Are red-light cameras really worth it? It...

Are red-light cameras really worth it?

It was humorous to hear Costa Mesa Police Lt. Karl Shuler’s praise

of the red-light cameras that are suddenly so prolific here in the

city. Were these camera systems necessary? Did this “need” justify

the expense?

People don’t know when the cut-off is. Drivers are left to ask

themselves, “Do I go or slam on the brakes.” So now I have narrowly

missed being rear-ended twice because people behind me speed up to

avoid the camera.

And this is considered safety? Ever try to cross Newport Boulevard

from 17th or 19th Street? The lights are ridiculously short, and now,

even fewer cars make the light because no one wants to “chance it.”

This creates more gridlock.

Couldn’t this money have been better spent? How about paving 19th

Street or picking up trash on the Costa Mesa Freeway on a regular

basis?

JEFF SABINI

Costa Mesa

Bryant’s accuser didn’t use common sense

First of all, let me say that I am a woman and a very conservative

Presbyterian. My opinions usually would be very much against a

rapist, but in the case of Laker susperstar Kobe Bryant, I must

consider the facts.

A young girl going up to a man’s room in a hotel in the middle of

the night alone, wearing who knows what? And why, or for what, would

she be going? Most people, especially men, would think as Bryant is

accused of thinking, and as I am inclined to think. She certainly was

taking a chance.

The girl made a bad decision, and she should reap the consequence.

Just let Bryant live with it, and with his wife knowing all about it,

forever. That should be punishment enough.

JEAN CARSON

Newport Beach

Coin-operated shopping carts would do the trick

I wonder if the supermarkets and the police couldn’t work out a

deal of putting coined receivers on shopping carts, which would save

the police from looking for them, and it would save the market the

loss of the cart. There are none so blind as those who will not see.

LYNN MERLES

Costa Mesa

Eminent domain is not the Westside’s salvation

I have lived in Costa Mesa since the 40s, and we saw what this

eminent domain did to Harbor Boulevard, which is now called the

Bermuda Triangle, also known as Triangle Square, which is going to be

a blighted in a matter of time, and the shopping center across the

street that can’t seem to stay full.

I think what the city of Costa Mesa needs to do is leave people

alone and do whatever its employees are hired to do, if they can

figure it out.

I haven’t seen anybody in the city who actually knows what their

job is, except Councilwoman Libby Cowan, who is dedicated to

promoting her own interests.

WALT HATCH

Costa Mesa

Balanced budget will mean loss of services

What started as an expensive effort to become governor by

millionaire Darrell Issa is finally over. Honestly, I feel

governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger’s camp ran the best campaign,

attacking Indian gaming, the car tax and Gov. Gray Davis’s fiscal

mismanagement.

Throughout the race, I felt disgusted by a number of liberal

organizations that used the groping allegations as front-page

headlines. Although Schwarzenegger issued an apology, it was hardly

an admittance to the numerous allegations against him. Journalists

who wanted to attack him could have done it more sensibly by

detailing his lack of credentials, fear of public debates and his

unspecified solutions to California’s debacle.

However, the people have spoken, and I think it’s clear what

matters most: no new taxes! Although our children here in

Newport-Mesa will likely suffer from further educational cuts, and

our community’s needy, disabled and elderly will not have the

critical services they need. At least, there will be no car tax or

any other tax issued -- and that’s the most important thing for

California, not to mention, the Newport-Mesa community.

I’m glad that people recognize the significance of not raising any

tax on businesses or individuals. Only with less teachers, police and

social services will those legislators learn how to budget our money.

DAVID QUANG

Costa Mesa