Mailbag: Irvine should preserve the Tilly’s mural

Irvine should preserve Tilly’s mural

Re. “Mailbag: Tilly’s mural is the kind of thing we need in Irvine,” (Dec. 25): I moved to Irvine about five years ago. One of the first things I noticed (other than the woefully out-of-sync traffic lights) was the drab architecture. A very safe city but a very boring one. Friends who would visit remarked at the austerity of the city.

I’ve seen this gradually change in several areas over these five years. Recently, the new walking/biking trail and the high-rise glass Irvine Co. building at the Spectrum have been welcome additions. When I first noticed the Tilly’s mural I thought, “Wow, the city is trying hard to change the aesthetic, and this mural is definitely a step in the right direction.” It’s trendy and eye-catching.

As with any art, there are going to be lovers and haters, but that’s art; you can’t please everyone. This mural has brought many remarks from my friends who have visited since it went up, all positive.

It’s befuddling and a shame that a city that seems to be trying to change things for the better would even consider painting over this mural. City commissioners can sure exude the rhetoric, but words are empty and analogies are misguided. I can’t understand for the life of me why the City Council would vote to eliminate it, aside from the bureaucracy. If the original deal was a short-lived mural, change it.

What’s the big deal, anyway?

Dennis Kline

Irvine

*

Mural appeals to all ages

My son, 35, and I, 70, drove by Tilly’s today for brunch at Scott’s, and I told him that the mural will soon be history, not unlike Scott’s Seafood in Costa Mesa. He was as upset as I am. He drives by daily on his commute and looks forward to seeing it.

I don’t see it as often, but it’s so powerful, that I love it. I just mentioned our ages to show the breadth of its appeal. I love it when art is integrated in a community and I hope we see more instances in the O.C.

Martha Green

Costa Mesa

*

U.S. must pave the way on climate change

Congratulations to the letter writer in the Dec. 22 Pilot for spotting the key truth (Mailbag: “After historic Paris agreement, U.S. must lead climate efforts”) The agreement is only a wish list unless it gets true American support. Why would India or Brazil get serious about climate change promises when our Congress throws stones at the agreement?

Let’s pay a dividend to every American family, with money from a fee on fossil fuel, to show we take climate seriously. The U.N. can’t impose import tariffs, but we can, to make others follow our lead or pay the price at our border.

Allan Beek

Newport Beach