‘Last Word’ on ficus trees was...

‘Last Word’ on ficus trees was false advertising

The “Last Word” on Sunday is not quite. You left out one minor

detail ... 54,000 taxpayer dollars paid to the Balboa Arbor Society

to cover its attorney fees. Now, that is the last word unless people

like myself feel that it is OK squandering our dollars when they

could have been put to better use than paying the tree huggers’

attorneys.

RHODA FRIEDMAN

Newport Beach

A few more points on a potential El Toro airport

Leonard Kranser wisely points out that demand figures for the

two-airport Orange County airport system were quickly abandoned when

resettlement of the John Wayne limits were renegotiated (“Orange

County not right place for big airport,” Dec 17). He fails to mention, however, that the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on

John Wayne limits, but the two-airport plan was 3 to 2.

The supervisors have the same information Kranser has, namely that

there are people in the noise zone at John Wayne Airport, but no one

is in the noise zone of the planned El Toro airport, even when

operating at 30 million annual passengers. The fatal flaw in

Kranser’s reasoning, however, is that we do not need the large

planned El Toro airport. Clearly, that airport can not be John Wayne.

The demand is there. Ignoring the demand does not solve the problem.

Finally, he asks what would have happened in Orange County if the

Marines had not decided to leave El Toro. A past commanding general

of the base has said he would be in favor of joint military and

commercial use of the airport. The Federal Aviation Administration

had a large aviation traffic handling facility at El Toro more than

20 years ago. The administration holds title to hundreds of acres of

El Toro for future needs. No doubt this aviation use upsets Kranser.

DONALD NYRE

Newport Beach

Local politicians should not resort to these tactics

When we think of politics, we generally think of dishonesty (or

worse). And, while this is a valid view, it doesn’t have to be that

way (especially at the local level). This past Newport Beach City

Council election featured a political consultant, Dave Ellis, with a

track record of questionable campaign tactics. In this election

alone, he lied about the message and only took partial responsibility

after he was caught in the lie. And, because Councilman Gary Adams

hired Ellis, he placed himself in a precarious position as well. Yes,

an investigation is definitely warranted.

Politics is a dirty business; but, we want our local politics to

be run cleanly -- free of individuals who have difficulty working

within the parameters of acceptable ethical behavior. Message to

Adams, Ellis and others with questionable ethics: Admit what you’ve

done, take unwavering responsibility and quit being part of what is

wrong with our country.

J.B. LITVAK

Costa Mesa

Leece played an important role in the community

I read with great amusement the letters published in the Daily

Pilot demanding that you cease publishing letters about, photos of or

comments from Wendy Leece. I especially enjoyed the fact that they

appeared on the same page as an editorial praising Leece, among

others, for her hard work and contributions to the community.

Leece, whether you agree with any or all of her positions on how

to educate our children, provided a very valuable service to this

community. She stimulated debate of issues that might otherwise have

been ignored. Her lone voice raised the level of interest by citizens

of this community in the educational process that continues to do an

unsatisfactory job of educating many of our children. Only time will

tell if her ouster from the school board will result in a better

education for our children.

In the meantime, rather than muffle her comments, my suggestion to

the Daily Pilot is, invite Leece to write an occasional commentary on

educational issues she feels are important to the well-being of the

children of this community.

GEOFF WEST

Costa Mesa

Thanks to the Daily Pilot and Congressman Chris Cox

Enclosed is a copy of a letter I recently received from our

congressman, Rep. Chris Cox. The Daily Pilot was an integral part of

this action. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Communication is extremely important, in families, in business, in

politics and in life itself. I became irritated with the congressman

after no response to several letters I had written about a 250%

increase in medication cost at the Veterans’ Administration Hospital.

Cox had been working on the subject and ensured me of a “faster

response in the future.” The letter I submitted to the Pilot, which

was printed on Nov. 15, ignited the whole project. Thanks.

I will be in touch with the congressman’s office to follow up on

the subject. A special copy of his letter has been forwarded to The

American Legion Magazine, which is headquartered in Indiana, to

advise all fellow legionnaires throughout the country to get in touch

with their representative and get behind Cox and his bill, HR 2820,

as well as to tell them about the very important action by Cox to

present to the new Congress an action to immediately repeal the

increased co-payments.

Communication is a wonderful thing. Let’s keep it up.

BOB BRENNAN

Newport Beach

What Corona del Mar beach needs is more sand

As well as architectural improvements for our small beach, we need

new sand. No new sand is carried to the shore because of the jetty,

and the old sand is depleted and worn out.

ALICE REMER

Corona del Mar