To suggest that the solution to one day of excessive partying
(Fourth of July) a year, at a cost of $90,643, is to ban summer
rentals or as the mayor suggests, "changing the character of the
neighborhood from a summer rental place to an area where owners live
in their properties year round," is ridiculous ("Fourth of July
craziness on council radar," Wednesday).
Summer rentals are usually occupied by families that contribute
millions of dollars to the Newport Beach economy. Banning summer
rentals would damage many businesses in Newport from restaurants to
the Fun Zone, not to mention the impact on city coffers (the city
collects a 10% tax on summer rentals).
Newport Beach shouldn't overreact to this one-day problem because
the economic consequences could be severe (why are we spending $7
million on downtown Balboa anyway, to attract locals?). We need to
study how other tourist towns, such as Palm Springs, have dealt with
these problems. Surely their solution wasn't to "ban rentals or
change neighborhoods."
WALTER SEBRING
Corona del Mar
I am responding to the article about our City Council members and
their plans to attempt to control the parties on weekend and
holidays.
We have lived on the Ocean Front of Balboa Peninsula for more than
40 years. Each year gets worse. We have not been able to have our
family for Fourth of July for 10 years. Visitors come early in order
to find a parking place and stay late.
Closing the liquor stores will not solve the problem. Party-minded
people will stock up before the holiday or have their guests "bring
their own."
I think it's time the Peninsula residents get a break. We pay the
taxes here and can't find a place to park. Somehow the amount of cars
that invade the Peninsula need to be limited.
How about some "resident only" parking? It use to get better after
Labor Day but since the bicycles and in-line skaters have discovered
the boardwalk, it's hard to park on any weekend.
HAPPY ZANT
Balboa Peninsula
