Commentary: Duplicity surrounds Newport’s Measure Y

Councilman Ed Selich’s commentary about Measure Y is misleading in the extreme (“Commentary: Why I Support Newport Beach Measure Y,” Oct. 20).

As one of the architects of Measure Y, he is clearly invested in its success. However, in his commentary, he bends the truth to the point of nearly breaking it.

Selich claims that if Measure Y fails, a hotel in Newport Coast will “most assuredly” be built. But that is unlikely to happen. If the hotel was never likely to be built in the first place, aren’t we being tricked into approving an additional 9% of development in the Fashion Island area on behalf of the Irvine Co.? It certainly seems that way to me.

And saying the ballot statement isn’t deceptive because it “is the same as that used in 2006” only means that we were successfully duped in that election, not that it is an ethical way to present this election.

Selich says the 100,000 square feet of additional development by the airport won’t add traffic because it is an elder-care facility, and “elderly congregate care residents do not drive.” What? Of course some of them drive, and so do the family members who visit them.

Finally, the statement that “it is virtually impossible for the average voter to understand Measure Y” unless he or she researches it, as he has done, is just plain demeaning. It is this paternalistic attitude that permeates our current City Council and leads it to take actions that are contrary to constituents’ wishes.

Every poll taken by the city leading up to this election indicated that residents overwhelmingly oppose more traffic. Instead of respecting that, Selich and the City Council used that information to create a duplicitous ballot statement that promises to improve traffic.

Newport Beach should vote no on Measure Y, if only to communicate to our City Council that we do not appreciate the total lack of transparency around what this election actually does: approve massive new development in the Fashion Island and airport areas.

Newport Beach resident SUSAN SKINNER, who was party to a lawsuit challenging Measure Y’s ballot language, lives in Newport Beach.