Readers Respond -- Civility of meetings needs to improve

I think that people need boundaries set, and they also need to follow

a good example (“Rudeness takes over Costa Mesa City Hall,” Monday). If

the City Council were to set boundaries as to what behavior and comments

are appropriate at City Council meetings, I think that after a few times

of the council reminding people of how they need to behave in such a

circumstance, people will rise to the occasion and behave appropriately.

Also, setting an example would be a great way for the council members

to show their respect for each other and the community. Their appropriate

comments and suggestions would show that if we all act in a calm and

appropriate and polite manner, a lot more can get done.

I’m a member of several committees and boards. When we meet, we try to

do our best to get the business done, but to respond to things

appropriately. Of course, it’s a learning curve. Most people just don’t

really know how to act in those meetings, but if they have a good

example, and if there’s definite boundaries set as to how the meeting

will be run, I think that it would turn around the situation.

I’m very sorry that our council members, who work very hard, have to

deal with rudeness and people booing and acting inappropriately. That’s

unfortunate. I’m hoping that they’re able to turn that around so that

they can do the job that they need to do.

ELIZABETH BARNES

Eastside Costa Mesa

I really, truly believe that we need to have everyone that attends one

of these meetings show proof of citizenship. When they come into the

door, there should be a couple of armed policemen there, suggesting that

they show their identification -- some kind of proof like a driver’s

license. If they can’t show that, then they should not be admitted to a

City Council meeting.

Then, also, I would suggest that they have cameras taking pictures of

the complete City Council meeting. With any disruption, we then have

proof of who it is, and we can maybe deal with that later. Or actually

have someone, if they’re out of order, removed physically. They should be

told that given the way the meeting should be run, if they are disrupting

the meetings, they will be removed.

MARY BELINA

Costa Mesa

Question: What should the city of Costa Mesa do to make City Council

meetings more civil? Resign -- no, I am just kidding. There are a lot of

fine people on the Costa Mesa City Council.

Likewise, there are a lot of excellent citizens who live in Costa Mesa

who have forgotten about the rules of a democracy and what America is all

about. I believe that with all the best intentions the City Council might

have, America as a whole has been betrayed by the elected officials.

The Constitution provides for a government, for the people and by the

people. But what we now have is government of lawyers for lawyers with a

corruption issue across the board. Although democracy is a form of

government and capitalism is an economic foundation, the two have become

so intertwined in this country that the type of government we now have is

a form of self-interest capitalism. It uses lawyers and regulations to

force change. It forgets the purpose for which it was established.

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect

union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the

common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of

liberty to our posterity, and ourselves do ordain and establish this

Constitution for the United States of America.”

The Bottom Line is:

Governments need people. People don’t need governments.

Governments need laws. People need leadership.

The city might try providing leadership and fairness.

I have lived and/or owned a business in Costa Mesa for 15 years. I

have watched it go from a fun city to gridlock corporation.

ALAN SMITH

Newport Beach