Mailbag - Oct. 21, 2001

So far, election off to a bad start

A goal in this country is to have elections where pure democratic

processes take place and every vote counts. City elections are the

starting place. Yet, too often, local voters are bombarded by messages

prepared by mercenary political consultants who try to confuse, mislead

and, in effect, defile the process.

This is happening now in Newport Beach. A 250,000-square-foot office

project is on the ballot in November, a result of the Greenlight

Initiative.

Mailers from the developer have begun to arrive under the auspices of

the “Greenlight Implementation Committee.” Recently, a large mailer came

from this “committee” wanting us to send a request for an absentee ballot

to their own address. On the back, a small notice is given: “Returning

this application to anyone other than your elections official may cause a

delay that could interfere with your right or ability to vote.”

Question: Why didn’t the Greenlight Implementation Committee put the

registrar of voters address on the front of the reply card they sent?

While I’m waiting for an answer, I’m planning to send for an absentee

ballot directly to the registrar.

And I’m voting “no” on G for several reasons: The project is a large

office building near the airport, which is not in our current general

plan; it does not offset its traffic impacts with income for the city; it

brings more office workers, which exacerbates a lack of affordable

housing; it is being processed before the city has completed its

“visioning” process; and the proponents are trying to confuse voters with

the name of their committee and are monkeying with the election process

by having absentee ballots sent to their address.

I’d like to think our city is a good example of citizen participation

and exemplary in its election process, but with this kind of shenanigans,

we’re not going to get there any timesoon.

JEAN WATT

Newport Beach

Corona del Mar is a wonderful community

Recently, when our small white dog escaped from our yard, we were

almost hysterical. As my daughter, future son-in-law and I combed the

streets of Corona del Mar, we encountered many who eagerly agreed to

watch for her and return her home if found. The caring and assistance

helped us to remember why it is we love our “small town.” From three of

our great postal carriers to the man and his children in the golf cart

who circled the streets, everyone said they would keep their eyes open.

As I drove past the Corona del Mar Animal Hospital, I wondered if

someone might stop there to see if they recognized our dog, so I pulled

in. When I asked if anyone had turned in a small white dog, they said,

“We have her. Is that Pippi?”

Later, Jan Elowe, a local Realtor, and her lender, Corina DiMateo,

mentioned to a postal carrier that they had found a lost dog, and she

gave them our address. It was so nice to be able to give Jan a hug for

taking Pippi to the vet for us and talk about our dogs and what a great

small town we live in. Thanks to everyone who helped in our search!

JOY BRENNER

Corona del Mar

Paper did disservice to religious leaders

I believe that your headline on the front of the Oct. 4 paper by

Lolita Harper, “Fallen leaders not uncommon in faith community . . . but

misconduct by church officials has been so prevalent recently” is very

unfair and not true. Is that a news report or an individual writer’s

editorial on the front page?

Uncommon is the opposite of common. The dictionary defines common as

“occurring or appearing frequently.” You mentioned four instances of

misconduct in the last 10 years in the Orange County area. Is that

common? You have defamed all of the wonderful priests, rabbis and pastors

of this area. You owe a public apology to them just as you defamed them

publicly.

VIC SHERREITT

Balboa Island

Cove fighter deserved more DP 103 notice

The DP 103 special section on Sept. 26 seemed to credit Joan Irvine

Smith and Laura Davick for personally defeating the proposed resort at

Crystal Cove.

To set the record straight, the Save Crystal Cove movement was started

in August 1997 by Jeannette Merrilees, then with the Sierra Club Task

Force. Merrilees worked tirelessly to conduct weekend public tours of the

cove giving historical talks.

Davick was one of many volunteers who helped Merrilees produce the

“Discover Crystal Cove” beach event on Sept. 12, 1999, to further inform

the public of the proposed resort that was in violation of the original

plan when the cove was purchased to establish Crystal Cove State Park for

all Californians and future generations. At that time, Davick, a longtime

resident tenant, seemed to favor the continued tenancy of the historic

cottages.

In late 1999, Davick left the Save Crystal Cove group to join with

Mary Blake to form the Alliance to Rescue Crystal Cove. Smith came

forward in early 2001 to form the Crystal Cove Conservancy with Davick.

Merrilees continues to fight for the Crystal Cove State Park plan to

ensure full public access to the beach and to have public overnight

cottage rentals under the direction of the state parks department.

I do hope that the Daily Pilot will print notice well in advance of

the next public hearing to be held by the state parks department to hear

suggestions from all the public.

MILDRED URLING

Costa Mesa