Council let the important battle be lost
Obviously, Newport Beach City Councilman Dennis O’Neil still
doesn’t understand the resentment many residents feel toward the
present council. His letter to the Daily Pilot made it seem as if he
and his fellow council people had little or no effect on the reasons
the El Toro airport likely will not be built, which will result in
the continued battle to expand John Wayne Airport.
The fact is, not one of them had the same passion, devotion,
commitment and old-fashioned work ethic to protect Newport Beach as
did their opponents.
For instance, we constantly saw anti-El Toro airport opinion
pieces in local newspapers by South County elected officials. The
anti-airport city councils actively and publicly engaged in the fight
against the airport, but I don’t recall our representatives at public
debates, let alone being the ones debating. Not only did our City
Council members ignore our interests during the Measure W campaign,
they even refused to take an official position against it.
Measure W should have and could have been defeated, allowing El
Toro planning to go forward. Unfortunately, Newport Beach and Costa
Mesa city councils never fully engaged in the fight and gave up way
before it was over.
They were a major disappointment in defending our city during the
most important battle we face.
EDNA NEWMAN
Newport Beach
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.