MAILBAG:

Thanks to South Coast Plaza for hosting such a lovely tree lighting ceremony. What a wonderful family event.

The children from the Orange County High School of the Arts performed beautifully.

Thanks, too, to the Segerstroms for having the good taste to wait until after Thanksgiving to hold the event. Merry Christmas to all!

LIZ MCNABB

Costa Mesa

Separate free speech from illegal speech

Regarding the last line (“Newport sued over city hall ballot,” Nov. 28), “Alan Beek has always been a proponent of people voting on things, and this seems like a departure on that.”

I’m a proponent of free speech, but depart from that when you have illegal speech such as falsely yelling fire in a crowded theater.

DENNIS BAKER

Corona del Mar