Mailbag - June 27, 2002

It’s interesting that Orange Coast College speaks of canceling some of

its arts program if it can’t have a swap meet two days a week (“No more

drama at Orange Coast College,” Monday). Maybe the college officials

realize that our mayor is a dedicated patron of the arts and they’re just

trying to win her approval.

Subsidized programs and performances? Definitely not for the regular

ticket-buying public.

I was surprised how much they wanted me to pay to see these

performers, who were either on their way up or on their way down in their

careers. I mean how much is someone willing to pay to hear Rosemary

Clooney, Florence Henderson or the latest tour of Forever Plaid?

The college should probably admit that those high-cost regular ticket

prices also help subsidize the cost to seniors and children, which, by

the way, is perfectly OK with me.

TIM CROMWELL

Costa Mesa

Newport Coast addition may have its faults

I have very much enjoyed your recent addition of history notes of

Newport Beach (Sundays). May I add to your storehouse of knowledge?

Between 1974 and 1978, it was my privilege to serve on behalf of the

city of Newport Beach on the Local Agency Formation Commission. In that

role as a City Council member, I sat with the cities of Irvine and Laguna

Beach in discussion of down coast annexation.

Gabriel Pryor was an excellent mayor of Irvine at that time. She was

an extremely able and strong-minded person who represented the city of

Irvine in its ardent search for “a window to the sea.” As I recall, it

was the city’s intent to run Culver Drive through the hills to the

Pacific. She, like me, had maternal duties. She left a meeting early in

order to take a child to a cello lesson. It was at that meeting when we

voted for “spheres of influence.” She would have been a formidable foe on

this issue. Only because of her absence was I able to garner two votes to

put down coast into the sphere of influence of Newport Beach.

There are times when I think I erred.

Incidentally, your reporter on the Newport Beach budget cites “the

nearly $5 million in property taxes expected from the recently annexed

Newport Coast will offset big losses in hotel and sales taxes.” It is

wise to look at both the income and expenditure sides of a city budget.

What will Newport Coast cost in additional services -- police, fire,

trash, street cleaning, park maintenance, a branch library, community

center, etc.

Will the $5 million cover the cost?

LUCILLE KUEHN

Corona del Mar

Warning would have helped in reenactment

I appreciate everything the Costa Mesa police do for me and my

community, but on June 6, I was horrified to learn there had been a

fatality at Estancia High School. While attempting to drive to my

destination, to a friend’s home in that area of Costa Mesa, I was told by

someone representing the Costa Mesa Police Department I could not drive

on Placentia Avenue. When I asked why, she told me, “There has been a

fatality at the high school.”

When I arrived at my destination (via another route), my friend’s son

phoned the school and discovered there was no fatality fortunately, but

there was a reenactment of a drunk-driving accident designed to scare the

students.

Apparently, there was not much thought given as to what the reaction

of the public would be when they were told by a police officer a

threatening false reason for the barricaded street. It’s akin to yelling

fire in a crowded theater or crying wolf.

ANNETTE MOON

Costa Mesa

Councilman Monahan does Costa Mesa justice

For 12 years, I’ve been watching the Costa Mesa City Council, mostly

from the sidelines (“Councilman’s appeal raises tempers,” Wednesday).

And thanks to Lolita Harper’s courageous tell all coverage, it sounds

like internal combustion on the council these days and it’s time to chime

in.

How does Councilman Gary Monahan feel to be slapped from both sides?

Lately he just can’t win, and, in amazement, I’m in agreement with him on

a few issues. You go Gary, whether it be reminding the Planning

Commission of the bureaucratic steps that make city government what it

is, or publicly questioning Councilwoman Libby Cowan and Mayor Linda

Dixon about their pro/con support on various city issues.

We need people like Monahan. Because he stirs the pot, we’ll see some

of what happens behind closed doors. After all, it is our city. So, keep

it up; we’re listening and the bells are ringing.

KATHI NELSON

Costa Mesa

Disability unnoticed in young umpire’s ability

I wanted to respond to your great article about Travis Jokumsen

(“Sense for the game,” June 17).

I was the assistant coach for the Reds in the Mustang division. Travis

was our umpire on numerous occasions and he was undoubtedly the best

umpire we had. Superb. Just a joy to be with. The kids really enjoyed

him. He always made good calls, I thought.

The thing that gets me about Travis most is that he has what many

people perceive to be a disability and yet he is above board the best

umpire that we’ve had in quite some time and does it with a relative ease

and just makes everybody comfortable. So kudos to him.

We need more umpires like him.

RICHARD TAYLOR

Newport Beach