No light at Grant Howald Field...

No light at Grant Howald Field would be just right

I would like to object to the extended lighting hour of the Grant

Howald Field (“Leagues try to light up the night,” Tuesday). We pay

good money for our view here of the Back Bay and the harbor and the

ocean, and the lights obliterate that view when they’re on, so we

request that that extension not be granted.

DAVID RYAN

Corona del Mar

Is something funny about trees? Do they amuse you?

You obviously are humored by the fracas over the Balboa Island

ficus trees as your “The Last Word” column showed, not understanding,

nor caring that the illegality of the action and total disregard for

due process doesn’t just disappear because it is no longer on the

editorial page (“Farewell to the ficus fracas,” Dec. 22).

The fact that the city is moving the last remaining tree

(completely brown and parched with no leaves), to be stored at the

city yard is the real death sentence for the last tree. Not only will

the tree likely die due to the shock of being dug up at its age, but

it will be out of public sight, so those of us who are willing to

stand up and remind people of the lowly actions of the city will be

quieted -- for the moment.

One does not have to live or own a business on Main Street to

appreciate the beauty, shade and toxic filter those trees provided.

Having been through this very same process at my own complex, it is

extremely rare and very expensive for trees to be replanted. Out of

sight, they assume out of mind. The city hopes “we will just go

away.”

Don’t count on it

ROSEANNE EICHENBAUM

Costa Mesa

Not in support of a 19th Street bridge, but of common sense

Re: My comments in the Pilot on Jan. 8 about the 19th Street

bridge

I was not in support of a formal study of the 19th Street bridge

as seems to be indicated in the Pilot on Wednesday (“Council burns

19th Street bridge notion”). Such a study might cost as much as

$150,000, and I believe that this would be waste of tax payer funds.

Instead, I suggested that the City Council take the common-sense

and practical step of sending out letters to developers and other

professionals who are knowledgeable about shopping centers and ask

them what it might take for them to build a much-needed,

community-revitalizing shopping center on the Westside.

Would it require a bridge? If so, why? Then the City Council might

be able to make an informed decision on the subject.

I also told the City Council that I know of at least one

supermarket chain that has indicated it is interested in building a

major, modern supermarket on the Westside without a bridge, and that

this chain would even prefer to not have a bridge.

MARTIN MILLARD

Costa Mesa

19th Street bridge would be a boon to Westside

I do believe a bridge at 19th Street is needed. I think it would

be a plus in many ways and improve the image of the Westside. An

increase in traffic would be a myth. I travel Victoria at different

hours and have found minimal traffic.

CARA FRYE

Costa Mesa

19th Street bridge will help reduce traffic on other streets

Yes, I think we should continue a study on the bridge at 19th

Street. There is way to much traffic on Victoria and Wilson (a

residential street) going and coming from Costa Mesa and Huntington

Beach. Also on Adams, there is much traffic.

I am talking mainly about the early morning traffic and evening

traffic. I have always been a proponent of the bridge.

RUTH WILSON

Costa Mesa

Veches case shows city needs to do more to prevent abuse

I do not view the Trenton Michael Veches case lawsuit as a

“shameless grab” into the city’s deep pockets. What the city must do

to be safe in the future is to conduct much more comprehensive

law-enforcement-type background checks on all those applying for

positions involving contact with children.

Understandably, this process will be more time consuming and

expensive, but until this occurs the city will continue to leave

itself open to similar lawsuits.

KENT S. MOORE

Corona del Mar

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Moore is a contracted background investigator.