Mailbag: Reader decries pool hall’s apparent lack of cooperation with law enforcement

What does it say about our community when someone is stabbed and the business operators where the altercation occurred do not cooperate with police and their investigation? (“19-year-old Huntington Beach man arrested on suspicion of ‘violent’ pool hall stabbing,” Daily Pilot, March 23.)

So a fight started, yes, but once weapons get involved it turns criminal. Doesn’t a legitimate business want to aid the investigation? Doesn’t the business have a consideration to offer that this behavior isn’t tolerated and that the business should be a safe place that patrons can frequent without fear of assault, injury and possible death?

Instead of a continuation towards progress we seem to be regressing to a time such as during the Wild West era where disagreements often ended in armed conflict and one or more persons were fatally injured.

After 60 years on this planet I no longer recognize this place, and it bothers me deeply.

Mike Aguilar
Costa Mesa

O.C. could use Zelensky-like leaders

Two subjects people have difficulty discussing are politics and war. They are such hot topics that many people avoid the subjects completely or they rely solely on emotion without suffusing their arguments with facts.

On the international scene I have noticed the last two weeks that there is enormous emotion expressed about the war in Ukraine. The coverage in national newspapers and Facebook is astounding, but from my acquaintances locally and my family, I hear very little. What I am taking away from this phenomenon is that people in general do not like to talk about unpleasant topics. It is the exception rather than the rule to do so.

In Newport Beach, which is usually highly partisan, I see no signs of either excitement or disdain. The local papers do not talk about war or national politics, and seemingly neither do the people. Personally I get excited about both, but I let others bring up the topic. Among my friends on Facebook, Zelensky is considered the greatest international hero of modern times.

In a gift store that I was in this week in Newport Beach there was a bowl by the door and pieces of paper on which you were to write down the name of “your hero.” The only name I could think of was Zelensky. I don’t think that was the answer the proprietors were looking for, not locally anyway.

As we approach the fall elections, I have a feeling people will be more forthcoming in expressing their opinions about local politics, which have become quite colorful in Newport Beach, especially this year as many council seats open up. Also, there is a controversial initiative about electing the mayor. The local papers will be full of opinion pieces, especially about the mayoral issue. Already there has been plenty of publicity on that.

On a personal basis all levels of politics have become interesting to me since I retired. I get excited about the possibility of local, national and international heroes. In Newport Beach the mayoral issue interests me just slightly more than the council openings.

Granted, the local elections may not seem important in the overall scheme of things, but making things right at home is a beginning. Is it too much to wish for to get a Zelensky at the local or national level?

Lynn Lorenz
Newport Beach

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