Hike should shame insurance industry

Remember the unity that we all felt after the tragedy of Sept. 11?

Remember how we all banded together with the belief that

Americans, whether Democrat or Republican, black or white, rich or

poor, are all in this thing together.

Yeah, we do too.

But as usual, the insurance industry either has a short memory or

just never really felt the need to join in that unity, especially if

the almighty dollar is concerned.

How else do you explain the recent news that the residents of the

city of Newport Beach will be forced to pay triple for liability

insurance.

Last year, the city paid $331,000 for $25 million in coverage.

This year, it is nearly a million dollars at $944,107. Which, by the

way, will be paid for with taxpayer dollars.

“This is a big hit,” said Newport Mayor Tod Ridgeway.

Ridgeway’s got that right.

Cal Surance, the company that the city purchases its insurance

through, cited the terrorist attacks as the cause and noted that

Newport Beach, because it employs its own fire and police department,

should be penalized and must pay more.

Newport Beach won’t be the only the city getting ripped off from

insurance companies, apparently the industry is hiking rates all over

because of threats of future attacks.

No word yet on what it’s going to cost Costa Mesa, which also

employs its own fire and police force.

So while the rest of us lock arms, unite and put differences aside

to keep our country strong and fight the terrorist threats, the

insurance industry, already a multi-billion dollar concern, instead

has found a way to use the tragedy as a way to pick our pockets.

Somehow, we’re not surprised.