Not much left to do in Newport-Mesa

I see in the Daily Pilot that a new concert hall is going up next to

the Orange County Performing Arts Center. It’s down the street from

South Coast Plaza, and between them is South Coast Repertory. I also

saw that the Irvine Co. wants to build yet another resort and golf

course in Newport Coast, and don’t forget the new Balboa Bay Club &

Resort, plus there’s always Fashion Island.

I love the way the cities of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach fall all

over themselves to make this area one big resort so that people from

outer parts of the world can come down to have a good time. For my

family of four, we can’t afford the $65 tickets to see a show at the

Orange County Performing Arts Center or pay $300 to $500 a night to

stay at the new resorts. So if the beaches are not closed because of

pollution, riots or protests, we’ll wake up at dawn and ride our

bikes down and try to grab a spot. Or if there’s any room left at

Mariners Park, we can try to throw a baseball around. Or I guess we

can do what most of the Newport-Mesa families do, listen to jets full

of tourists fly over our houses and watch our children play in the

middle of the street.

CHARLIE MASSINGILL

Newport Beach