EDITORIAL

There’s lots of people paying lip service to our country’s unity these

days. But talking about unity and acting on it seem to be two different

things.

We believe it shouldn’t be and urge our residents to support local

business, and in turn businesses should support us. That’s not how things

are going, though.

Shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, businesses across the

board started laying off workers. It started, mainly, with major air

carriers, such as American Airlines, which had two airliners used in the

East Coast attacks.

Travel experts warned that industry could slow down as a result of the

attacks and the ensuing airline layoffs. With that news came slowdowns

and layoffs at hotels, restaurants and airport concessionaires, such as

those at John Wayne Airport.

For the most part, we worry that the layoffs have been made too

hastily. While some of those moves were inevitable in the midst of the

slowdown, they could have been performed more tactfully, certainly not

immediately after what has so severely affected our nation economically

and emotionally.

We wish businesses would hang in there a little longer. Don’t forget,

all of those businesses are going to put up the hiring signs again when

the economy picks up. With any luck, many of those people who were laid

off in September will have found jobs and won’t be available.

These moves tend to slow the economy both nationally and, eventually,

locally. While Newport-Mesa is slightly feeling the trickle-down effect

now at hotels, restaurants and John Wayne Airport, there is something we

all can do.

Go out and buy things.

This weekend, Newport Beach will host the annual Taste of Newport

event, where about 45 restaurants and 15 wineries provide guests tastes

of what they have to offer. As most of us know, our area has its fair

share of delicious cuisine and the Taste highlights that.

Today’s actually the last day for the three-day event at Fashion

Island, but don’t let that stop you.

Not only can you get some great food, but the money raised will be

donated to local charities, which haven’t received as much attention

recently with many new donations going -- and rightfully so -- East to

those most affected by the attacks.

Once the Taste is over, don’t stop using that purchasing power.

Newport-Mesa has plenty of great businesses that have fine products to

sell. At this important time, help boost the local economy because, after

all, that’ll trickle back to aid the other economies in the county, state

and, eventually, the nation -- united we hope in good times and bad.