Mailbag: Assemblyman’s statements were thin on specifics

I am appreciative that my state assemblyman wrote his constituents of his intentions (“Commentary: I resolve to fight for schools, small businesses in 2016,” Jan. 14). But the Trump-like style of incredibly broad generalities is wearing thin, so on a local level I’d like a dash of details and specifics.

What is Mr. Harper’s definition of “burdensome” regulations on small business?”

I’m asking because the Irvine City Council eliminated a $41 fee to license a business based on the same argument of relieving small businesses. I’d respectively offer that perhaps undercapitalization may be the greater obstacle if, when opening a business, you can’t afford the cost similar to licensing your dog. So what, specifically, would you eliminate to encourage small business? In fact, what do you consider a “small” business?

Harper mentions “pet” projects funded by new taxes being something he wants to resist. I’m with you, Mr Harper, but what’s your definition of “pet project”? The gasoline tax you mentioned was intended to help fund road maintenance and bridges, overpasses, etc. My husband and I are retired. so we won’t be starting up any businesses any time soon, but we do drive and use the roads so that doesn’t feel like a “pet” project to us.

Please give us some verifiable, detailed, genuine idea of what we have to look forward to from you, and by what we may judge your performance.

Janis Morris

Irvine

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AirCal story brought back memories

Thanks for the Air Cal article (“Former AirCal employees get together at JWA to reminisce,” Jan. 18). I believe that Air Cal was not the first commercial airline to fly out of SNA. Perhaps Bonanza Airlines was earlier. During the 1950s, the only airline flights were Bonanza’s few flights between Los Angeles and Phoenix, via San Diego.

In 1963, Bonanza started nonstop F27s to Phoenix, and to Las Vegas in 1965; in 1967, Air California started Electra nonstops to San Francisco, 48 flights a week each way. The first scheduled jet flights were Bonanza DC-9s later in 1967.

Phil Salisbury

Costa Mesa

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Time to advance Duchenne cause in Congress

I am writing to tell you about a local connection to a historic Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hearing this week. On Jan. 22, I plan to testify in Washington, D.C., concerning a promising treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the most common fatal childhood genetic disease.

My 23-year-old son, Dusty Brandom, has Duchenne. Dusty is a student at UC Irvine, and you will see him zipping around the community in his electric wheelchair. Our non-profit Coalition Duchenne funds Duchenne research. Dusty’s story has featured in the award-winning documentary “Dusty’s Trail: Summit of Borneo” at the Newport Beach Film Festival and in film festivals around the world.

Currently there is no FDA-approved treatment or cure for Duchenne, and life expectancy is severely shortened. A new drug, eteplirsen, is the first seemingly safe and efficacious potential Duchenne treatment to go before the FDA. A decade ago, the Dusty Brandom Fellowship at the University of Western Australia laid some of the scientific groundwork for the drug.

Though eteplirsen will not work for Dusty, its approval will pave the way for other treatments using the same technology, and these will help Dusty and a high percentage of those with Duchenne.

I have asked Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) to consider signing a Congressional letter circulating on Capitol Hill in support of Duchenne families. Congress has given the FDA the authority to approve new therapies for rare diseases with small populations. Our family is very thankful for all of the support of this community. We hope that the FDA acts now on eteplirsen.

Cath Jayasuriya

Newport Beach