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