Back Bay due for its dredging I...

Back Bay due

for its dredging

I walk the Upper Newport Bay every single morning with my dogs,

and I’ve been watching it turn into a meadow as the dredging funds

are constantly sent someplace else (“Senate boosts dredging funds,”

June 28). So I’m hoping that this new plan will actually take place,

but I do have my doubts.

RICHARD MORIARTY

Newport Beach

Dredging news is good for homeowners, birds

I’m so glad they’re going to start dredging the Back Bay. That’s

good news for us homeowners and the birds.

LEON LONG

Newport Beach

Easy explanation for special-education costs

I believe the Newport-Mesa Unified School District has higher

[special education] costs because parents have the resources to get a

diagnosis for their child and demand services to which they are

entitled (“Study: Special-education costs high,” Thursday).

It can cost thousands of dollars for private evaluations and legal

costs. It is my experience the districts never part with any services

unless they have to. This works better in districts where parents

can’t front the money to help their children. Unfortunately, most

districts spend their money fighting parents with $300 an hour

attorneys of their own. I have read many cases of extreme requests

some parents have made, as if that happens all the time.

As a parent of a disabled child, I know how far a district will go

to mislead parents and force them to fight once they see how the

system works. Instead of fighting parents, why don’t they fight the

state and federal governments for the funding they should be getting?

The federal government does not fund special-education courses the

way it should, considering the burden placed on local districts. When

they have sent money, it has been used by Sacramento for other

purposes, forcing local districts to use general-fund money. This

makes our children appear to be taking more than what some would

consider their fair share of education dollars.

I have not found one person yet who is willing to have his or her

child be autistic or have other learning disabilities for a smaller

class size or to restore a cut program.

JANET NIBLICK

Aliso Viejo

Irvine is far from barking sea lions

This is a response to Barbara Baumgartner of Balboa Island, who

wrote a letter on June 22 that the sea lions present a problem and

need a “drastic solution.” Her solutions included: “Do what they used

to do way back when ... shoot them.” Her rationale for killing

animals? Her grandson can’t fish on the pier, and the lions’ barking

disturb her daily walks with her husband.

You live on an island! There is sea life on islands! Presumably

you chose to live on Balboa because of the ocean and bay views. Along

with the ocean comes ocean life, which includes dolphins, seagulls,

turtles and sea lions. It is their home; it is where they live. You

must have known this when you moved in. If you want a quiet, planned

community, Irvine is just down the 405.

JOHN REISS

Costa Mesa

Political debate

makes little sense

After reading the Wednesday Mailbag, “Two-party politics good for

capital,” I discovered that I am having difficulty understanding the

subtleties of the modern political debate. I would like to know why

the evil teachers union is a special interest group and the chamber

of commerce is not. Is my freedom fighter your terrorist, or am I

missing something?

Who are those guys from out of state, who contribute millions to

Schwarzenegger’s war chest? I hope they are not -- gasp! -- special

interests.

LES WILEY

Corona Del Mar

How could destruction make no sound?

I am writing in regard to Steve Smith’s column about those poor

oceanfront property folks, whose view of the ocean was blocked by the

natural sand dunes “On the Town,” Saturday). First, the sand dunes

were there long before their million-dollar homes. Secondly, they

were a natural habitat for indigenous birds and insects.

I really cannot see how difficult it is to come to a decision

about who is responsible for the destruction of the sand dunes. These

types of people -- who care for nothing other than themselves, and

who would complain if the music was too loud at a party -- had to

have heard the bulldozers in the dark silence of night, taking away

the peaceful ocean waves that woo them to sleep. In my opinion, every

resident on that stretch of beach is responsible for the restitution,

not the city or the state -- our tax dollars. Are they not guilty

simply for not reporting it to the authorities?

It just amazes me what people are able to get away with when

others struggle to live in this beautiful beach city. I know that

legally it cannot be proven -- which only makes it that much more

frustrating and sadly disappointing about my fellow neighbors. I have

lived in the Balboa Island/Newport Beach/Costa Mesa area for 50

years, and I have seen the changes not only in the landscape, but in

the people, the community -- some good, some not. But hopefully, I

will continue to be a good neighbor and an honest member of my

community.

CLAUDIA GILBERT

Costa Mesa