Treat John Wayne’s home just like...

Treat John Wayne’s home just like Elvis’ ‘Graceland’

I think it’s very sad and selfish of the Cohens to want to tear

down their house, which happens to be the house John Wayne lived in

(“Duke’s home near last roundup,” Sept. 25).

Too bad it can’t be turned into a “Graceland.”

I, for one, would have liked to see what it looks like.

First, the Port Theater gets torn down, then they want to tear

down the Ice Capades Chalet, then Kona Lanes ... now John Wayne’s

house?

What’s next?

Tear down South Coast Plaza and turn it into an outdoor mall like

Fashion Island?

JUDITH HUNT

Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa trees need some help ... and less pruning

While trees are a regular topic of local discussion (I refer to

the controversy over the ficus trees on Balboa Peninsula’s Main

Street), I am writing out of a long-held and deeply felt concern for

the welfare of Costa Mesa’s (Tree City?) trees.

Not a month has passed since we (residents of Costa Mesa) received

the August/September “Costa Mesa Live: News From City Hall” stating:

“Trees are one of Costa Mesa’s greatest assets. Not only do trees

improve property values, they are also one of nature’s greatest tools

in helping us keep our environment clean and cool ....Trees also

create shade, allowing air conditioners to run less and landscapes to

need less irrigation. The reduced demand for electricity and water

results in other pollution reduction benefits.”

I could not agree more, but I must hasten to point out that very

few of the street trees in Costa Mesa provide much in the way of

shade, due to overly enthusiastic pruning by whomever the city has

contracted with to “care for” the city’s trees. Moreover, so much of

the tree canopy is removed that it must jeopardize their very

survival. Also, the ameliorative effects for the environment are

greatly depleted by over pruning.

Does the city contract with a certified arborist for the care of

its trees? I find it very difficult to believe that this is the case

and respectfully suggest that further professional opinions be

requested before every Costa Mesa tree is ruined.

I have no wish to sound strident, but I care too much for my home

city to sit back and watch while what could be one of its finest

features is destroyed.

SHARON K. EKLOF

Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa mayor never fought for El Toro airport

In the Sept. 28 edition of the Pilot, there was an article about

the recent candidate debate (“No knockouts in Costa Mesa debate”). It

said that “Mansoor charged that Dixon did not fight aggressively

enough to get an airport at the former El Toro Marine Base.”

Actually, she didn’t fight at all to get an airport there. She did

not oppose Measure W, which was our only hope to keep John Wayne

Airport from expanding. By doing this, she not only dropped the ball

for Team Costa Mesa but she picked it up, ran in the wrong direction

and scored a touchdown for the opposition. Go team.

ALLAN R. MANSOOR

Costa Mesa

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Allan R. Mansoor is a Costa Mesa City Council

candidate.

Pilot should consider retiring Bell Curve columnist

I do not understand why the Daily Pilot would run Joseph Bell’s

Sept. 26 column (The Bell Curve, “Pondering a serious white-out”).

This column was not sly, nor tongue-in-cheek funny. This column and

Bell did a great disservice to Newport Beach and its residents of all

races and ethnicities. I strongly suggest that the Daily Pilot retire

Bell permanently as a columnist.

DAVID MILLER

Balboa Peninsula

No one but Costa Mesa voters must make city’s decisions

In their letter in support of opening a massive free clinic in

Costa Mesa that will be a magnet for illegal immigrants (Sounding

Board, “CHOC center discussion should focus on children”), Quynh Kieu

and Burton Willis tell readers that “pediatricians put children’s

health first -- no matter who the child. It is not the place of

pediatricians or children’s hospitals to set or debate our

government’s immigration policy.”

Right. It is up to the citizens of Costa Mesa to debate these

matters and to determine what is best for our city. Letting

pediatricians who don’t live in Costa Mesa dictate that a clinic is

going to go into this city is wrong.

For too long, Costa Mesans have seen decisions made for this city

by people who can’t vote here. Now, more and more citizens are

demanding the right to determine the future of this city, free from

the distortions that are caused when people who can’t vote here

dictate to those who can.

MARTIN MILLARD

Costa Mesa