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