MAILBAG:

Watching the Newport Beach City Council meetings during public comments is like taking a field trip to a mental institution, without having to worry that one of the patients might get free and try to hurt you.

It’s really amusing.

Take for example the anti-fluoridation crowd. When they get together, they spread so much misinformation it’s as though they create this huge black hole that sucks all truth from any meaningful dialogue. They try to convince every one of the perils of fluoridation based on their abundant knowledge of the subject matter. Of course, they have no scientific evidence to support what they say, merely their unfounded beliefs. When the facts are against them, they argue their contentions. When their contentions are unfounded, they argue the facts. When the facts and their contentions are against them, they argue vociferously.

If one suspects them to be sincere, one must pity their ignorance; if insincere, one must detest the spirit of deception they exhibit.

Then there is Allan Beek, the self-proclaimed champion of the residents who argues out of both sides of his mouth. When it comes to issues like Greenlight, or the Marina Park, he insists that common sense and fairness makes it incumbent on the council to put these issues to a vote of the residents. Yet when the issue of a city hall being located on a park site is to be put before a public vote, he files suit against the city to prevent this issue from being voted on.

Beek’s hypocrisy is exceeded only by his arrogance, and both stand unrivaled.

Finally, there is Bob Rush, the proverbial solution desperately searching for a problem. Having neither reputation to lose nor principle to restrain him, he continually badgers the mayor with his baseless accusations of impropriety; notwithstanding the mayor having been vindicated of any wrongdoing.

For mayor Steve Rosansky I can only offer these words of advice: Never mud wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty, and the pig enjoys it.

JOHN W. NELSON

Newport Beach

City hall should be inspiring, not drab

Many of the letters to the Daily Pilot regarding the location of a proposed Newport Beach city hall in Newport Center stress cost — the cost of a city hall in the park versus the cost in the 500 block versus the cost in the OCTA bus station.

However, it is important to state that a city hall should be an emblem for the city, not merely a dull collection of offices.

My wife and I recently found ourselves in the town of Yucaipa, and driving down Yucaipa Boulevard my wife exclaimed, “Wow, look at that beautiful city hall.”

And each time I enter the Irvine City Hall, I feel uplifted.

A city hall on a prominent corner can be a landmark in which we can all take pride. That seems far more important than another building in a flat parking lot, regardless of the cost.

MARTIN A. BROWER

Newport Beach

HOW TO GET PUBLISHED

Mail to the Daily Pilot, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Send a fax to (714) 966-4667 or e-mail us at dailypilot@latimes.com. All correspondence must include full name, hometown and phone number (for verification purposes). The Pilot reserves the right to edit all submissions for clarity and length.