Greenlight headline hides group’s true color Reverse...

Greenlight headline hides group’s true color

Reverse kudos to the Daily Pilot for their misleading headline,

“Greenlight ready to change.”

I was almost ready to dash out the door this morning thinking

that, finally, the Greenlighters had come to their senses, when I

thought, “Wait a minute, that doesn’t sound like the Greenlighters we

latte-drinking-left-wing-pinkos love to hate.”

I skidded to a halt, went back to the paper for a more thorough

look and sure enough, there is Phil Arst and his obstructionist

buddies wanting another matter -- the Marinapark Resort -- brought to

a Greenlight committee for a vote, instead of going to the general

public. By threatening to sue if the city does not cave in “in about

two weeks,” the old-money, Newport Beach NIMBYs have, once again,

shown their true colors.

Oh well, what else can an impoverished liberal-thinking Democrat,

living in this ultra-right-wing enclave of wealthy Republicans,

expect? Atilla the Hun would be proud.

DONALD RAMSAY

Newport Beach

Courtesy not found

en route to Corona del Mar

I don’t really like to drive my son to Corona del Mar High School

in the morning: I would rather finish my cup of coffee and read the

paper. I think I would give up one whole hour in the afternoon in

exchange for that half hour in the morning.

But there I am, turning right onto Jamboree Road, in a mad dash

for the left lane, where an endless row of cars are waiting to turn

at the light on Ford Road -- far, far, ahead. Politely, I join the

cars at the end of the line. Nothing happens for a couple of minutes,

while other cars file in behind me. Then we move a couple of hundred

feet, as the cars in the very front get a green arrow at the

intersection. This is repeated two, three times -- the clock is

ticking, minute by minute -- until I finally have the intersection in

sight and can calculate that I will make it around the corner at the

next green arrow.

Then “she” comes in her black Jeep Cherokee in the lane to my

right. She quickly turns on her blinkers and pushes her car into my

lane, two cars ahead of me. She stares straight ahead, not even

acknowledging the other silly drivers who are timid enough to abide

by common courtesy. Those of us who are wasting valuable morning

minutes, when a little bit of arrogance could have saved us 10

minutes.

There is really no space between the cars, but the car behind her

has no choice but to hit the brakes and let her in. Of course, this

slows the traffic rhythm and fewer cars make the light, and I, of

course, have to wait for yet another cycle. Three more minutes

wasted, and I am ready to blow my top. I have been successful

fighting off German skiers in Alpine lift lines, but here I am

without my ski pole. Of course, this lady (that may be a misnomer) is

not alone, she has many “sisters” and “brothers.” This morning, I

counted six other rule breakers.

So, let me tell you what I think, lady.

Cutting in line like that is not only arrogant and selfish, it

shows no class and is actually illegal. News flash: the solid white

line is for SUVs also. But you know you can beat the rap -- you have

done this since the semester started. And someone told you that on

Jamboree Road and Eastbluff Drive, in the morning, the law of the

jungle is the norm and there is no judge or jury. A traffic cop would

wear his pen out writing tickets, but I suppose they have better

things to do.

True to form, your type of driver will also stop at the corner

across from the school to drop off your children. That way, the cars

behind in the turning lane are blocked and cannot turn the corner and

have to wait until your students are unloaded. But why worry? It is

so convenient.

I have not figured out what action to take other than documenting

the license plates. I wrote to the principal once, but what can she

do? Common sense and normal decency is not on the SAT. Maybe I will

get my satisfaction one day at a Parent Teacher Assn. meeting or an

open house. In the meantime, I just wonder if your children tell

their friends:

“I have the coolest mom. You know what she did? She just gave all

those stupid drivers in line the finger and got us to school in time.

When I get my driver’s license, I ... .”

NILS-ERIC SVENSSON

Newport Beach