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Mailbag: Join the opposition to Banning Ranch

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On Oct. 7, the California Coastal Commission will vote on the approval of a mega-development on Banning Ranch.

The city of Newport Beach approved this project, despite acknowledging a significant increase in traffic, noise, water use and pollution during and after construction. The city has also claimed that developing Banning Ranch will not have a negative impact on the school district, or the overall quality of life for the citizens of Newport Beach and neighboring cities.

I find this assessment curious to say the least. I suppose the future residents of the proposed 1,375 homes will all be retired, bike-riding camels. But wait, camels wouldn’t really need the bikes.

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To get real, and to hone in on just one of the problems with the city’s claims, how could 1,375 extra homes, i.e. families, not have an impact on the school district? As it is, elementary school classes are overcrowded.

As disingenuous as the city’s claims are, surprising they are not. In 2006, the citizens of Newport Beach voted that preservation be made a priority for Banning Ranch. Period. In spite of this, the elected city officials later approved the plans in complete disregard of their constituent’s wishes. One might wonder how this came about. Or maybe it’s not that wondrous at all — you draw your own conclusions!

Hopefully, a lot of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa residents will acknowledge the need to take matters into their own hands and attend the Coastal Commission meeting in Long Beach on Oct. 7 to demonstrate the real needs of this community.

Julia Shunda

Newport Beach

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j_shunda@yahoo.com

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Cat clinic closure is nothing to scratch about

In the scheme of world events, it’s a small thing. But not to us or our humans.

The Cat Clinic of Orange County will be an immense loss to any cat who has passed through its doors and benefited from the care, compassion, friendship and camaraderie that so freely flowed in that space.

Dr. Diane, Dr. Kelly, Tracy, Bridgett, Michelle, Amber and all the others who worked at the clinic greeted each of us with a smile, kind word and a rub under the chin.

We were so jealous of Jack, Goose, Ruffles, Tommy and the many other clinic cats that freely roamed the clinic halls and greeted our humans with bumps and purrs or simply that most curious of cat looks, while we peered out the windows of our carriers.

Not only did the clinic cats make our human visitors feel at home, but from time to time they helped those of us with special needs. So it is with heartfelt gratitude that we thank Dr. Kelly and all who worked at The Cat Clinic of Orange County for their care and compassion over the years. You are leaving a void in the cat community that simply cannot be filled.

Claws and Cinder

and our humans, John Reilly and Karen Tringali

Corona del Mar

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