Twisting of words the real story

Newport Beach City Councilman Dick Nichols is not a bigot. I know

because I am his wife.

The article in Wednesday’s Daily Pilot is for the most part spin.

Dick had a 30-plus-minute phone conversation with June Casagrande,

while he was being admitted to Orange Coast Memorial Hospital in

Huntington Beach. I was there with Dick and heard the whole

conversation.

During the Visioning process, 70% of the residents in Corona del

Mar made it clear that they did not want any changes to the beach.

Dick talked to June about the proposed changes for Corona del Mar

State Beach -- the lifeguard station, the tower, the concession

stand, the restrooms, the dressing rooms, the erosion of the sand,

the new trees and the grassy areas. Dick gave her fact after fact

about these new proposals, and all she picked up on was one

observation he made. He did say that many Mexican people come down

early and claim the grassy areas all day. He did not say “he doesn’t

want ‘Mexicans’ using those areas all day.” He did not say “they

dominate” these areas. He did not say he didn’t want them there. He

did not say anything derogatory about Mexican people. Dick is

concerned about the lack of sand on the beach. He feels the grassy

areas are now being used as picnic grounds instead of a place to

gather belongings, put on shoes, etc.

One more observation about the grassy areas -- in the last few

years, more people have been barbecuing on these areas, with flames

rising several inches into the air, with children near by and no one

particularly concerned about the flames. This (in my opinion) is

dangerous. The sand is a better place for barbecues. Dick called June

about the article and especially the sub-headline, and she informed

him that she did not write the headlines, that “the editor” was the

one who wrote it. Now that tells it all.

I have asked Dick not to talk to the Daily Pilot, but to put his

statements on paper so we have proof of these untruths that are

printed as fact.

SANDY NICHOLS

Corona del Mar