Redevelopment is one step toward a solution...

Redevelopment is one step toward a solution

Having lived on the Westside for the better part of my 50-plus

years -- 31 of those years at the same address -- I think that there

are several problems facing redevelopment on West 19th Street that will need to be addressed before businesses will be attracted to set

up shop.

Plain and simple, folks, are the issues of gang activity, crime,

and economically challenged residents who populate the area. Ask

yourselves if you would drive across town to shop or dine in an area

where you could get shot, mugged or accosted by a poor soul who can’t

find his way back to the halfway house. Solve the underlying social

issues and voila, you may have businesses begging for spots.

SHARON WILLIAMSON

Costa Mesa

What is the real reason behind the change?

I read an article Wednesday in the Pilot by Lolita Harper about

the black and white police cars titled “Cop cars: A black and white

issue.” In it, the paper published comments by a former Long Beach

police officer by the name of Ray, who stated “Costa Mesa could get

away with changing colors of their cars because we have an edge,” --

whatever that means. An “edge,” as he called it, that Newport Beach

and Irvine do not have.

For the most part, he said, “nothing happens in Newport Beach or

Irvine,” that would warrant changing the car colors. I take offense

to the article stating that. But that’s his prerogative.

In either case, this person is saying it is either necessary for

the citizens in Costa Mesa to be aware of the police officers’

presence or it is a fact there is more crime committed in Costa Mesa.

Depending what he means by “edge.” I believe the officers who ride

the motorcycles, either in Newport Beach or Costa Mesa, are all black

and white, but apparently the automobile is a more visible presence.

And I question the Costa Mesa chief of police about officers’

morale and the black and white cars. Either that’s true or he wants

the criminals to be more aware of the presence of our police officers

as they patrol the streets.

JUNE MCKINZIE

Costa Mesa

There are two sides to the Marinapark debate

Barbara Carlson presented an interesting idea that was printed in

Wednesday’s edition of the Daily Pilot Forum section, titled “Readers

jaded by Greenlight’s threat of lawsuit.”

She suggested that “Greenlight should be held responsible” if “the

Greenlight people are successful at blocking the redevelopment plan

for Marinapark”; and if “something happens to a child because of

their efforts.”

Inherent in this suggestion are at least three assumptions:

The first is that the area is currently unsafe for children.

Secondly, the city is not fulfilling its responsibilities to

eliminate safety hazards, if present, and third, the only way these

hazards will be eliminated is if the area is redeveloped.

I propose that the assignment of responsibility be carried one

step further. If redevelopment and the resort hotel on the Balboa

Peninsula are approved and built, the City Council, the city of

Newport Beach, the developers and the operators of the hotel should

be held financially responsible for injuries, property damage, and

increased safety and policing costs.

Visitors to the hotel, employees of the hotel, and service

vehicles and trucks traveling to and from the hotel will result in

increased traffic, pollution, congestion, and lost time not only on

the peninsula but also in the approaching areas. Those who benefit

from any advantages of this project should also accept some

responsibility for the disadvantages.

WAYNE J. SUBCASKY

Newport Beach

Mourning Hatfield

is hard enough

With regard to the letter written by Gary Dries published

Wednesday, titled, “Denial of deceased singer’s drug habit is wrong”;

it’s hard to not be amazed at his expertise in stone throwing.

His insight as to the “enabling” family and friends of Bobby

Hatfield is no less than cruel conjecture directed at those grieving

over the personal loss of a loved one. Further, his indictment of

Michael Glueck, as well as “doctors, who contribute to the problem,”

reads as nothing more than a stupefying rant.

Yes, Dries, people have problems. Perhaps rather than taking a

self-righteous, finger-pointing stance, you should take a good long

look in the mirror.

JILL RICHTER

Corona del Mar