A political storm on Big Corona

Mr. Nichols, please resign. We welcome all visitors to Newport Beach.

Public parks and beaches are for the public.

BRAD STONE

Newport Beach

Dick Nichols, based on his racist and repeatedly insensitive

remarks, should resign.

ELLIOTT C. and JOANNE MERCER

Newport Beach

It is clear that Newport Beach Mayor Steve Bromberg has

mischaracterized Councilman Nichols’ comments regarding Mexicans’

usage of Newport Beaches. Have we evolved to the point where one’s

nationality can’t be used in a statement? Is this “political

correctness?” Is this Bill Clinton? Heaven help us all.

ED CUMMINS

Corona Del Mar

Let’s not blame Dick Nichols. It’s clear he was raised in a closet

or is suffering from dementia. It’s time for his friends and family

to step up and intervene. Let him know that almost everybody who goes

to the beach for the day arrives early, lays out a blanket or towel

and considers it their personal space until they’re ready to leave.

Let him know that a state park belongs to everybody. He’s going to

have to accept that others may want to behave in ways he doesn’t

appreciate and that he’s only hurting himself if he spends time

trying to change that.

Let him know how, in the process of maturing as a society, we’ve

learned that racial stereotyping will always lead to failure unless,

of course, you’re trying to disgust as many people as possible.

JEFF SCHNEIDEWIND

Santa Ana Heights

While we all agree that Dick Nichols’ recent comments are

inappropriate, many who agree with Mayor Bromberg’s suggestion that

he resign do not realize that Mr. Nichols might return to

manufacturing chemicals. As a former football coach, it appears that

Nichols must not have learned how to punt on third down.

TOM TOBIN

Balboa

Dick Nichols should be forced to resign. He is offensive and an

embarrassment to the residents of Newport Beach.

BARBARA WALDER

Corona del Mar

Dick Nichols is a “loose cannon” as a councilman and he is out of

place on the City Council. So many times he has to have things

explained to him by his fellow councilmen. Obviously, he doesn’t do

his “homework.” As for his unfortunate comments, perhaps he should

“engage brain before putting foot in mouth.”

JANET BARON

Newport Beach

Councilman Nichols is to be commended for seeking to serve his

community by taking on the onerous duties of a council member, but

his comments about Mexicans and the grassy areas of Big Corona and

other comments he has made show that he doesn’t understand his role

as a public representative, and I would urge him to consider if this

is an appropriate role for him.

NANCY GARDNER

Corona del Mar

In the Thursday edition of the Daily Pilot, the paper reported

that the mayor of Newport Beach thinks that Councilman Dick Nichols

should resign because he called out-of-the-city visitors to Corona

del Mar State Beach “Mexicans.”

Nichols’ mistake is not knowing the lingo. He should have used the

term the “locals” use. He should have called them “909ers.” If you

don’t believe me, see Lolita Harper’s column in the Daily Pilot

called “They came from the Inland Valley.”

ERIC CHRISTENSEN

Costa Mesa

It’s time for Dick Nichols to do the right thing and resign his

council seat. His latest gaffe, stating that he doesn’t want

“Mexicans” using the grass areas at the beach all day, is just plain

unforgivable. I don’t want a person of his ilk representing me. He

brings shame to the city of Newport Beach. If he won’t resign, then

the recall proceedings must begin.

PAUL S. PEDERSEN

Newport Beach

I am chagrined by the bigoted remarks of the councilman who is

supposed to represent Corona del Mar. Not only has he lost my respect

and confidence, but I think he has also lost those of his fellow

council members. I hope that people will remember his unseemly

behavior when the next election rolls around.

ALICE REMER

Corona del Mar

Dick Nichols should resign. First, he imputes the integrity of our

Newport Beach Planning Commission by suggesting that one or more of

them took a bribe. Next, he makes a shockingly bigoted statement

regarding Latinos. His bombastic defense of this statement only

compounded the bigoted image in my mind, and he showed not a bit of

remorse for perhaps having offended someone. Our City Council has

lots of real problems and they don’t need these very nonproductive

diversions created by Nichols to waste their time. Nichols should

resign, and the sooner the better.

JACK MCCLARTY

Newport Beach