READERS RESPOND

* AT ISSUE: Most residents agree that something must be done to keep

traffic and development from overrunning Newport Beach, but people are at

odds over what might be the better solution: Measure S or Measure T.

In 1979, we moved our family and business to Newport Beach because of

the wonderful area it was to live, work and play. The leaders of this

great city have done a remarkable job of maintaining this quality of life

while enabling businesses like ours to serve this community and to

support all the wonderful benefits and charities of our area.

I’m sure that both the supporters and opponents of Measures S and T

all have the best interest of Newport Beach at heart. It is my

understanding that if Measure S [the Greenlight initiative] passes, some

small businesses would be required to go through the city’s approval

process of public hearings, and approval by both the Planning Commission

and City Council. Then this small project would have to face a vote of

the entire city. If an election was not already scheduled, they could

have to wait up to two years or pay the expense of an election to move

forward with their plans. These costs and delays seem unfair to small

business -- the backbone of this community.

Our representative government has served this country and city very

well. Measure S could be a threat to the camaraderie of the citizens of

this city, possibly placing district against district.

Can you imagine having to vote on every business, church or school

that needed to add an extra classroom or work space? Only a few would

have the time to vote in so many elections and they would make decisions

for all of us. Is that what we want -- a few individuals deciding what is

best in your district?

Our community is made up of families, churches, schools and

businesses, and our city government is working. I am sure the more this

community studies Measure S and the extra burden it would place on all of

us, we will decide to vote no on Measure S.

LULA HALFACRE

Newport Beach

Some years ago, about 20 or so, while flying home from a spring break

vacation in San Francisco, I met a family from South Africa. We struck up

a conversation and I discovered they were on the last legs of an American

tour.

“So, what do you think of our country,” I asked, and was taken aback

at their emphatic reply: “Crowded.”

After some questioning, I found out they had been to New York, Boston,

Chicago, Washington D.C., and had just left San Francisco for a few days

at Disneyland before heading home. As far as they were concerned, America

was full of big buildings, crowded houses and congested traffic. I

couldn’t let them leave with such an impression, so invited them to

experience a “traditional” Southern California family home with dinner at

my folks’ house. They were delighted to accept and I picked them up the

next afternoon at the Disneyland Hotel.

Wanting to show them the uncrowded beauty of Orange County, I took the

scenic route to my parents’ house at Harbor View Hills in Newport. From

Anaheim, we took the Golden State Freeway toward Saddleback’s purple

silhouette, past real Irvine meadows to wind down Laguna Canyon Road.

There we were surrounded by the verdant canyon walls, peppered with

wildflowers and mustard patches, and followed the few funky signs, houses

and businesses skirting the road. We drove through Laguna and on up Coast

Highway, where the hills on the right rolled down to the highway. I felt

such pride and gratitude as we all were awed by the panorama of coastal

cliffs and setting sun above the ocean.

At the time, there even were horses grazing above what used to be

Scotchman’s Cove. Fashion Island really was an island then, its few

multistoried buildings encircled by natural fields as we traveled up

MacArthur to turn at the big red barn, complete with a few “pet” buffalo,

on Ford Road.

The fact that various slow-growth initiatives (Greenlight, etc.) are

on the ballot in various cities is no surprise to those of us who

remember what it was like 20, even 10 years ago in Orange County. I only

wish I could vote “yes” on all the slow-growth initiatives and measures

in the county, because what happens in Newport, Costa Mesa, Laguna and

every surrounding city affects us all. As I make my way through Orange

County today, it’s heartbreaking how much the “scenic” route has changed.

The vistas are almost filled with houses and skyscrapers. From Coast

Highway, the ocean and sunset can still be seen, but the hills

overlooking them are congested with mini mansions. Scotchman’s Cove has

long been crystallized.

I sometimes imagine how the conversation would go if I met the South

African family today ... “So what do you think of our country,” I’d ask.

Their emphatic reply: “Crowded.”

I’d sigh and say “Yes ... it is.”

KARE HODGE GRAMS

Costa Mesa

Residents beware of distortions of Measure S being offered by

proponents who view Newport as a commodity to be exploited for profit!

They believe that we citizens need them to interpret our election

material.

Guess again. I am voting yes on Measure S because it will allow us to

tame development, as thoughtfully entitled by our General Plan. Only

extravagant increases to this plan would go before the voters in the

subsequent, already-funded general election. Some I might consider good

for Newport; others, such as massive convention hotels, I could vote

against. Remember, the vote would only go to the people if the council

approved the excess development in the first place.

We residents of Newport Beach, renters and homeowners alike, have a

big stake in the future evolution of our city. Overdevelopment -- the

wrong kind of development -- and increased traffic, are expensive to our

well-being.

I am grateful to the citizens that brought Measure S to the ballot by

signing the Greenlight initiative. It’s time to bring checks and balances

to city government.

MARIANNE TOWERSEY

Newport Beach

As the most vocal City Council candidate in favor of the Greenlight

initiative, I was more than a little disappointed that the Newport Beach

Police employees union said they would oppose the initiative.

It seems rather strange that this decision was made without talking to

either myself or to the Greenlight people. It appears from the comments

attributed to the police union that they have been the victims of

misinformation on the part of Measure T proponents.

Greenlight (Measure S) and Measure T are not two different ways to do

the same thing. They are two entirely different measures. The Greenlight

initiative is to control development and does not eliminate the Traffic

Phasing Ordinance we now have. Developers will still be required to pay

to mitigate traffic problems caused by their developments.

On the other hand, Measure T does nothing to preclude development. If

it passes, its main purpose is to kill the Greenlight initiative and to

put the present Traffic Phasing Ordinance into the City Charter, which

will make it more difficult to strengthen in the future.

I hope the police union will send representatives of their group to

the debate on the subject of Measure S versus Measure T sponsored by the

Speak Up Newport group. Perhaps after hearing arguments presented in an

open forum, from both sides, they may very well wish to reconsider their

position of opposing Greenlight.

ROBERT SCHOONMAKER

Balboa Island