“It was a learning procedure, and we’re...

“It was a learning procedure, and we’re going to keep learning. We

can’t be experts in everything. There’s a reason for everything. This

is one case, and I can guarantee it’s the last case on the subject.”

-- Renee-Claude Menard, spokesman for Cirque du Soleil, which last

week reinstated a performer who was fired last spring after he

disclosed that he was HIV-positive.

“I love it. I believe that an invocation at a community event

should reflect the broadest consensus of that community. Any

sectarian reference in and of itself marginalizes people who do not

ascribe to that particular faith.”

-- Rabbi Mark Miller, of Temple Bat Yahm, on a Newport Beach City

Council decision to remove references to specific deities from

invocations.

“There have been, in the last two to three years, a dozen major

issues that seriously affected Costa Mesa -- on every one of them,

the council has voted against the people.”

-- Mike Berry, Costa Mesa activist, who announced plans to run for

City Council this fall.

“Would people like to see me go away? Yes. But we’re the people,

and we have a right to be heard.”

-- Jim Hildreth, a Balboa Island resident and frequent speaker

during Newport Beach City Council meetings, after the council decided

to move to the end of its meetings public comment on routine calendar

items.

“I’m not going to be intimidated and back down from my

legislation, but I am going to take it seriously and take

precautions. We shouldn’t be spending millions of dollars on people

who come here illegally when it takes away from the health care of

our own citizens.”

-- Dana Rohrabacher, Costa Mesa’s representative, after receiving

a death threat and other harassing phone calls related to a bill he

proposed to limit health care for illegal immigrants.