MAILBAG:

I read the story regarding the awning at Costa Mesa High School (“District declares awning unsafe,” Sept. 18).

For your information, I have been associated with Costa Mesa High School football and Pop Warner since my family moved here in 1965.

Both sons and my grandsons played through the Pop Warner program, and played football, basketball and baseball at Costa Mesa High School (and all graduated from Costa Mesa High School).

One son coached for several years for the Mustang varsity as an assistant coach, and now both sons and grandsons are coaching for Pop Warner, so we have “bled green for many years.”

For Mr. Marsh to claim Newport Mesa Unified School District waited until 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16 isn’t exactly so. One of my sons called me Sunday morning to let me know a crew was on site taking down the awning, and when I went over to the school before 4 p.m. the entire project was down.

How about those awnings in place in other district schools?

ED BAUME

Costa Mesa

UCI Chancellor Drake should resign

The decision to rehire Chemerinsky is correct; the methodology deeply flawed.

Giving in to intense pressure from one side or the other is plain wrong, and Chancellor Drake has demonstrated once again making tough decisions is not his forte.

For two years, Chancellor Drake has permitted extremist Muslim speakers to spew hate all over the UCI campus. Drake’s response has been that while he personally deplores hate speech, he believes in “free speech” and besides, he hasn’t been physically present when the Muslim speakers have delivered their outrageous hate-filled polemics. Apparently, watching videotapes of it isn’t good enough in the Drake court of law.

Drake may have many fine qualities, but making tough decisions and running a peaceful campus isn’t one of them. He should resign or the powers that be should remove him and appoint someone up to the job.

DONALD L. ABRAMS

Newport Beach

 Park behind library has better uses than city hall

Has anyone noticed the scale and slope of the open space behind the Newport Beach Public Library, central branch, lends itself exquisitely to an open designed Greek-style outdoor amphitheater?

Created with just blocks of stone and grass, with the natural curve of the land, this would be a fine place to hold outdoor library events, public lectures and city events.

It could also be rented out to acceptable not-for-profit groups or serve as a lovely place for weddings, business, graduations and other ceremonies. It could generate income for Newport Beach.

JACQUELYN BEAUREGARD DILLMAN

Newport Beach

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