Developing El Toro is indeed a waste...

Developing El Toro is indeed a waste

Finally, someone tells it like it is.

I am referring to the letter from Bill Turner titled “Wasting an

asset at El Toro,” which stated the facts about how Measure W was

touted to kill the plan to utilize the former Marine base for

commercial or international travel.

I am in total agreement with Turner’s assessment of the conditions

leading to the vote for the Great Park and against the airport.

It would really be a shame to waste this asset, instead of letting

this prime area become the international airport it was originally

planned to be.

ELEANORE TRIGHER

Costa Mesa

Smoking at the beach is the least of the problems

Friends of the Newport Coast and elected officials reported that

the latest storm drain cleaning yielded 150 tons of silt and debris.

Having spent most of our life on the beach, we can tell you that

cigarette butts are a minuscule part of a very large problem. After

every rain, we would like to invite the so-called environmentalist

down to the beach to help us clean up China Cove -- and other areas

around town -- that yield everything from hypodermic needles, Cheetos

and other junk food bags, pens, pencils and most any kind of weeds or

other very dry vegetation than you can imagine.

The China Cove beach alone requires a 2 1/2-ton truck to haul away

the debris. Those who believe cigarette butts are the problem are

probably stamping on the ants while the elephants get away.

Restricting smoking on any beach in California, while not

providing beach clean up weekly, is an insult to anyone’s

intelligence and surely a feeble attempt to do nothing very

productively. But of course, everyone knows that.

Happy Holidays.

RON AND ANNA WINSHIP

Newport Beach