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Mailbag: Newport needs bike lanes more than paddleboard lanes

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Newport Beach needs bicycle lanes along Coast Highway, not stand-up paddling lanes in Newport Harbor. Why should stand-up paddlers be restricted in their movements, while Pavilion rental boats, swimmers, yacht club sailboats, kayaks, homeowner Duffy boats, prone paddlers, city-sponsored aquatic activity members and Aquatic Center users roam free?

Shouldn’t there be a lane for that jet packing concern in the turning basin? Who is more visible on the water, a swimmer or a stand-up paddler?

Does City Councilwoman Leslie Daigle have statistics for her claim that paddlers present a danger, or is she just knuckling under to a few well-heeled boat owners who throw support her way during the election season?

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I see boaters with a beer or wine glass in their hand all the time in Newport Harbor. I have yet to see a paddler doing the same. Who is creating the greater risk here?

Stand-up paddling is a sport that many can enjoy, and Newport Harbor provides an ideal setting. I suggest Daigle follow Mayor Nancy Gardner’s lead and give it a try.

She might discover that it’s much more enjoyable than being a nanny to the rest of us.

Mike Novak

San Clemente

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No paddle lanes

Seriously? Paddle lanes?

What’s next — an amusement park in the harbor?

I’ve read some ridiculous suggestions by our City Council members, but this one takes the cake! Perhaps during the summer months, relegating a specific section of the harbor to beginning paddleboarders might make more sense. The speed limit in the harbor is 5 mph for boaters, who adhere to that speed limit.

I paddleboard three to four times a week while boats are making their way in and out of the harbor. Believe me, we can manage without the help of the City Council.

By the way, in Hawaii, they actually have military ships in and out of Pearl Harbor, which may explain the reasoning for more restrictive stand-up paddleboarding rules!

Juli Hayden

Newport Beach

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Newport police don’t use Lackie, Dammeier & McGill

Please be advised that Newport Beach Police Assn. is not now, and has never been, represented by the law firm of Lackie, Dammeier & McGill (LDM). Moreover, NBPA wishes to go on record as opposing any unethical tactics that LDM might have employed in Costa Mesa, Buena Park, El Monte or elsewhere.

NBPA prides itself on working collectively with the city of Newport Beach in achieving reasonable levels of compensation and benefits. Members of NBPA have worked with the city during these difficult economic times and have made concessions in two straight contracts.

Under the terms of the contract recently agreed upon by the parties and ratified by the membership of NBPA, all existing employees are on schedule to pay 100% or more of their required PERS contributions, and police officers represented by NBPA will pay more toward their retirement than any other municipal agency in Orange County.

Please take measures to refrain from associating NBPA with LDM in any manner in the future.

Michael O’Beirne

Newport Beach

Editor’s note: The writer is president of the Newport Beach Police Assn.

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Another fan of the Five Crowns brunch

Re. “Please bring back the Five Crowns brunch” (Mailbag, Sept. 11): This is in response to Kathy Nickerson’s letter. My friend and I considered the brunch one of our favorite Christmas season traditions and were shocked when we discovered it had been discontinued last year.

We would love to have it brought back. There is really nowhere that does it so well.

Gretchen Alenin

Newport Beach

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