Mailbag - Oct. 25, 2001

Assemblyman John Campbell’s plan to use El Morro Village rents to keep

$1-million annual profit for California State Parks and generate another

$20 million or so to restore and maintain the cottages makes perfect

sense to me as a taxpayer (“Rent plan hits rough water,” Sept. 11).

Particularly when the State Parks plan is to pay an estimated $30 million

to evict the El Morro Village community so it can locate a transient RV

park and campground next to an elementary school.

The state evicted the Crystal Cove cottage residents and now admits

that there is no money and no plan to maintain and preserve the cottages.

It would seem to me that Campbell’s plan is a perfect way to save

taxpayers money, serve the affordable housing needs of Orange County and

address the safety concerns of the community.

ROBERT D. JOHNSTON

Newport Beach

Costa Mesa not looking good enough

For the life of me, I can’t understand that no mention has ever been

made to the trash that continues to collect on the side of the Costa Mesa

and San Diego freeways -- especially around South Coast Plaza. Is it

Caltrans’ responsibility or the city of Costa Mesa’s to keep our city

looking tidy? And yes, Peter Buffa, our city looks marvelous, but it

could look a whole lot better.

SUSAN VOCAE

Costa Mesa

Vista del Ora is a dangerous street

In the six-plus years I have lived in the Bluffs, I have graduated a

daughter from Corona del Mar High and been blessed with two new sons.

When Jenny was in ninth and 10th grades and would walk to school, I was

never really aware of (or maybe it wasn’t there) the problem of speeding

on Vista del Ora. This narrow, winding two-lane street really “connects”

the Bluffs and has a speed limit of 30 mph.

In the past two years, our quiet little street has truly become a

racetrack for students (and parents) trying to get to the high school by

8 a.m. From 7:30 a.m. on, attempting to enter Vista del Oro from any of

the side streets, like mine, can really be dangerous. The issue is: The

many curves on the street prevent safe flow of traffic when speeds hit 40

or 50 mph. The far more important point is that sooner or later, someone

is going to get hurt.

I would love for my boys to walk to school. The experience is great as

is the availability to reflect on our city. But I’m afraid that if we all

don’t take responsibility for driving safely, it won’t be safe to let

them. Please be careful on Vista del Oro in the morning before school.

Leaving a couple of minutes earlier would ensure a much safer

neighborhood in the Bluffs.

JIM DONNELL

Newport Beach