Reader’s Respond -- Fletcher Jones rakes in the dough

This is regarding your editorial (“Fletcher Jones deal a boon for

Newport,” Jan. 27).

REDUX: The year: 1995. At a Newport Beach Planning Commission meeting,

a group of wealthy Newport Beach businessmen and women are present en

masse to raise a loud and threatening voice against the proposed Fletcher

Jones Motor Cars dealership. They call themselves the Greenlight

Committee. Fearing the repercussions of opposition to such an influential

group (a council member was even threatened that business would be

withdrawn from his company), the council decided to turn down the

application.

SEQUEL: Facing budget shortfalls, Newport Beach is scrambling to

attract new business but is thwarted at every turn by the same

ever-powerful committee. The outlook remains bleak. The corner of

Jamboree Road and Bristol Street (the proposed site of Fletcher Jones

Motor Cars) remains a dusty, neglected entrance to a once proud and

prosperous city. The once beautiful Newport Dunes, which, after its

proposed hotel and convention center was defeated by the committee, was

sold to the city. Newport Beach now has another drab looking city park,

which, because of the lack of funds, remains a scruffy and poorly

maintained eyesore. Since the defeat of the Koll Center complex expansion

by the committee, the once-bustling airport complex is fast becoming a

ghost town of empty buildings as companies are no longer willing to

locate to such a hostile environment.

Looking back, we can salute the foresight of the City Council who,

without the pressure of the committee, approved the Fletcher Jones deal

that has brought the city $6.5 million in revenue.

Looking forward, see “sequel” above.

DONALD RAMSAY

Newport Beach

So let me get this straight. Our city gives a car dealer a free piece

of land and then feels grateful when the sales tax generated by that

business exceeds their estimates? And somehow this is a “boon for

Newport?” Is there any way I can get the city of Newport to give me a

$3-million piece of land?

I promise to send all the sales tax generated by that land to the city

of Newport Beach. Just tell me where to sign: “Another boon for Newport

Beach.” Or did I miss something?

DEVAN MULLINS

Newport Beach