Mailbag - June 23, 2002

I just read the article “Sewage threatens state-protected waters”

(June 15). I am on numerous boards of directors for our city and sit on

the Environmental Quality Affairs Committee for Newport Beach.

I am a very busy attorney for the county of Orange, but I became

involved in local politics as a result of what happened to my little

girl. My daughter had been playing in the water in Newport Beach and

developed an earache.

We took her to the doctor who gave her antibiotics and told us to keep

her out of the water. I explained we were on our way to the Colorado

River and asked if it would be all right for her to swim in the river

because the water would be clean there or in the hotel chlorinated pool.

The doctor said “no” and explained that any water pressure now can push

the pathogen next to Kristen’s eardrum. It could then make a pinhole

through the eardrum and infect the brain tissue causing meningitis and

death.

As a former president and now member of various boards of directors

for the city of Newport Beach, I deal with large numbers of residents who

have advised me they are now afraid to allow their children to play in

coastal waters. Annual water-related events have been canceled by local

homeowner organizations.

The fecal pollution is bad now, and as the population increases it can

only get worse. For our children and grandchildren, I pray you will

continue to keep your readers informed about the need to support bills

like Assembly Bill 1969.

JAMES MILLER

Newport Beach