MAILBAG:

The Killybrooke BB gun incident reported in the Daily Pilot last week (“Parent happy with Killybrooke’s decision,” Feb. 12) is evidence of the lack of elementary school education on prevention.

Some schools may have some type of internal program, but it is not consistent across all elementary schools.

In the absence of the DARE program, we are left with very little.

I am not arguing the reasons for removing DARE, but asking that some type of education program be put in its place. Although I do not have a great deal of evidence to back me up (at this time), I am told that Project ASK is a fit.

Having the SRO (school resource officer) program at the high school level is a great thing, but we also need to provide our younger children with the needed tools of guidance.

The school is the first line of defense, but we also need to have experienced people (police, advocacy, etc.) involved.

Education on gangs, drugs, weapons, bullying and more is needed for these impressionable children.

We live in a time where school shootings occur far too many times.

An education process must be installed at the lower grade level for not only the possible victims but also the possible offenders.

Let’s fill this void before it is too late.

MIKE BRUMBAUGH

Costa Mesa

Costa Mesans can’t drive 55 without a plan

In regards to the city of Costa Mesa’s problem with the 55 Freeway, it is no wonder this situation exists when the freeway dead ends in the middle of downtown.

This problem will long be one that the city lives with until OCTA, city officials and the city fathers of Newport Beach get together and see whether they can collectively develop a plan that can resolve the dead end 55.

Until all the necessary officials sit down at the table and hammer out a realistic plan for the freeway, adding another lane to Newport Boulevard as suggested in my estimation amounts to no more than a Band-Aid solution and another unproductive disruption for the downtown business community.

In addition, if one really looks at this issue for the long term, any plan that could be considered one that will really make the 55 flow may be way more than any community could afford, and I am not talking about affording the plan in terms of dollars but rather in terms of the fact that a good portion of your city may be razed to accommodate a new freeway extension.

Do you really want a huge swath of land torn up to make a freeway?

And will Newport Beach ever allow Coast Highway to be widened so the 55 can flow efficiently?

In conclusion, while this has long been a topic for discussion even in the worst of traffic times how long does it really take to drive from Newport Beach to the 55 northbound entrance?

If you plan ahead a bit this small delay in the scheme of life may be a small price to pay to keep Costa Mesa a destination spot rather than a city people drive by at 75 mph.

Ask yourself what Laguna Beach would be like if Coast Highway became three lanes in each direction; the same question could be asked of Newport Beach and Huntington Beach.

It just could be that improving the 55 Freeway to one that really works could turn out to be a real negative for the community.

TOM NETH

Costa Mesa