OCC understands that students are its...

OCC understands that students are its mission

I am responding to the question about Orange Coast College’s

decision to move money to cover for-credit classes. Is it the best

call?

I concur with that decision, since many students in our community

require classes in order to learn, to become responsible citizens and

in order to get a credential for their vocational work or transfer to

university to carry on in higher education. I think that with the

financial crisis we are in, this decision is appropriate since that

primary mission is to educate and although the community classes have

been educating, those opportunities can be found elsewhere.

CAROL BURTE

Costa Mesa

Back Bay boardwalk would help stop damage

Yes, I am in favor of the boardwalks being installed in the Upper

Newport Bay. I have been a volunteer naturalist for several years,

giving educational tours to students and helping out in other ways at

the new Interpretive Center. I have seen the damage that has been

done by an unthinking and uninformed public. The county and the

Department of Fish and Game are making efforts to keep this fragile

ecosystem in tact for future generations of creatures and people to

enjoy while making it accessible to as many people as want to see it.

The boardwalks will provide a means for people to get closer to

the bay for observation and education, but not stepping all over the

plants and animals that live there.

MARJORIE WHITE

Costa Mesa

Newport ought to be ready for financial hard times

The are always ways for any municipality to avoid a budget crisis.

First and foremost, a city, like a family, should start their budget

process off by determining what their anticipated revenue is. Second,

prioritize what they need to spend that revenue on. Finally, I hope

that the city of Newport Beach has been wise enough to have “saved”

enough in its reserve fund to compensate for any down turn in the

economy.

In conclusion, the vehicle license fee is just another “tax” that

the Democrats at the State Capitol want to impose on the residents of

California.

BARBARA JOHNSON

Newport Coast

OCC made right call in saving for-credit classes

Orange Coast College’s decision to move money to cover the

for-credit classes is the best call because that is their first

obligation, and other classes, community education, is optional for

many people, so the community can choose other outlets, but the kids

who are going to school have to move on.

LU BAKER

Newport Beach