mailbag - Feb. 1, 2001

It was obvious from the play “Grease” at Newport Harbor High School

last week that the advance drama students are learning more than acting,

singing and dancing.

They demonstrated on stage “advanced” methods of exhibitionism,

fondling and sexual technique.

Our children attend Newport Harbor High School, and we like the sense

of family we feel at this school; however, the values of responsibility,

self-control, respect and abstinence that will continue to foster a

family-oriented society seem to be undermined by the instruction received

in the classroom.

AMY POWELL

Newport Beach

Newspaper’s Newport bias is showing

I am a senior at Costa Mesa High School.

I have been here since I was in seventh grade. Ever since I started

reading your newspaper, I have felt that you are biased toward Newport

Beach. The way I see it is that Newport is a rich city filled with rich

people who probably pay for your salary. I think that you are being

unfair to your Costa Mesa residents who also buy your newspaper. Isn’t it

a fact that your office building is in Costa Mesa?

When I have read an article about Costa Mesa, it is usually not as

good as a Newport Beach article. They are usually shorter and do not go

into the specifics. I feel that I am being denied equal time in the

newspaper.

I have seen articles about the latest debutantes and the unique

society banquets thrown in the Newport Beach area. Personally, I don’t

know anyone in Costa Mesa who is interested in those articles because

they emphasize the “wonderful high life in Newport.”

Give me a break with all of your articles on those people. They are

planning these functions because they want fame and they want to impress

people (really out do) their friends. If you really love Newport so much,

why not have a newspaper for only Newport Beach residents?

Another problem I have with your newspaper is the way you present

sports.

Every time there are two games going on at the same time, say Corona

del Mar and Estancia, Corona del Mar will get the picture and the massive

article, while Estancia is on the last page of the sports section.

It doesn’t matter how awful a team is in Newport, but if a team in

Costa Mesa is not first in the league, then you give them a hard time.

Lighten up on us; we can’t afford personal coaches for our teams, we just

have natural talent.

So to all of you Newporters who think that your city is No. 1, the

only reason you feel that way is because the Daily Pilot likes your city

better.

Costa Mesa still sees you for what you are.

ERICA MELCER

Costa Mesa