LETTER OF THE WEEK

I noticed a number of people on the Daily Pilot’s Top 103 Most

Influential People in Newport-Mesa list who have made their fortunes from

developing the land in and around Newport Beach. They have reaped the

benefits of the beauty of the Newport-Mesa area and have become some of

the wealthiest individuals in America. However, it seems that they have

neglected or ignored their responsibility to protect the ecological and

environmental stability of the area.

With all the money earned from these projects and the discretionary funds

available in this area that allows people to build 10,000-square-foot

homes, it seems tragic that our Back Bay has been allowed to deteriorate

into an open sewage disposal. During the last five years since my husband

and I have been running in the Back Bay, we have seen and felt a huge

change in the environment.

In numerous locations along the bay, the smell has become so foul that we

have to cover our mouths and not breathe while we pass by. When the tide

is low, we can see toilet paper, beer cans and every sort of trash washed

up along the shore. Recently, when we took out-of-town friends kayaking

in the Back Bay, we became extremely embarrassed about the smell and the

muck that clung to our oars.

If these most influential people want to be acknowledged in our community

in a way that directly relates back to the land from which they have

benefited, then there is a simple solution. In Los Angeles County all

commercial developers are required to allocate 1% of their construction

budget to art. This means that they have to contribute to the cultural

education of the community and at the same time, enhance the site with an

object of beauty.

The city of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa can designate that 1% of any

building project over $1,000,000 (whether a commercial structure or a

private residence), be allocated to environmental protection of the Back

Bay. Why is it that a lone surfer paddles to Catalina to raise $15,000

for cleanup, or modest families spend their Saturday picking up trash or

a group such as Defend the Bay struggles to get people to pay attention?

We need millions of dollars to get a handle on this tragic situation

before it is too late. We have access to the money right here in the

community from the people who have an obligation to this land we share.

When the smell begins to seep into the air and travel over the entire

city, up into the hills, across the roads, out to the coast, how will the

developers defend their lined pockets and grand estates? JULIE MAURER

Newport Beach