Missing adornments make her melancholy I would...

Missing adornments make her melancholy

I would like to complain about the lack of holiday spirit in

Newport Beach (Balboa). It’s not the residents. It’s the city itself.

It no longer decorates the large tree outside the fire station on

Balboa Boulevard.

I inquired why and was told the city was tired of receiving

complaints from some people about religious symbol decorations not of

their faith. I don’t see a lighted holiday tree to be religious. I

see it as a beautiful holiday tradition that has been around for

years.

I miss that tree. It put a spring in my step and a smile on my

face each December, and I can’t be the only one. I’m sure many more

people loved that tree than hated it. Why must the wishes of a few be

listened to? I would be willing to start a petition to bring the tree

back next year if I thought it would help. Does anyone else feel the

same?

ELAINE MCGREW

Balboa

Concession speaks volumes about Garlich

Regarding Bruce Garlich’s conceding defeat in the Costa Mesa City

Council election, it doesn’t surprise me. He is a classy man from

start to finish in everything he does. I hope he is reappointed to

the Planning Commission, as he always gives a fair and impartial

reading and always asks intelligent questions. He’s just a classy

guy.

GORDON PATE

Costa Mesa

Candidate should have gone for a recount

Regarding Bruce Garlich’s concession, personally I do not believe

he did the right thing, seeing as it was such a tight race.

Basically, from talking to people throughout the city, I think

Mike Scheafer andGarlich took votes from each other. Either one of

them could have beaten Eric Bever if he was not opposed by the both

of them. Garlich and Scheafer are so strong in terms of getting

things done for the high schools and Little League and everything to

do with the kids.

BRENT MAZUR

Costa Mesa

Decision to concede comes too early

Regarding Bruce Garlich’s decision to concede the Costa Mesa City

Council race to Eric Bever, he didn’t continue because he didn’t use

every means possible to try to win.

In spite of the fact that he said he thought that the final

results were accurate, there have been times when they haven’t been,

so it was worth a try.

I’m sorry to see that he quit. I’m not saying I was for him or for

Bever, or against either one, but I just wish every single

possibility was explored before the end. . I would ask for a recount

myself if it didn’t cost the money that it costs. That is the reason

I’m not doing it. But I hope somebody else will.

MIKE CLIFFORD

Costa Mesa

Public can criticize

public employees

Regarding Grant Chambers’ Community Commentary in the Dec. 2

Pilot, “Former principal’s husband defends, supports his wife.”

Maybe I’m mistaken, but after reading the very long letter from

Chambers, I got the impression that Chambers feels his wife is

somehow on some sort of lofty level, above mere mortals, is beyond

reproach and can’t be criticized.

The fact is she’s a public employee paid by the public and open to

criticism. As a principal, she’s also probably a limited purpose

public figure in the eyes of the law.

The public has a right to fairly criticize her and all other

public employees, and especially those who are in positions of

authority over our children.

M. H. MILLARD

Costa Mesa