Let the annual ‘War zone’ celebration...

Let the annual ‘War zone’ celebration continue

As a resident of West Newport in the heart of the “war zone,” it

is not the once a year celebration that is bothersome. It is waking

up at 4 a.m. to a house party across the street on a random weekday.

This is a scenario that plays out on a regular basis.

I agree with Madelene Arakelian about stricter enforcement of

housing rules and limiting the number of people living in a rental

(Readers Respond, “Change in mind-set needed in West Newport,”

Thursday). I would personally like to see more full-time homeowners

taking pride and responsibility in maintaining a sightly home.

The Fourth of July in Newport Beach is fun. It is one of the last

fun things left in Newport since all of the chronic complainers have

shut down virtually every seemingly offensive restaurant and

nightclub in the city. We pay taxes, a lot of taxes.

The city of Newport Beach is not a high crime area. The cost of

the police enforcement on the Fourth of July is well-appreciated and

justified.

Give the kids a day to have fun and be a little crazy.

TRACI MEDICI

West Newport

Newport Beach should EZ-ily nix lube project

As a duplex owner in the 400 block of Poinsettia Avenue, one block

from the site of the proposed EZ Lube, I write in strong opposition

to the project and to endorse the views of Laura Dietz in her

commentary in Wednesday’s edition (Community Commentary, “E-Z Lube in

Newport isn’t an easy sell -- and should not be”).

As she wrote, changing oil is not compatible with, nor appropriate

for, the residential, small retail and restaurant ambience of our

community, as confirmed in the Vision 2004 plan for Corona del Mar.

The City Council’s decision to reject this project at its Sept. 24

meeting should be EZ.

RICHARD J. LITTLE

Costa Mesa

Columnist needs to clean some TP out of a tree

Steve Smith’s “Family Time” column on Saturday, chuckling over the

teenage practice of trashing trees and homes with rolls of toilet

paper, is foolishly off base and Smith should be ashamed of himself

(“Hey kids, Tping is not a crime!”).

His claim that this lamentable practice isn’t vandalism will no

doubt encourage more youngsters with too much time on their hands to

spend their nights TPing other people’s property.

How about the safety risk to those who have to clean up the mess

by having to lean out of a cherry-picker at treetop height or climb

precariously onto a roof? Maybe it’s true, as Smith thinks, that no

real property damage is involved, but would he risk falling out of a

tree or off a roof to prove this doubtful contention?

Parents who allow their kids to litter other people’s property

should be required to spend a few nights, with their offspring,

cleaning up the debris. Smith should be happy to join them; it would

be a true “family time” activity.

JAMES W. RAGSDALE

Newport Beach