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