Letters to the Editor: Newport Beach has a history of environmental concern

Re. “Commentary: Newport Beach should join other cities in standing up to Trump on climate change,” (July 26): It wouldn’t be the first time this city stood up for nature against petty greed. Back Bay Nature Preserve, one of Newport Beach’s crowning jewels, exists in its idyllic state today because the residents of Newport Beach had the foresight to defend this pristine natural asset.

Residents of Balboa Island are currently facing the realities of climate change. And whether their legislators choose to acknowledge human causality or not, their city plans include ongoing and increasing flood mitigation plans.

UC Irvine scientists have developed detailed flood simulation software based on precise elevation measurements all over Newport Beach and Huntington Beach. Will residents stand for their representatives being two-faced on such a crucial issue that risks the value of many of their primary assets?

Real estate in coastal California drives much of the economy. Legislators would do well to get in front of this fast-moving issue if they plan on being electable in low-lying municipalities in the not too distant future.

Pam Brennan

Newport Beach

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No disabled parking, no excuses

I read the article in the Daily Pilot about the “taco mode” Lyft cars (“Reporter’s Notebook: What’s it like in Lyft’s ‘Taco Mode’?” Purple strobes and pink sunglasses on the road to Taco Bell,” July 28). I enjoyed the story but was not happy to see the picture on page A7 of the car parked in the designated disabled spot, unless the driver of the Lyft car is the legitimate owner of a disabled parking placard. If that is not the case, I don’t care if the driver parked there for a short time while a picture was taken or not. No excuses. Park in another space!

Fran Gazin

Irvine

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Fighting homelessness in town or in court?

A recent commentary by an ACLU attorney defended the organization’s lawsuits filed (in 2008 and 2015) against the city of Laguna Beach over the treatment of homeless people. He had issues with a July 10 Daily Pilot opinion column that stated, “Hansen: ACLU wins at law but loses at diplomacy.”

I would add that in the case of the 2008 lawsuit the ACLU worked with a Newport Beach law firm to sue the city of Laguna Beach as their strategy “to end homelessness.” It is ironic that Laguna Beach, which has provided significant public and private support for homeless individuals, was sued by a law firm located in Newport Beach, a city almost three times the population of Laguna Beach and with far fewer homeless-support facilities.

It appears to be lazy and possibly self-defeating to select a target that is more exposed because it is trying to deal honestly with a difficult situation. The hard targets have just moved the problem down the road.

Neil Fitzpatrick

Laguna Beach

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