Mailbag: Prevailing wages don’t lead to better work

My thanks to Jamshed Dastur for deigning to educate us on how happy we should be to pay prevailing wages for public works projects (“Prevailing wages not relevant to charter debate,” Feb. 23).

I’m sure we all appreciate learning that the only way to get value received is to hire private-sector union labor to do the job. Because, you see, in today’s convoluted political-speak, that’s what “prevailing wage” means: whatever a particular union wants to charge to do a particular job.

But, because Dastur informs us he’s used union labor exclusively in his business career, he’s likely unaware that the quality of work performed by non-union labor is often equal to that provided by the unions. And, it’s almost always less expensive.

Costa Mesa’s quest to become a charter city won’t relieve it of the obligation to negotiate in good faith with its public-sector employee unions and associations over wages and benefits. It has in the past, and I’m sure it will in the future.

But it will enable the city to avoid state-mandated prevailing wage requirements in public works contracts if the charter status becomes a reality. Something on the order of a 15% to 20% reduction in labor expenditures by the city could be reasonably expected if this came to pass.

And, considering these projects are often priced in the multi-millions, just that small bit of relief could make a huge difference in the cost of doing business for Costa Mesa’s taxpayers. And doesn’t it make sense that the city’s management should make every effort to save money whenever and wherever they can?

So, if you have concerns about the quality of private-sector union vs. non-union labor, consider this: Less than 6.9% of all U.S. private-sector businesses are unionized, leaving one to assume that quite a few of the 93% that aren’t must be producing excellent results.

BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche and Lexus automobiles are made in the U.S. using non-union labor in right-to-work states. These vehicles seem to fare pretty well in terms of quality ratings and are highly regarded by consumers.

And none of these companies have gone bankrupt lately, unlike a couple of their union-owned competitors. Maybe Dastur should consider also soliciting bids from non-union companies the next time his employers need some work performed. He — and they — might just discover the error of his ways.

Chuck Cassity

Costa Mesa

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Righeimer’s supporting cast deserves Oscars

If Oscars were handed out to actors in the year-long drama, “Takeover,” that’s playing in Costa Mesa, there would be a slam-dunk award for male lead and director. But many would be surprised at the winners for male supporting actors.

Jim Righeimer has achieved star status for both directing and starring in the drama that people either love or hate with true passion. He has certainly earned the bouquets and brickbats that have come his way every council meeting. He has earned two Oscars.

It’s ironic, though, that he absolutely wouldn’t have been able to become such a star without the votes of two bit players. Righeimer would have always been on the short end of 3-2 votes and could not have enacted any of his initiatives without these two supporting actors.

The most dramatic of these initiatives have ranged from attempting to lay off more than half of the city’s employees before finding out which, if any, made economic sense, to the recent moves over the holidays that deny citizens their right to shape a city charter.

Many observers say the two supporting councilmen read their lines well, the script apparently being “Give Righeimer whatever he wants.” However, their Oscars will be a surprise to most of the voting public, because for years these two councilmen each have played only the role of wise and responsive leader.

In the current drama, though, current Mayor Gary Monahan and former Mayor Eric Bever have tossed aside that leadership role and played robotic, Stepford Wife-like ciphers on the dais ever since Righeimer got elected to council.

Surprising though their new roles might be, Monahan and Bever have played them effectively, enabling Righeimer to become a nationwide star. For their effectiveness in being enablers, Monahan and Bever should be awarded twin Oscars for best supporting actor.

Tom Egan

Costa Mesa

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Celebrity worship leads to idle hands

I am a retired high school teacher with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. With my years of teaching children and raising two daughters, I have found a common thread that has impeded our youth’s growth.

It does not matter what the socio-economic background of this population is because these factors are universal. Besides the influences of the media, music and movies, there seems to be an increase of idolizing celebrities who bring absolutely nothing to the table. It is sad to see teens emulate these starlets who take away from building their own morals, values and a healthy self-esteem.

Entitlement issues across the board are surfacing and circulating among their peers. From a new car to an expensive pair of gym shoes, students expect material presents without earning them.

Many of my former students gravitated toward instant gratification by not waiting for or earning the desired pleasure. This, along with the lack of motivation, does not exercise “their muscle” in order to succeed in life. There is simply no substitute for hard work.

Parenting today is demanding and difficult in our society. We want our children to grow to be productive, creative and happy adults. Let’s step back and evaluate how we can encourage our young people to step up to the plate and design their own goals and more importantly, how they are going to get there.

Lynda Zussman

Newport Coast

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Reporting on Obama visit was fair

Thank you for what I felt was fair reporting. I walked up and down East Coast Highway and the numbers seemed about even — well, except for the lady on the horse! The anti-Obama side did have bigger signs and was yelling louder — some of the obscene words and gestures were entirely inappropriate, especially because there were children present, but all in all, it seemed evenly divided.

The inappropriateness of many of the signs may be why they could not be used in a family newspaper. I do take offense, though. I was not “bussed in” from the Inland Empire or Laguna, nor were any of the other welcoming committee members, many of whom I knew or met that day. It was an honor to welcome our president to Corona del Mar, and the disrespect shown through signs, words and gestures was somewhat embarrassing to our wonderful town.

Brenda L. McCroskey

Corona del Mar

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Progressive society has hurt students

Re “Determined to make positive change,” Feb. 22:

I have spoken with many of my former classmates regarding the reported violence on campus and growing up in Orange County.

We were so deprived! We did not have sex education. We did not have gay/lesbian lifestyle forced on us as students because it was not an issue. No one cared if you were gay or lesbian, black, white or brown. We did not have a Muslim Student Union, Black Student Union or a Mexican Student Union. We just had a Student Union.

We did not have teachers sleeping with their students. We did not have teachers molesting their young wards. We did not have police officers assigned to each campus. Nor did we have security guards. We did not have parents that wanted to be our buddies or friends. And the most important thing we did not have — violence.

Public education must solve the problems it has created. As we have become more progressive as a society, we have achieved less progress, and a culture of segregation and separatism that pits one group against another.

August Lightfoot

Newport Beach

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Columnist goes overboard on equality topic

Although I respect the implicit motives of Mona Shadia underlying her effort to educate us about her faith and her culture, I’m afraid she’s gone way over the top. “In Islam, men, women are treated as equals” (Jan. 28) was a headline so egregious and patently false that I’m surprised that it passed muster with your editors.

Shadia’s early life was spent in the relatively secular environment of the Mubarak regime, and she is fortunate to be a member of a seemingly enlightened and loving family. But she is obviously in deep, dangerous denial with respect to what is and traditionally has been going on in the Muslim world with respect to sexual discrimination.

Although practices vary country by country, what about the fact that in Saudi Arabia women can’t drive, can’t leave the home without a chaperone and can only aspire to a token level of participation in the political process?

In some countries, laws permit death by stoning for adultery, rape victims are charged with promiscuity and women must be cloaked from head to foot before leaving the home, as well girls as young as 10 or 12 being forced into marriages with men twice their age or older.

In Afghanistan, without the presence of the United States, it’s highly probable that by now there would not be a single girl anywhere in the education system. These are, of course, but a handful of examples of the blatant, persistent discrimination against women in the Islamic world.

Shadia would have us believe that all of this is the result of misunderstanding of the Koran by “so-called Muslim rulers” of “so-called Muslim countries”! Incredible! I wonder how the royal family of Saudi Arabia would regard her assessment of them?

It’s one thing to try to teach people about another’s culture, but it’s another to attempt to accomplish that at the sacrifice of the truth. And, won’t it be interesting to see what enlightened changes occur in Egypt under the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Ian Campbell

Huntington Beach