Students deserve big cup of support I...

Students deserve

big cup of support

I just wanted to express my support for the Newport Harbor High

School kids who brought to the forefront problems with polystyrene

foam (“District decides paper over plastic,” June 8). We should get

rid of it. I think anybody that wants to get rid of it is voting for

the environment, and I vote for the environment, which is so

wonderful.

FRAN WOLFE

Costa Mesa

All should follow school’s example

We applaud and support these teens in their efforts to bring a

level of consciousness to their peers and to the adults that

currently are at the helm of decision-making. It’s clear that the

students and their advisors considered the total social cost of using

polystyrene foam rather than just the line-item increase in the

Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s budget. They’ve learned an

early lesson in social economics; let’s hope that the district, and

we as taxpayers, appreciate the lesson they have taught us by making

this a permanent change.

KAREN TRINGALI and JOHN REILLY

Corona del Mar

Looking forward

to airport study

I applaud Coastkeeper’s plan to study air quality around John

Wayne Airport and its effect on our area (“Watchdog group plans

airport study,” Friday). It is long overdue because air traffic over

our homes has significantly increased since the last study. There is

no downside. If the results show that our community’s air quality is

good, we can be thankful for it. However, if the results prove there

is a problem and that John Wayne is contributing to it, then we have

hard evidence to argue against any further airport expansion and a

reduction of existing flights.

My only complaint is that it is a two-year study. Why so long?

Nevertheless, I hope everyone in our community is supportive of this

very important project, and I thank Coastkeeper for its efforts to

initiate, plan and find funding for it.

BONNIE O’NEIL

Newport Beach

Time is right for

new airport study

Members of AirFair were excited to read that the Orange County

Coastkeeper organization intends to launch a study of the effect John

Wayne Airport has on the air and water quality in Newport Harbor.

AirFair began three years ago as a grass-roots organization. Our

goal? To oppose expansion of John Wayne Airport beyond its currently

imposed passenger limit of 10.8 million annual passengers per year

(effective until 2011). We believe the issue of air and water quality

is only one of the negative impacts the airport has on the

surrounding cities and residents.

Since the 1993 study mentioned in the article, there has been a

significant increase in commercial air traffic at John Wayne Airport.

In fact, between 1993 and 2004, the number of commercial passengers

using the airport increased by more than 50% from 6.1 million to 9.2 million.

A study at this time will be helpful to all who are assessing the

effects of John Wayne Airport on neighboring communities. We strongly

support the new study. Newport Beach and the other corridor cities

have been asked to shoulder the burden for the entire population of

Orange County. It is time to determine the full extent of the effect

the airport has on our environment and quality of life.

MELINDA SEELY

Newport Beach

Columnist should work down south

Steve Smith’s column on Saturday, “The qualities Cox’s replacement

needs,” contains some of his usual in-your-face statements. Smith

perhaps does not seem to care that the readership of the Daily Pilot

is in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

Smith writes: “All but a few desperate supporters already know:

There will not be a big, smelly, noisy airport eight miles south of

Newport Beach.” Never mind that Newport Beach and Costa Mesa already

have a growing, big, smelly, noisy airport in their backyard, John

Wayne Airport. This airport’s rapid expansion is due to the

increasing number of passengers from housing developments in Irvine,

Mission Viejo and other South County cities.

Since Smith seems so sympathetic with South Orange County

residents, perhaps his talents should be employed in that area.

SHIRLEY A. CONGER

Corona del Mar

Don’t like sea lions? Try Garden Grove

It is surprising and disappointing that those living closest to

the sea apparently care the least about its stewardship and the

preservation of sea creatures (“Residents roar over noise,”

Wednesday).

The Pacific Fisheries Enhancement Foundation has been among those

raising young white sea bass, from a hatchery in Carlsbad, to a size

where they can safely be released into the wild. This process has

been contributed to by many angler and conservation groups, and

“grow-out” pens are moored in harbors up and down the coast. The

effort has contributed thousands, maybe millions, of juvenile sea

bass to the wild, and helped to restore its presence along the

Southern California coast.

Rather than complain about removing the pen and attempting to

destroy this worthy contribution, perhaps these people lucky enough

to live on the water could spend the same time seeking a solution,

and working with the foundation to minimize the area that could be

used by the sea lions.

Even failing that, or if some remain, the sounds of sea lions are

music to many. They were here first, and we are lucky to experience

their presence. If these people can get rid of the sea lions, next

they’ll be complaining about raucous seagulls and pelicans. If they

don’t like what lives in the sea, and if they have no interest in

contributing, perhaps they should move to Garden Grove.

JACK KING

Newport Beach

Take out the noise, take out the fish

Should the Pacific Fisheries Enhancement Foundation remove its

barge from Newport Harbor? Yes, since that group has consistently

been negligent in maintaining the barge. Because the barriers and

nets are not kept up, as many as 15 sea lions perch on it, and this

attracts sea lions to the swim steps of nearby boats.

The barge is less than 300 feet from our house and the din from

barking is incessant day and night. This is clearly an unacceptable

public nuisance, and the barge should be towed away as soon as

possible.

TOM AHERN

Newport Beach