MAILBAG - Oct. 15, 2006

Former mayor wants to see ethics in City Hall

I just wanted to say that I appreciated Tom Johnson’s Oct. 6 Fair Game column, “Newport can stop the dirty politics.”

The one thing that we really must do is get back to some ethics in the city of Newport Beach. That is so important to us, and I just want to say thanks for that column.

EVELYN HART

Newport Beach

I live in Santa Ana Heights, which is in City Council District 4. Leslie Daigle is our councilwoman. She has been the most responsive and helpful government representative our community has ever had.

Over the last decade, our neighborhood has been plagued by a house that has been the site of significant criminal activity. Over the years, neighbors pleaded for help from every government agency we could think of — all to no avail. Finally, a neighborhood meeting was arranged and Daigle was invited to attend. She brought with her two code enforcement officers and two police officers. This heightened scrutiny greatly assisted in forcing the landlord to evict the tenants.

This is but one example of the good work I have witnessed from Leslie Daigle, and she will assuredly get my vote.

RONALD E. DARLING

Santa Ana Heights

Newport voters need to bring in a clean sweep

Dirty politics has forced Barbara Venezia — a candidate committed to listening to and representing our interests versus those of special interest groups, a candidate focused on real issues versus false promises and innuendo, a candidate who has consistently demonstrated integrity, passion and character — to withdraw from the Newport Beach City Council election. We cannot sit by and let this happen.

With six of the seven City Council seats up for election, we have a unique opportunity to vote in a “clean slate.”

Do not let the candidates whose efforts have resulted in more traffic, more planes and more noise; the candidates who believe in dirty politics and will stop at nothing to win; the candidates who are backed predominantly by developers who are controlling our city for their gain win again. It is time to protect our interests and take back Newport.

Vote for a clean slate. Vote for Barbara Venezia. Vote to protect your home and your family on Nov 7.

TAMARA WATT

Newport Beach

Voters should check out councilman’s support

I found the comments of Jamshed H. Dastur in the Oct. 7 Mailbag right to the point (“Councilman Ridgeway needs to apologize”). Bullying and threatening people appears to be acceptable behavior in Newport Beach City Councilman Tod Ridgeway’s councilmanic skills inventory, and he states that they do not impugn one’s ability to be a councilperson. However, Ridgeway has found it difficult to apologize for many of his often pompous remarks in the almost eight years he has been councilman. But not to worry, no recall will be needed. He will be termed out in less than a month.

You may wish to keep your eyes and ears open to who and what he is supporting in the coming election.

In the words of the great Notre Dame football coach Frank Lahey: “Egotism is the antiseptic that dulls the pain of stupidity.”

TOM TOBIN

Balboa

City should enforce crimes along beaches

I am writing about the vandalism and crime that is taking over the beach area in Newport Beach on the evenings and weekends. Something must be done. There should be a patrol and no overnight parking after the beaches are closed.

We visit our sister and husband there and are outraged at what they have to put up with. Protect your city and be proud.

JOHN and NICOLE HOWENSTINE

Capistrano Beach

Where does car show controversy leave tenants?

I’m calling in reference to the article “Them’s the brakes for local car show,” (Oct. 3). My question would be to the Irvine Co., or should I say the tenants of the Irvine Co. If I were a tenant there and these people were coming in and doing business in the facility and they are now chasing business away, I would want to question my lease and get it rewritten or canceled. This car show goes on in the early morning on Saturdays, when, if I’m not mistaken, the only thing open in that area is the coffee shops. And I doubt very seriously if the shops don’t enjoy the business that these guys bring.

This is really not a car show — this is just a gathering of a bunch of guys showing off their cars and having a cup of coffee.

So where the Irvine Co. is coming from, trying to chase business away from its tenants, I don’t quite understand. But if that’s the way they’re doing business, I think somebody needs to address that issue from the tenants’ side.

PAUL DAVIS

Newport Beach

Car show does disturb neighborhood

I live in Crystal Cove above the Crystal Cove Promenade. Just so people know, Crystal Cove is not just a retail center. It’s also a residential area, and I live about two streets above the promenade, and if you could come to my house at 6:30 a.m. any Saturday morning you would hear the revving of the 400-horsepower motors and the screeching and squealing of brakes as they wheel in and wheel out of the promenade.

Apparently, people think that there are very few people opposed to the Saturday morning car show. I’d like to say that many of the residents here are not in favor of it, basically because some of the individuals that drive those cars get their jollies by making the noise with the brakes, with the motors and so on.

Now, I’m going to make a simple suggestion — they’re looking for a new venue for this car show?

I suggest that they go to the Orange County Fairgrounds. It may cost them some money, but if you can afford a $200,000 car, you ought to be able to afford the cost of using a venue that may charge you a few dollars.

STEVEN SPEECH

Newport Beach