Mailbag - Aug. 30, 2001

Job Center a great aspect of community

I definitely think that we should keep the job center over on

Placentia Avenue (“Dayworkers debate to continue in September,” Aug. 22).

More things should be done in the community to develop people having jobs

rather than take them away.

SARAH MILOION

Costa Mesa

Voters should support the Koll expansion

I was sorry to read Martin A. Brower’s Sounding Board (“Unfortunately,

Koll project has no chance,” Sunday). I usually agree with his positions.

Who appointed him the registrar of voters?

My hope would be that the business community comes out in force and

votes for the Koll project. Those that choose to vote against this ballot

issue can kiss their quality of life goodbye -- layoffs for city

services, i.e. fire and police, due to lack of tax dollars to support our

luxuries. Employees of companies located here in the city spend their

money here for lunch, shoes, gifts, etc. They pay their fair share to

make our lives comfortable.

BARBARA DeBOOM

Newport Beach

Red light system has some benefits

Regarding installing camera and speed monitoring systems in Costa

Mesa: The part of the system that I am impressed with is its ability to

delay the timing of the green cross-traffic signal lights (“City may put

brakes on red-light runners,” Aug 15).

This should help prevent an unsuspecting motorist pulling out into the

path of a speeding vehicle that may not be able to stop properly when

approaching a red light. (Recently I almost became a victim of an auto

speeding through a red light.)

However, the part of the system that we need to be very cautious of is

adequate duration for the yellow light. Important also is the time gap

between when the red light comes on and when the cross-traffic green

light comes on when using this system. If the timing of the system is

improperly programmed, this mindless device can be very expensive to the

motorist who has been entrapped by it.

With proper installation, I believe that this system could make our

streets safer and also help free up some of the officers patrolling our

streets -- for other duty.

JACK GORDON

Costa Mesa

Allan Beek should trust City Council

Allan Beek seeks to overturn the City Council, which worked endlessly

to iron out an annexation procedure (“Beek launches anti-annexation

campaign,” Aug. 23).

It is a fundamental principle of representative government that the

laws and regulations are made by that representative body.

In some countries like Switzerland, there is an endless series of

initiatives voted on by the populace. It led to minority positions

prevailing, such as holding off the women’s vote until the 1970s.

Newport Beach government is not perfect.

Don’t forget the Speedway and Auto Bistro. His objections are

obviously centered around the possibility of a greater Newport Beach

weakening his Greenbelt coalition.

LEON LYON

Newport Coast