TERRANCE PHILLIPS -- The Harbor Column
A month ago, I wrote about American Legion Post 291 and its desire for
a new bayfront land lease with Newport Beach.
The city is investigating the possibility of reneging on its unanimous
vote Aug. 27, 1997, to sign a lease with the post.
Instead, it is considering granting a developer the lease to build an
Italian villa-style hotel on the site the post has occupied for more than
60 years.
In my column, tongue in cheek of course, I said City Council members
were suffering from hearing loss and forgetfulness as they weren’t
listening to residents who oppose the hotel.
I realize they are elected to serve the best interests of our city and
think they extend their best effort in this regard.
But a new illness evidently has stricken the failing health of our
council since they apparently now have writer’s cramp too.
In business, it is reasonable and customary to respond to a written
inquiry and just plain courteous. This is even more important when public
servants, elected by the persons asking the questions, are involved.
On Aug. 30, the American Legion issued a courteous letter to the mayor
and City Council, suggesting a preliminary outline on ways to resolve the
lease issues. It was not a one-sided directive; rather a letter of
compromise and compassion for the residents on the Balboa Peninsula, the
post’s membership, Sutherland Tala Development and the city of Newport
Beach.
It is now 40 days since the city received the post’s letter. Have the
city word processors broken down? Can’t someone in City Hall find an old
typewriter, or how about a pen or pencil? The council has failed to
respond to the letter. Surely someone could respond. How about a
telephone call?
Do citizens who have served our country deserve such treatment? Just
look at their record. They waive or reduce hall rental fees for events
such as Newport Harbor and Estancia high schools’ football, basketball,
soccer, volleyball team award banquets and class reunions; Newport Beach
Employees League meetings; the Fourth of July Character Boat Parade;
Fire, Harbor and Lifeguard department retirement banquets; Newport-Mesa
Unified School District banquets; Police Explorer dinners; the Harbor
Patrol’s annual dinner; Newport Beach Historical Society fund-raisers;
Orange County Boy Scout annual dinners; Girl Scout Jamborees; the
California Law and Order Awards banquet; Orange County district attorney
and Newport Beach Police Department retirement dinners; high school
American Essay Contest site; Red Cross Blood drives; and national child
welfare benefits.
Oh, there’s more--a lot more. And how about the commotion the post
will create Oct. 21, when it hosts the “Sail for the Visually Impaired.”
Thirty plus boats will host abut 100 visually impaired people for a day
on the sea. Volunteer your boat.
Do we really think we should replace this hallowed hall with a Gucci
type and hype hotel?
City Council members: Please respond to the American Legion’s letter
with a unanimous yes. Give the post a new lease and get on with guiding a
city that serves our community. Everybody wins and everybody’s happy.
* TERRANCE PHILLIPS is the Daily Pilot’s boating writer. He may be
reached by e-mail at o7 terrykp@email.com .f7
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