A ballot before a Marinapark hotel

The Marinapark hotel should only go to the voters if you want a “no”

vote. A citywide vote is NIMBYism on a grand scale.

One of the obvious reasons our government was established as

representational is to allow our elected representatives to act in a

responsible manner for the good of all. Putting everything to vote

will eventually bring our city development process to a stop. Good

viable projects will be halted. Our elected city officials should be

allowed to do the job they were elected to do.

Greenlight will eventually find a way to stop all development in

the city. Greenlight should be called what it really is: Stoplight.

AL MARSHALL

Newport Beach

I feel the voters need to be given the chance to participate

directly in the decision to approve the proposed hotel on the

peninsula. The City Council does not always represent the wishes of

the community at large, and that is why Greenlight was passed.

BILL BRALY

Corona del Mar

Yes, the residents of Newport Beach should be able to vote on this

proposal. This is a major change in our community, and we should have

a say in whether this project is approved, and it should be put to a

citywide vote.

LES AND HELEN WILEY

Corona del Mar

The debate on the Marinapark resort must include the effect on

summer and spring break camps for our city’s children, which are held

in the environs of the proposed site. For the past two years, my son

and daughter have partaken in the city’s fantastic “Sailing and

Tennis Camp” that has been often the highlight of their school break.

The camp combines tennis, at the Las Arenas court, followed by a tour

around the bay on sabot boats as the kids learn nautical basics.

Opening a resort would probably end this.

Every time a resort is proposed in Newport, be it previous

attempts at Dunes or elsewhere, it is to mostly the benefit of

visitors who don’t pay taxes or raise children in our great, diverse

beach town. And for as much as tourism is important, I’m wondering if

any one who lives here really wakes up in the morning and says, “Yes,

today, I need a resort to make my family life more fulfilling.”

The city’s recreation services has great programs for kids that

keep our children active during school breaks, which in turn keeps us

moms sane and makes Newport Beach truly a family-friendly city. Sure,

we miss out on tax revenue from the would-be resort’s patrons. But

selling out a cherished piece of our town comes with a much higher

price.

JENNY BIOCHE

Newport Beach