Bridge plan makes no sense for...
Bridge plan makes no sense for Westside
Costa Mesa’s taxpayers don’t need to spend $150,000 on an economic
study of the 19th Street Bridge. Our history with the Victoria Street
Bridge provides the reasons better than a study of the hypothetical
possibilities ever will. Only about 1/2mile north of 19th Street,
the Victoria Bridge project dislocated more than 80 families and
demolished their homes. The bridge brought additional traffic, but
very little revitalization, to the Westside. The Victoria Square
shopping center continues to struggle to fill its storefronts.
In addition to displacing families and adding traffic, a bridge on
19th would cut right through the Talbert Nature Preserve. Our City
Council recently recognized Fairview Park as a precious natural
resource. The Talbert Nature Preserve deserves the same regard. It is
one of our last remaining open spaces, and it would be a crime to
destroy it.
As an active member of the Community Redevelopment Action
Committee, I’ve listened to this passionate and opinionated group of
activists. I greatly respect their dedication and persistence on
improving the Westside. One thing that strikes me as interesting is
that it seems that the committee members who favor looking into the
19th Street Bridge are also the ones who complain that the Westside
is the dumping ground for Newport Beach and the rest of Costa Mesa
(concerning the job center, charities and more). But by building a
bridge on 19th, the Westside is again the dumping ground for
Newport’s traffic problems.
It has been suggested that the recent call for an economic study
of the bridge would be the first test of how seriously the City
Council is going to take the committee’s proposals. But I feel that
if we want to be taken seriously and capable of handling this
important task, we need to come up with innovative new ideas. It is a
mistake to spend our time and money trying to resurrect this
long-debated issue when there are so many concrete and attainable
solutions to the Westside’s problems.
LISA LAWRENCE
CRAC member
Westside
It is always better to give than to take
Bah, humbug! From the sublime to the ridiculous! How could you?
On the one hand, you feature Karen McGlinn and her positive,
hopeful comments about the generosity of this “incredibly wealthy
community of ours,” (‘Fulfilling a Need,” Sunday) and then, on the
other hand, you glorify “ ... a $435,000 Burmese ruby and white
diamond-encrusted necklace ... “ (“Gifts de Luxe,” Sunday).
According to Kenton Beshore, senior pastor of Mariners Church,
Orange County, is the second wealthiest county in the United States.
However, in sickening contrast, Orange County ranks at the absolute
bottom as the stingiest, least philanthropic (based on donations per
capita income) of all counties.
My son, Todd Martin, recently traveled to Zimbabwe for two weeks
with friends from Rock Harbor Church. There, they found abject
poverty and starvation. Fifteen million people are facing death due
to malnutrition in the next year in that country. Todd is returning
to Zimbabwe the day after Christmas to help roof a school, buy a
truck for a local church and provide food. Rock Harbor needs help.
Share Our Selves needs help. Mariners Lighthouse Ministries needs
help. The Senior Center right here in Costa Mesa needs help.
Let’s all tighten our belt, forego the rubies and diamonds, and
dispel Orange County’s “Scrooge Syndrome” notoriety by contacting a
local charity.
FLO MARTIN
Costa Mesa
The message of protests was right on target
I must strongly disagree with the conclusions reached and
suggestions made in (Ret.) Commander Louis Nockold’s letter
(“Protesters demonstrate their lack of understanding,” Friday)
regarding the students at UCI demonstrating against the pending Iraq
war. Not only were they demonstrating their First Amendment rights,
but they were in fact demonstrating the finest in patriotism and the
truest support of our men and women in the military. Our men and
women in the military want to defend our country and our rights, and
they deserve better than to fight and die in a war that is a lie.
The students understand very well what precipitated the current
state of world instability. They read, attend lectures, discuss and
most of all they listen. They understand that we support the corrupt
Saudi regime. They understand that we supported Iraq’s invasion of
Iran. They understand that after bombing Afghanistan, we have left it
worse off than it was (and, allegedly, Bin Laden still lives). The
students understand a great deal about the history of the Middle
East. Ask them.
I will remind the commander that we have advocated many
unnecessary wars--we entered into World War I largely as a result of
propaganda dehumanizing the enemy. World War II and the genocide of
the Jews grew out of WWI. I was born in 1956, and I have yet to see a
war fought to defend my rights.
The terrorists are not primarily trying to take away our rights;
they are trying to stop our corporate globalization policies from
taking away their rights and the rights of others around the world. A
war on Iraq can only cause increased anger and frustration in the
Middle East and far more terrorism worldwide. If we continue to
ignore the root causes and, most tragic of all, fail to look in the
mirror, there will be no end to terrorism and we have already lost
the war.
I will agree on one point, they should start the draft. That would
mobilize all people of good will to take to the streets and the
voting booths and put an end to this insanity once and for all.
Lastly, I must express my concern that a military officer with 30
years experience evidences so little understanding of the world and
its ways.
LINDA EVERETT
Costa Mesa
The neighborly feel of Newport Beach
Lightening and thunder struck last night and I ran out to turn off
my sprinklers. When I came back into my house, I couldn’t find my new
little dog, Wilson. I had found him at the Huntington Beach Shelter a
month ago after the death of my black lab, Sara. I searched all over
my house, and feared Wilson may have run out into the rain and
thunder. Fighting tears, I started running up and down the rainy
street. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing another dog.
As I called Wilson and shone a flashlight into the yards, my
neighbor a few houses down came out and offered to help me search. I
was soaked, and soon Jim was, too. I told him he didn’t have to do
this, but he said, “Dogs: You love them, and sometimes they break
your heart.” I headed up the other side of the street calling for my
little dog, picturing him scared and soaking. Finally, I went back in
my house, tears and rain streaming down my face. I found Wilson under
a bed in the back room, obviously not a fan of thunder. I ran out to
tell Jim, and found him still searching my street, calling for my
dog.
I know what a great street I live on. My neighbors are kind and
friendly. A whole squad was recently over at a neighbor’s house,
where the first floor had flooded. Folks with push brooms were
sweeping out water, while others pulled furniture out onto the
driveway. This house is owned by a woman who freely offers to feed
and care for my dog when I travel. On this street people offer to
pickup up mail for vacationers. They take care of each other. My
neighbor across the street took me to the walk-in clinic once without
being asked, and a young girl further down chats with me and plays
with my dog when she sees me. She, too, offered to care for him if I
travel.
Although I get fits of greed and contemplate selling my place and
downsizing now that my daughter is off at college, this wonderful
street continues to charm me. I am most grateful for my street in
Newport Heights and my kind neighbors.
SUE CLARK
Newport Heights
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