Ferry not a problem for Newport...

Ferry not a problem for Newport Beach

As a lifetime Newport Beach resident and a six-year veteran of the

Balboa Island Ferry, I was highly amused by the comments of Geoffrey

Davis in his letter entitled “Where’s the beef -- er, traffic?”

(Wednesday). Though I agree that the Greenlight project has many

problems, I feel Davis would better serve his time addressing these

issues rather than attacking what he perceives to be the duplicity of

the Beek family. The ferry serves automobiles that would be driving

on the peninsula regardless of whether it existed or not. The exhaust

they produce is therefore negligible. The reality of the situation is

that the Greenlight project is not about traffic or the environment.

It is primarily concerned with halting development, and thus halting

tourism in the area. Greenlight supporters are members of what

amounts to a very wealthy and elderly aristocracy, to which I would

wager Davis and his “garden party” cohorts belong. Through a willing

police force, which is more or less at their disposal, they have

already greatly decreased the amount of tourism in Balboa. The

Greenlight project is merely the last step in the systematic

strangulation of revenue for the city.

Anyone who owns or works at a tourist-related business in Balboa

can attest to the fact that revenue has dropped over the last 10

years. Contrary to the opinion of Mr. Davis, traffic on the ferry has

steadily decreased in the years I’ve been there. Tourists, and more

importantly, tourist dollars, have gone elsewhere, and no amount of

trees or widened sidewalks will bring them back. Only a serious

reevaluation of Greenlight by both residents and business owners can

alter what has become a dangerous course. The true Greenlight debate

lies not in traffic or environmental issues, but rather whether those

who have already made their fortunes will allow those who haven’t to

try.

RICHARD T. FITZGEORGE III

Balboa

Bell Curve straight on the Agran point

The Bell Curve was almost perfect in the column about Larry Agran

and El Toro (“Agran proved no angel in El Toro’s end,” Thursday). I

would just like to add that Agran should bring Rep. Chris Cox with

him to the platform to get the Enron statues for the Best Performance

in Creative Deception. Cox played a major role in getting the Navy to

present El Toro to Irvine only one day after the last vote. Too bad

Cox hadn’t been as quick to protect his constituents when they had

voted to have it an airport previously.

My thanks to the Bell Curve for pointing out the deception behind

Proposition 51. Hopefully he will tackle some of the other

initiatives as well.

AGNES DUBBERLY

Costa Mesa