Mailbag - Sept. 4, 2001

Don’t allow Dunes Hotel to expand

The Dunes Hotel, no matter who owns it, should not be allowed to

expand (“Dunes owners put resort up for sale,” July 28). About 275 rooms

hardly qualifies as a “smaller family inn,” as it would impact traffic,

may provide further justification for those who wish to expand John Wayne

Airport and, in short, would seem to provide little benefit to our

community.

The specialness of Newport Beach and the rewards for residents as a

whole are continually undermined by the interests of a select few.

RAY CARPENTER

Newport Beach

Pilot making the wise UCI move

Congratulations on the Daily Pilot’s decision to once again cover UC

Irvine (From the Newsroom, “Fast forward 10 years and UCI’s back in the

Pilot,” Aug. 20. It is certainly silly to exclude from coverage a major

institution with such an effect on Newport-Mesa merely because the

institution is on the other side of an invisible political border.

During the years in which I published my own newsletter, “Orange

County Report,” I too refrained from covering anything outside of Orange

County, only to realize that leaving out the huge development across the

county’s northern border at the Long Beach Airport was wrong.

The Daily Pilot is steadily improving.

MARTIN A. BROWER

Corona del Mar

Someone should respond to the speakers

City council will consider clarifying discussions.

We feel that it is responsible for government to respond to remarks

made by audience members during public comment period (“City Council

could get parliamentary feel,” Aug. 16). The majority of people who go

before the City Council have a legitimate concern, want to clear up a

situation in their neighborhood and have put their valuable time in

preparing a statement, some including questions.

When the speaker’s time is up at the podium and they hear responses

like, “We do not answer questions” or “Times up, thanks. Next,” it’s

exasperating. Most do not want a lengthy debate. They want a response as

to where they should go (watch out on that one), who they could call or

if the council is the entity that can assist them.

We would think if the council had answers for the speaker, it would

save precious time to get it over with that night. If they don’t know and

staff can’t address the issue, a two-week wait is appropriate. Thanks for

listening. No response necessary.

GAY WASSALL-KELLY AND BILL KELLY

Balboa Peninsula

Donation would top off a great project

I happen to think the Segerstroms’ $2-million donation to the three

Costa Mesa schools is just icing on the cake of a wonderful project

(“Segerstroms offer $2 million to schools,” Aug. 23).

I think that C.J. Segerstrom & Sons is giving the gift of vision and

progress to our community just by embellishing our landscape with the

Home Ranch project.

They’ve already generously contributed to the beautification of South

Coast Drive and Bear Street by constructing one of the most prominent

shopping centers in the world, South Coast Plaza.

So when the Home Ranch project becomes a part of South Coast Drive and

Harbor Boulevard, it’ll transform a piece of unproductive land into a

striving, exciting, revenue-generating complex. So I definitely believe

that this is a good development because they’re not only contributing to

our reputation as the “City of the Arts,” but also by enhancing that site

and enhancing our city, as well.

So, the contribution to the schools is more or less just an icing on

the cake because that’s something that they didn’t have to do, but it’s

wonderful that they’re doing it.

BONNIE SARYAN

Costa Mesa