MAILBAG - Oct. 16, 2006

Westside group wants plans followed

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor’s recent comments regarding the intentions of Westside business and property owners who are supporting Bruce Garlich and Mike Scheafer are political spin.

The mayor says we expect Garlich and Scheafer to maintain the status quo and that some of us have expressed an interest in not seeing the Westside revitalized. For a mayor who has often been concerned with setting the record straight in the Daily Pilot, I would offer the following facts. The Westside residential and live/work zone overlay was passed by unanimous votes by both the planning commission and City Council. The Westside Group political action committee is supporting Garlich and Scheafer because we believe they will hold developers to the building standards laid out in the current overlay plans. We have absolutely no intention of making any effort to remove or modify the overlays.

As business and property owners, we are offended that the mayor is attempting to mislead the public concerning our intentions. After years of debate the issue is settled, the overlays are in place, and developers have purchased property and presented plans for new developments to the council. The mayor has witnessed the progress, but for reasons beyond our understanding, makes statements that are not only false but counterproductive to the revitalization he promotes.

JOHN T. HAWLEY

Costa Mesa

Residents, not cars, to blame for promenade

I have been going to the car show at Crystal Cove Promenade from the beginning. When a company builds a shopping center, they are inviting the public and cannot discriminate by not allowing certain types of customers (cars or people) onto their property.

If the parking lot is only for the customers of the shopping center, the center will find out that almost all of the people going to the car show are customers of the two coffee shops (Starbucks and Pacific Whey) at the center. Plus a lot of these car show people frequent the Promenade restaurants at night for dinner.

The average time a car is at the car show is about one hour, from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., sometimes to 8:30 a.m.

The real problem is with the people who purchased homes behind the shopping center. They are the ones forcing this issue. They believe they should have peace and quiet Saturday mornings, and that the car show disturbs them.

I would not like my quiet mornings disturbed by anything, so I purchased a house away from Pacific Coast Highway and not next to the back end of a shopping center. The people in these homes knew from the start there was a shopping center and a highway out their front doors. Buyer beware.

What did they think?

Next will they ask that Pacific Coast Highway be closed? Do they want the ocean to not make noise? So now what happens? Will I go there with my old Triumph and not be allowed, but someone with a new Mercedes or Volvo will be?

How can the Irvine Co. limit access to a public place based on the car you are driving to Starbucks or Pacific Whey?

And how does Starbucks and Pacific Whey feel about this? Those two restaurants sell lots of coffee each Saturday to the car show people.

The Irvine Co. is stuck between the home owners behind the center and the public.

That is the cost of doing business.

RICHARD SCHNYDER

Laguna Beach

Too bad a good event has to come to an end

There must be times when being a spokesman for the Irvine Co. is not all that great a job. Specifically, Bill Rams having to talk about canceling the popular Crystal Cove Promenade car show. Granted that this event has grown over the years to a point it rivals many commercial car shows. The reason is that everyone (except the Irvine Co.) enjoys it. It is one of the few functions where an entire family can enjoy a common interest in automobiles in a safe, controlled environment without paying an arm and a leg. The event is well controlled and both participants and visitors respect the local business time constraints. Needless to say the negative impact on Crystal Cove Promenade business revenue will be significant as people will go elsewhere for their morning coffee.

Sorry to hear that the Irvine Co., which has done so much good for our local community, is canceling a great public relations event. However I am looking forward to a new location that I am sure will be well patronized.

NORM COWDEN

Newport Beach

Newport needs better politicians

We had decided to vote for Barbara Venezia based on her experience within the community, her civic involvement, and her fresh and independent stand on issues that face our community.

Most of the politically elected and appointed in Newport Beach are either working in Congress with special interest groups or to further their personal career aspirations.

We do not often get a chance to elect individuals that believe in serving for the true benefit of the people in this city, and in doing so, serving the best interest of the city itself.

We will not only still vote for Venezia, but will make an effort to convince our friends and neighbors to do the same.

The opportunity to elect someone of her ability and integrity doesn’t come along that often.

JOHN and GARNET

THOMPSON

Newport Beach