Race and Reuse Issues in Tustin

* I wanted to elaborate on some points raised in your recent story “Bill Would Make Tustin Give Land for School” (Feb. 9).

You state, “The disputed land is within the boundaries of the Santa Ana Unified School District, which for years has been struggling with campus overcrowding.” While this is true, the issue is more complex than represented in the story.

First, no students will attend schools in the Santa Ana Unified School District as a result of the reuse plan. Despite this fact, the city of Tustin has offered them 20 acres--three times the amount of land, proportionally, offered to the other districts which will be directly impacted by the reuse plan. In addition to the free land for a K-8 school, the city has offered $20 million cash.

Second, while we understand the overcrowding problems in Santa Ana schools, and that is in fact why we are still negotiating with them, Tustin schools are no stranger to this problem. In fact, 22% of Tustin’s children currently attend school in trailers.

We are still optimistic about our negotiations to end this dispute with Santa Ana Unified. It is unfortunate that Assemblyman Lou Correa decided to inject himself in a local issue that will hopefully be resolved locally, despite the assemblyman’s inflammatory rhetoric.

TRACY WILLS WORLEY

Mayor

City of Tustin

* Re “Base Decision Roils Santa Ana,” Jan. 18:

I was disheartened by the remarks of the Santa Ana Unified School District and the Rancho Santiago Community College District over the city of Tustin’s decision to move forward with a master plan for the conversion of the Tustin base. This applies especially to remarks implying that race was a motivating factor in the city’s decision.

The plan offered up by the South Orange County Community College District is one that is extraordinarily inclusive as it anticipates the opening of a learning community on the Tustin base. Irvine Valley College, which is not far from the base, is overcrowded and in dire need of new and modern classrooms and laboratories. Irvine Valley already serves far more people of color and students of international origin than it does students from a mainstream affluent white background. Indeed, for the majority of students, English is not their first language.

Additionally, the plan adopted by the city will allow the district to explore collaborative learning with existing and new, cutting-edge technology companies.

GREGORY BISHOPP

Laguna Beach

* Thank you for the great article on the racism in Tustin. I think it is about time someone exposed this ugly situation here in Tustin.

I have lived in Tustin for 25 years and have seen the racism grow worse by the year. There are neighbors here who even object to Latino kids using the neighborhood parks and basketball courts. I often hear them say that these “Third World kids” should play in their own parks. They call the police for the slightest reason whenever it involves any minority adolescent, even though the only trouble that I am aware of has been caused by white kids.

Please stay on this story and let the good people of Orange County know what is going on.

BEN ALVILLAR

Tustin

* Re “Tustin’s Marine Base Plan Approved by Navy Officials,” Feb. 15:

How in the world can Tustin City Manager William A. Huston consider robbing Santa Ana of land “equitable”? If Santa Ana had tried to do that to its richer neighbors, guess who would have been the first to scream. Frankly, the reason Huston and his cronies come across as greedy and heartless to the world over this matter is that “greedy and heartless” is exactly what they are. For shame.

BONNIE COMPTON HANSON

Santa Ana