Go to work on debt before raising...

Go to work on debt before raising salaries

Re: “Costa Mesa hikes city-employee salaries,” in Thursday’s

Pilot: Getting a raise for the city officials here? I don’t believe

in that until they get out of debt. They should get out of the debt

they are in already, and then establish what they want to do.

BOB HILL

Costa Mesa

Underground good for aesthetics

Re: “City takes line on going underground,” in the Nov. 13 Daily

Pilot, I think that all of the residents of Costa Mesa should pay for

all of the underground lines no matter where they are, because it

would make our city look so much better.

We drive on other streets than just the one we live on. The

overhead utility lines just add to the cluttered look of many of our

streets.

Also, who in the city loves that creamy-tan color that is

occurring in many areas of the city, such as the Home Depot shopping

center, bus benches, etc.? We need more color in this city. The

creamy tan wouldn’t be so bad if there were some bright accents such

as green, blue or white. Now it looks very uncoordinated and bland.

VIRGINIA CHRISTIANSEN

Costa Mesa

UC fees up, but here’s some perspective

Re: “Students unhappy with UC fee increases,” in the Pilot Friday.

It surely is no news that a college education these days is

expensive. However, the University of California, even with a fee

increase, is a bargain. Consider the alternatives: USC is roughly

$42,000 per year -- including tuition, room and board and books --

and most East Coast schools are even more. For instance, George

Washington University in Washington, D.C., is $46,000 per year.

MIKE BUETTELL

Newport Beach

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Buettell is a counselor at University High School

in Irvine.

Haidl needs dose of adult accountability

Regarding Greg Haidl, son of former Assistant Orange County

Sheriff Don Haidl, where would you like me to start?

The best outcome for this young man is to make him fully

responsible as an adult. He knew that if he got into trouble again he

was going to jail. But instead, he apparently choose to go out (even

though he was under house arrest) with some buddies and have some

alcohol and get into a car crash. My word for that is karma, not

depression. Give me a break. These kids who are turning into adults

have been so spoiled. There’s no way any of them would actually

accept any responsibility. People, focus on the kids, not on the

career!

DORIAN HUNTINGTON DAVIS

Newport Beach