Job well done on question and answer...

Job well done on question and answer session

I don’t think I have read or heard such a sensible and articulate

presentation of Costa Mesa’s current problems and proposed solutions

as appeared in your full-page interview with Eric Bever (“Q & A,”

Sunday). The Daily Pilot deserves great credit.

Managing Editor S.J. Cahn was a perfect interviewer. His questions

to Bever were short and to the point, and, most praiseworthy, Cahn

stayed out of the way and let his interviewee carry the ball.

In this edition, the Daily Pilot lived up to the highest standards

of professional journalism.

WILLIAM B. ANDERSON

Costa Mesa

Plastic barrier won’t get to the root of the problem

I am one of the residents who live on Ceylon Drive in Costa Mesa.

I would like to thank Deirdre Newman and to let her know what a

wonderful report she did about the ficus trees planted illegally by

the Prince of Peace church (“Residents want ficus out,” Tuesday).

In the article she stated so eloquently and clearly the situation

and fairly covered both sides of the story.

However there is more to it. Other than those trees on Baker and

Mesa Verde East, the church also planted 52 ficus trees along the

west property line only 18 inches from the concrete wall separating

them from the neighbors. Their roots are just as big if not bigger

than those on Baker Street, but the school/church refuses to remove

them and the city said it is a private issue between the neighbors

and will not get involved.

I have to congratulate Newman that she accomplished what the city

and neighbors could not do in the past five years; that is to get

their attention and finally do something about the trees.

Last night they had a worker on site trying to dig a trench

between the trees and the sidewalk along Baker Street. With my

limited Spanish I gather that he was told to dig a trench and place a

20-inch deep plastic sheet in it to act as a root barrier.

If you ask any knowledgeable and honest arborist he will tell you

that such so called “Root Barrier” probably will slow some roots from

reaching under the sidewalk but it will never stop them. Eventually

they will grow under the plastic and come out again.

If it’s possible, I suggest that the Pilot go out there today at

noon time and see.

As a resident, neighbor and tax payer we want them to remove all

the trees before further and more expansive damages are done.

Thanks again.

EDWARD KAO

Costa Mesa

Don’t judge a building of books by its cover

I read with interest your story on libraries in Costa Mesa. It

would appear the political thing to do is reward each constituency

its own branch library, which must thrill the heart and soul of the

county librarian. Hooray. No city-owned and managed library.

This is indeed an expensive form of bribery. Buildings don’t come

cheap. Why can’t we have a branch library on every corner? It might

even be charged to the county budget.

It would be less expensive to plan a bookstore at every shopping

center in the city. We are an affluent population. The City Council

should train its citizenry to buy their own books, thus saving the

city and county even more money. The secret is that bookstores turn

out to be great libraries, once people learn how to use them. No

weeks of waiting for those best sellers.

KEN WHITE

Costa Mesa

Columnists shows bias regarding skate park

I was offended by the reporting of Lolita Harper. She stated early

in the article that she was biased (“Dog parkers barking up wrong

tree,” Aug. 29). I feel so much so that she should have excused

herself from covering this event.

I was in attendance at the Parks and Recreation meeting. What I

heard was a reasonable and responsible discussion of the issues from

both sides. Belittling dog owners is not something we appreciate.

May I recommend that the next time this issue arises, Harper take

a little time off to go skateboarding and let another reporter who

can be more fair and balanced cover the assignment.

JOANNE A. CURREY

Costa Mesa

City is finally pushing the cart issue

We certainly have had a problem with carts for a very long time. I

personally spoke to a number of owners and managers of markets in the

area that had shopping carts in our area and all of them were

unwilling or recalcitrant regarding doing anything to solve the

problem. So I am glad the city is at least finally taking the problem

in hand a bit and we are going to solve the problem. I also spoke to

the city council about installing coin operated shopping racks years

ago.

CHRIS TIANERIC

Costa Mesa

No robe, no throne, no divinity, no right to judge

It is official. God has stepped down from his or her almighty

throne. Steve Smith is apparently the heir apparent. Congratulations.

Adultery is reprehensible, immoral and all too pervasive in human

society. Whether it is unforgivable is entirely between the married

couple. It is not appropriate for any human being to judge that to

which they are not privy. And, incidentally, adultery is a mistake --

albeit, a very big one.

I am sure that Smith is the one perfect person remaining on planet

Earth. I am sure he has never tarnished any of the Ten Commandments

at any time in his life. At least, for his sake, I hope not, because

his “holier than thou” plexiglass stance will likely engender more

than a comfortable contingent of skeleton-seekers. I am sure in Smith

we have the one guy who can measure up to such scrutiny.

J.B. LITVAK

Costa Mesa