Sutherland hotel project is too big for...

Sutherland hotel project is too big for its britches

From various articles and letters to the editor, it appears that

the proposed Stephen Sutherland hotel project is gathering steam.

It’s not that I’m opposed to changing the Marina Park area, but I am

opposed to a hotel on the site.

I feel that the area will be gone from the public forever once the

hotel is built -- despite what Sutherland says. Why can’t something

recreational be constructed? Something for the benefit of most

everyone? This hotel will be another Balboa Bay Club-like structure,

filling up the public land, and we’ll be stuck with it.

And traffic! Balboa Boulevard is basically one big dead-end

street. How do the proponents think we can handle the traffic load?

SARAH PEDERSEN

Newport Beach

Smith remiss in equating airport proponents to killers

Equating murderers and those who support an airport at El Toro in

his Family Time column, titled “Sometimes, ‘I’m sorry’ isn’t enough,”

columnist Steve Smith portrays idiocy. Transportation is a key

economic factor in the economy.

How can you publish such [garbage]?

GREG BADUM

Newport Beach

Drivers should be more cautious of pedestrians

Please inform the locals of Newport Beach that the California

vehicle code states that any pedestrian using a crosswalk has the

right of way -- meaning they get to go before cars.

When a person is walking in the crosswalk, a car cannot proceed

through the intersection until the person is on the curb. So, if the

car in front of you is waiting, please do not honk, curse or flash

your headlights.

While we are on the subject of discourteous drivers, I was turning

north on Superior Avenue from the outside turn lane of southbound

Coast Highway when a male driving a blue Mercedes Benz sedan almost

caused me to crash. He was turning north on Superior while in the

right turn lane of northbound Coast Highway.

I wonder, did his family farm in this country or did he move here

from some cookie-cutter tract house? Please be more careful.

THOMAS LEON

Newport Beach

Fiery accusations over lack of heat at senior center

This letter is in regard to what we believe to be a dangerous

situation at the Costa Mesa Senior Center.

Our mother is 95 years old and plays bridge twice a week at the

senior center and has complained of the lack of heat in the center.

This is the second year that the temperature in the room where she

plays bridge has been noticeably cold.

She has complained to the staff on numerous occasions and was told

that the heating system needs a new part. It seems that this part

could have been replaced in two years. Calls have been made to the

director and the mayor with no results or response.

If the center cannot provide adequate heat so the seniors can

enjoy the center in comfort, then maybe it should be closed until

this situation can be resolved.

MARY AND ELLEN MCQUAID

Costa Mesa