Audit failure is another government miscue Whether...

Audit failure is another government miscue

Whether one supports or is against Assemblyman Chuck DeVore’s

request for an audit of the project concerning the Crystal Cove

cottages, the fact that the vote on the audit did not take place is a

further example of the poor representation that all Californians are

receiving from their government.

State Sen. Charles Poochigian’s decision to simply “bail out”

prior to the vote is a further example of those who have been elected

to govern failing to do so. I hope the senator had a legitimate

excuse; but more than likely, his decision was based upon the fact

that voting on a controversial audit did not appear to look good for

his political future.

I applaud the assemblyman for taking the parks department and its

mismanagement of the Crystal Cove cottages project to task. It is his

job to take those responsible for poorly run projects to task within

his district.

I would applaud state Sen. John Campbell for his attempt to wrest

control of the over-budget and delayed project from our parks

department, but it appears that he is taking the easy way out in

allowing the Crystal Cove Alliance to take it over. Doing so, in my

opinion, is simply requesting that the cat watch the canary until the

project is completed sometime within this or the next decade. I guess

going a step further and ensuring that an accountable nonprofit with

the capacity and experience to get the job completed for the public

is not deemed as a risk that the senator is willing to take. The

senator must have decided that such a strong stance could ruffle some

feathers and affect his future aspirations.

JAY WALLACE

Corona Del Mar

Pendleton airport is salvation for the county

Another election is almost upon us, and we need to know what

issues the candidates feel are most important.

Any candidate who does not feel a top priority must be given to

our local concerns over airport facilities is not one who deserves to

be elected. Granted, there are many concerns we need to keep in mind,

such as illegal immigration, Back Bay dredging, expenditures for the

city hall project, etc., but we must have elected officials who take

the initiative in helping Orange County come to grips with its

growing airport needs. This means no further expansion of John Wayne,

and giving serious consideration to a commercial airport on a small

segment of Camp Pendleton.

A Daily Pilot article indicated that John Graham and Marilyn

Brewer favored pursuing the Camp Pendleton idea, and I hope others

will be of the same mind.

DON HILLIARD

Newport Beach

Use Triangle Square for Newport’s civic center

Regarding the new focus that’s needed at business-empty Triangle

Square, my suggestion is that Newport Beach explore renting or

purchasing Triangle Square for its new civic center. It is worth

exploring some sort of shared arrangement with the city of Costa Mesa

to house Newport’s City Council and municipal offices. The

architecture provides plenty of space and parking, and the mall needs

occupants. It makes sense even as temporary housing for civic

facilities.

We already have more than enough mall space. Triangle Square is

simply not appealing as a fashion mall.

JACQUELYN BEAUREGARD

DILLMAN

Newport Beach