Greenlight not a political party About...

Greenlight not a political party

About two-thirds of Newport Beach voters approved the Greenlight

Initiative. I voted for it to send a message to our city’s leaders

about my sentiment with respect to overbuilding our precious coastal

properties. I think they got the message.

I voted for a law to be enacted. But I did not vote for a

self-annointed group of individuals, calling themselves the

“Greenlight Committee,” to take over our city’s government.

Greenlight is not a political party, although the “slate” of

Greenlight candidates are behaving as if it were. I hope the voters

will distinguish between enactment of a law and band of political

opportunists.

JOHN RAPILLO

Newport Beach

Ferry about heritage, not traffic

There seems to be no limits on what people can find to whine

about, but Geoffrey Davis earns a raspberry award for his Mailbag

letter complaining about the Balboa Island Ferry (“Where’s the beef

-- er, traffic,” Wednesday)

The ferry, like the dory fleet, is a Newport beach treasure and

part of the unique cultural heritage of the harbor area.

The fact that it is not a technologically efficient element in the

area’s transportation system is totally irrelevant. A ride across the

channel on the ferry has been a standard part of our tour for

out-of-town visitors for 40 years, and we love riding over on a

Sunday morning for breakfast on the island. The ferry should be made

a historical landmark, not condemned in the name of improved traffic

flow.

DAVID GOSS

Costa Mesa

I guess it must be election time again when these mean spirited

people crawl out of their holes. The Balboa Island Ferry is one of

the first places I take out-of-town visitors, and waiting in line --

with my engine off -- is all part of the experience. Most people are

waiting in that line because they wish to do so. For those who do not

want this experience, there is an alternative, which is more than you

can say for most traffic jams.

If Davis on Balboa does not like this little bit of Newport Beach

history, he too has an alternative. And he wants a receipt? Does he

realize how much more trash there would be around his neighborhood if

the ferry issued receipts? Seymour Beek is doing him a favor. Ferry

on!

JANICE ELDER

Newport Beach