No Good Reason to Shut Out Kids

Re “ ‘Good Reasons’ Shut Out Santa Ana Kids,” Feb. 3:

After reading Agustin Gurza’s column, we must go on record as 11 1/2-year residents of the city of Tustin to say we do not support the blatant discrimination and stealth politics that is going on in regards to the reuse of the former Marine Corps Air Station.

These shortsighted politics are mind-boggling. Does anybody realize that education sets people free to realize their human potential? Or is it that these NIMBYs just want to keep the Latino population in its place so they don’t run out of gardeners and domestic help? We wonder if our esteemed mayor, City Council members or city manager cut their own grass or clean their own house? We just might be motivated to attend the next council meeting to find out.

KENT and DEIRDRE SEAMAN

Tustin

* I am in complete support of Agustin Gurza’s powerfully written column that excoriates the Tustin/Irvine forces for their cruel rejection of a school site for Santa Ana children at the Tustin base.

Tustin City Manager William Huston makes the absurd assertion that providing a minuscule 6% of the project area to deserving students will produce a “financial disaster” for Tustin.

Apparently Tustin and Irvine want to stop Santa Ana school buses at their city boundaries but they have no interest in stopping the OCTA buses that bring their maids, baby-sitters, busboys and gardeners from Santa Ana. Shame.

If we fail to help our disadvantaged citizens with the best chance they will get to advance themselves in society, our public schools, we will be saddled with a permanent underclass. My wife and I will follow your reporting of this appalling injustice.

ALAN NESTLINGER

Santa Ana

*

Agustin Gurza’s article is inflammatory and extremely militant. The birth rate in Santa Ana is extremely high, hence overcrowded facilities. The community should be helped in regard to family planning. Population explosion is one of the ominous factors preventing success toward higher standard of life and better education for the children.

Unless population explosion is stopped, overcrowding in schools will be a perennial problem that would require school space three times larger than the Tustin base.

ENRIQUE J. FRIEDMAN

Irvine

*

I share Gurza’s outrage at the unconscionable stonewalling by both Irvine and Tustin of Santa Ana’s legally declared share to part of the former Tustin base. Are they afraid that our city’s nearness somehow might cloud the brightness of their own radiantly pristine streets? Or that our minority students’ zeal for knowledge and making something of themselves might somehow infect their own young people with the shocking germ of democracy?

Or is it simply greed for all that free land worth millions--paid for by all taxpayers, including those of Santa Ana? And that they’re not about to let anyone else in on the deal--even its equally rightful heirs? Thank heaven for all committed to justice in this appalling situation. And shame on William Huston and his like-minded allies. Back to kindergarten for you. After all, that’s where you were supposed to learn to share. Or at least not to steal.

BONNIE COMPTON HANSON

Santa Ana