MAILBAG - Oct. 26, 2006
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It’s easy to slant polls in one’s favor
In Oct. 12’s Political Landscape (“Harman proves to be on the bill”), there is something slightly deceiving about the poll commissioned by the Steve Young congressional campaign — it is among likely voters who have seen his advertising and campaigning. I’m sure if I set the parameters like that I too would be a likely front-runner for Congress. A recently conducted poll among my close family and friends indicated that I have great support running for president, but it sure doesn’t mean I am going to win.
The fact of the matter is that Rep. John Campbell has been a great representative of the 48th District. He has been a good fiscal conservative, strong on immigration, and supportive of important water projects and important energy research at UC Irvine.
When it comes down to it, I am sure Campbell is going to win on Election Day, and he doesn’t need any poll commissioned by his campaign to let him know he will do so. He can easily look to his many satisfied constituents to know that fact.
LARS WALTON
Corona Del Mar
Greenlight opposition about big development
I read the editorials in Sunday’s Daily Pilot, and the only conclusion I can draw is that Measure V doesn’t work for Newport Beach. It’ll work for the business interests, but it doesn’t work for the residents.
The paper’s editorial admits that: “We agree with many residents of Newport Beach, including those who more than six years ago formed the Greenlight group to fight growth in the city, that there is a troublingly wide divide between the City Council and its constituents.”
That divide is fostered by the fact that the members of the Newport Beach City Council who is up for reelection or election the first time around are all backed by business interests. The opposition candidates are backed by the residents.
In 2000 the same arguments against Measure S, Greenlight l, came from the Daily Pilot that are being raised today. Additionally the Measure X opponents, Residents for Measure V and No on X have been attacking Measure X, Greenlight ll, with the same “fear, uncertainty and doubt” as your article.
No on X goes so far as to say there will be mega lawsuits paid for by the city, people will have to have a citywide vote to make a room addition, that 65% of the homeowners would be subject to the ordinance intended for big developments, etc., etc.
None of these are true and remember No on X is headed by a land-use attorney and is funded by development interests.
I want to remind everyone reading this letter that under Greenlight there have been no lawsuits, people have made room additions and remodeled their homes without a citywide vote. Those rules will still apply after Measure X is approved.
The only thing Measure X does is to counter the fact that the city consolidated all the future development into one package that only requires one vote in November to add major developments in Newport Beach for the next 20 or more years. Not on a case by case basis we enjoy today. The city is under no obligation to offer secondary voting of major developments since they are all contained in Measure V.
Lastly, remember who is funding the opposition to Measure X: business interests, plain and simple. Read the opposition’s filings, and it is a who’s-who of big development. They have vested interests in seeing Measure V pass and are circulating “Fatal Flaw” mailers to scare the voters into believing what they say is true. Their claims have no merit.
Measure X was drafted by resident volunteers and supported by more than 8,000 voters because they realize what’s at stake. No one person on the Measure X committee has any vested interest in any development in Newport Beach or elsewhere and only has the residents’ best interests as their motivation.
Remember, Newport Beach isn’t broken, and Measure V isn’t going to fix it. It’s your choice: side with business or side with your community.
PHIL DRACHMAN
Newport Beach
Bever not one to explain Mansoor
I was taken aback that Costa Mesa City Councilman Eric Bever has chosen to set the record straight on the mayor when he is part of the problem. When I look to someone to explain to me why Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor is not part of the problem, I certainly wouldn’t go to Bever, who along Mansoor and Councilman Gary Monahan, caused Costa Mesa to be the subject of national attention — all negative — and I would think that it’s time for us to look to others to point out to us how to solve the city’s problems rather than a person who was part of the problem.
I also do not understand why he would think that Wendy Leece, who caused nothing but trouble on the Newport-Mesa school board with her outlandish views, would be a wise addition to the City Council of Costa Mesa. So I would suggest that we return to reason and support Bruce Garlich and Mike Scheafer for City Council.
SHARON BOUDREAU
Costa Mesa
Bank robbery, immigration connected
I read that a man had been arrested by Fountain Valley police for robbing a bank in Costa Mesa. I understand that bank robbery is a federal crime. I wonder why the people who think that local police should not enforce immigration laws because they are a federal matter do not want to stop local police for going after bank robbers. After all, isn’t that the job of the FBI?
MARTIN ROSENFELD
Costa Mesa
Don’t listen to special interests against mayor
Wake up, Costa Mesa residents, and stop the disease called voter apathy. We have a City Council election that needs your attention.
There is a committee calling itself Return to Reason that is endorsing and promoting specific people for election to the Costa Mesa City Council.
The major promoters of the committee are the Daily Pilot, Costa Mesa police and firefighters unions and the Segerstrom company. They are supplying their endorsed candidates with free, front-page newspaper editorials, physical and financial help.
These major supporters definitely qualify as special interest groups.
The above special interest groups already control two Costa Mesa City Council members who are not up for reelection this year. These groups are endorsing and supporting Bruce Garlich and Mike Scheafer.
If Garlich and Scheafer are elected, they will join the other two council members who are already beholden to the above groups. We will then have four Costa Mesa City Council members in the pockets of the above special interest groups. This scenario is very frightening!
DON KNIPP
Costa Mesa
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