Welcome Chief Hensley, now about those parking...

Welcome Chief Hensley, now about those parking tickets

To new Costa Mesa Police Chief John Hensley: Welcome to the city

of Costa Mesa.

One of the things I hear about you is that you want to assure that

the police department in Costa Mesa is viewed as a resident-friendly

group that keeps the peace while maintaining close and helpful

relationship with the community. I applaud you for that.

I have a suggestion for you. One way you can improve the

relationship is by putting helpfulness before making money for the

department by issuing parking tickets.

Some months ago, we consented to having our street (Texas Circle,

with six houses) designated as limited parking. We did not really

want this, but complied to help a neighbor on Utah who wanted permit

parking “desperately.” Since that time, only our own visitors on

Texas Circle have been ticketed, no strangers or parents from the

school across the street. My cleaning woman has gotten a ticket. A

neighbor had guests present at a party, all ticketed. Our street has

become an easy mark for parking tickets.

About six weeks ago, I went to the transportation department to

find out what would be necessary to lift the permit parking. They

said to send a letter of request. I did that, and the neighbors

signed the letter with their own observations. We have not had a

reply.

Last week, while graduation services were in process across the

street at TeWinkle School, I observed an officer ticketing the

parents’ cars on our street. What a graduation present from the city.

If I had realized what was going on earlier, I would have placed a

permit on each car, but the tickets were already written. I spoke to

the officer, calmly expressing my views. I felt this young officer’s

discomfort as he said, “I am just doing what I was told to do.”

There are ways that you can make the citizens and your officers

more comfortable and law abiding. Be sure that common sense reigns

and that the rules take into account the ordinary activities of human

beings. Swift action by other departments of the city would help us

all.

ELEANOR KLEIN

Costa Mesa

Hard to judge Joe Sixpack if you’re not in the same boat

Just when Steve Smith was emerging as a liberal who occasionally

had some thoughts that pass the giggle test, he jettisons off to

another planet again (“An indecent act in a decent city,” Saturday).

Did he really look into the souls of every resident of Newport

Beach and find no one who lives there because it’s lily-white? Not

even the old coverall term “most people,” he says every one of them.

Now I need to move into the barrio to prove that I’m truly tolerant

of racial diversity. Does gathering together every Sunday morning

with other Catholics mean I am intolerant of Lutherans or Methodists?

If I was born in Iowa, but I love California, mean I have to hate

Iowa? If L.A. Jews prefer to live in the Fairfax district, does it

mean they have an intolerant, bigoted attitude toward Gentiles?

Shouldn’t Smith be asked to explain what is in the soul of someone

who uses the term Joe Sixpack, as he did in his column. Certainly, he

wouldn’t have us believe that it’s the same as saying John Doe or Mr.

and Mrs. Citizen. Does anyone have a mental picture of Joe Sixpack

different from mine? Beer-swilling, unsophisticated, potbelly,

tattooed, nonvoting, uninterested in social and political issues.

That’s Joe. Would you go fishing with Joe, Steve Smith? Or do you

have some prejudices that need exposing?

GARY DRIES

Costa Mesa

Smith right on with his column, got to the point

Regarding Steve Smith’s Saturday column (“An indecent act in a

decent city,” Saturday).

Magnificent. Well-written. Right on target. Beautifully concise

and very much to the point. What a pleasure to read. Thank you Steve.

HENRY LOURIA

Newport Beach