Jail time for teen should not precede...

Jail time for teen should

not precede conviction

I am a civil attorney who has practiced in Orange County for more

than 30 years. Everybody, except a jury, has decided that Greg Haidl,

the son of former Orange County Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl, is

guilty of several crimes. He has been on bail. Bail is nothing but an

amount of money, or a bond, that is posted by the accused (note: not

guilty but just accused) to guarantee his appearance in court.

The prosecution seems to believe that if they think someone is a

“bad guy,” he should be in jail waiting for them to convict him.

Well, they have not convicted him of anything to date. The news

stories sound like it was a “close call” at the last trial. The jury

was overwhelmingly not for conviction.

Think about it, folks. They still have to try you and find you

guilty before you should be sent to jail. Let’s make the prosecution

convict Haidl of something before sending him to jail. Hasn’t that

always been the American way?

BARRY ALLEN

Newport Beach

Hoag staff members merit heaps of gratitude

This letter of gratitude is to humbly thank the staff of Hoag

Hospital, who attended to me during my brief stay, at the beginning

of November.

The kindness, professionalism and intelligent attention was both

incredible and unbelievable.

I am ashamed that I did not get all of their names, but as they

know, I was somewhat dopey -- still am.

Again, from the bottom of my heart, my sincere thanks to them all.

CHARLIE SMITH

Newport Beach

Neighborhood stance on church hypocritical

As an architect who has practiced for 50 years and has been a

resident of Newport Beach for more than 20, I have watched with

interest the resistance to allow St. Andrew’s Church to rebuild and

expand its facilities to better service the community.

I understand the renovation plans have particular emphasis on the

youth and meeting facilities for the congregation and the public.

They do not increase the sanctuary space. Their plans also include

structured parking on-site to help ease the neighborhood parking

situation.

I see an ironic dichotomy in that many of those who are protesting

the church revisions have already vastly increased the size of their

homes with the accompanying noise, street-parked Dumpsters and

construction mess imposed on their neighborhood.

In other words, it is OK to increase the size of their homes but

not that of the house of God. I find that to be unacceptable.

GERALD L. ALLISON

Newport Beach

EDITOR’S NOTE: Allison’s comments are part of a letter he wrote to

the planning director of Newport Beach, the City Council and Planning

Commission.

El Toro transportation idea sane, for airplanes

Recently, news has been circulating -- for about the 25th time --

that El Toro is to be sold to developers soon for Irvine-approved

housing, commerce, schools and transportation. Why should we believe

this news any more than the previous news that has all been false?

Fortunately, El Toro is an airport, where all we have to do is

turn on the lights, so Irvine’s suggestion that it be for

transportation makes sense, in my opinion -- if it’s for airports.

DONALD NYRE

Newport Beach