Mailbag: Newport Chamber should have asked for diverse viewpoints

Re: “Newport Beach forum to focus on Costa Mesa ballot measures,” (Aug. 30): In the interest of being a good neighbor, it would be very nice if the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce had asked both sides of these important and controversial issues to discuss them with Newport residents.

Residents collected 7,000 signatures to get our Costa Mesa Smart Growth initiative on the ballot. Residents had been very involved in attending meetings about the General Plan for several years, but their concerns about traffic and density fell on deaf ears, so that is the reason for the Smart Growth Initiative.

Also, we want to preserve Fairview Park, just like Newport wanted to preserve the Back Bay. Again, residents collected the required number of signatures to get this initiative on the ballot.

Costa Mesa Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer wrote a ballot argument against the Smart Growth Initiative and a judge threw out most of his claims.

Also, the Costa Mesa council majority added two initiatives to confuse the voters.

Districting is also a very controversial topic. Residents wanted five districts, and did not want six districts with an elected mayor. Their input was ignored by the council majority.

I don’t like the city’s marijuana initiative either. Newport did a great job of closing the door on marijuana, and Costa Mesa should do the same. I really hope the Chamber reconsiders its decision. We want to be good neighbors but this forum isn’t a level playing field.

Wendy Leece
Costa Mesa

Editor’s Note: The writer is a former Costa Mesa councilwoman.

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Why we mark Labor Day

Unions are an organizational response to oligarchs and international corporations that attempt to control democracy by controlling employment and wages. Unions represent a path to preserve government — of the people and for the people.

Linda Maher
Newport Beach