MAILBAG - Aug. 10, 2000

I was especially pleased to read recently of the Newport Beach City

Council’s pursuit to obtain an extension of the operational restrictions

on John Wayne Airport to the year 2025 (“Council hopes to extend airport

restrictions,” Aug. 3).

This is, in my opinion, an attainable, appropriate and necessary move

on behalf of the residents of the city of Newport Beach and the

surrounding communities. I wish to encourage the council to keep all of

us informed of its progress and to rigorously pursue this goal.

WALTER G. HOWALD

Newport Beach

Badham defends his support of the Dunes

Today’s Daily Pilot carried a response to my letter of June 29. Barry

Cole missed my point entirely (“Resident disagrees with Badham’s views on

the Dunes,” July 27).

I have not “... forgotten the Marriott, the Newporter, the Four

Seasons, the Sutton Place, the Radisson, the Balboa Bay Club ...” etc.

Rather, I was specifically referring to them because those hotels’

meeting rooms and ballrooms cannot hold more than about 350 to 400

people. That is not big enough for the larger functions that many people

of our city attend on a regular basis.

The yacht clubs and private clubs aren’t big enough either and don’t

cater to large functions, anyway.

I don’t know just how long Cole has lived in our community or where he

lives. I have lived in and owned property in Newport Beach since 1954,

and my parents and grandparents were here before that.

I have owned homes in Harbor Highlands, Westcliff and Dover Shores

and, since 1992, have lived on and owned homes on Balboa Island. I guess

that’s “near the Dunes project.”

If Cole and others want to preserve “open space” which is not theirs,

incidentally, why don’t they buy it and landscape it and maintain it and

keep it “open”?

ROBERT E. BADHAM

Balboa Island

Why is Cox happy about Cheney choice?

So Christopher Cox is happy that George W. Bush has named Dick Cheney

as his running mate (“Locals cheer Cheney as Bush’s running mate,” July

26).

Did anyone expect that Republicans would say Cheney was a poor choice?

Or that they would question that choice for publication? Who knows what

their honest opinion is in private.

The consensus around here is that Cheney was Papa Bush’s

recommendation. It would seem natural that the son would take advice from

his father, the former president. He could profit by Papa’s mistakes and

try to avoid similar ones.

SIDNEY TRIGHER

Costa Mesa

Greenlight gives the citizens an option

The reason people signed the Greenlight petition is because they like

Newport Beach the way it is. That is why we moved here and why we remain

here.

Apparently, the City Council does not understand the passion behind

10,000 signatures. Instead, with a flippant “we-know-best attitude,” they

appeared ready to allow the massive Dunes resort project to go forward

with what I believe is only a minor reduction in the promoter’s plans.

Thus, council members offer proof to us common citizens of the

necessity to vote yes on Greenlight. Apparently, it is the only way we

can have an impact on big development in our city.

ANDREA MASON

Newport Beach