READERS RESPOND

* AT ISSUE: As the November election nears, those on both sides of the

dueling traffic initiatives speak out about stopping development and

preserving the community.

Here is a perfect example of why the Greenlight initiative has been

proposed and is so desperately needed here in Newport Beach. At the City

Council meeting Aug. 22, resident after resident got up and made

impassioned arguments against the construction of a resort hotel on the

Marinapark site and the removal of American Legion Post 291. This was the

only chance the public had to address the council on this matter. Each

speaker was limited to the allotted three minutes, during which it might

be presumed his plea was being given consideration by the council. All

who rose to speak (some of whom represented entire homeowners

associations) were against a hotel; not one speaker spoke for such a

plan. The mayor then announced an end to the “public hearing” and the

council went into private session. Can you guess what happened next? The

council unanimously voted to anoint Sutherland Tallia Hospitality to

receive the inside track with city staff in continuing down the road of

putting a hotel on the property.

Of course, the council piously admonished the developer to “make the

Legion happy” in order to obtain final city approval. Hello? Was anyone

listening?

This is nothing new to veteran council watchers. Time after time, it

has been obvious that the so-called “public hearings” are nothing but

window-dressing to create the illusion that the council weighs the

concerns of its constituents while, in reality, going along with the

pie-in-the-sky promises of Newport Beach land-hungry, wannabe developers.

It was obvious Tuesday night that the real decisions are made in

private, far from the public eye and ear. What an ingenious, gutless

political maneuver it was, without taking any responsibility of its own

regarding the Legion post’s fate -- the council named the fox to placate

the chickens!

To all those who decry the Greenlight initiative as poor law, I say

any law is preferable to a runaway, out-of-control City Council

perpetually in with those who would overdevelop our precious city for

their own profit, leaving the rest of us to live with the resultant

overcrowding, traffic deadlock, beach and bay pollution and a diminished

residential way of life.

STEWART and BETTY BERKSHIRE

Newport Beach

Having driven from one end of this beautiful area to another, for

decades, I say well put and amen to Bill Ficker for his comments about

Newport Beach’s excellent quality of life (“Local driver says traffic not

so bad,” Aug. 31).

Indeed, we have much to appreciate. I would only add that we should

not abandon the procedures that have brought us this wonderful way of

life.

Specifically, this means preserving our tough Traffic Phasing

Ordinance through Measure T and rejecting the cumbersome Greenlight

initiative or Measure S.

JIM WOOD

Newport Beach

I attended the City Council meeting Aug. 24 and came away from it very

hurt. Here’s why:

I am a veteran of the Korean conflict and when I came home, everyone

was very proud of their veterans. This continued through my life. It made

me proud of being a veteran.

I am still in shock with our City Council’s 5-0 vote (Tod Ridgeway was

not there), to proceed with plans for a five-star hotel on the American

Legion site.

The hotel would also level the Veterans Memorial Park, which was named

as a tribute to our veterans. It will also eliminate the American

Legion’s yacht club, which is the only one in the world, because [the

hotel] would take the marina and remove the clubhouse. Our veterans are

very proud of this yacht club and have worked very hard. They have won

the Southern California Yachting Assn. Yacht Club of the Year award five

of the last six years. In the yachting world, this is like winning five

of the last six Super Bowls.

The American Legion needs the help of all yacht clubs; please write

the City Council and express your feelings.

As a veteran, I call all veterans to rally around your fellow veterans

and show your appreciation for what they have worked so hard for all

year, such as the Fourth of July Old Glory Parade and Law and Order

Night, honoring the police and fire departments.

The American Legion also supports the Boy and Girl Scouts, the

Nautical Museum, Clean Harbor Day, the Christmas Boat Parade and the

Newport to Ensenada race. Also, the building is used as a safe shelter in

case of emergency.

The American Legion needs to be thanked for supporting the city in war

and peace. Now is the time to show it support, not after the hotel is

built. Is it any wonder that we think Greenlight is a good idea?

JOHN McDANIEL

Newport Beach