Being Offensive Is No Crime

No one would title Richard Nichols the Master of Tact or appoint him Newport Beach’s goodwill ambassador to tourists from Mexico. That question solved, what role remains for the loose-lipped councilman who makes derogatory comments about Mexicans and Latino activists?

Nichols’ ill-conceived opposition to adding more grassy areas at Corona del Mar State Beach because he believed “Mexicans” monopolized such spots on sunny days is just one in a series of mean-mouthed statements, most of them involving Latinos. He freely interchanges the terms “Mexican” and “illegal immigrant” as though anyone of Latino heritage cannot be a citizen, legal resident or from another country south of the U.S. border. Nichols has also said that Mexican immigrants spend most of their time creating traffic accidents so they can sue people. And when he tries to explain to reporters that he has been quoted out of context and isn’t a racist, he drops the bombshell that activist groups opposing him are trying to return California to Mexico.

Other members of the Newport Beach City Council took turns rebuking him. Then they formally disapproved of his comments. But they stopped short of two actions they had considered: stripping him of his committee leadership positions and asking him to behave better or resign.

That’s a wise step. As odious and downright paranoid as Nichols’ comments are, he has a constitutionally protected right to say odious, paranoid things, just as anyone, resident or foreign visitor, regardless of race or national origin, has a right to use the city’s grassy areas. All day.

Perhaps Nichols’ most important public role lies in how his propensity for sticking his foot in his mouth galvanized his own city. Many Newport Beach residents showed up at council meetings to denounce his statements. Other council members are frantically distancing themselves from Nichols, and though he retains his committee positions, his political power clearly is weakened. Residents plan to take turns monitoring Nichols’ behavior at meetings, with an eye to recalling him if he continues at his recent pace.

These are encouraging and important steps for a city that was known 15 years ago for having one of the highest rates of civil-rights complaints in Orange County against its Police Department, and was singled out in a Public Policy Institute study last year as the most predominantly white municipality in California. Of course, creating more low-cost housing in the city would be an even more meaningful sign of embracing diversity.

That would do a lot to convince Southern Californians, especially those from, you know -- inland -- that they shouldn’t prejudge all Newport Beach residents by the errant behavior of one.