READERS RESPOND -- Should Newport Beach silence Dennis Rodman?

You asked readers to recommend a potential solution to the noise

problem of specific residents -- such as Rodman -- whose parties force

having Newport Beach police to be dispatched. I would suggest that the

Newport Beach City Council pass a noise ordinance that would record the

number of times the police are dispatched to a specific residence during

the course of a year.

The first occurrence would carry a warning. The second occurrence

would impose a citation and appropriate fine to cover the complete cost

of the police being dispatched. The third occurrence would carry a stiff

fine and mandatory jail time. Each additional occurrence would double the

prior occurrence, both in terms of the fine and the jail time. Based on

what I know of Newport Beach residents, the fine will likely not change

selfish behavior. But jail time likely would.

The only other solution I can think of specifically regarding Rodman

would be for the majority of residents to pray that some NBA team is

desperate enough to sign him to a new contract for the 2001-02 NBA

season. That way, at least he would be gone for the majority of the year.

DEAN WIENER

Corona Del Mar

My number is listed if there are residents of West Newport who are

disturbed by the self-absorbed antics of this pampered prima donna but

fear signing a complaint. Just invite me over when the racket starts,

I’ll sign the complaint and testify when asked. I’ll even bring a couple

friends for co-signing and support.

What’s to fear? These are just your garden-variety adolescent brats,

searching desperately for the meaning of life in the bottom of a

Budweiser bottle.

It’s just Dennis Rodman. Neighbors who rationalize the disturbance

should get some self-esteem, so then they wouldn’t need to seek out

“celebrities” to be in the company of and imagine they are important by

association.

He helps disadvantaged kids. So what?

The community is full of leaders who do that and expect no special

privileges in return.

GARY DRIES

Costa Mesa

I think the Newport Beach party police should leave Rodman alone and

go look for real crime to fight. Once again, the majority of people in

Newport Beach are being pushed aside by the outspoken minority.

It is always one or two malcontents that spoil it for everyone else. I

don’t see the majority of Rodman’s neighbors up in arms. If you live on

the peninsula, you are going to have parties in the neighborhood. If you

want peace and quiet, go live in Montana.

When did having fun become a crime? We have raised three kids in

Newport, and they were all harassed by the party police just because they

were teenagers. The creation of a teen center where the kids could hang

out has never happened and the City Council continues its anti-business

-- restaurant and entertainment -- bias to appease this minority. Newport

is not a retirement community, it is a city with a diverse population and

many different types of neighborhoods.

BRIAN RICHARDSON

Newport Beach

Rodman sure seems to make good copy for your reporters, but there is

something that is unclear to some of your readers like me. His neighbors

are complaining, or someone is, but no one is stepping up to press

charges -- if there is such a legal channel for these complaints.

From what I hear and see of Rodman, he is harmless and just wants to

be accepted. Your account this morning talked about what he does for the

kids in his neighborhood.

Why doesn’t the community, e.g. the city’s government, put his

energies to better use, embrace his kind heart and his financial

well-being to allow him to contribute to a positive effort for community

children?

Perhaps he could be invited to show them basketball techniques or some

other sports endeavor. This idea may sound too far afield for some to

embrace, but the city’s opposition to this citizen smacks of other

agendas that have not yet come to the surface.

I say embrace him, welcome him to the community and ask him to

participate in some positive way.

PENELOPE BIJOUX

Corona del Mar

The question is: What, if anything, should Newport Beach do to keep

party animals like Dennis Rodman in check? The answer is: Nothing, leave

him alone.

I often wonder: If Rodman were white and didn’t have the body piercing

and nice cars, would anyone take notice?

He stands out from the rest of us and that is what makes him

different, and I like him for that. Leave him alone. He is not the first

person in Newport to have a party at his house every weekend.

They happen all the time, every weekend of the year in Newport. This

is nothing new. Where are all the stories on those parties? Nothing has

changed except for the fact that our city officials are a bunch of old

folks who have long forgotten their younger days.

ROD JEHEBER

Newport Beach

We are both 62 years old. If Dennis Rodman doesn’t hurt anybody, then

at least he makes us laugh.

PATTY AND CHUCK LYNCH

Costa Mesa

While attempting to tighten up Newport Beach’s noise ordinance to

better deal with individuals like Dennis Rodman, our City Council should

also loosen up certain restrictions on others.

The luau to benefit a charity at the Newport Beach Tennis Club

recently was mostly ruined because one of the neighbors complained about

the drum noise. You would never guess that it was only about 8:30 p.m. on

a Saturday evening.

Since hula dancing without percussion is like the Colonel’s chicken

without the secret spices, the function was pretty much ruined.

As I do not tolerate well even the sound level in my aerobic exercise

classes, I can attest to the fact that the noise level was not at all

unpleasant. It is thus essential for our city to ensure that legitimate

functions, which take place no more than a few times a year, be permitted

on weekends.

Since not everyone rolls up his lawn and heads to bed by 8 p.m. on the

weekends even in Newport Beach, applying the same noise ordinance for

John Wayne Airport would appear to be reasonable for functions like this

one.

JOHN T. CHIU

Newport Beach