Jane Doe vindicated in Haidl judgment Hurrah...

Jane Doe vindicated

in Haidl judgment

Hurrah for Jane Doe, her family and her attorneys. Hopefully, the

outcome of the second trial sets a precedent for future victims of

like abuse or at least deters would-be offenders.

Let’s also hope the videotape of the assaults on Jane Doe remains

where it belongs and doesn’t get “lost,” only to reappear for all the

World Wide Web to see.

She has suffered enough indignities.

SUSAN MERRIHEW

Balboa Island

The straight scoop

on The Bell Curve

I am new on the Web, but I wanted to say how much I appreciate The

Bell Curve.

I think Joe Bell says it right, and I was so glad to hear he did

not go to Arnold’s dinner -- “Missing out on my dinner with Arnold,”

March 18.

Bell writes in such a clear and understandable way. On the other

hand, the article by John Campbell on the Forum page the day before

-- “Governor’s proposal has merit” -- was so wrong and not

understandable at all.

I just want to say that it is so refreshing to hear Joe Bell. It

is the first thing I look at on Thursdays.

Thank you for him.

JUNE FOX

Costa Mesa

Job Center workers

will need a place to go

The most amazing thing happened. I found myself agreeing with

Steve Smith for perhaps the very first time ever -- “Did I mention I

think this is a bad idea?” March 15.

Steve came out against closing the Costa Mesa Job Center. You

don’t have to be the sharpest tool in the shed to figure out that the

more than 100 men who show up each day looking for work aren’t simply

going to disappear.

They’re going to go somewhere else. Lots of somewhere elses, to be

exact. And that compounds the fracture -- as Lucille Ball used to say

-- for those charged with preserving the peace.

It would seem preferable to continue this well-run and successful

program -- or perhaps move it to another, more politically acceptable

location -- than to abandon it entirely and see these day workers

scatter to all parts of the city, creating a police enforcement

nightmare. Perhaps increasing fees to both workers and employers

would serve to reduce or eliminate the Job Center’s cost of

operation.

Or perhaps it could be reorganized or privatized to function at a

lower cost. Has anyone bothered to ask how much more it will cost to

police the resultant situation?

I recall that then Councilman Chris Steel’s primary campaign issue

was closing the Job Center. It’s ironic that he finally got his wish

only after having been unceremoniously -- and thankfully --

extricated from office.

CHUCK CASSITY

Costa Mesa

Council brave to take

on Job Center debate

I was pleased to see the well-reasoned response of Mayor Allan

Mansoor at the March 15 City Council meeting regarding the eventual

closure of the Costa Mesa Job Center.

It was a breath of fresh air in the rhetoric-jammed commentaries

of every alarmist, political provocateur and crank, proclaiming

everything from racism to “the sky is falling.”

Progress is never a linear exercise, but it is a lot of give and

take, thought and consideration, and a firm grasp of a vision of the

future for our fair city that will, ultimately, make life better for

all residents.

I live one block away from the Job Center, and do not know of any

other resident who has had the proximity of observation that I have

had these past 17 years -- not even Steve Smith, who I understand

lays claim to a former, illustrious Westside residency.

I sure never bumped into him when I shopped at the Vista Center.

I was there that fateful night of the March 15 council meeting,

and perhaps it is time for a reality check. I didn’t hear the

information the way that it is now being reported. I heard our

council trying to come up with a more dignified way for the workers

to get employment: Labor services in the private sector, or possibly

a phone bank in a covered area, out of the elements, were two of the

suggestions.

This legitimizing of the relationship between the employers and

the employees can only raise the morale of everyone. The term “casual

labor” has always inferred that payment is under the table and under

the radar.

I suppose this can be good, instant payment for a day’s work with

no deductions or paperwork to worry about -- but also no security for

the worker should he be injured, or quite simply, not paid for his

work, if the employer decided he didn’t like the job.

As for the additional money that the private sector agency would

have to charge, well, this does not come out of the wage of the

employee. I am sure that any honest caring employer, who wants to pay

a decent wage, would be happy to know that this additional cost

ensures more benefits and safety for the worker, such as workers’

compensation.

In order to better understand what the private sector provides, I

gave the head office of one of the labor providers in my area a call,

who gave me more information than I can impart in this letter. I am

now even more convinced that the City of Costa Mesa should get out of

the Job Center business. Let’s put to rest some of the dire

predictions of the fear mongers. The business that I called has been

around for almost 20 years, and they pride themselves on being able

to provide workers with flexible hours and employers with on-demand

staffing. The person I talked with emphasized that safety is a huge

priority for their employees. They also check with the employee when

he returns from the job to make sure that if he was hired to rake

leaves that that was the job that he completed and not something

beyond that. They check to make sure that workers were given proper

breaks and time for meals, and they also collect overtime for their

employees.

Additionally, when a business wishes to permanently hire an

on-demand staffer, the company does not charge a fee to either the

employee or employer. They figure this is a good situation for

everyone.

To address the writer who stated “that if using a labor agency was

a good idea, contractors and workers would already be doing so,”

well, it sounds like they are.

I don’t know that our city Job Center can (legally) enforce any of

the rules that labor agencies must comply with -- minimum wage,

breaks, lunches and overtime, where appropriate. Do they check with

the employee when he returns to the center and inquire if he was

treated well and if the employer met his obligations? If they do, and

the employer did not, what can our Job Center do to make them comply?

Seems like there are a lot of things to be considered and questions

to be answered in order to do what is best for everyone.

The council is studying this issue, and it intends to come up with

a workable solution. I commend council members for their bravery,

taking on a topic that was certain to be incendiary.

There’s an old Southern saying I was introduced to as a child:

Some folks would just rather have their grievance than find a

solution.

Kudos to this council for trying to find that solution.

KATHLEEN ERIC

Costa Mesa