Corona del Mar can celebrate centennial --...

Corona del Mar can celebrate centennial -- dolphin-free

The centennial committee made a very wise decision when they

canceled the dolphin statue. The Corona del Mar neighborhood can now

move on to a festive centennial celebration without that very large

bone of contention.

LIZ ANDERSON

Corona del Mar

Here’s an ode for those who choose not to believe

On reading the letter from Lynn Merles, asking for an “agnostic

poem,” I wondered what such a poem might be like. So I came up with

this:

I dunno if there’s a God,

But I’d sure like to know more,

‘Cuz if God made us gals and guys,

God has quite a sense of humor.

ELEANOR EGAN

Costa Mesa

Harsher punishments for reckless drivers needed

Last night, after waiting at the intersection of Dover and

Westcliff drives, I paused at the left turn arrow because it was

clear that the white SUV coming the other direction was not going to

stop. As expected, it ran the red light, turning right onto Westcliff

Drive and beginning a slalom course through the traffic toward Irvine

Avenue. As the vehicle made the turn, I noticed a car seat in the

back with a small child in it. I brushed it off as “just another rude

driver” but this morning I learned that an 18-month-old baby was

killed in Costa Mesa when her older sister lost control of the car

while driving 70 mph in a 40-mph zone. Perhaps it’s time take a look

at what’s going on in our community.

My husband spends much of his time driving around the harbor area

and rarely a day goes by when he doesn’t see some driver selfishly

endangering themselves and other drivers, while their children sit in

the back. He frequently sees commercial drivers racing through school

zones or residential neighborhoods trying to beat the clock.

Where is our sense of outrage? Why is this kind of behavior

considered acceptable -- even normal?

Most people would never be so rude as to shove their way to the

front of the line at the grocery store. I expect that even fewer

would endanger the lives of their children (or those of others) to be

first in line. Why is it that all of this goes out the window when we

drive? It amazes me that people who live in a community as focused on

the welfare of its children as this one is, would place the safety of

those children at such a low priority once they get behind the wheel

of a car. It would be nice if you could point the finger of blame at

one particular group, but it appears to me that this behavior is not

restricted to any economic status, gender, race, or type of vehicle.

It’s clear that common sense and common courtesy aren’t enough.

It’s time to raise the stakes. If the ticket for running a red light

was accompanied with a charge of willful child endangerment, it might

encourage some of these drivers to use more caution. If a ticket for

driving 20 miles per hour over the speed limit included a visit from

child protective services, it might cause a few drivers to slow down.

Maybe this is what it will take to get people to realize that their

actions behind the wheel can have serious consequences far beyond

simply being a few minutes late.

CINDY BALLREICH

Newport Beach

Annexation issue not all about the money

Regarding the front-page story, “Costa Mesa may ask Newport to

back off,” on Feb. 17 about the annexation of West Santa Ana Heights:

Your story implied that property values are the main reason we Santa

Ana Heights residents prefer to annex to Newport Beach over Costa

Mesa. For many of us, the airport issue is a much greater factor.

Our community is literally at the end of the runway. Naturally, we

want to be annexed by the city that has taken the strongest stand

against increasing air traffic. Costa Mesa fails miserably in this

area, not having supported the efforts to get an airport at former El

Toro Marine Corps Air Station in any way. We will fight tooth and

nail before being annexed to a city that does not have our best

interests at heart.

JUDY DEVINE

West Santa Ana Heights