Wendy Leece is a champion of free...

Wendy Leece is a champion of free speech

Thank you, Wendy Leece, for daring to champion free speech even

when it isn’t politically correct (“Did Nichols’ opponents make too

much noise?” Tuesday). Newport Beach City Councilman Dick Nichols

said what people are not allowed to say. My guess is that the

government could station someone at Corona del Mar State Beach and

find many illegal aliens. Who are these people who want more and more

illegals entering our country?

CAROL SCHNEIDER

Newport Beach

About those who are local and those who aren’t

The hue and cry that has ensued in the aftermath of Newport Beach

City Councilman Dick Nichols’ comments have gotten to the point of

being ridiculous. At first, I was amused at all of the “shocked” and

“hurt” reaction. Now, I find it very irritating.

I would like to examine what basis there is for “recall” requests.

What specifically did Nichols say that is grounds for removal from

office? Was he particularly bad when he used the word “Mexican?” I

would suggest that the grandparents of the same people yelling for

“recall” were called names. It has been a universal custom in this

country to denigrate the background of the minority of the day. The

Irish immigrants into this country and the Italians, etc. didn’t mew

for recalls. They went to work and earned respect. In fact, the term

“Mexican” is hardly a put-down in my book. My own observation is that

a great number of Mexicans are digging in and earning a respectful

place in our society. Good for them.

Or, does somebody think that Nichols was wrong to suggest that

Mexicans or Mexican Americans are dominating the common picnic areas

at our local beaches? What he said is the truth. Go down to the green

area at Big Corona early on any weekend or holiday morning. Before

you have finished your coffee and newspaper, they have spread their

blankets, tents and barbecues throughout the areas. My wife and I

used to live on Heliotrope near Big Corona. One of the reasons we

moved was the incessant noise, traffic jams, garbage on streets and

on residents’ yards and domination of all parking on the streets.

And, although you may not like to hear it, these people are not

residents of Newport Beach -- and a high percentage of these people

are Mexican or of Mexican descent. We couldn’t even have guests

during weekend afternoons in the summer; nowhere to park. And it was

truly ugly to take them down to the beach. Is this desirable?

I feel Nichols was absolutely right. Why in the world do we spend

Newport Beach tax dollars to make more and better facilities for

people who don’t pay these taxes? I would rather ask the councilmen

why in the world they don’t try to create an environment beneficial

to the interests of the locals. Why don’t we have weekend permit

parking in Corona del Mar? Why don’t we take steps to give the locals

at least a nominal chance at using the beaches and related

facilities?

And, for heaven’s sake, quit sauteing people who speak the truth.

I am sick of it.

DENNIS McCARTER

Newport Beach

Greenlight should have known better

Shame on Phil Arst and his Greenlight zealots, who knew very well

that their candidate of choice to govern Newport Beach from Corona

del Mar was seriously flawed.

Dick Nichols’ propensities for intolerance and stubbornness is not

new. I witnessed it almost weekly when I was a planning commissioner

during the 1980s and early in the 1990s. He could be counted on to

make irrational and unfounded statements almost weekly at both the

meetings of the Planning Commission and the City Council.

Some of the leaders of Greenlight and their advisors were

witnesses to this, also. I know, as I was there. I know some of these

people rather well and, as a matter of fact, have worked with them on

some of their campaigns and projects.

Yet they chose to put forth a severely flawed candidate because

Nichol’ particular view on growth issues might come closer to theirs

regardless of his known intolerant views and shortcomings. And, more

importantly, regardless of the damage that might be done to the city

as a whole. Basically, they sold out the city of Newport Beach for

their one issue, and for this they should be severely chastised for

duping the electorate of Newport Beach.

One of these days, the shortsighted folks at Greenlight will

realize that there a lot more important things going on in this city

other than how many cars travel down Coast Highway on any given day.

The bottom line is that Greenlight won by a majority vote, but in

reality, it was a minority of voters in this city. Their so-called

mandate is nonexistent, and it’s time they realized this.

JAMES PERSON

Newport Beach

CenterLine light rail doesn’t look very useful

The CenterLine article didn’t list ridership numbers for the

equivalent Orange County Transportation Authority bus routes linking

the Transportation Center, South Coast Metro and John Wayne Airport

(“CenterLine still on track after 9-2 vote,” Tuesday). Is it higher

than the routes I frequent, where buses are often empty or nearly so?

Looking at the transportation system map, I couldn’t find a single

route that represents CenterLine as we might expect if CenterLine’s

proposed route is so important to reducing traffic. One gets the

feeling that CenterLine will be built because there is money to build

it rather than it being a needed project.

Costa Mesa Councilwoman Libby Cowan’s comment, “I think once it is

built, people will find a way to utilize it” is government by gamble.

Please do a follow-up article on recent light rail projects in other

cities to help us put this in perspective.

MIKE SMITH

Corona del Mar