Cutting Funds for Those Who Help Illegal Aliens

What has happened to Costa Mesa’s leadership? As a resident for 22 years, I saw Costa Mesa as a city of creativity and compassion in dealing with typical problems facing all cities in Orange County. Now, with the leadership of Mayor Peter Buffa, Costa Mesa is seen by many as racist. With its decision to stop granting federal funds to any agency that serves “illegals,” Costa Mesa has taken another step backward.

Councilman Orville Amburgey, in his continual drive to try to push SOS out of the city, sponsored an ordinance that affects a lot more than those helped by SOS. Many think Amburgey bit off more than he can chew.

All agencies that receive funds are now required by the city to check those they serve for legal status. That includes organizations that serve only children, the Lions Club, which sponsors an annual fish fry, and even the Newport Mesa Unified School District, which received $65,521, as stated in the Times chart of grant recipients. That means that Costa Mesa has ordered the district to check the legal status of every 5- to 18-year-old child that enters school, an issue that constitutionally has already been challenged.

Imagine the new bureaucracy created for all the agencies. Perhaps we should have Buffa, Amburgey and Glasgow IDs before anyone can come in.

SOS rightly refused to adhere to such a ridiculous and inhumane policy, and it can afford to turn down its city grant, which is just a trickle in its flow of annual donations. But can other, smaller agencies afford the cut? Local agencies should wake up to the fact that Amburgey’s personal attack on SOS has caught them in the line of fire, and they should unite in opposition against this new city ordinance. And all registered voters should remember these councilmen who constantly interfered with the running of private service organizations and who opened a dark hole in Costa Mesa’s caring past.

And don’t forget Buffa. The fearless leader who slyly sits back and agrees to all this nonsense. We all know Amburgey and his clone, Glasgow, will never change. But what motivates the major?

Those in Newport Beach should remember, too, in case Buffa ever seeks higher office.

MARY CAPPELLINI

Newport Beach