Mailbag:

Somewhere down the line, a decision was made that determined that a school administrator was more valuable to the public than a teacher.

The incredible lack of logic in that situation has never been felt as deeply as now, when no one (including the public) mentions administrative layoffs in the education field. Cold, hard logic screams loud and clear that before one teacher is let go there should be but one administrator and one secretary left in a school. It doesn’t work that way because administrators decide where the cuts will be made.

The teachers aren’t even asking for more money, yet are painfully aware that their administrators are paid twice their own salaries. People who go into teaching obviously don’t do it for the money. Most of them teach because it’s what they want to do with their lives. To deny them and their students that opportunity while school administrators get a free ride is at best irresponsible and at worst defrauding taxpayers.

Teachers, students and taxpayers deserve better.

ALAN REMINGTON

Costa Mesa

Fairgrounds take us back to our roots

Dear Gov. Schwarzenegger,

I read of your proposal to sell the Orange County fairgrounds and immediately became quite concerned.

I then thankfully read that Costa Mesa city officials are against this idea. Therefore I am writing to you to urge you to not sell the fairgrounds!

I grew up in Costa Mesa and attended Costa Mesa High School and OCC. The fairgrounds are the heart of the city, the area and perhaps even the county.

As a child, I performed in plays when the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse was on the grounds. As a teenager, I spent every day at the horse stables, learning to ride and taking care of the horses. The highlight of each year was attending the Orange County Fair. It is much more than just rides. It is a chance for the people to get a sense of community and a chance for people to display their talents — whether it be painting, gardening or raising a farm animal.

California has lost so much community spirit and is so commercial — much more so than most of the rest of the country. People are impatient and often unfriendly. The fair brought us back to our roots and helped us rethink our role in the community. It brought the community together and was always a happy event.

Other than the fair, the Orange County Swap Meet has been a big part of my life. As a student I spent many weekends working at the swap meet, finding it a great way to make a little spending money.

Later, when it became more professional, it was an excellent way to spend a relaxing day looking around and getting good deals on products. It became part of our way of life and an excellent alternative to the everyday shopping mall.

With everything the Orange County fairgrounds means to our community, I just can’t imagine it being sold for some type of private development. You would literally take away a large part of our lifestyle.

The economy is failing, we have terrorism and pollution and endless problems. People are exhausted with it all.

Please don’t take away something great just to help solve a temporary crisis. The effects would last forever.

What’s next, our coastline?

BRIGITTE OHLIG