Poll inspector was misunderstood Imagine my surprise...

Poll inspector was misunderstood

Imagine my surprise to read a letter in your publication calling

me a racist! (“Voting machines easier to deal with,” March 18.) I was

the polling inspector at Hope View School for the March 2 Primary. I

remember Madeline Sherman very well. Her memory of the incident is

close to what I remember happening.

I first became involved when the clerk and Sherman said the

machine didn’t work. I had just come back from the school office

after calling to report that the second machine of the day had gone

offline. I don’t know where else children are supposed to go while

their parent is voting. We did attempt to keep them away from the

machines, but kids are pretty quick. By the time I got there to help,

the voter was already upset. I said “Oh, you don’t read Spanish” as a

joke to lighten the mood as she didn’t appear that it was her primary

language. I said it with a smile, but as I said she was already

upset, so it bombed, which I didn’t realize it until I read her

letter.

The reverse statement wasn’t quite as she implied. A few voters

before her was a man who when told to use the PREV (previous) button

said “What does previous mean?” I replied that it meant before. I

said the same thing to Sherman without even thinking. She gave me a

really hateful look and said “You don’t have to make me feel stupid,

I know what previous means.”

I apologized right then when I realized how it sounded and

received another hateful look as a response. I tried again to

apologize as she was leaving and got another hateful look. We had

almost 600 voters that day and I probably personally spoke to more

than 580 of them. Many of our voters needed assistance and I was

always happy to help. I really do not like being called a racist. I

don’t speak, read or write Spanish even though I’m half Mexican and

proud of it. If Sherman still needs to complain to someone, she

should contact the Registrar of Voters’ office. They need to be aware

that I made her angry and ruined her voting experience.

I also invite her while she’s talking to them to volunteer to work

on the election board at Hope View School for the November election.

We need all the good help we can get. It’s a really long day and a

lot of work, but mostly it’s a fun and exhilarating experience. Of

course, this assumes that the Registrar’s Office lets me be an

inspector again. I can only try one more time to apologize to Sherman

and hope to see her in November at the polls.

EARLEEN CARRASCO

Huntington Beach

Viewing meetings gives voters heads up

I was reading the article “Cingular facility passes” in your

newspaper on March 18. I felt I needed to comment.

Recently, I happened to be flipping through channels and saw a

City Council meeting on television -- the one when they passed this

measure approving the antennas and satellite dish that are to be

attached to the Edison utility tower, which is located in a city

park.

It was almost comical, but when you think about it, this is

serious business. The Cingular representative answered some questions

regarding the structure they plan to put around it the tower, the

lighting, etc. and they took a vote. It did not pass. I thought it

would move on, but no that was too easy. They discussed it again, and

talked about since the maintenance crews could not start work before

7 a.m., the lighting would not be high enough to shine in anyone’s

windows, etc.

Then they discussed how they could make amendments to the motions,

which I thought had already been voted down by one vote. They took

another vote and it passed by one vote. I was not sure why that one

person changed the vote. Was it just plain indecision or did

something change in the measure in those few moments? Or is it common

practice when something does not pass, you discuss it again, and

continue voting until it does pass?

I do not live close enough to that park for it to affect my home,

but if I did, I would not be happy with this City Council. I cannot

understand why the City Council thinks it is OK for a company to put

in this type of equipment almost in someone’s front yard. I would bet

that none of them live across the street from this area. Homes are so

expensive to buy anymore, and you don’t expect to pay thousands of

dollars for one, and then have the City Council give permission for

something like this to happen.

What is even sadder is that they are now talking about whether or

not the fans would be audible from the home. And the Cingular rep

could not answer this. Why in the world would our council pass this

measure not knowing these answers? Is there no concern whatsoever for

those homeowners in that area? Again, I do not live in that area, but

if this happens to those homeowners, it could happen in my

neighborhood as well.

I would suggest that every homeowner in Huntington Beach think

about this the next time we vote for our council members. In all

fairness, I want to say that you mentioned in your article that City

Council members Debbie Cook, Jill Hardy and Gil Coerper voted against

the project. As homeowners, let’s remember the ones that were in

favor of this project and vote them out of office at our next

opportunity -- otherwise, you might have a Cingular tower in your own

front yard.

I might also mention that now that I watched the council on

television that evening, I plan to tune in more often. I wish that

other Huntington Beach residents would do this as well -- it really

gives you an insight into who are your capable council members, who

is really thinking of the city, and who really represents you, as a

homeowner and a city resident, in the manner you want to be

represented. It makes it a lot easier when you vote in the next

election.

SUE GIBERSON

Huntington Beach

Ban on Avitrol an important step

With great concern, I write to you regarding your article on

Avitrol. It is a terrible and painful death that birds finally

succumb to after ingesting Avitrol. I personally witnessed a

red-winged black bird agonize before death. And just a few days ago,

we lost an American Kestral that had apparently eaten a poisoned

songbird. Thank you for writing this story and informing the public

about this horrible poison. I am 100% behind all efforts to ban

Avitrol in Huntington Beach and, for that matter, every city in

California.

DEBBIE MCGUIRE

Costa Mesa

* Debbie McGuire is the President of the Board of the Wetlands and

Wildlife Care Center.

I very much support the ban on Avitrol as it is killing birds

indiscriminately wherever it is used. I would like to see some action

being taken so that this will never happen again. It is pathetic to

see how it has affected the birds brought in to the Wetlands and

Wildlife Care Center.

CAROLYN RAYNESFORD

Long Beach

Voting booths have room to improve

I really like the new voting booths because they are convenient

and should be more accurate because it’s computerized. However, there

are improvements, which can be made.

I was accidentally given the wrong party ballot. Also, there were

people who didn’t get to finish voting because they clicked on the

done button, probably because they thought the software was asking

them if they were done with that page. They should probably confirm

that the voter is completely done so that they can cancel out if they

clicked on the wrong button.

GLORIA HU

Huntington Beach

Councilman’s actions not appreciated

I read the article in “Sounding Off” (“Councilman Sullivan’s

actions not becoming,” March 11) and I feel the same about Dave

Sullivan. I have also watched the city meetings and saw with disgust

how he is. His attitude does not represent anyone I know in

Huntington Beach.

He should be removed from the council and replaced by someone who

knows the city and its people.

JOE MORTIMORE

Huntington Beach

I will be writing a letter of my own, but in reading today’s

Sounding Off (“Councilman Sullivan’s Actions not becoming,” March

11). I applaud Douglas Pricer’s statement. He stated what I felt the

evening of Dave Sullivan’s tirade.

LYNDA MYLES

Huntington Beach