FEEDBACK -- What should be done with Marinapark?

Why ask the question, “What should be done with Marinapark?”

The answer is easy: Nothing, nada.

Leave it alone.

This whole discussion is revenue driven: The city owns the property,

and the city wants more income from the property. Forget the good

neighbors, forget the veterans and the American Legion, forget the

ambience of the peninsula, forget the extra traffic. The City Council

sees dollars, period, end of discussion.

Otherwise, there would be no proposal from Stephen Sutherland or

anyone else, because the city would tell them no from the get-go.

The city would say: “No, our citizens don’t want more tourists, more

traffic and more development in their neighborhoods.”

This is a homeowner city. It’s not Hawaii, Jamaica, the Greek Isles.

Go away, Sutherland, and leave our little paradise alone. We don’t want

to share it with you or your paying hotel guests. We don’t care if you

say we can use your tennis courts and swimming pools and beach. We have

those things, and it is obvious we’d be the last on the list for a court

or a pool towel, or a place on “your” beach.

Hang it up, Sutherland. Go on down to Crystal Cove and see if you can

build your resort there. Fat chance. Just like here. I have lived on

Balboa Island since 1956, and at about this time of year we start

chanting, “Tourists, go home.” And it’s only July.

PATTY LILLEGRAVEN

Balboa Island