FEEDBACK: Readers discuss the Newport Coast annexation issue

Evidently success has gone to Allan Beek’s head (“Beek launches

anti-annexation campaign,” Aug. 23). He apparently thinks that if people

don’t agree with his agenda, they shouldn’t be allowed to live in Newport

Beach. The way people vote cannot be a litmus test for whether or not

people can live in our city. Beek seems to think this is Newport Beek.

It doesn’t matter that the annexation may be advantageous to the city.

If it isn’t the world according to Beek, then it is not acceptable. I

moved to Newport Beach in 1972. At that time, when I came home from work

and tried to turn left from MacArthur Boulevard to Ford Road, I had to

wait for the light to change three times because of the heavy traffic. In

an emergency, if you had to get from the east side of Newport to Hoag

Hospital in the summertime, you had to go around using Bristol Street

because Coast Highway was a parking lot. Is this what Beek wants to go

back to? Newport Beach is a wonderful place to live and is known as such

throughout the country. We did not achieve this by building a fence

around the city and burying our heads in the sand.

The thing I really find really ironic is that Mr. No-growth wants to

build an international airport in El Toro. Evidently, the fact this kind

of facility would dramatically impact the area and add an incredible

amount of traffic to an already overburdened system does not bother Beek.

If extreme growth in another area would benefit his little corner of

the world, so be it. Your car may be from the ‘50s, but the year is 2001.

LEONARD BALIS

Newport Beach

My wife and I have lived in Newport Beach since 1968, and every time

we travel we come home and say, “Thank God we live here.” What we are

thankful for is the proximity to the water, the educational system and

the loads of friends with similar outlooks.

However, when one looks at the annexation of Newport Coast, I see

nothing there that fits with my definition of Newport Beach. Sitting up

on the hills and away from the water, the Newport Coast and I have little

or nothing in common. We would like the opportunity to express our

feelings in a vote, which just might change the outcome of the annexation

decision. If the majority of current residents of Newport want to proceed

as demonstrated by a vote, so be it. But please let us have an

opportunity to vote on the matter.

CLIFFORD A. SCHMIESING

Newport Beach

Not only should the citizens of Newport Beach be allowed to

participate in the debate over the annexation of Newport Coast, we should

be able to vote. I am against the annexation because:

* the cost of services may very well outweigh the revenue generated.

Show us the figures.

* as is, the city of Newport Beach is so spread out that there is no

sense of community, rather we are a string of communities. I suspect the

Newport Coast residents will be very demanding in the context of wanted

services and attention.

* geographically, they have no connection to the rest of the city.

* the fact that many of these residents will be deluded by the anti-El

Toro debate (which in my opinion has resulted in a distortion of the

facts about noise, pollution, etc.) is no little matter. They really

belong in Irvine, whose tax monies are going to fight El Toro and

increase planes over Newport.

The real question is: What do we gain by having the down coast as part

of the city? (Always wondered how it became known as the Newport Coast?)

Is it revenue? Then show us. Is it prestige? Do we need it? Is it more

territory for the City Council? What is it?

JUDY ROSENER

Newport Beach