Sell current Newport Beach city hall land ASAP

Jim Righeimer’s column (Rigonomics, “Hefty price for city hall,” May 5) is the most logical article I have seen yet about our much-needed city hall. This man put it beautifully. Too bad he is not planning commissioner for Newport Beach or on our parks and recreation commission or on our City Council to join forces with Mayor Steve Rosansky.

We need a new city hall. It should definitely be on higher ground if it is to be a command center for any emergency as well as more centrally located in our growing city.

I looked down in the park area the other day and it is too secluded to go there without a bodyguard. But with three acres of it devoted to city hall, it might be used a lot. And nine acres is more than enough for a park.

So, sell the land where the present city hall is, donate or sell the materials as it is taken down, and you have enough money to pay for a new one on land we already own. But do it fast before prices go up any more. Bill Ficker already has the plans.

Just do it as soon as possible!

FRAN AND DUD PFAFF

Save golf course for those who live here

I do not golf, nor have I ever. I am not writing this because I want to save a place that I go to and want to keep for my pleasure of golfing. I am writing this because I believe we live in a state that is slowly taking all of its natural beauty and building homes and structures for those who want more space. We are taking away half of the reason why we all want to be here — California’s beauty.

Every day my two children, my husband and I watch as planes fly over our home. We hear the loud engines from morning till night. We breathe in that jet fuel every day. Isn’t that enough? Do we have to take away the natural resources that surround us, too? The golf course gives us something nicer to look at than the planes. The trees that run through the golf course help with the air that we must breathe.

We live here and we knew there was some give-and-take. To get to live in such a nice area and go to great schools, we would live and deal with the airport. However, if you start to tear down the natural beauty and build up more structures, you are taking away from all who live here and love here. For what? Those who visit here and leave?

Save the golf course! Care for the people who live here! Fight for the beauty this city still has! Stand by the men, women and children who live here and not by the dollar signs you see.

TIFFANY SKINNER

Help the earth, consider becoming a vegetarian

Anyone who cares about the health of our planet or even just the health of his or her own body should consider going vegetarian. By not eating one pound of beef you would save more water than not showering for a year.

Going vegetarian is a simple yet effective way to help reduce global warming. The main reason that the rain forest is cut down is to provide more land for cattle grazing. It takes 16 pounds of grain to produce one pound of beef. Nearly half the water consumed in the U.S. is used for livestock.

If people who say they care about the environment truly do care, then they will consider going vegetarian.

BREANA SNEED

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