Mailbag - April 28, 2002

Heffernan has served his constituents well

The Daily Pilot’s article (“Heffernan to step down, Thursday) leaves

us feeling sold out to local politicians. We need Councilman John

Heffernan and other council members to be objective in their convictions.

About Mayor Tod Ridgeway’s comment that he was surprised and disappointed

at Heffernan’s resignation, “I thought he had become a team player:” The

team is not worthy.

Hopefully, the mayor and others responsible for some of those big boy

schemes will be around when they bear fruit.

As Phil Arst stated, Heffernan was the lone voice of those who elected

him -- the residents. He has been a wise voice in a wilderness of power

and greed. We salute Heffernan and hope new blood will be as loyal.

LINDA and ELDON PRIMROSE

Corona del Mar

Greenlight needs to add youth to the mix

This is regarding the March 4 Closer Look “The truest test of

Greenlight.”

Redlight for Greenlight.

When are we going to wake up and smell the roses? Greenlight is

nothing but a group of older, wealthy, head-in-the-sand obstructionists.

How dare they criticize the Newport Beach City Council for trying to

balance the Citizens Committee with some younger people. Councilman Gary

Adams has estimated that “it’s quite possible that 63% of the people

nominated for this committee are Greenlight supporters.”

Isn’t it obvious that if this is the case, having younger people is

the only way to try to balance the committee? How old do you think the

average Greenlight supporter is? And how is it right that they should

pressure the council to exclude younger applicants?

It’s obvious to me that Mayor Tod Ridgeway is exactly on point when he

states “that some development is necessary to maintain the level of city

services.” He further states that “no growth is not an option.”

Greenlighters have stated that such projects can create jobs that will

be filled by outsiders. Ooh, outsiders -- how scary.

At this point in time, any project outside the general plan or any

amendment to the general plan is doomed to defeat by these older, wealthy

obstructionists.

Greenlight needs a redlight.

DONALD RAMSAY

Newport Beach

Costa Mesa needs some extra help

I want to thank you so much for running the letter to the editor

written by Geoff West (“Columnist perfectly sums up Costa Mesa,” April

11).

He couldn’t get it more right. I think that we should go ahead and

Shanghai Peter Buffa and Joe Erickson. If they were the good masters of

the ship, let’s get those guys working again. My God, we need help.

GINO BOERO

Costa Mesa