Defending Taylor’s contribution

I want to thank you for the story about the City Council race in

Saturday’s paper (“Candidate’s JWA claims questioned”). It opened my

eyes to the fact that the most important issue in the Nov. 5 election

is the future of John Wayne Airport. The story made it clearer than

ever: Rick Taylor is the only candidate for council who will really

fight for Newport Beach. Taylor cares about our city. He has the

background, experience and knowledge to protect the quality of life

that has made Newport such a fine place to live and raise a family.

It’s time to clean house and elect a council who will work for us.

Taylor has my vote, and I urge my fellow readers of the Pilot to vote

for him, too.

ESTHER FINE

Newport Beach

It seems every November, the country is treated to the worst

politics has to offer. Unfortunately, it seems even our own local

City Council races are no exception. Instead of exiting their offices

with grace and dignity, Newport council persons Norma Glover and

Dennis O’Neil chose to concentrate on their own political futures by

questioning the participation of longtime airport activist and

council candidate Rick Taylor on his role in the current effort to

extend the John Wayne Settlement Agreement. Early in the process, the

City Council decided on an airport strategy with two goals: One,

extend the settlement agreement; and, two, fund the Airport Working

Group to promote El Toro as the long term solution. Now that term

limits are in play and the political climate is decidedly anti-El

Toro, Glover and O’Neil are trying to distance themselves from the

issue by questioning the integrity of the very people who they

enlisted to work on the project. Normally, this mistreatment of

community leaders by city officials would be unconscionable; however,

this is election season. Taylor, with his years of volunteer service,

and the citizens of Newport Beach deserve better.

TOM ANDERSON

Newport Beach

It is disappointing to me as a board member of the Airport Working

Group to see both Dennis O’Neil and Norma Glover attempt to criticize

Rick Taylor, candidate for City Council. Having served on the Airport

Working Group board for more than four years, I can vouch for the

many hours Taylor has given on behalf of Newport Beach to both extend

the settlement agreement and promote El Toro for our second airport

for Orange County.

We at the Airport Working Group have always contended that without

El Toro to provide the necessary air passenger demands, John Wayne

will expand. We already are seeing increase in passenger usage and,

with it, much increase in airport noise.

Council persons O’Neil and Glover are very naive if they think the

airlines and or the Federal Aviation Administration will accept our

presently proposed plan without a fight. The Pilot as our own local

newspaper needs to step up and promote Newport’s efforts on future

air transportation needs.

V.L. GALEY

Newport Beach