MAILBAG - March 28, 2000

Reader wants to question Supervisor Wilson

Editor Tony Dodero’s article (“Dragged down into the muck,” March 20)

would like us to think that Supervisor Wilson is doing a great job for

Newport Beach. Mr. Dodero, that is one offensive statement to make in

light of the fact the man has turned his back on our city residents in

order to cater to his other constituents in South County cities. Of

course I refer to the battle regarding El Toro Airport.

Over lunch, you asked him a real hard question. “As for John Wayne

expansion, are you for it or opposed?” Now that must have been a real

tough one for him to answer. Did you really expect him to say he was for

expansion? Instead, he said what we all would like to believe in order to

have some small ray of hope -- that “it is important to get legislation

started now since the clock is ticking on the current agreement, which

expires in 2005.” Gee, he even used your tick, tick, tick quote. Now be

truthful, have you two been having lunch together often?

Next time over lunch, ask Mr. Wilson a few harder questions for us.

Ask him specifically to what legislation he is referring, exactly what

the legislation would state, what guarantees there are that such

legislation has any chance at all of being effective, and if he thinks it

is so easy to obtain, why doesn’t he work at legislation for El Toro so

that they can share the air traffic problem with Newport Beach and Costa

Mesa residents instead of expecting us to carry the entire county’s load.

JOHN ANDERSON

Newport Beach

Money is not the only issue in the Dunes proposal

Proponents of the Dunes resort hotel convention center and time-share

project consistently lose sight of the real issue. This proposed project

is in conflict of the 1988 settlement agreement and the Coastal

Commission restrictions of 1998. This new project is based on revenue,

not the preservation of land use, public beach access, ecosystem of the

back bay and quality of life to the existing residential communities that

surround the area [and I still don’t understand the grammar of that

sentence]. The city officials and residents of Newport Beach have a moral

obligation to protect this area from developers’ abuse.

PAT GREENBAUM

Newport Beach

Library Trustee says no more bickering with Foundation

Aside from creating a rather inaccurate picture of the current

relationship between trustees of the Newport Beach Public Library and the

Library Foundation, a recent Daily Pilot article (“Library, foundation

continue to bicker,” March 17) had a serious misstatement of fact.

Contrary to what was stated, the popular Distinguished Speakers Lecture

Series is funded only by specific gifts from generous donors who support

these cultural events for residents of Newport Beach. As one who has been

closely involved with the series since its inception, I know first hand

that its funding comes primarily from such valued community members as

The Witte Foundation, John and Donna Crean, The Irvine Co., Pacific Life,

The Fieldstone Foundation and South Coast Plaza. The checks have been

written in the name of the Library Foundation which has served as the

bookkeeper for the series.

And contrary to your implication of continued “bickering,” please let

your readers know the Library Trustees and officers of the Foundation’s

Board of Directors have all but agreed on a Memorandum of Cooperation;

expect a formal announcement to be made soon.

In the meantime, and as always, the Library trustees will continue to

devote a 100% effort to seeing the Newport Beach Public Library is the

very finest institution it can possibly be. I am confident the Library

Foundation is equally dedicated to its excellence.

JIM WOOD

Chairman, Newport Beach Public Library Board of Trustees

Editor’s note: The Pilot stands by the story.

Reader says bond issue, not financial history, at stake

In his letter (“School board needs to step up to the plate,” March

16), Lefteris Lavrakas writes: “I well recall how little attention the

board paid, some years back, when a ‘whistle blower’ in the district

chose to bypass district officials and board members to report a

$4.2-million embezzlement to the Orange County Grand Jury.” A question

for you, Mr. Lavrakas: How many members of the current school board were

serving on the board when the shenanigans of Stephen Wagner came to light

in 1992? The answer is two. Let’s not blame the majority of the current

board nor Supt. Robert Barbot for a bit of dark history that did not

occur on their watch. Having said that, the current school board has

stepped to the plate by passing the bond resolution. The real question

is, will we step to the plate and approve it?

BYRON DE ARAKAL

Costa Mesa