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Mailbag: Local politics should be non-partisan

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We recently moved to Irvine from Silicon Valley and are surprised to see political party references when discussing local government. Re. “Irvine Council gets a civics lesson,” (Sept. 25), the story identifies a slate of candidates as Democratic. I have not seen such a designation in any of the campaign literature but, regardless, for candidates to be identified with a national party platform is unfortunate.

The City Council should be focused on local issues and not advance a broad agenda that may or may not be appropriate at the local level. Further, the only way local issues get addressed is through local government. To cloud issues like “Who pays for new schools?” “What happens to the redevelopment funds being returned to Irvine?” and “What will be the plan for the Great Park without redevelopment funds?” are not addressed by national politics.

If the political party designation is from the Daily Pilot, it is misplaced. At best, perhaps a liberal or conservative reference might fit, but even that may be a stretch. Let’s keep the stories local and topical.

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Roger Sievers

Irvine

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Drought is the wrong time to build

Newport has announced Level 1 Water Conservation for homeowners, however, the city, along with the Irvine Co., is proposing (Measure Y) an evolution of developmental projects along with high-density housing that will change our environmental footprint and our city landscape as well as our infrastructure in our community.

This is where I need help understanding. Where is this additional water going to come from to support these projects and these people? I like the plan that Santa Barbara initiated in the 1987-92 drought. There were no new water meters issued, unless the structure or the building site already had an existing water meter. I think the cities of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa should adopt a similar restriction. There should be no new building permits issued, unless there is an existing water meter.

Peggy V. Palmer

Newport Beach

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Why hide from a debate?

Like most residents, I was shocked to hear, according to the news, that the slate of candidates (Kevin Muldoon, Duffy Duffield and Scott Peotter) represented by political consultant Dave Ellis would collectively not participate in the traditional Feet to the Fire Forum scheduled for Oct. 1.

Are they hiding because their “solutions” for so-called overspending would have included not expanding our Central Library, currently used more than 1.2 million times per year, or turning the Newport Center Park adjacent to City Hall into a huge surface parking lot? What other water, road, sewer, park and community facility plans would they cancel?

Is it because paying off our pension obligations at one time would involve a massive Wall Street bet, risking millions in taxpayer funds at a time of record market highs?

Is it because their strategy to sell off the old City Hall site (and by doing so, jeopardizing the new hotel), would cost the taxpayers millions in the long run?

If I were they, I guess I would run and hide from the press too.

Paul Watkins

Newport Beach

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