Who Should Pay for Bonds Mess?

* Talking about being in denial! “Speculation about the effects or non-effects on an election is just speculative,” (Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gaddi H.) Vasquez is quoted as saying in response to the “suggestion” by voters and (County Chief Executive Officer William J.) Popejoy that he not run for reelection (“Popejoy: Tax OK Likelier if 3 Leave Board,” April 13). Popejoy feels the sales tax increase has a better chance if Vasquez, (William G.) Steiner and (Roger R.) Stanton opt not to run again. I am told that Vasquez is quite slick-tongued (he must have some attribute), but it looks like he is tripping over his tongue now. I have news for you, Gaddi. You couldn’t buy reelection.

The situation is really quite simple. These guys were simply not doing their jobs when (former Treasurer-Tax Collector Robert L.) Citron wasn’t doing his. I have no intention of approving the sales tax increase whether this trio is in place or not. It’s definitely not the voters’ fault and not the taxpayers’ responsibility to fix it. However, I can certainly understand the voters who have expressed their opinion. Give these losers another crack at squandering more big bucks? I don’t think so.

Sorry, Mr. Popejoy, but I do not agree that these guys have shown a lot of courage. Send ‘em to the showers.

In fact, agreeing to not run again would not be enough. They would either have to sign affidavits to that effect or step down now. I prefer the latter.

CHUCK SHARP

Laguna Niguel

* Subject: Measure R Poll

Your front page (April 11) reports that 57% of Orange County voters oppose the bailout Measure R tax increase. Republicans in your poll oppose the tax by a two-to-one ratio. Our elected officials at the county level put Measure R on the ballot but are too cowed by reactionary groups to fully endorse it.

Elected officials at cities and school districts vociferously oppose Measure R while simultaneously demanding to have their bond pool losses be made whole. Various citizen organizations vow to fight the measure, demanding more cuts in government and reciting mantras about privatization.

I have grim news for all of the above Measure R opponents. You will pay for the bond pool losses whether you vote for the tax increase or not. If Measure R fails, we will see a decade-long period of depressed housing values. Most homeowners will probably lose $50,000 or more in their home value. Our citizens seem singularly unable to do ordinary arithmetic. If we cut the county general fund expenditures to zero, we would still be bankrupt and still go into default.

We will be paying credit card rates for bond funds starting July 1 if we do not wake up to our obligation to climb out of the hole we dug for ourselves. The treasurer and the Board of Supervisors made incredible blunders. Unfortunately they made those blunders in our name. Their errors are our responsibility to correct.

Measure R opponents say we must cut more programs and staff. Cut a million here, cut a million there until the $1.7 billion are redeemed makes superficial sense to some, but they forget that those million-dollar cuts have to be made 1,700 times. There simply are not 1,700 things to cut, there are only 300 cuts available at a million dollars apiece, leaving us $1.4 billion in the red. County CEO (William J.) Popejoy is a hard-edged businessman who wields a sharp ax, but even he cannot cut us out of this mess.

Vote for Measure R or watch your home value nose-dive. It should be an easy choice.

ALAN J. NESTLINGER

Santa Ana

* On the front page April 11, (County Supervisor) William G. Steiner says, “We’ve got a lot of education to go if the tax is to stand a chance at all.” (Supervisor) Gaddi H. Vasquez says: “Voters want to be able to see that we’ve made all the cuts and taken all the actions we can before they cast an affirmative vote for a tax.”

These poor, sad guys just don’t get it. They misunderstood who needs to be educated and exactly what action needs to be taken. If a stockholder invested and lost so much of your money that your lifestyle was cut in half, would you then borrow more money to hand over to the same broker? Wouldn’t that be . . . stupid? Mr. Steiner and Mr. Vasquez: Resign. When you are replaced I will vote for a tax increase.

SUZANNA BORTZ

Laguna Niguel

* I am saddened and angered by the majority of Orange County citizens who feel they have no responsibility for the failures and malfeasance of the Orange County supervisors, who they elected to office. These citizens lack moral courage. They have no concern for the welfare of totally innocent employees who have been fired from their jobs, by (the citizens) saying, “It’s not my fault.”

GENE P. MORRIS

Lake Forest

* Some weeks ago I telephoned, angry that you did not properly acknowledge that in the present county fiscal crisis the Sheriff’s Department was essentially getting a free ride, while (Sheriff) Brad Gates was crying the blues. In your March 31 stories you cover possible cuts in this department, along with the sheriff’s whining.

The fact is other services are important. The work furlough program, due for elimination, was years ago and still is a progressive “win-win” idea that benefits the community and the criminal offender.

Further, social services have proved their worth if we value deterring child abuse, neglect, etc. It should be remembered that police and prosecution only react to crime; they do little to deter it, as do many other programs.

PAUL WHITTINGTON

La Habra