Letter writer nails it regarding ficus...

Letter writer nails it regarding ficus trees

Here ye Lynn Miller (Sounding Board, “Don’t remove ficus trees;

install new pipes,� Sunday). Hers has been the first letter I’ve read

regarding the Balboa trees that actually explains the situation. Her

letter rings true in its history, details and logic. I add my name to

the long list of those insisting we keep the trees. Lynn Miller, the

trees thank you, the community thanks you and I thank you.

SUSAN MOORE

Newport Beach

Artist, not Diedrich’s or police, was wrong

The Sept. 6 article “Complaint filed against Costa Mesa Police�

claims that a local artist was “decorating the outside walls� of a

Diedrich’s coffee house.

As a regular Diedrich’s patron, I am familiar with the graffiti

referred to as “decoration� and have repeatedly urged its removal, as

have numerous other regular Diedrich’s patrons.

The writings likely violate the city of Costa Mesa Property

Maintenance Regulations irrespective of the local artist’s claim that

he was recently given permission to write on Diedrich’s walls. These

regulations state that “All structures, equipment, walls and fencing

on the property shall be maintained free of graffiti pursuant to

Chapter VII 1/2 of Title 11.�

The relevance of the artist’s claim of permission is further

eroded by his admission that he applied the graffiti for months prior

to seeking permission and Diedrich’s president’s claim that the

artist had been repeatedly told to stop writing on the walls.

It is apparent that the whole incident could have been avoided had

the artist ceased to write on the walls when originally requested to

do so, checked and complied with local city regulations, left the

property when requested to do so by the manager, or followed police

instructions when they were called as a result of his behavior. It is

apparent that the artist, rather than Diedrich’s or the Costa Mesa

police, handled the situation in a wholly inappropriate manner.

THOMAS R. DAMIANI

Newport Beach

Drivers need to be much more careful

As a pedestrian, I would like to voice my displeasure at the

drivers in Costa Mesa. Whether they are Costa Mesa residents is

anyone’s guess. The other day, my friend and I were trying to cross

19th Street (from Border’s to Triangle Square).

My friend needs support to walk with her wheelchair. We were

three-quarters across the street. To our distress, it became a green

light for cars traveling toward us. They darted forward. We certainly

weren’t moseying across. I yelled at one of the drivers. They all

gave us dirty looks. If I had had a cell phone, I would have called

the police(and bothered to try and get the license numbers). Those

drivers know who they are (if they are Daily Pilot readers).

This isn’t the first time I’ve tried to cross the street, and the

drivers are a lot less than courteous. This isn’t right.

I am a licensed driver (just without a car, right now). When I

drove, whenever I saw a pedestrian, I stopped for him/her/them.

I did see some “justice� the other day.

I was crossing 19th Street at Pomona Avenue (headed toward where

Smart and Final and the senior center are). I was crossing in the

crosswalk. Others were coming-pedestrians-toward me.

A car made a left-hand turn. She didn’t hit anyone. I heard a

(welcoming) police siren pull that woman over. Too bad her car didn’t

get impounded.

I’d like to remind everyone(while I am on my soapbox), the

motorist, who hit a man about three weeks ago, also coincidentally on

19th Street, to my knowledge hasn’t been found. This was a

73-year-old man, I might add. It could have been your father, uncle

or grandfather that got hit.

Hopefully, this letter will inspire a lot of drivers to be more

mindful of we pedestrians.

JUDITH HUNT

Costa Mesa

Wimbledon was guaranteed a wall

I went to numerous meetings on the Home Ranch and there were

various presentations for the homeowners groups (“Residents cry foul

in Home Ranch dealings,� Sept. 5). I was unable to attend one of the

Mesa Verde ones and went to a Wimbledon one instead and it was

stated, “We have agreed to� provide sound attenuations for Wimbledon.

When folks in other areas of the city were fighting the project,

we were told by the [Home Ranch] folks that we’re going to get our

noise wall, and I think some people even thought they were going to

get doubled paned glass, so we were satisfied.

It was common knowledge throughout the city that something was

going to be provided to attenuate noise for Wimbledon and now it’s

not being done and I think that’s very sad.

SANDRA GENIS

Costa Mesa

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Sandra Genis is a former Costa Mesa mayor and

councilwoman.