Back Bay photography still wowing the readers...

Back Bay photography still wowing the readers

We would like to add our admiration for Kent Treptow’s beautiful

photos of the Back Bay. Nice work.

NANCY AND BOB ROBISON

Newport Beach

Taxing the rich is an upsetting thought

I’d like to compliment Alicia Robinson for her reportage on Jan.

3, “Tax proposition divides labor, business.” She accurately reviewed

both sides of the Proposition 56 issue, just one of the many measures

competing for our attention on the March 2 ballot. But now that the

fair and balanced reporting has been presented, what’s needed by

concerned Californians is a “get out the no vote” campaign. I’ll

presume to lead the charge.

Democrats have, for years, controlled both houses of our

Legislature, and, until recently, every single statewide elective

office. In that same period, they managed to turn a $10-billion

surplus into a $35-billion debt, and our bonds into junk. The

Democrats will tell you that the only way out of this situation --

one clearly of their making -- is to raise taxes, especially on the

rich.

You know who the “rich” are, don’t you? That’s those of us who

make more money than the people whose votes Democrats want to buy

with income redistributed from the “rich.” The only reason they

haven’t been able to raise taxes thus far, even though their

membership controls 60% of the Assembly and 62% of the Senate, is

because they’ve for decades needed a supermajority of 66% to pass the

increase, and the minority Republicans have fortunately refused to go

along with this folly. Is there anyone that doubts it would take

more than mere minutes for the Democrats to raise taxes if

Proposition 56 passes?

There’s an old saying: “One should never watch sausage or laws

being made.” I for one want to make -- or keep -- it as tough as

possible for legislators to pass bad public policy, and the worst

public policy I can think of is to once again raise one of the

highest state tax rates in the country.

At some point, the draw of wonderful weather and ocean breezes

will lose out to the tax-free deserts of Nevada or Arizona, and our

better-heeled citizens will relocate in droves. And they’ll take with

them the jobs we so desperately need. Remember, with the exception of

the 40,000 folks Gov. Gray Davis hired after his self-imposed hiring

freeze, government doesn’t create jobs -- people do. This reverse

migration of people and their businesses is happening right now, and

it will get much, much worse if we don’t keep our lawmakers in check.

I urge my fellow citizens to vote against Proposition 56 and ask each

and every one of their friends to do exactly the same. The future of

the state may depend upon it.

CHUCK CASSITY

Costa Mesa

Will Marinapark make dollars and sense?

I believe the Marinapark Resort situation should be looked at on a

dollar and cents basis. For example, how much income does the city of

Newport Beach get currently from this mobile home park? According to

news reports, it is estimated that the hotel will give $1 million in

revenues plus $714,000 for hall rentals, which is a total of near

$1.8 million. Plus, there is no estimate given on how much rent the

developer might pay to the city.

It seems to me that the city fathers, people and politicians

should be able to give the voters an estimate -- a reasonable

estimate -- of what income the city will get from this project and

how much they are currently getting from the mobile home park. I am

sure it is going to be very profitable for the city. I am strongly in

support of this project.

RICHARD SPURZEM

Balboa