LETTER TO THE EDITOR:Newport needs to control its growth

Regarding the view that Newport’s traffic is a result of people passing through town: Yes, we have no control over adjacent cities’ development, and pass-through traffic is unavoidable. However, a very, very high percentage of traffic is local.

The idea mentioned by one letter writer of constructing a building here so a business now located in Irvine can move here is pie in the sky.

We can only control our own traffic. To do this, we must protect ourselves from overdevelopment. The arterials of Pacific Coast Highway, MacArthur Boulevard, Jamboree Road, Irvine-Dover and Newport Boulevard are congested most of the day and are close to gridlock at early morning, noon and late afternoon.

Is this frustration causing the speed and willful disregard of traffic laws that is approaching a state of anarchy? Pity the mother when driving children to school and other necessary errands throughout the day. We must control what we can. That is accomplished by supporting measures that protect against overdevelopment.

Bureaucrats and their master-planning can’t be trusted if we want to keep Newport a pleasant place to live. The city government’s agenda and general plan update, Measure V, take away any previous control that we, the voters, approved.

GILES ALLISON

Newport Beach