MAILBAG - Aug. 21, 2006

Tired of Greenlight’s roadblocks on city

It’s great to see that the Irvine Co. has plans to expand and revitalize Fashion Island. But once again, the specter of Greenlight has raised its head. Would we even have a Fashion Island if Greenlight was around when the Irvine Co. built it?

Surely it’s time to forget about Greenlight, and allow the Newport Beach City Council to do what we elected them for. Let’s stop trying to second-guess our elected officials!

Granville Kirkup

Balboa Peninsula

Daily Pilot columnist should report all the facts

In a recent column (“Mayor shames Mad Mel,” The Bell Curve, Aug. 10), Joseph Bell is critical of George Bush’s push to invade Iraq and cites the Iraq Survey Group’s contention that Iraq had no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction.

Too bad he didn’t have enough room to print the group’s final conclusion, which was that “the regime had the intention of building and rebuilding weapons of mass destruction, when circumstances permitted.” I guess this was a risk Bell was willing to take. I’m glad he is not president.

I know that as a bleeding liberal Joseph Bell has a tough time analyzing facts, but is he aware that each of the last four shootings in Costa Mesa involved a Latino at a high-density, low-income housing project?

Does he not see the effect of high-density, low-income housing units on violent crimes? I’m also glad Joseph Bell is not mayor.

Mark Griffin

Costa Mesa

Thanks, Linda Dixon, for candor, courage

Bravo, Linda Dixon.

I hope other Costa Mesa residents were resoundingly awakened by Councilwoman Dixon’s recent letter as I was (“Why we must stop Mansoor,” Community Commentary, Aug. 11).

An elected official writing candidly and with compassion rather than simply posturing? It’s about time.

That took tremendous courage to write and made me realize I had better pay close attention to what’s happening to our community.

The barrage of letters in the Forum from other residents the past few days speaks volumes about how this city feels about Allan Mansoor.

Fellow residents, let’s remember in November!

Laura Franklin

Costa Mesa

Who among the candidates cares about the city’s needs?

Reading recent letters in the Daily Pilot has clearly shown me that I must choose a side in the battle for governance of this fair city, where I have lived for 41 years. When faced with such important decisions in the past, I preferred to make lists of pros and cons.

After weighing such significant concerns as public safety, including crime prevention and other illegal activities, economic prosperity, real estate values and recreational programs, I still need more information about the office contenders.

I want to know who plans to clean the grass and weeds out of the cracks in the streets of Mesa Verde and patch the pot holes. If candidates want to make decisions about state and federal issues they should be running for positions in those government bodies, not ignoring the reasonable needs of this city.

Thomas E. Kolanoski

Costa Mesa

Pilot’s presumptions off base; learn from the mayor

Day labor recruitment centers and soup kitchens are not associated with urban blight?

Try placing them in Eastside Costa Mesa or, better yet, in Newport Beach, and see the reaction.

Given that these facilities would be blocked there, how odious can it be to close them or phase them out in tandem with community betterment where betterment is badly needed?

The Daily Pilot presumes to give the mayor a lesson in “sensitivity” with a cannonade of editorials and front-page columns. As an Orange County sheriff’s deputy, he might have a thing or two to teach the Daily Pilot about crime and its causes.

The paper’s suggestion that the Aug. 2 Baker Street shooting could be due in part to the “combative atmosphere in Costa Mesa since the City Council decided to enforce immigration laws” (“Questions arise after shocking fatal shooting,” Editorial, Aug. 6) is ridiculous.

Ned McCune

Costa Mesa

Landmark riverboat deserves protection

I am happy to see that the Ruben E. Lee has finally made front page news (“Saltwater riverboat is history,” Comments & Curiosities, Aug. 13). I have lived in Newport Beach my entire life, and the Ruben E. Lee is not only a historical landmark, but also a very important part of growing up in Newport Beach.

I am very upset that the truth about what is happening to the Ruben E. Lee was not mentioned. Rumor has it that Donald Bren — yes, that’s right, the No. 1 most powerful man in Southern California, according to the Los Angeles Times Sunday magazine West — will not renew the lease for this landmark.

History?

Loreen Thompson

Balboa