Abuse and recovery go hand in hand...

Abuse and recovery

go hand in hand

Last month, there was a big brouhaha down in the Newport area

about recovery houses and how to get rid of them -- all the same old

stuff that comes out every election time. They bring it out, dust it

off and talk about how bad recovery is for neighborhoods and lowering

property values -- if that can be done around here.

The Daily Pilot has covered the guys on 17th Street leaving Pierce

St. Annex who were hit by a suspected drunken driver. Then the

rollover accident, again, suspected to be caused by drunken driving,

and a follow up article in the Pilot with the photographs of the

memorial in front of the bar down there.

It just shows you if you put the two issues together, it’s like

black and white. And I believe that we need to address the issue.

This is a fun place. This is the beach area. This is a place where

people come. There is a high instance of alcohol and drug abuse

around. It’s just that way, and we need to have sane and sober minds

look at how to deal; and to embrace recovery in our area.

Basically, I’d like to say, let’s stop the witch hunt and get

together and make some adult decisions on how to handle this problem.

DAVE RIGGLE

Costa Mesa

Acquisition may be more glitter than gold

There is an item in Newport Beach city business that has been

under the radar screen for some time. Even the City Council member

that represents the district directly affected seems to have a

difficult time getting information on the subject, which is now

scheduled to come before the City Council in March. Every concerned

citizen should be watching for this.

Currently, our city is negotiating with the state for the city to

take over the responsibility of a significant portion of Coast

Highway, in perpetuity. This has been brought about by the Business

Improvement District in Corona del Mar. It has previously been stated

in the Daily Pilot that the reason for the highway takeover is that

Corona del Mar business people believe the current state approval

process for banner, planters, etc., is not fast enough.

While the improvements the city proposes for Coast Highway would

be from MacArthur Boulevard to Poppy Street, the state would require

the city to take over the entire stretch of Coast Highway from

Jamboree Road to Newport Coast Drive.

The MacArthur Boulevard to Poppy Street portion is about

one-fourth of the stretch that the state would require us to take

over. Included in this stretch are three of the city’s busiest

intersections. Most assuredly, the state’s remuneration to the city

would be small because of the state’s fiscal crisis.

If this deal is approved, the city of Newport Beach -- and all of

its taxpayers -- will be assuming a huge responsibility; millions and

millions of dollars of potential liability and maintenance for this

portion of the highway. At a public meeting with the city’s traffic

consultant last year, it was stated that crosswalks would have to be

painted and that the pretty pictures with brick and tile paving are

just that.

The result of all the enhanced street paving, curb projections and

planters will be to slow down traffic in Corona del Mar. “Traffic

calming” is today’s term, and that’s what the merchants want. The

flower streets, Seaview Avenue, Bayside Drive, etc., will then

provide the traffic relief from Coast Highway, to the great detriment

of the residents.

Bottom line is that out City Council needs to take a very hard

look at this proposal, and despite all the Vision 2004 fanfare, bite

the bullet and say no to this folly. It would be an unnecessary,

everlasting burden on the taxpayers of Newport Beach to satisfy the

whims of a relative view.

JACK REEVES

Newport Beach

Billion-dollar bond

is a taxing issue

Gosh, lucky we Californians got rid of that car “tax,” disguised

as a vehicle registration fee. I can’t decide what to do with my $30

refund. And now that we passed the $15 billion “bond,” I don’t have

to worry about any new “taxes.” In California, a rose is all about

the name.

GAY GEISER SANDOVAL

Costa Mesa

Thank you to the grocery store ‘scabs’

Since day one of the strike, I have crossed the picket lines in

Newport-Mesa. The temporary employees were customer-service-oriented,

a courtesy from the past and greatly appreciated.

I am sorry to see the strike over. I will sincerely miss the

“scabs.” Thank you all for being there.

PAT GREENBAUM

Newport Beach

Workers deserve all retirement options

I read with interest Rep. Dana Rohrabacher’s reasoning for

supporting the legalized fraud being perpetrated on government

employees and teachers through the Government Pension Offset and

Windfall Elimination Provision, as stated in the story “Pension law

draws protest at fundraiser” (Feb. 22). I have a question for

Rohrabacher:

If the pension offset and windfall elimination are so good and

fair, why did the legislators who drafted these laws exempt

themselves?

I am also extremely confused by Rohrabacher’s logic that a person

who does not pay into a second government pension plan -- for

example, someone in the private sector -- is somehow penalized by not

being able to collect two government pensions, when in fact, that

individual may collect multiple private pensions plus his or her

Social Security.

Many government workers and teachers have contributed to two

pensions, yet may only earn one benefit. How does Mr. Rohrabacher

reasonably conclude that this is somehow fair?

It should be also be noted that the government pension plans being

discussed are not federally funded at all -- they are basically

self-funded by the employees paying into them, with a very small

contribution by local (not federal) government.

As our group indicated at its demonstration, the fight for justice

and equality with individuals in the private sector will continue

until these two laws are repealed.

JOYCE ELIA

Mission Viejo

Say ‘aloha’ to more flights at JWA

If we had another airport, Aloha Airlines could keep the flights

they presently have and still accommodate Reps. Chris Cox and Dana

Rohrabacher. An effort to get direct flights from John Wayne Airport

to Washington, D.C. is a personal use of power by public servants who

helped defeat an international airport at El Toro.

BARBARA AUNE

Newport Beach