READERS RESPOND

AT ISSUE: Newport Beach and Costa Mesa each have proposed annexing

different portions of unincorporated Santa Ana Heights, which has been

the subject of ongoing controversy.

Everyone wants to be annexed by Newport Beach (“More areas marked for

Costa Mesa want out,” Nov. 10). I move that Newport Beach annex Costa

Mesa. All in favor signify by saying “aye.” All opposed signify by saying

“nay.” There being no dissenting votes, the motion is carried

unanimously.

WILLIAM B. ANDERSON

Costa Mesa

Editor’s note: The following is an open letter to Santa Ana Heights

resident Russell Niewiarowski in response to his recent letter advocating

annexation into Newport Beach.

I have lived in “Goat Hill” (Costa Mesa) since 1943 and proud of it. I

am a graduate of Newport Harbor High School because that was the only

high school in the area at the time. They even allowed Costa Mesa

residents at this high school, which is in the city of Newport Beach.

(Imagine that.)

From that pleasant school experience I have lifelong friends who live

in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. I love and respect these people as they

do me, even though I dare live in the city of Costa Mesa.

I have a big, beautiful home, lawn and gardens just like the people

have in Newport Beach. (Heaven forbid.) I live across the street from a

park and watch the nannys, from nearby Newport Beach homes, bring

children to play. You should warn the parents of these children that this

park is in the city of Costa Mesa and their children might be

contaminated by Costa Mesa soil and air. You might be surprised to hear

this, but we Costa Mesa residents breathe the same air and bask in the

same sun as you do. I have a solution for you -- build a Berlin Wall-type

barrier around your area in order to keep us Costa Mesa residents out.

Unfortunately, you could not build it high enough to keep your “snob

appeal” smell from drifting over into our Costa Mesa neighborhood.

DON KNIPP

Costa Mesa

The familiar verbage of a few folks who have resided in Santa Ana

Heights for many years claim that annexation into Newport Beach might

“destroy” the country charm unique to the Heights community. It is not

Newport Beach that those residents should be worried about, it is the

county’s Local Redevelopment Agency and the Santa Ana Heights Project

Advisory Committee. Imagine the county knocking on [County Supervisor]

Tom Wilson’s door, stating they intended to build a commercial parking

lot next door to his beautiful house. I seriously doubt he would smile

and nod a gesture of acceptance. Yet this is exactly what has happened in

the residential equestrian Santa Ana Heights community. This is the same

county supervisor who is convinced an airport at El Toro will destroy not

just his own community, but the entire South County, and is fighting to

stop it.

It is Santa Ana Heights that is in fact being destroyed under the

leadership of Supervisor Wilson. Most recently, with the widening of

Birch Street and Mesa Drive, much of the Heights community was negatively

impacted, which has permanently destroyed much of the community’s rural

feel. There are no densely landscaped aesthetic buffers to shield

high-profile commercial lights from blinding nearby residents to be

found at any business development within the Heights. This thoughtless

planning reflects the sheer greed on the county’s part to build more and

taller buildings on lots that previously housed residences.

The Santa Ana Heights community has a choice to watch the county

destroy our community, lot by lot, or stand up and take action. I opt for

the latter, and have begun coordinating efforts within the Heights

community to gather support to challenge the county’s recent actions in

court. I encourage all those who reside in the community to stand up and

take an active part in protecting our community from commercial

over-development.

RUSSELL NIEWIAROWSKI

Santa Ana Heights