MAILBAG:

I am very disappointed to see the untruths being leveled at Councilmen Steve Rosansky and Keith Curry.

Our current City Council has been the most effective council we have had in years. Its members have fought long and hard to protect property values in limiting neighborhood drug rehab centers. They have worked diligently to ensure that we will have a new and much-needed Oasis center. Lastly, if only the state and federal budgets were in the same shape as our city’s, we would be better for it, and again the credit goes to the entire council.

Thank you, and enough of the lies. Let’s focus on the future and what the citizens of Newport Beach demand, which is responsible city government — which councilmen Curry and Rosansky are providing.

RALPH RODHEIM

Costa Mesa

Democracy brings freedom to disagree

I was driving down Jamboree Road today when a guy in a Cayenne Porsche drove by, rolled down his window and started giving me a thumbs down.

Then it dawned on me why. I had a political bumper sticker on my car he obviously didn’t like.

I didn’t quite understand this blatant display of disapproval. My neighbors have their lawn posters out. Some are not in my political camp, others are. These people are still my neighbors, and I respect them and will still be neighborly whether they do or don’t agree with my choice for president.

Wake up, people! This is America, land of the free, home of the brave who have fought for our freedom. Freedom to choose to vote and support the candidate we believe in. Freedom to put a bumper sticker on my car or lawn sign in front of my house, without the fear of being accosted or vandalized for having a different opinion than yours.

Give your opinion, don’t jam it down my throat, and I won’t do the same to you.

On election day, we are privileged to go into the booth and vote for whomever we want for president. When it’s over and all is done, I will give respect to the candidate who has won, and I won’t be a sore loser. If my choice doesn’t win, I won’t stoop to calling the winner names, either. He will be my president.

If you didn’t even vote, that was your freedom being exercised as you wished. We are all winners because we have democracy, a chance to choose our leader. It’s a system that works. So please respect the rights we have as Americans. Don’t belittle or berate one another. It is an insult to our Founding Fathers and the Americans who have fought and given their lives for this freedom.

KIM PERRY

Newport Beach