Mailbag - May 29, 2001

Columnist hit the mark regarding sculpture garden

Byron de Arakal’s comments (“Time to wake up, Mr. Anderson, the Oompa

Loompas have gone,” May 23) about Costa Mesa’s City Council hearing on

the Two Town Center development were on target. The hearing assumed an

increasingly surreal atmosphere as speaker after speaker rose to insist

that, in attempting to develop a piece of commercial real estate,

Commonwealth Partners had unwittingly accepted an obligation to all

humanity and generations unborn.

We learned, for example, that the Noguchi Garden, including the

adjacent parking garage, was a timeless work of incalculable artistic

merit comparable to the Sistine Chapel and Westminster Abbey, though not

so important that maybe the city or some other nonprofit entity should

buy it to protect it.

By the hearing’s climax (and after 17 months of negotiations), I’m

pretty sure Commonwealth Partners wished Noguchi’s California Scenario

had never been built. Mayor Libby Cowan’s reasoned comments prior to the

vote constituted a rare dose of reality in that giddy assembly.

Though I do not usually agree with her voting, Cowan continues to

exhibit an impressive combination of leadership and civic devotion, which

is rare in local government, and we are lucky to have her.

But it might have come too late in this particular case. Thanks in no

small part to the art-loving Oompa Loompas of de Arakal’s column, the

California Scenario is likely to be the last important piece of public

art privately developed in Costa Mesa.

MITCH BARRIE

Costa Mesa

Reader appreciates column from Judge Gardner

Robert Gardner’s recall on Myford Irvine’s ranch (“Irvine Co. could

have taken a different path,” May 22) makes me nostalgic even for the

days when Ray Watson and later on Tom Nielsen ran the Irvine Co. Asking

us to choose between the old Irvine Ranch and the present-day Irvine Co.

is like inquiring whether we would like to swim with a dolphin or a great

white shark.

JOHN T. CHIU

Newport Beach

Newport Beach should welcome Mormon temple

As a longtime resident and business owner in Newport Beach, I wanted

to take this opportunity to express my complete support for the

construction of a new Mormon temple in Newport Beach.

This magnificent structure will greatly enhance and beautify our

community. As I understand it, there are only approximately 100 Mormon

temples in the world -- as contrasted with literally tens of thousands of

Mormon chapels -- and Newport Beach should feel honored and privileged

that we have been selected as the site for this most beautiful edifice.

JEFFREY R. MATSEN

Newport Beach

Newport Beach resident thankful for paramedics

Recently, my husband and I moved into a condo in the Newport Towers.

Being new to the area and not knowing the quickest or correct route to

Hoag’s emergency room, when my husband had an “attack” last week, our

first reaction was to dial 911.

As soon as the operator answered and I said my husband is 81 and

explained the problem, she took over and was great and so professional.

Her first comment was, “The paramedics are on their way.” Then she kept

me calm with the tone she used and the instructions she gave me. Within

five minutes, six of Newport’s finest came through the door I had opened.

One of the gentlemen came to Dick; the others all had their jobs and went

about them.

After assisting Dick, they suggested he be taken to the hospital and

they would take him, but instead it was decided that we could drive in

our own vehicle. As we got off the elevator in the underground parking,

two of the paramedics met us to make sure we got to our car. Fortunately,

our daughter arrived and drove us.

The point of this tale: The people, from first contact to the last,

that handled this emergency were absolutely wonderful. Newport should be

proud of our paramedics, and love them to death. We do.

GERTIE MEEHAN

Newport Beach

Parents should attend drug information class

I recently attended the Newport Beach Parent Awareness Class taught by

Det. Shontel Sherwood and School Resource Officer Andy Halpin. Also at

the meeting were DARE Officer Michelle Shean and Juvenile Unit Sgt. Mike

McDonough.

I would like to encourage other parents to attend this class. This is

a class usually reserved for parents whose children have already had a

first time offense with alcohol or drugs. Fortunately for the community,

the Police Department is offering these classes for parents to educate

and make them aware of potential warning signs. They gave so much

valuable information from reasons why kids abuse drugs and alcohol to

information about designer drugs.

While at times the information is staggering and troublesome, I’ve got

to figure that, armed with all this information, we become so much better

prepared. I truly felt that Sherwood, Halpin and the entire Newport Beach

Police Department are eager to help and educate the community. The Police

Department will offer more of these classes, and I urge all parents to

attend.

DEVON KELLY

Newport Beach

City leaders must lead by example

Why do we try to make life more complicated? Just follow the rules.

Above all, civic leaders should set the example for their

constituents.

Parents should follow the rules and be role models for their children.

Teachers are very important people in our lives as they help reinforce

the rules by setting standards for our youths.

If Councilman Chris Steel cheated on his election requirements, then

he is not qualified to be a leader of a city.

Let us all learn by the example of those we respect.

Unfortunately, our daily newspapers are full of terrible incidents

where people disobeyed the rules and drove a car while under the

influence, carried a loaded gun to school or rushed through a red light

and destroyed the lives of innocent people.

Leaders must lead by example.

DIANE COLTRANE

Corona del Mar