MAILBAG:Look to other cities for fireworks fixes

At 2:40 a.m., July 14, I was startled out of a sound sleep by a huge fireworks shot into my backyard.

No big deal to columnist Steve Smith (“Find a fireworks fix or stop whining,” July 10), even though it happens daily and will until summer is over.

He suggests that a city with 100,000 residents can’t be creative enough to suggest ideas for making money other than selling fireworks. Wow.

How about doing what other progressive cities all around us are doing? Irvine raffles off houses and cars that are donated every year; Huntington Beach, Westminster, Fountain Valley and others have bingo at the schools one night a week.

I challenge him to go just once to Fountain Valley High School and see the huge amounts of money being raised every Thursday night for their programs.

Your arguments are old and outdated, Mr. Smith. People want to enjoy a good night’s sleep with open windows.

Costa Mesa belongs to every resident, not just a select group. Call city hall and let them know what you think, folks. Do you love these fireworks or is it time to reclaim our city?

HELEN EVERS

Police helicopter a noisy waste of money

Knowing that city and police budgets are always short, I have a suggestion on how Newport Beach can save money and remove a huge nuisance from our town: Get rid of the Newport Beach Police Department helicopter!

The noise pollution from this misused toy is a serious detraction from our community.

Last night, past 11 p.m., after listening to it go on and on, I finally got up and called the NBPD to complain.

The response from the NBPD was that they were searching for a possible drowning victim and would stay in the area as long as needed.

Search and rescue of a drowning victim is admirable, appropriate and well worth the use of the helicopter and whatever disturbance it might cause. If there was a drowning victim, I sincerely hope they were able to rescue him.

I live four blocks from the water, however, and my bedroom windows face inland. The area the helicopter was flying over for a good 15 minutes was not over the water. Unless NBPD thinks the victim drowned in a cup of Starbucks, I’m not sure why they were searching over downtown Corona del Mar.

Yes, it was a foggy night, but if these guys weren’t able to figure out that they weren’t going to find a drowning victim by flying over land, then I don’t think they needed to be up in the sky looking.

I have checked the Daily Pilot and found no mention of a potential drowning or rescue.

Is the cost and nuisance of the police helicopter justified? Not in my opinion. If it is, let’s start hearing about some results.

TERRY SENKO