Still feeling the heat from searing comment
The Daily Pilot has been less than objective in its reporting of the
Nichols fiasco. Its incendiary “Mexicans on the beach” article
sparked the conflagration, and since then, the paper’s reporters have
shown consistent anti-Nichols bias. The Pilot’s report on public
comments at the July 8, 2003, council meeting depicted only two
points of view: racism and anti-racism. That is not balanced
reporting.
I spoke at that meeting and heard every other speaker. While there
were extremists on both sides, there were many others besides myself
who called for an end to the hysteria, opposed a draconian resolution
that would have removed or neutralized Mr. Nichols and appealed to
the City Council to let the community express its opinion at the next
election rather than encouraging a recall petition -- which would be
costly, debilitating, and most probably unsuccessful. I did not read
of such moderate views in the Pilot, which balanced reporting would
not have overlooked.
Finally, your editorial on July 14 fell into line with the
reporting. It is totally incorrect to say that Mr. Nichols accused
the council, the Daily Pilot and the Fire Department of a conspiracy.
He never used that word; it was Mayor Steve Bromberg’s. Mr. Nichols
repudiated the word. But what he meant was clear. Sharks do not
conspire when they smell blood. They just know what to do.
Taking Bromberg’s words and putting them in the mouth of Mr.
Nichol’s goes beyond unprofessional reporting. It sounds to me like,
well, a conspiracy.
TOM MOULSON
Corona del Mar
A surplus of verbiage has resulted from Councilman Dick Nichol’s
comments regarding the use of Corona del Mar state beach by the
Mexican community. However, little attention has been devoted to his
vote to abstain from the decision to proceed with plans to make
capital improvements to the beach. No reason was given for this vote.
The 500 foot radius restriction does not apply in this case, as it
did with the Port Theatre. Qualities that should be possessed by an
elected representative are leadership and vision. Sadly, Nichols
lacks both, and on this basis alone he should resign his position on
the City Council.
RUSSELL HOWELL
Corona del Mar
Watching the sad debacle at the council Tuesday night, I was
struck by the incredible arrogance of councilman Gary Adams. He was
not troubled by the comments of Councilman Dick Nichols per se, but
rather intimated that Nichols was simply ignorant and supported that
assumption by noting that Nichols didn’t grasp concepts the way he
and his cronies did.
This from a councilman whose repertoire includes demeaning and
derogatory comments to speakers who dare approach the dais to address
the council and question their actions? Adams has repeatedly made
remarks about speakers’ “brains being fried,” being “ignorant,”
senile or disingenuous.
Nichols’ comments are regrettable, however, the continual dressing
down of speakers at the dais by Adams, and at times Mayor Steve
Bromberg, are unacceptable. The result of their condescending and
abusive behavior is to chill freedom of speech and the citizen’s
inalienable right to address their representative government.
Adams’ apologizing to the city for Nichols’ comments is a joke. He
needs to only look within himself to see real intolerance.
MICHELLE TRAIL
Newport Beach
Cyndie Borcoman’s letter in the Pilot sounds pretty intolerant to
me. In fact, I could feel the hate dripping off the page. I also
found it interesting that Borcoman whined that many of the supporters
of Dick Nichols were, in Borcoman’s view, not from Newport Beach.
Can it be that Borcoman wants to keep people out of Newport Beach
who don’t agree with her liberal world view? Perhaps she wants to
keep Americans off the grass near the beaches? Borcoman should also
look up the word bigot before she throws it around, because some of
her views sound bigoted.
Borcoman also doesn’t seem to understand that “free speech” in the
United States means that people have a right to say more than “I love
mom and apple pie,” even if Borcoman and her ilk don’t like it.
M.H. MILLARD
Costa Mesa
Councilman Dick Nichols is an embarrassment to our community, and
yes, I agree with the actions that the City Council took. Too bad
they couldn’t do it even stronger.
DOROTHY LESHNER
Newport Beach
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