Gratitude is united, as is the community...
Gratitude is united,
as is the community
Costa Mesa United would like to express its sincere appreciation
to our community newspaper, which went above and beyond in support of
our first Mesa Verde Classic ( “A United day birdies for Costa Mesa
youth,” Jan. 18).
The Pilot staff and Mesa Verde Country Club are responsible for
the success of our tournament -- it raised an estimated $65,000 --
but that’s not to forget the players and donors as well.
Two huge community assets add up to one successful tournament, and
we simply say: “Thank you very much.”
DAVID BROOKS
Costa Mesa
* EDITOR’S NOTE: Brooks is president of Costa Mesa United and a
trustee of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board. Costa Mesa
United is a nonprofit group made up of local community members with a
goal of raising money to build an athletic stadium at Estancia High
School and an aquatic center at Costa Mesa High.
Let’s get out there for
the betterment of all
In his recent column (“A tale of two cities,” Friday), Pilot
Editor Tony Dodero said, “ ... I need to get out more.... “
This Costa Mesa resident and blogger came to the same conclusion,
for himself, months ago!
I came here from the Inland Empire in early 2003 and had hopes of
really getting out and about -- to explore and write about life in
the Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach areas.
Things started out promising, with lots of interesting things to
write about, but life sort of got in the way for a while, and I got
sidetracked.
This article just reinforced some thoughts I’ve been having
lately, as stability has finally come to my life in my new community.
I’d like to encourage my fellow local bloggers -- there are a
small number of them, and you know who you are! -- to join me, by
getting out, exploring the region, writing about it, speaking out on
issues of importance to you and adding your voices to those of the
Daily Pilot, for the betterment of all.
KIRIL KUNDURAZIEFF
Costa Mesa
Name-calling serves only to further divide
The Daily Pilot does very little public service by encouraging
letters from those who resort to name-calling.
The most recent example was Geoff West’s Sunday commentary, “Might
as well do away with the JWA.”
In his piece advocating a commercial airport at El Toro, he refers
to South County residents as “whiners,” the mayor of Irvine as
“Emperor Agran” and those who worked against the El Toro project --
presumably including me -- as “a few greedy, shortsighted people.”
This vitriol serves only to further divide Orange County at a time
when it is under attack by Los Angeles.
Los Angeles politicians are promoting legislation for a
state-mandated regional airport authority with power to build and
expand airports.
If such a bill passes in Sacramento, a new L.A.- dominated
bureaucracy will be empowered to build El Toro but also to pursue the
less expensive alternative of expanding existing airports like John
Wayne.
The Newport Beach-based Airport Working Group sends delegations to
Los Angeles City Council meetings to promote the idea that Orange
County needs more airport capacity.
Then writers like West call for sharing the “air transportation
burden.” This invites offloading of some of the traffic at LAX onto
Orange County, possibly by lifting the caps at John Wayne.
We must pull together to protect local control. That message needs
to be conveyed to Pilot readers.
LEONARD KRANSER
Dana Point
Park and marina would celebrate anniversary
The city of Newport Beach has at long last the opportunity to
fulfill a long overdue need for a public bay-front marina and
recreational park to complement the largest yacht basin in the United
States.
How fortunate to have ownership of the land. It’s a golden chance
for the 100th anniversary of the city to accomplish this endeavor --
a steering committee and public input for a very well-done project
that will serve as a monument to the city in an upscale, appropriate
manner.
Other area waterfront parks should be explored to gain input, and
a top-of-the-line, park-orientated architect should be found to draw
up a suitable plan -- something solid, appropriate and all-in-all
first-class.
Since there is no time limit for final construction, there is a
need for an all-out beginning as to a plan thoroughly orchestrated by
a dedicated group with citizen and professional planners involved.
To quote an old saying: “Let’s get this show on the road.”
RUTH GARSTONE
Balboa Peninsula
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