Mailbag - Aug. 17, 2000

If some of the Newport Beach City Council members are too tired to do

the job, maybe they should retire (“Does Newport’s council need a summer

break?” Aug. 15). Or maybe we should limit them to fewer terms or years.

Or maybe we (the employers) should pay them only for meetings they

attend, with no perks.

Well anyway, it sounds like council members are very tired -- so why

do they keep on running?

New City Council members appear to be more eager to serve and handle

duties to get the job done (with no complaints). And they seem to have a

fresh, energetic outlook.

We need more “going full blast” people on the council and less or none

of the complainers of too much work, too many long hours.

What’s the big deal? Four members can make the decisions -- so let’s

get on with the city business. Summer is Newport’s busiest time of the

year. What if the Fire or Police department officials said, “We need to

close down for the summer”?

I thought those who run for elected office wanted to do the job, and I

certainly thought they were willing to go full blast -- or I would not

vote for them.

I mean, if two meetings a month is too much, maybe this is not the

right job for them.

NANCY PENN

Newport Beach

Principal exodus is alarming

I am astonished that our school board is so unconcerned at the flow of

principals out of the system (“Newport-Mesa’s principal problem concerns

parents,” Aug. 10).

It is absolutely disgraceful what is happening -- especially when you

check the past performance of the board and the great silence coming from

them when past problems have been disclosed.

What has happened to a wonderful school district? Look to the ability

(or nonabiliity) of your elected leaders. Something is dreadfully wrong,

and no one seems to care.

JANET SPEERS-BARON

Newport Beach

The field is for the kids

In regard to the turf-war question (“Farm sparks wrangling over soccer

turf,” Aug. 9), my feeling is that the American Youth Soccer Organization

is an organization for kids. I think we need to keep that in mind.

And I think there is a shortage of all fields for AYSO games --

certainly lighted fields.

If they want to keep the field as a museum, which is what it basically

has been for the last two and a half years -- growing grass -- that’s one

thing. But if they want to have soccer games there, I think it should be

used as much as possible to benefit the children of our community. That’s

what the field is for.

And I think the two regions need to reach an agreement so they are

happy with the usage of the field. After all, a field is just that.

And if it gets a little worn out and a little brownish, it is not the

end of the world. But if they want to fence it off with barbed wire and

keep it pretty and green then so be it, but that is not what the field is

for.

BOB SMITH

Costa Mesa

Residents needn’t worry about new projects

I am so tired of reading about communities freaking out over new

businesses moving into their neighborhoods, and the fear of traffic and

new people it will bring -- the latest being the South Coast Plaza area

development (“Town Center expansion goes before public,” Aug. 14).

First of all, the fear of more people moving to Costa Mesa because of

jobs is farfetched. We know many people travel to other cities to work,

and they won’t necessarily move here.

Also, does anyone consider the possibility that more opportunities in

the city may provide jobs to existing residents of Costa Mesa?

Lastly, rather than make noise about traffic and parking spaces, how

about using that energy to demand from our City Council a better

transportation system? We need more bus stops and more frequent buses.

If you think buses are only for the poor, then don’t whine about

traffic. You may live here, but you drive so you are part of the problem.

STELLA LUGO

Santa Ana Heights