Mailbag - June 30, 2002

First I would like to commend and thank the city staffers and City

Manager Homer Bludau for their efforts to continue a long-standing

tradition of having the Fourth of July fireworks display at the Newport

Dunes Waterfront Resort (“City fireworks attempts fail to sparkle,”

Tuesday).

Those of us who live here in Newport and the many visitors who have

enjoyed the show over the years are deeply disappointed, especially in

these times when the celebration of our freedoms and independence have a

profound significance.

I gather from reading the article that the initial issue of liability

doesn’t sound like the only reason the Dunes refuses to allow the display

to continue this year. I might suggest since the Newport Dunes Waterfront

Resort doesn’t seem to have much regard for the concerns of the

community, that perhaps anyone planning on attending their events on the

Fourth might consider enjoying festivities elsewhere.

Perhaps next year, all parties involved can get together and resolve

this issue and the community may have a little more say what can and

cannot happen in their backyard.

H. McKRACKEN

Newport Beach

Common sense should rule planning decisions

This week’s column by Byron de Arakal recognizes the focus of the

Costa Mesa Planning Commission on neighborhood improvements (Between the

Lines, “Foley’s Planning Commission isn’t play T-ball,” Wednesday).

Perhaps the philosophical legacy of our conservative founding fathers

is finally exhausted. As a four-decade resident, it has always been a

frustrating mystery to me why “property rights” in residential as well as

commercial areas have taken precedence of good neighbor consideration and

common sense.

I, for one, vote for diligent enforcement of the 72-hour parking

regulation. Private motor homes should never be stored on public streets.

Cars should not be left in backyards, no matter whether they are used for

racing or as planters for petunias.

Chain-link fences should always be screened. And if my neighbor

decides to build a second-story addition that would obscure the view of

my beloved telephone poles, I am relieved to know a proposed city

ordinance would provide some recourse.

MAUREEN DiDOMENICO

Costa Mesa

County sanitary district should eliminate waiver

Byron de Arakal is right on the money ($5.1 million worth) (Between

the Lines, “Five million bucks and no answers means no waiver,” May 22).

The “wait for the science” time is over. For all the time, money and

effort expended over the last three years, there is still no definitive

answer. The Orange County Sanitation District has been more interested in

proving they didn’t cause the 1999 Huntington Beach closures and the

postings since then that they have lost track of their charge. That is to

treat the effluent of 2.4 million county residents to the full standards

of the 1972 Clean Water Act.

This means without use of the 301(h) waiver section of the act. The

elimination of this waiver used by the district would be a great way to

celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Clean Water Act.

Let the district’s Board of Directors know how you feel about this by

attending the decision-making meeting being held on July 17 at the

district’s headquarters in Fountain Valley.

DENNIS BAKER

Corona del Mar

OCC swap meet changes bring back memories

Reading about the swap meet at Orange Coast College brought back the

memory of when it first started on the college parking lot on Merrimac

and Fairview Road. My late husband, Roy Andreen, at that time was

president of the Mesa del Mar Homeowners Assn.

Linda Dixon, who was not mayor at that time but lived in College Park,

called and asked Roy to check out the early morning noise of vendors

setting up -- which he did. At that time, Bernie Luskin was acting

president of the college.

Roy convinced the president to move the swap meet to the location

where it is now. It had more room to expand and noise would not bother

anyone.

NADINE ANDREEN

Costa Mesa

Keep your pets safe from hungry coyotes

Recently, our beloved 3-year-old Siamese cat was massacred by a couple

of young roving coyotes in the predawn hours. Not only were we horrified,

but so were the neighbors who made the grisly discovery in their front

yard.

I don’t live on the Back Bay fringe, but right in the middle of

Eastside Costa Mesa in the 300 block of Magnolia Street. Typically in

years past, we would see trash cans knocked over and pilfered through

this time of year. I believe that Costa Mesa’s super-efficient, new trash

receptacles have eliminated a food source for these animals thus making

an even more dangerous environment for our pets. Our two remaining cats

are now in lock-down from dusk to dawn.

I would encourage every pet owner to protect their animals at night to

avoid the heartbreak we just experienced.

CYNTHIA JOHNSON

Eastside

Helmets exist to protect one’s head

A few years ago, Bill Boyd took a spill roller-blading on Back Bay

Drive, suffered a head injury that eventually resulted in his death. He

wasn’t wearing a helmet. Gary Holdren wasn’t wearing a helmet (“Paint

balls may not be factor in death,” April 9).

The city paid a good sum to a bicyclist who suffered a head injury and

I believe he wasn’t wearing a helmet. Boyd was a marvelous athlete, not

reckless. I don’t know the other two, but I do know that accidents

happen, and helmets can make a difference.

NANCY GARDNER

Newport Beach