Shopping cart problem has simple solution I...

Shopping cart problem has simple solution

I have a novel idea about how to eliminate the shopping cart

problem. Simply arrest the people that steal the carts. It’s simple.

CHRIS EDMAN

Newport Beach

Clearing the runway for future transportation needs

My husband and I just returned from a wonderful trip to New York

and we were very much impressed with their past leadership’s

incredible vision and foresight with their excellent people-moving

methods, such as subways and bus systems.

While our past Southern California leaders were pandering to

automobile manufacturers and gasoline companies in designing our

transportation methods in the region, we -- the commuters -- got left

behind the eight ball. No matter how many freeways and toll roads we

construct, commuters spend countless hours on the road each morning

and afternoon, stuck in the gridlock -- or on freeways, often

referred to as parking lots.

What were the visionaries thinking when this transportation system

was developed? It doesn’t appear that the visionaries thought in

terms of the best interest of commuters 10, 20 or 30 years in the

future. It appears that there were only going for the quick fix.

We are now faced with a few people, who see themselves as

visionaries, committing another huge transportation blunder with the

federal government’s gift of the former El Toro Marine Base to Orange

County. Let me explain that I do not wish to close John Wayne

Airport, however, the reality is that JWA is not equipped for

expansion.

So, we must ask those who see themselves as visionaries -- once

again -- are they going only for the quick fix? This is nothing more

than a land grab by developers, who wish to make profit on land that

should be used for an airport. In fact, it already is an airport and

had been used in such a capacity for years before.

Let’s do the right thing and make use of an existing airport that

can provide transportation for our future needs.

We need a real visionary to please stand up and do it the right

way. We are asking everyone to think about our future in terms of the

good of the whole community. Please, think about life here in 20, 30

or 40 years from now.

RACHEL PEREZ-HAMILTON

Costa Mesa

Marked crosswalks a must for all beach walkways

We frequently walk down Superior Avenue, cross Coast Highway at

the cross walk and walk along the beach for exercise. There are many

joggers, bike riders and walkers doing this daily, at all hours, and

even in the dark of night.

Laguna Beach’s main intersection on Coast Highway has a

well-marked crosswalk to the beach with reflectors in the pavement.

I know a bridge is out of the question because of costs but if the

city can afford the possibility of a bridge at Mariner’s Mile, why

not at Coast Highway and Superior Avenue, which is more heavily used

for beach access?

ARLENE WEINER

Newport Beach