Varying views on ‘facts’

I commend the Daily Pilot on the excellent editorial on Measure L.

It was factual, succinct and it exposed the hypocrisy of the few

individuals in Newport Beach who continually seek to twist the facts

on every issue facing this city just to meet their own, selfish

political agendas.

The Daily Pilot staff deserves kudos for seeing through their

political obfuscation.

CLARENCE J. TURNER

Newport Beach

The editorial ignores the most important issue surrounding this

measure.

Sutherland, the proposed developer, may not, as the editorial

argues, deserve the abuse being heaped upon him, but the negative

reaction of so many citizens and voters (and not just naysaying,

mud-slinging, flip-flopping Greenlighters, as your editorial implies)

has everything to do with the fact that the land, currently public

land held for the benefit of the residents of Newport Beach, and a

unique and irreplaceable piece of prime harbor front, is about to

possibly be given away into private hands.

Let’s not kid ourselves. Not only would Measure L not pass a smell

test anywhere else, but the measure wouldn’t even pass a laugh test.

Like the Balboa Bay Club land, once this land is developed, it is

gone for at least our lifetimes; we all know that.

Retaining this resource as unimproved open space or low-impact

parkland eliminates all problems, including the most important one --

giving extremely valuable public property rights away to private

parties at the expense of the public good.

MICHAEL E. MAGUIRE

Corona del Mar

I totally agree that “Facts should drive Measure L vote.”

Fact: Passage of Measure L will allow private commercial

development of public property. Fact: If Measure L fails, the

property can only be used for a park, marine recreational use or open

space. Soccer fields, boat ramps, Michael Talla’s investments and

whether Sutherland is a good guy or bad guy doesn’t really matter.

These are all distractions and “red herrings.”

Do we as a city want to have this property available in the future

to be used as a park, open space or for marine recreational use? Or,

do we want it to be available for a private commercial venture on

public land as is the Balboa Bay Club?

DENNIS BAKER

Corona del Mar