Cover photo a frightening omen of...
Cover photo a frightening omen of the Pilot as propaganda
I was struck this morning, Dec. 5, at how blatantly the front page
format of the Daily Pilot, and, in fact, the prevailing tone of the
Los Angeles Times, indicates how the fourth estate is emerging again
as conduit for the propaganda of some of the world’s most dangerous
agents of tyranny and always in the name of peace.
It serves as an omen for the return of the 1960s, when the media
allowed itself to become a strategic arm of our enemies attack and
always in the name of peace. The Pilot’s over elaborate front-page
presentation of the views of an obscure Iraqi student oddly but
comfortably ensconced at UC Irvine brought back painful memories of
the unremitting media sponsor blitz that brought down our troops in
Vietnam and delivered that nation and her people to communism and
slavery.
It was our yesterdays all over again, and all in the name of peace
and of course freedom of the press. And it all serves to remind us
that we can be destroyed when those freedoms are used by our enemies
as a prime weapon against us.
REBA WILLIAMS
Newport Beach
Costa Mesa in good hands with Robinson as mayor
In reading the Forum page under “Mailbag” last week, I can’t help
but wonder how many of the people that are being critical of the
events of last Monday night were actually there?
I think that as surprised as we all were, as Robin Leffler stated
so well, Karen Robinson’s gracious manner of correcting the oversight
of asking for public comment and the subsequent professional way she
handled numerous personal attacks, should be a clue as to what a
great mayor she will be. I agree with Councilwoman Libby’s Cowan’s
comment that serving as mayor is an opportunity that everyone on
council should experience, and it would seem a majority of Robinson’s
fellow council members felt it was her time.
Gary Monahan was a great mayor and has been and will continue to
be a strong and experienced council member and public servant. I’m
sure he will do the right thing and not let down his constituents or
his fellow council members.
If Monday night was a glimpse of things to come, I think we have a
lot to look forward to. Karen Robinson ran a great meeting. Our newly
elected council member, Alan Mansoor, showed us that he will be
prepared and informed for the meetings and will not be afraid to
express his opinion on the issues. I, for one, am looking forward to
watching our current council tackle and accomplish important issues
on behalf of all the residents of Costa Mesa.
CINDY BRENNEMAN
Costa Mesa
* Cindy Brenneman was co-campaign manager for Karen Robinson’s
council bid.
Newport can’t have it both ways on airport question
Let me see if I have this straight: For more than a decade, we’ve
been subjected to the “sky is falling” claims by the various Newport
Beach pro-airport factions that the now-dead El Toro airport was
badly needed because of huge passenger demand and air cargo needs.
Figures of 30 million passengers per year and tons and tons of air
cargo that would have to be handled in Orange County to keep our
economy going were widely circulated and cited. And anyone that
didn’t follow their plans were short-sighted “NIMBYs.”
Well now, the same Newport Beach groups that made these claims and
called anti-airport groups names are negotiating to cap passenger
capacity at the county’s only airport at only 75% of its designed
capacity and cut the authorized air cargo flights by 50%.
The pro-airport, special interest driven minority from Newport
Beach can’t have it both ways. Either there is a looming passenger
capacity and need for more air cargo handling or there isn’t. And
based on their most recent actions to limit the use of John Wayne
Airport below its designed and authorized levels, it would appear
that they have agreed with the anti-airport majority in this county
and concluded that there clearly isn’t a need for
30-million-passenger capacity or more air cargo handling capability.
Otherwise, we’d all have to conclude that Newport Beach and their
city-funded pro-airport groups are just myopic, hypocritical, NIMBYs
who cost the citizens of this county a decade and tens of millions of
dollars trying in a selfish attempt to improve their own little
quality of life at the expense of their neighbors.
DOUGLAS K. BLAUL
Trabuco Canyon
Council takes away the city’s voice in mayoral choice
Libby Cowan has done it again.
The councilwoman has chosen to ignore the voice of the people of
Costa Mesa. Not one Costa Mesan wants to see John Wayne airport
expanded, and yet, as mayor, Cowan refused to lead the city of Costa
Mesa in backing the El Toro pro-airport group.
Now she has pulled strings to short change the people of Costa
Mesa, by denying them their choice of mayor. The people spoke in the
last election by giving Councilman Gary Monahan the highest vote of
confidence of all of the candidates for City Council. If I remember
rightly, Robinson won her seat over Heather Somers by less than 30
votes, and last year was eager to abandon her council seat for a
possible judgeship. Unfortunately, the choice for mayor was based on
telephone conversations between self-seeking individuals instead of
listening to the loud and clear voice of the people.
Does the combination of Cowan, Robinson and Councilman Chris Steel
set up a 3-2 majority for future community issues? Does Cowan now
have two rubber stamps beside her? If so, why have five City Council
members? Will these members work together for the betterment of Costa
Mesa? Maybe we need to revisit the thought of citywide elections for
mayor. In this way, we would be assured the wishes of the residents
of Costa Mesa are met.
MARTHA AND CHARLES GROVE
Costa Mesa
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