Readers Respond -- No red light yet on Greenlight debate

American Legion, Girls Scouts, and affordable bay front housing all

seem like a good thing for any city to have. Certainly most Newport Beach

residents would agree.

Why then did the Newport Beach City Council vote in August to take the

first step in elimination or relocating them by giving “fast track”

approval to Sutherland Talla, to develop the peninsula property where the

Legion, Scouts and mobile home park are? Why now? And why only one group?

No wonder those of us that have lived in the city for the past 30

years or more are supporting Greenlight (Measure S). It is very hard to

trust our current elected officials to safe keep our most precious

assets.

DORIS HOPE

Newport Beach

The Daily Pilot Readers’ Hotline question, “Will Greenlight solve the

city’s traffic problems?” asks too much.

Our traffic problems took years to create and come from many sources,

including prior city planning decisions. The goal of Measure S is more

modest -- let the people decide whether to allow additional traffic

congestion resulting from general plan amendments.

Measure S supporters were thoughtful voters. They didn’t believe the

outright deceitful ads or the patronizing, lecturing letters of the

Measure T campaign. Measure S supporters have sent a message to the City

Council -- follow the general plan, which already allows for growth, or

get voter approval. This is their charge, and judging from the money

invested on the other side, it is a challenging charge. We, the citizens,

need to keep our eyes and ears wide open.

Finally, Clarence Turner’s comment that Measure S volunteers were

“retired” people as opposed to the “working” people in the Measure T

campaign is rather comical. Turner, please share with us the number of

people on the Measure T payroll who were paid to write and disseminate

boatloads of mail and misinformation.

Meanwhile, a campaign of volunteers (many of whom also have real jobs)

defeated Measure T and passed Measure S by nearly a 2-1 margin. It is

also ludicrous to imply that all 63% of the “yes” voters were over the

age of 65. The people of Newport Beach have spoken. It’s time for the

City Council to listen!

BARBARA YEAGER

Newport Beach

The residents have spoken, passing Greenlight by a whopping 63.4% to

36.6%. The developers’ Measure T, designed to kill Greenlight, was

rejected by 64.9% of the voters.

It is crystal clear that the hundreds of Greenlight volunteers, along

with 63.4% of the residents, were convinced that the City Council and the

developers were out of sync with the citizens of Newport Beach, when

development and traffic issues were on the table.

Surely a vote which amassed almost two-thirds “yes” votes sends a

clear signal that residents will not tolerate uncontrolled development

and associated traffic gridlock.

So where do we go from here?

1. Greenlight leaders would welcome the opportunity to consult with

the City Council and city staff to help interpret and implement the

details of a law which would reflect the spirit of Measure S.

2. Prior to the election, members of the council used their elected

seats as bully pulpits, openly encouraging the electorate to vote against

Greenlight. Both council and staff are now obligated to do a 180 degree

turn and “listen” to the voice of all of their constituents, not just to

the Irvine Co., the chamber of commerce and the city employees’ unions.

City Council actions, not just words, must reflect the views of the

citizens of Newport Beach.

3. The developers must discontinue requests for general plan

amendments that violate the spirit of Greenlight. Action, not vague

promises, are needed from the Irvine Co. and other developers.

It remains to be seen as to what degree Greenlight’s opponents are

willing to listen to the voice of the people. Greenlight leadership

welcomes a cooperative atmosphere.

We especially want to say thank you to all the volunteers and the

hard-working steering committee members.

EVELYN HART

TOM HYANS

PHIL ARST Newport Beach

Editor’s Note: Hart, Hyans and Arst were all leaders of the Greenlight

Measure S campaign.