MAILBAG:Enforcement is the ticket to slow speeders

Reporter Kelly Strodl (“Police to track speeders,” July 27) advised us that the Costa Mesa Police Department was implementing a program to monitor and ticket speeders in the Eastside of our town.

Cut-through traffic, always a problem, has been exacerbated recently by the construction on east 17th Street and the installation of a new water main on Irvine Avenue.

For example, my street — which runs parallel to Irvine one block away — has seen a tremendous increase in traffic since the water main project began.

Frustrated drivers stuck in a single, clogged lane on northbound Irvine, turn into our neighborhood looking for a way around it. Unfortunately for them, there is no way out except right back onto that clogged street — now further behind the clog than before. This has made for some very angry, frustrated speeders in a neighborhood full of young kids.

I’ve seen the CMPD motorcycle officers all through the Eastside since this program began and have witnessed no fewer than a dozen tickets being written. I think this is a very good idea for our neighborhoods and will be very surprised if it doesn’t result in more cautious, law-abiding drivers.

I agree that such a program should be considered for other areas of the city, as many blog writers have suggested in comments posted to Strodl’s article.

Enforcement works. We were amazed during a recent trip to Oregon when we found almost everyone driving the speed limit — unheard of here.

While in Beaverton for a few days we were stunned to find people actually slowing to 20 mph — the speed limit — while driving past a school. For us Californians, 20 mph is a speed we see only on the way to 60 or while screeching to a stop.

I agree with this program and hope we all will just throttle back, enjoy our drives and, hopefully, not endanger folks out for a walk on the Eastside.

When an officer stops you for going 26 mph in a 25 zone, just sign the ticket, be glad you didn’t hit someone and pray for traffic school.

GEOFF WEST

Unite to meet students’ educational needs

As a special education teacher at Newport Harbor High School, I tend to differ with the complaints of ex-teacher Sandra Sutherland (“Former special ed teacher files complaint,” July 26).

Special education has always been a challenging field and we all work diligently to service our students. It is true that the ratio of teacher to students needs to be reduced but the intention to collaborate and mainstream in the classroom is a relatively new goal to obtain.

With the “No Child Left Behind” concept, we want to expose our special education students to the regular curriculum, and at the same time, take into consideration their limitations due to their learning disabilities. Some students have different styles of learning, but all can be successful by focusing on their abilities.

Teachers, special education teachers and administrators need to unite, not conflict with blame. We need to figure out the best solution to meet the needs of our students. With modifications and accommodations to the regular curriculum, students can be exposed to the regular curriculum.

Our administrators and our teachers work hard to service the system of special education, including meeting deadlines, IEP meetings, dealing with parents’ concerns and addressing the standard of education.

I think Newport Harbor High School has a strong special education department, striving to be better with attainable goals. It is all a process that is succeeding with hardworking and dedicated professionals.

LYNDA ZUSSMAN