Mailbag: Op-ed piece on public safety ‘has it all wrong’
Re. “Commentary: Voters want ‘clean, safe, peaceful, quiet places to live’,” (Sept. 13): I am a 44-year resident and homeowner in Costa Mesa.
I’m also a retired law enforcement member (25 years) and then operated my own private investigation company for 20 years, all the time with an eye focused on my community and public safety. Allan Mansoor, who authored the piece, has it all wrong!
While City Council candidate Mansoor touts the last five years of public safety as being “great,” I would like to infuse some facts.
A hiring freeze was instituted in 2011 with the City Council majority, including now-Mayor Steve Mensinger, voting yes. Layoff notices were issued to Costa Mesa employees, including 15 sworn police officers.
The staffing levels from then on have been dangerously low because of that action. The once-highly rated Costa Mesa Police Department suffered greatly in future recruitment. The department, which had the choice applicants, became less desirable.
There was a mass exodus of highly trained and experienced officers, investigators and staff. The traffic unit, which was known countywide for its excellence, was diminished. The gang, vice, narcotics and K-9 units were also diminished and the ABLE helicopter was completely disbanded.
Proposition 47 and Assembly Bill 109 have influenced the crime increase throughout the state of California. But have you asked yourself why Costa Mesa has one of the largest increases, percentage wise, in Orange County?
The diminished staffing and the loss of experienced officers and investigators have been responsible for the increase in these stats. As of Sept. 13, CMPD has 113 sworn officers, including command staff, with four on injury status. Please keep in mind the allocation is 136 sworn, and with the recent crime increase, this is inadequate.
We have an incredible and dedicated police department and ever-vigilant residents focused on safety, despite not having all the tools necessary. A large portion of our patrol officers who are on a learning curve; they are great officers but experience will make them better.
Police Chief Rob Sharpnack is doing an incredible job trying to re-create the department of prior years but I believe his efforts will be better served with a new council perspective.
I support our public safety personnel, both fire and police, and am amazed and thankful for their dedication, especially with all the council rhetoric.
On Sept. 22, at 6 p.m., a public safety town hall will be held at the Costa Mesa Community Center, 1845 Park Ave. There will be information available on many subjects and a question-and-answer panel.
Mary Spadoni
Costa Mesa
Not much has changed for pedestrians in Laguna
My date is Dec. 6, 2014. Worst year ever in more ways than one (“Laguna Beach battles for gold in pedestrian injuries,” Sept. 10).
My sister, a girlfriend and I went to Laguna for dinner. Too bad we chose the worst day, time, year ever to cross PCH (east to west) at Calliope.
As we stood on the sidewalk waiting for traffic to stop at the crosswalk, two cars going north came to a stop. The traffic going south stopped also. Or so I thought. He just didn’t see us, as the expression goes.
I am sorry to read that nothing much has changed with the city. Everything has changed for me since that evening in 2014.
However, I must give thanks to all of those people who were there for me: from the moment I woke up in the street with a kind bystander holding my head to all of my wonderful medical personnel who patched me back together, so that the physical therapists could then get it all working to some degree.
Margaret O’Malley
Costa Mesa
Don’t spend the surplus
Does Costa Mesa really want to spend its surplus, which isn’t that much for a city of this size?
Increase reserves and pay down debt, so when the recession comes after the November election, the city will have something on which to operate ordinary business.
Doris Waterman
Newport Beach
Why close the motels?
It seems some on the City Council would like to close many motels in Costa Mesa, especially if they know someone who would like the property for a spot to install one of the many horrendous townhouses that seem to be springing up all over the city.
Ardry Hurst
Costa Mesa
Students afflicted with ‘affluenza’
I just read the Daily Pilot article regarding the cancellation of the Corona del Mar High School homecoming events.
As a retired high school assistant principal, I was part of many tough calls that were unpopular but necessary. I commend the principal for her stand and words to the community.
To no longer be able to use Orange Coast College, and then need to take the other indicated steps, says to me there were a lot of out-of-control behaviors and excuses/downplaying of the events, including disciplining of students, by community members, i.e., parents.
The “affluenza” affecting the school and our nation is disturbing. CdM has had a number of incidents since I moved to the area in 2003 that reflect poorly on the community it serves. Prom date drafts, cheating and drinking are just a few that show more about the community than the school.
What is even more telling are the excuses for the behaviors I have read in the Pilot by parents. I suspect there are those calling the district office to complain about the “overreaction” of the principal for the cancellation of events or discipline of their kids.
Take responsibility. And make your kids see they are responsible for their actions. Don’t blame the school for its efforts to maintain a standard.
It is too bad that this will affect many, and I certainly hope it is the majority, who were not involved, but it is an important lesson to all that there are consequences for what we do.
All of the school needs to see this was serious and there is a penalty to be paid. Perhaps this will prevent an action in the future of the type we read and hear about daily — the Wells Fargo scandal, lawyers planting drugs on a school volunteer, a perpetrator of a sexual assault with the father excusing it, politicians lying regularly, etc.
Yes, affluenza exists, but it is curable and not an excuse for responsibility for your actions.
Le Wentz
Costa Mesa