MAILBAG - March 31, 2006

Wondering about a bridge to nowhere

I drive along Estancia Drive on my way to Estancia High School, and each time I see the beautiful Steel Bridge that goes over Estancia Drive, I ask myself four questions. Someone in the city of Costa Mesa needs to tell the taxpayers of the city the answers to them:

1. Who paid for the bridge?

2. Who is going to use the bridge?

3. Where does the bridge go other than the other side of the street?

4. What was the actual cost of the bridge?

With all of the problems Costa Mesa supposedly has with our illegal immigrants, the money that went into the construction of the bridge could have been used to solve some of the problems facing the city leaders.

The folks of Costa Mesa deserve answers to my four questions.

DAVID SCHWEITZER

Costa Mesa

Expressive moment turned too political

What a disgraceful display of political maneuvering at the last Costa Mesa City Council meeting. The Rev. Dennis Short was invited to give a “moment of solemn expression.”

He claimed to represent three religious organizations and used the pretense of his religious affiliations to promote his church’s political views before the meeting. This blatant propagandizing of his personal opinion was greeted with loud displeasure by a huge proportion of the audience.

Why are churches given their tax-exempt status if they are really going to act as political organizations? Other political organizations must pay taxes. His behavior was an insult to Costa Mesa and inappropriate to the task he was invited to perform.

If he wished to give his personal views, he should have promoted them as the rest of the residents are encouraged to do ? during the public comment part of the meeting, or from his own bully pulpit, which seems to fit this bully reverend perfectly.

CHRISTIAN ERIC

Costa Mesa

Why not fly the American flag?

Perhaps I’m missing the point. While I certainly respect the immigration protesters’ right to free speech, why are so many waving the flag of Mexico?

If they’re protesting to be allowed to stay in America and be Americans, wouldn’t displaying the American flag more appropriately get their point across?

DAVID SINGER

Costa Mesa