Mailbag - March 28, 2002

Job Center clearly divides Costa Mesa

I am such a longtime Westside homeowner that I can remember when Costa

Mesa was one town and when people jokingly referred to what we now call

the Westside as “Goat Hill.” It was not a derisive term, but more to

indicate that there was still open space on the Westside. I never felt,

in all the years growing up here, that I was discriminated against for

living on the wrong side of the tracks -- until now.

The actions that the City Council has taken have methodically and

seriously divided my city. They have created a class system and

perpetuate the segregation by ensuring that only the best new

construction and focus occurs on the northern and eastern parts of my

city. The Westside has become the dumping ground for not only the rest of

Costa Mesa, but the entire surrounding area.

My wife and I walk every morning about 5:30 a.m. and often pass our

city-sponsored Job Center. I have watched carefully for a long time the

names on the sides of the trucks that stop to pick up the dayworkers.

Almost invariably they will be from Newport Beach, Huntington Beach,

Balboa Island and surrounding cities. Why I and my fellow Westsiders have

been singled out to bear the brunt of what all the rest of Costa Mesans

don’t want in their neighborhood escapes me.

I have become one of the irrelevant Westside residents who lives in

the eye of the Job Center hurricane.

Last week, I had a client arrive from a foreign country. She arrived

at my business carrying a cane. As she was not physically impaired, I

asked why she carried this cane. She replied that, “from the appearance

of your neighborhood, I felt it was probably a dangerous area.”

I live a block away from the Job Center.

CHRISTIAN ERIC

Westside

City name has other options too

In regard to “Group lobbies for new city name” (March 26): If they’re

looking for a name that will improve the city’s image, how about

“Costa-Mesa-by-Newport-Beach?”

RICHARD SHOWSTACK

Newport Beach

Costa Mesa can boast tourism angle

How about Costa Mesa-by-the-sea-and-not-too-far-from-Disneyland?

BRIAN BOOHER

Costa Mesa

Flag must be respected for real survivors

Concerning “Just another Survivor,” March 22) and the image of Sarah

Jones sitting on the American flag on the ground, I could not help but

think of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who served and did not

survive following our flag into battle the past 200-plus years.

The flag, you see, is the symbol of our freedoms and justice. It

represents America -- the country that most of the world idolizes for who

and what we are, though not perfect.

Our strengths have certainly come to the forefront since Sept. 11. The

patriotism shown made us all proud. Don’t let it wane. Keep the symbol of

freedom flying high for all to aspire.

Respect it. Remember those who took it into battle. I might remind

that the flag, while never being allowed to touch the ground, should not

be flown after dusk unless directly lighted. It should also not be flown

in any foul weather. And when signs of tatter show, it should be retired

through the local firehouse or Scout troop.

ROBERT SMITH

Costa Mesa

Ducks haven’t always lived on Balboa Island

I just had to respond to the Gail Perkins letter to the editor

published Feb. 24 regarding the ducks that make their home on Balboa

Island (“Ducks lived on Balboa Island first.”

She claims the ducks have been there forever, which is not true. When

I was young and going to school in Newport, there absolutely were no

ducks that made their permanent home around the island.

That all started sometime around the mid-1950s when a teacher from

Newport High whose family lived on the canal had some pet mallards that

they raised and that all the neighbors started to feed. It all grew from

that, and the pollution has been going on ever since, which definitely is

not “charming.”

J.W. PARKS

Newport Beach