Mailbag:

Here’s a possible solution to the O.C. Fairgrounds sale:

Both my wife and I have been trying to stay up on the latest regarding the sale. I am a 30-year resident of Costa Mesa. Personally, both my wife and I would be interested in being a “shareholder” in the fairgrounds.

What if a survey were done and then a vote taken to determine how many of Costa Mesa’s residents would be open to the same idea? It would be a shame to let the state handle the future any longer than they already have, as they are fiscally irresponsible.

If enough of the Costa Mesa residents were open to being a shareholder or partners, then our problem would be solved. I have to believe that there are enough residents to make the overall monthly payment on a loan an affordable payment for those of us interested. It’s worth a try, and we’ll never know if we don’t ask the residents what their interest level is via a survey.

David Bunnell

Costa Mesa

Russian orchestra? What’s the local angle?

The Daily Pilot gave me indigestion. On the front page was a picture of the Miriinsky Theatre Orchestra, with Valery Gergiev conducting (“Demanding greatness,” March 26). The Daily Pilot, which prides itself on reporting about local sports, local schools, local politics, local people and local happenings featured an orchestra from Russia with appeals to support the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg! Costa Mesa and Newport Beach have many wonderful needs to be supported without us going to Russia.

Orange County has a world class orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, that plays regularly here in Costa Mesa and performs almost 100 concerts a year. Pacific Symphony is our “local “ orchestra, and they should be the one on the front page! Pacific Symphony toured Europe a couple of years ago. Never once did they appeal for funds to support their orchestra!

Elizabeth Stahr

Corona del Mar

Readers should get to know Turkish issues

I applaud Mayor Keith Curry for making a trip to Turkey with other members of the Mariners Church under the sponsorship of the Pacifica Foundation (“Mayor defends Turkey trip,” April 4).

For five weeks my husband and I traveled independently around Turkey, where we had many face-to-face encounters, which led us to conclude that the complex political and social situation there is not well covered by our media.

Near Ankara we stopped in front of a hotel to look for a room and were invited to sleep at a family’s home. The husband was Kurdish and a judge. From him we learned of opportunities for Kurdish people — his daughter was a university student — and that terrorist groups threatened schools and factories established by the Turkish government to increase economic development in the county’s southeast.

Along the Black Sea coast we found ourselves in a town without a hotel at evening time. A local arranged for us to camp in the city park. He told us about compulsory military service for males in Turkey. A chance meeting with a retired teacher resulted in us hiking together and learning about schools and education.

As Curry mentioned in the Daily Pilot article, being in a foreign country, and not cocooned in a resort, allows folks to talk about current issues. The Pacifica Institute promotes international peace through understanding. They also sponsor schools, and, here in Orange County, underwrite the Anatolian Festival, which will take place this year at the Great Park from May 6 to 9. I hope that Curry also supports the Pacifica Institute in its worthwhile mission and that other Daily Pilot readers will get better acquainted with Turkish citizens.

Diane Baker

Corona del Mar