Readers Respond -- The last words

I would like to thank you for your efforts in fairness when reporting

on the Greenlight Measure S issue, as well as printing equitably a

distribution of the letters from those who are for or against the

measure.

I can only imagine the pressures that must be brought to bear on the

Daily Pilot staff to slant the coverage.

As it is no secret that developers and real estate persons in Newport

are pretty unanimously dedicated to defeating Greenlight, the newspaper

is to be commended for not following the money and editing out the voices

for those of us who choose to keep our open spaces free.

My feeling is that we have less to lose by being cautious and

preserving our natural resources and open spaces than we have to lose by

increasing traffic and crowding in our area. Of course once the land is

developed, we can never restore it again to its natural state.

So say we pass Measure S, and in five years decide we need more houses

and traffic? What is to stop us from passing another ordinance? On the

other hand, once we have lost our open spaces and what is left of our

shorelines, who can imagine a way in which they can be restored?

Our country is full of examples of the common folk getting together

and making a difference, and this opportunity is one which may not come

our way again. By voting “yes” on Measure S, and “no” on Measure T, we

will have time to examine each future development carefully. Do we want

our children and grandchildren to remember growing up in Newport as an

opportunity to watch our beautiful land with all the flora and natural

creatures that inhabit it? Or would we rather they remember waiting at

red lights for an opportunity to get to the beaches, which we all love so

much?

KARLENE VON SZELISKI

Newport Beach

Measure S supporters are being misled with the yard signs that state

“Stop Newport Dunes, vote Yes on S.”

Passage of Measure S will not stop Newport Dunes from being built.

Newport Dunes has a 1992 settlement agreement that will allow them to

build a 275-room hotel, meeting space, etc., without any input from the

city of Newport Beach or the Dunes’ neighbors.

Passage of Measure S will remove any control the city of Newport Beach

could have over the Dunes development, such as traffic generation,

contributions for road improvements, location of buildings in

relationship to the property line, height restrictions, etc.

The Measure S authors are not telling the truth about their measure

and its consequences.

STACY DE BOOM

Newport Beach