Bay troubles are not only from cities,...
Bay troubles are not only from cities, streets
Federal funding to restore the ecology of Upper Newport Bay by
removing dirt does nothing to remove transport airplanes, which spray
down toxins, particles and noise, disrupting the delicate balance of
this ecological preserve, (“3 Newport projects in line for $3
million,” Saturday.)
By concentrating on water quality only, rather than total
environmental quality, ecological planners are sentencing the
tranquillity of the bay to be anything but tranquil. We know the bulk
of the water pollution comes from Irvine runoff, but what about the
noise?
The Department of Interior and Federal Aviation Administration
have done a good job removing airplanes from the Grand Canyon and
Native American habitats, but neither has done anything to curtail
airplanes from Newport Bay by opening the much needed planned El Toro
International Airport.
DONALD NYRE
Newport Beach
A plea to restore the character of Old Newport Boulevard
I read with considerable interest the article concerning some of
the “blight” along Old Newport Boulevard, namely two buildings
belonging to Las Vegas’ “Own Sid Soffer.”
My brother and I have had our insurance agency on Old Newport for
more than 20 years, located next door to the former Whiskey Bill’s,
which became “Sid’s whatever restaurant.” This building has been
vacant some six years after Sid could not run his restaurant as a
fugitive in Las Vegas. You see Sid narrowly escaped a long-term visit
to the Orange County slammer when he provoked the wrath of Judge
Suzanne Shaw too many times, prompting him to flee to Las Vegas.
I have tried to get the city of Newport Beach to condemn this
building as unsafe, or “something,” so a nice office development
could proceed on the property. A local cardiac medical group has
built a lovely building next door, but of course cantankerous Sid
wouldn’t hear of selling so the doctors could take over his property
as well.
Now let’s move up the street to the former location of Issay, a
great restaurant owned by Sid’s ex-wife, which burned down under
suspicious circumstances about 2 1/2years ago. This building has
remained boarded up since the fire, and is truly an eyesore. Again,
the Newport Beach city fathers must have blindfolds on as both of
these buildings are hideous.
Evidently “Walking Don Webb” hasn’t walked by these buildings
enough times to get thoroughly disgusted.
Now of course Sid has said he’s coming back to reopen these
restaurants. Sure. Since Sid is a devoted reader of the Daily Pilot,
I would say to him that we would love to have him come back and
reopen these restaurants. But I say the chances of this are slim to
none.
Sid, give us a break and help the city tear down your buildings
and put something worthwhile on these properties.
PETE RABBITT
Newport Beach
Marinapark future looks stacked to one side
The appointed three to look at Marinapark’s future, Mayor Steve
Bromberg and Councilmen Don Webb and Tod Ridgeway, seem a tad
stacked. It will be difficult to get an agreement with these three
members and the anti-development side will win as Ridgeway stands
alone (even if Bromberg says he’s “on the fence”). I live on 19th
Street and am very pro-Marinapark, even in its scaled-down version.
It can only enhance and improve the area, not to mention the economic
advantage it would bring to Newport Beach.
KATHRYN E. TERRY
Newport Beach
Subcommittee sounds like a way around public opinion
My response to the Newport Beach City Council subcommittee on
Marinapark is that because most of the council is pro-development
with nobody from Greenlight being on the subcommittee, it seems like
it is going to be a railroad for the City Council to go again around
the public display of the city of Newport Beach public voters because
the committee and the council have routinely suggested in public and
the newspapers that they are for the hotel and routinely voted
against what the popular vote is for the city of Newport Beach.
So my vote is no sub committee because they are completely biased
against Marina Park.
STUART PROCTOR
Newport Beach
Council needs to be fair in Marinapark dealings
I am a major supporter of the planned Regent project. I think it
is being planned in an area that is probably the most lighted area of
our city. I would support a council subcommittee to guide the
approval process for this project. I ask only that the guidance of
this council subcommittee be fair in dealing with the proponent of
the project and fair in its assessment of the importance of this
project to all of the residents of Newport Beach.
RICHARD FORTEVILLE
Balboa Coves
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