Public should be involved in debate...

Public should be involved in debate

Thank you for giving a place to address this question regarding

the proposed boardwalk at the Back Bay. I wish you had done it prior

to it coming before the City Council. I am absolutely opposed to any

boardwalk without first giving the public direction on how to use

this area responsibly.

For many years, I have walked in this area almost daily, so I know

it well. Recently, some signs appeared requesting walkers to stay on

legal trails -- however, there is no designation as to which trails

are “legal” and which are not. This should be the first order of

business. An information board with map should be set up at the

entrances with advice about which trails are considered least

harmful. I don’t like the idea of banning bicycles, but that is where

the most damage is being done. But again, with some education,

perhaps the kids would become more thoughtful.

We allowed a huge parking area and center at the University Drive

end. Surely that construction period of almost two years was far more

destructive to the ecology than a relatively small number of people

who just enjoy walking there now as it is. Throwing huge amounts of

money at the 23rd Street end will not solve anything.

BEVERLY ROBERTS

Newport Beach

OCC will need money from swap meet

I understand that the City Council and the Planning Commission

have asked Orange Coast College to make some reasonable changes in

the operation of the swap meet to lessen the traffic and I think we

ought to give the college a chance to do that. I understand they are

committed up to the next six months to meet the expectations that

have been laid out by the city. I know that the budget that was

released by the state on Friday is devastating to community colleges

like Orange Coast College because there is going to be such a lack of

funds and the income that the swap meet provides to the college can

help to fill that gap and provide services to students and the

community that would otherwise have to be eliminated and I am not in

favor of letting a few of the community members close down the swap

meet just because they don’t like the skin color of the people that

they see there. This is something that is an advantage to the

community and to the college, and quite frankly, I think we ought to

leave this alone and let the matter be resolved.

PAT KRONE

Newport Beach