smith’s article would skip coming to Newport

altogether if they were forced to drive down Balboa Boulevard in a

dented Chevy.

Aside from these grievances, I agree with Smith that Newport Beach

is an amazing place to live.

Its colorful past attests to its legacy as a congenial location

for residents and tourists alike.

My only wish is that the oft-maligned rich community Smith alludes

to in his article remembers that Newport Beach is a tourist

destination that depends on a tourist economy.

Political agendas that unreasonably hinder the ability of

tourists, whatever their ethnic backgrounds may be, to access Newport

Beach are not only detrimental to people’s perceptions of the city, a

notion which seems to be at the heart of Smith’s argument, but also

to those who live there.

RICHARD FITZGEORGE III

Newport Beach

Partisan politics don’t belong in city halls

Yes, I’m worried [about the impact of partisan politics on local

elections].

Decades ago, California set the standard for nonpartisan local

government, but the standard is being eroded. Unlike many other

states, California recognized in law that a nonpartisan-elected city

council supported by a professional staff -- the council-manager

system -- would well serve the public interest.

City council decisions relate mainly to guiding the effective

delivery of municipal services to a standard acceptable to the

voters.

These are not Democratic or Republican issues. They are issues of

good governance. As an employee of three California cities in the

1950s and ‘60s I can testify to the absence of partisan influences in

those days.

Unfortunately, now we see deliberate efforts to inject

partisanship into local elections through endorsements, candidate

slates and, yes, partisan-based money contributions.

Some go even further to openly urge the appointment of party

loyalists to nonelective positions, such as planning commissioner or

library board trustee.

All of this only detracts from the impartial, independent judgment

we seek from our local officials.

To me, if not unlawful, it is a shameful departure from intent and

past practice in most California cities.

ROBERT SHELTON

Corona del Mar

Balboa parking space remedy a no-brainer

In regard to parking on Balboa, this is a no-brainer. The city can

save $12 million without buying land, because it already owns the

land at Marinapark.

Marinapark would be an excellent location for a parking structure.

It’s only one block from the Newport Beach Pier, perfectly

situated.

It could be done for a quarter of the cost Councilman Tod Ridgeway

is discussing.

So, I think that for residents, especially those who live off the

peninsula and like to enjoy the beach area, this is no-brainer.

It should be a parking structure at Marinapark.

BOB DABIS

Newport Beach