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