THE WEEK IN REVIEW
NO MONEY FOR DECKER
Costa Mesa taxpayers can thank Orange County Superior Court Judge
Michael Brenner for throwing out a lawsuit that sought $1 million in
damages from the city. The claim stemmed from the police department’s
decision to pass out fliers warning neighbors that convicted rapist Chris
Decker was moving into the area. Brenner ruled that there wasn’t enough
basis for the claim to go to trial, and Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave
Snowden stood by the department’s decision. Decker and his attorney now
vow to take Meagan’s Law -- the state statute that allowed the
department to make its decision -- to court in an attempt to change it.
A FOCUS ON CHILD SAFETY
It seems nearly impossible to get anything positive out of the senseless
tragedy that struck the Southcoast Early Childhood Learning Center this
past May, when two toddlers were killed after a Cadillac plowed through
their playground. But the mothers of both 4-year-old Sierra Soto and
3-year-old Brandon Wiener have managed to do just that. This week, Pam
Wiener announced her plans to create a foundation called For Our
Children’s Ultimate Safety -- or FOCUS -- that would provide funding for
safety structures at day-care centers. She joins Cyndi Soto, who earlier
this year created Sierra’s Light, a foundation that aims to educate
parents about safety standards while calling for legislation to protect
day-care centers. As both women deal with unimaginable pain in the loss
of their young children, they should be applauded for their efforts to
prevent another tragedy from happening.
STANDING BY THE CURTAIN CALL
Despite news this week that the long-awaited renovation of the Balboa
Theater will cost more than three times the amount of money than
anticipated, the dedicated members of the Balboa Performing Arts Theatre
Foundation are sticking by their fall 2000 open date. Foundation
President Dayna Pettit seemed unfazed that the group now will have to
raise another $2.5 million and in fact seemed energized by the challenge.
Considering what they’ve been able to do thus far, we have little doubt
of their ability to pull it off.
KEEPING HISTORY ALIVE
Costa Mesa resident David Lester is an interesting man, but his heritage
is even more so: his great-great grandfather was Davy Crockett, the
coonskin-cap-wearing “King of the Wild Frontier” that every little boy
has etched in his imagination. As Cub Scout Pack 80 heard Lester’s tall,
but true, tales about his great-great grandfather’s frontier days and his
own experiences in World War II, they had no idea they were being
educated in American history. Samuel Van Gordon, 8, was no exception. “I
thought it was very hard to win the war, and I really admire what they
did,” he said.
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