Mailbag: Stop stealing campaign signs

Stealing signs and banners is becoming a very popular activity during elections. These signs are not free; they have cost and value. All these candidates work very hard to expose their names to the public.

Signs and banners are very important tools. To make these signs costs money, and taking them is theft. If anyone has issues, they must ask each and every candidate about the issues in person or go to a debate to make things better for the city and for people.

This kind of behavior should stop immediately. I believe this is a dirty game and illegal. We need to think positively about how our City Council members are willing to make our city safe and create more jobs so that people can work, and small business can hire more people. Take a look the differences between Newport Beach’s and Costa Mesa’s city development and the standard of homes and commercial buildings.

Surat Singh Randhawa

Costa Mesa

*

C.M. was on NPR

I want to share what I heard on a National Public Radio program Sept. 13. The panel was discussing the Costa Mesa City Council and referred to it as the “gift that keeps on giving.” Some of its actions, reactions and rulings have made news throughout the country, and the council is a source of bewildering amusement to many reasonable thinking people.

The NPR panel had a discussion regarding the question of Costa Mesa’s transparency regarding outsourcing costs, restructuring plans, various contracts awards, open bidding, etc. They referred to some “exceptions” when it included the council members. Information regarding much of the expenditures by council members as well as monies and favors received by lobbyists, interest groups, etc. are exempt. I guess when it comes to the council’s transparency, it’s opaque, not transparent.

While I don’t live in Costa Mesa, I’m mournful and concerned about the “good old boys club” that has taken over the city. I can only hope that come November, the city will elect some new people. I want my neighbors to be represented by intelligent caring people who aren’t an embarrassment throughout the country.

Carolyn Fitz-Gibbon

Newport Beach

*

Heart defects should be detected at birth

Every California newborn needs a fighting chance. We screen for hearing, vision and other health conditions. Eight states screen for critical congenital heart defects, California can become the ninth in the country to step up for babies.

Heart defects are the leading birth defect in our state and nation. Pulse oximetry is a harmless and inexpensive test given to newborns while still in the hospital. It can diagnose a potentially life-threatening heart condition in a matter of minutes. As the mother of a child born with a heart defect I know how important timely detection and immediate action are.

The American Heart Assn. and the March of Dimes urge Gov. Jerry Brown to sign Assembly Bill 1731 when it comes across his desk.

Angela Eilers

Yorba Linda