Caught him at the end I ran...

Caught him at the end

I ran across Steve Smith’s Pilot column the other day, “One last

time: Leave the TV off and live smartly,” Saturday, and I thought it

was awesome, and I wanted him to know that.

It apparently was his last Family Time column, and I’m sorry I

didn’t find the other ones sooner, but it gave very, very good

advice, and I appreciated the article

RAY BEEMAN

El Morro

Hang on, that

was my idea ...

Regarding Geoff West’s Watchdog column Sunday, “Imagine the

annexed possibilities,” West once again shows that he’s not very

original, as he tells readers that we should consider annexing all of

Costa Mesa to Newport Beach.

This is a proposal that many of us have been making for years. I

believe I was the one who made the comment about annexing the city at

the City Council meeting that West refers to.

If West needs any more ideas, he should just keep watching,

because I have many more.

From a geographic standpoint, it makes perfect sense to join the

two cities. Look at a map of the coast and you’ll quickly see that

Costa Mesa is closer to the ocean than most of Newport Beach or

Huntington Beach. The border is very artificial.

Who would oppose such a scheme to make the two cities one?

Probably the bureaucrats.

With one city, we would only need one city hall, one planning

department, one parks department and on and on.

A lot of people taking big paychecks from the citizens would

suddenly have to look for work in the private sector.

M. H. MILLARD

Costa Mesa

Confused about potential EMS fee

Regarding the Pilot’s Tuesday story, “Response could come at a

cost,” the statement that the “city already charges those who don’t

live in Costa Mesa fees of $185 or $295 for using the city’s

emergency medical services” and no statement about what it charges

residents is confusing.

We had the misfortune of needing emergency medical services on

Dec. 26. The total charge was $659.75. The base rate with emergency

was $531.75. The statement says, “This service rendered by a

paramedic unit.” The mileage charge for the ambulance was $13 per

mile.

The response and service were excellent. The paramedics were

professional and competent.

But I fail to comprehend your facts about a potential additional

$300 fee. To what is this additional fee going to be added?

THOMAS E. KOLANOSKI

Costa Mesa