Taking Offense at Moreno’s Reasons

Re “Moreno Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years in Corruption Case,” Feb. 1:

The Orange County chapter of the American Jewish Committee cannot remain silent when Ted R. Moreno, former Santa Ana councilman, in open court at his sentencing hearing, attempts to justify his money-laundering and extortion convictions as furthering his goal of keeping gays and lesbians out of Santa Ana.

Moreno apparently believes gays and lesbians would be attracted to Santa Ana’s newly established arts district and thereby bring about the moral decline of the city. “I was just hoping to make Santa Ana a better place to live,” he is quoted as telling U.S. District Judge Gary Taylor.

Over the course of this past century, pro-hate speech has blamed homosexuals and Jews for the moral decline of society.

Despite the lessons of history, Moreno finds the gay and lesbian lifestyle “offensive to God.”

We deplore the stereotyping of any group or individual within our community based on race, gender, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation. It is difficult to imagine that anyone who does believe in God would not find Moreno’s hatred “offensive to God.”

SUZANNE BUTNIK

Executive Director

Orange County Chapter

American Jewish Committee

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Moreno’s excuse for his illegal money-laundering and extortion would be laughable if it were not so hateful. His comment that the arts attract gays and lesbians so therefore we should not encourage art is unbelievable. He has made Santa Ana a better place to live by being sentenced to prison and no longer being part of the community.

I hope that during the time he spends incarcerated, he can find what it means to be a “deeply religious man” and not a hatemonger.

PEARL JEMISON-SMITH

Garden Grove