Mailbag: School board race winners should meet with teachers’ union

It has been over a week since the election and our school board incumbents have had five days to consider their wins, celebrate a little, congratulate each other, accept congratulations from their friends and relatives, and hopefully consider the implications and reality of their wins.

First, there were thousands of people who voted against them and for the other guys. That should make them think. It means that those people either loved the message from their opponents or they really don`t like the job that the incumbents are doing.

It’s not as if there hasn’t been a lot to question regarding their histories. Without going into the bad press they have had recently, let me just say that I hope that they will spend some time over the holidays reflecting.

They may want to consider carefully listening to teachers, parents and the community. They may want to create a badly needed real relationship with the teachers’ union. After all they are the professionals. They’re the ones with multiple degrees. They are the ones in that small, overcrowded classrooms every day. The school board may want to run those shiny new programs by them. Better yet: Ask them what they need, and then make sure they get it.

The school board may want to consider not falling in love with the administrators and then giving them extra money to stick around. They may want to do their homework, you know, research. Research all those crazy programs with the crazy names. Get an intern or someone to help. They may want to avoid getting the dog-and-pony treatment when they go to a school. Meet with the teachers and listen to them.

Also, they may want to consider the whistleblowers. Listen to them. They know things that the trustees should know. And if I were them, I would pay very close attention to the money spent on attorneys. They may be surprised

Also, they may want to have have enough respect for the students, teachers, parents and everyone else to be honest and transparent. Keep in mind the thousands of people who didn’t vote for them.

And, by the way, congratulations. They should know that there are thousands of people who voted for them and they are expecting the best.

Sandy Asper

Newport Beach

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Vacation rentals harm quality of life

Re: “Live and let Airbnb” (Nov. 11): The author’s conflicting comments make little to no sense. In fact, his logic sounds as if he is either in the market for a short-term vacation rental, or already a participant in Airbnb, and receiving negative feedback from surrounding, suffering neighbors. With each defense of short-term vacation rentals, the writer’s comments contradict any point of common-sense reasoning.

These businesses, in some cases operating illegally, are putting our residential neighborhoods in jeopardy. This is not a representation of diversity, rather an egregious business making a profit, sometimes untaxed, regardless of the misery experienced by surrounding families. For neighbors of these businesses, your home is no longer your castle or any aspect of a private or quiet domain. It is an extension of a Holiday Inn.

What exactly does the writer define as “extended detriment” to be tolerated by permanent families as acceptable? The noise ordinance is in effect 24/7, and the idea that families should suffer through a vacationing group because they will soon be gone is absurd. Landlords do not remain on site, with some never stepping foot on the rental property with any regularity.

Sandra Pope

Huntington Beach