Median maintenance welcome in Newport This is...

Median maintenance welcome in Newport

This is in reply to the letter from Milt Meehan deploring the long

overdue maintenance and improvements that are being made to the

Irvine Avenue center divider in Newport Beach, which may also be

shared by Costa Mesa.

In fact no other area of Newport Beach has suffered such neglect

without an outcry from its patient residents, who are now very

pleased and grateful to all those involved in the improvements.

Almost every resident of any city welcomes improvements to the

environment in which he lives and raises his family. So, I can’t help

wondering where Meehan’s priorities lie. Can it be the brief and

temporary delay caused by the project that bothers him? If so I

suggest he consider that the real and serious problem on Irvine

Avenue is the increase in traffic shooting off the freeways and onto

our residential streets.

That is what needs to be immediately addressed. Not the welcomed

improvements to the Irvine Avenue center divider for which we say,

“Thank you” to all the officials involved.

REBA WILLIAMS

Newport Beach

Bridge’s not the only thing needing partnership

I read that Costa Mesa Councilwoman Libby Cowan wasdisappointed

over Newport Beach’s insistence of the bridge over the Santa Ana

River. How strange. Wasn’t she the one, as mayor, who saw no need to

have the Costa Mesa City Council support Newport Beach’s effort in

the conversion of El Toro to a civilian airport?

As to her “not-in-my-back-yard” reaction of Newport Beach, I

believe that word has been taken over exclusively by those who live

in South County. They bought and paid for it.

As to “faint-hearted politicians,” when your employer is a major

player in the final disposition of El Toro airport -- as is Cowan’s

boss, Irvine Mayor Larry Agran -- you should not call any other

politician fainthearted.

JACK DELUCA

Newport Beach

People, not gadgets, are what children need

I just read Steve Smith’s Family Time column titled, “Time out.

Why do kids need PDAs?” I agree with him 100%.

When I read the original article, that they were going to be given

the $700,000 technical grant and were given the Palm Pilots, I was a

little concerned.

Why do these kids need that? I have a Palm Pilot. I use it I love

it, and I think when this one wears out I will get another one, but I

agree that 11-, 12- and 13-year-olds do not need and should not have

personal digital assistance.

It’s exactly what Steve said. They are needed for books and

mentors and also more computers in the classroom.

MINNIE BALLARD

Newport Beach