MAILBAG:

Your article (“Dredging banking on stimulus funds,” Feb. 7) states that Newport Beach hopes to receive some federal funding for completing the Back Bay dredging project.

This is important for many reasons, and this topic gets lots of attention from the City Council and the Daily Pilot.

I am a resident of Newport Shores, which is bordered on the north by the Seminiuk Slough.

Most local residents probably are not aware that this wildlife area is destined to become a meadow unless there isn’t some action to dredge it. In fact, at low tide, you cannot even get through in some areas with a kayak because of the sediment buildup.

It’s incredible to me that the City Council decided that $350,000 toward this project should be cut because it falls into the “nice to have” category. would guess the diverse wildlife that abounds here is similar to that of the Back Bay: ospreys, hawks, egrets, herons, raccoons, skunks, the list goes on. I have even spotted a bobcat along the water.

I have been told that this project would cost just a fraction of the Back Bay project.

When I try to get some response from the City Council and city manager, the only one who ever gets back to my questions is Nancy Gardner. I think it would be “nice to have” this wetlands around for a while.

TERRY JOHNSTON

Newport Beach

Going to Western was out of the way

On Feb 5, you reported about an accident — hit and run — on Page A4 about an SUV that hit a fellow with a disabled auto early in the morning (“Suspect’s SUV details given”).

The story said it was on Hospital Road and Placentia. That is less than one block from Hoag Hospital. Why was the victim taken by ambulance to Western Medical when he was less than one block from Hoag?

I have an interest in this because our doctor/medical group is associated with Hoag. God forbid that we have an accident and are taken to Western Medical.

Now that would be outrageous.

This is not the first time an accident victim has been taken to Western when Hoag was within or less than 1 to 5 miles.

Was the victim without insurance?

Did he request Western, or is the ambulance driver affiliated only with Western and the victim had no choice?

WR JUDAH

Newport Beach