Teen’s restrictions should have already been the...

Teen’s restrictions should have already been the rule

When I originally read about Greg Haidl’s restrictions (“Haidl

still free on bail but closely minded,” Wednesday), I almost had to

laugh out loud. The restrictions are: no drinking or drugs; not

allowed to be alone with female minors; don’t break the law; don’t

associate with people with whom he has already been in trouble; and

monitor him through a global-positioning system.

Well, it seems to me that according to the law, why would a

19-year-old be allowed to drink and use drugs in the first place or

be allowed to affiliate with female minors? What girl in her right

mind would hang out with an alleged rapist? And why is he so

interested in hanging out with younger girls?

Maybe his parents or very expensive attorneys should have

impressed upon him the importance of not hanging out with the wrong

crowd. But that might be hard for a kid who will always have his

money to get him out of trouble.

Finally, the global-positioning system is one of the few good

ideas Judge Francisco Briseno has had. That should have been given to

him pending his retrial. But I guess they will have to live and learn

when it comes to this trial. I have a suggestion. Get this kid a job.

That would keep him out of trouble, and maybe he could even help pay

for some of those legal bills he’s racked up.

ANNA RASMUSSEN

Costa Mesa

Give residents the park that they’re asking for

I respectfully disagree with Mayor Tod Ridgeway in Sunday’s Pilot

Community Commentary that voters have been given adequate information

about Marinapark through the environmental impact report (“City could

never satisfy Greenlight on resort”). Despite the number of meetings

on the report, the document never addressed what residents repeatedly

asked for: analysis of the eight-acre, city-owned parcel as an

open-space park. Such a park would include an open-space grassy lawn,

picnic tables and small boat-launching areas in an area that is

deficient in park space. Such a park would be available to all

residents of Newport Beach, including Newport Heights, Corona del Mar

and Newport Coast. Right now, it is extremely difficult for any of us

from throughout the city to find a place on the bay to go.

Remember that the current mobile home park will be gone under any

scenario, because a mobile home is incompatible with the tidelands on

the property. What will occur on Marinapark after the mobile homes

are gone? Voting “no” on the measure in November will mean that all

people in Newport will be able to visit Marinapark, have a reasonable

chance of finding a parking space, launch a small boat, lounge on the

beach or lawn, have a picnic and have a water-view window to the bay

from Balboa Boulevard.

Marinapark is a priceless asset to the people of Newport Beach

that should not be leased away to a private timeshare hotel that

benefits only a few.

JAN D. VANDERSLOOT

Newport Beach

The enjoyable Gardner column will be missed

Regarding Judge Robert Gardner’s column, I really enjoyed reading

it every week for many, many years, and I’m really going to miss it.

I wish him all the best. It was great to be able to read his columns.

I learned a lot about Newport-Mesa. I’ve lived here since 1981, but

it was fantastic, and I enjoyed it very much. Thank you, Robert

Gardner.

TED ANDRINI

Costa Mesa

Thanks for the memories and the friendship, Judge

Thank you for having Judge Robert Gardner’s column in your paper.

It has been my great honor to know the judge for almost my entire

life through the endless bridge games that were played between my

parents and the judge and his wife, Katie. Our families spent

Christmases, July Fourths and any other occasion that they thought

worthy of a party together.

My mom and dad are gone; Katie is gone; and all those wonderful,

boisterous cartoonists, contractors, homemakers and lawyers who were

part of their crowd have gone on to the great beyond.

Corona del Mar is full of ghosts for me, the giants of my

childhood who held up the sky, and it is fitting that Mr. Justice,

who presided over it all, is the last of them. He and Moose and a few

others, mostly the widows, are the remnants of a generation that

built Newport Beach and Corona del Mar.

Sixteen years ago, the judge married Maria and I, and I thank him

for that each day. (I thank Maria too!)

He gave me a compliment once that I regard as almost like an

anointment, because I don’t think he gave out too many compliments,

and I want to thank him for that as well. I want to thank him for his

books on Balboa, his tips on bodysurfing, his kind and sincere

recollections about my father in his column and for pulling some

strings for me once when I was young and crazy and in real big

trouble. I want to thank him for a lot, but he doesn’t take

compliments or sentimental gratitude too well. But thanks anyway, Mr.

Justice.

CHARLES W. MASTERS JR.

Corona del Mar