Mailbag: Blogger’s comment is not Page 1 news

Re. “Mayor asks blogger to apologize for Hitler reference,” April 17:

I have been a resident of Costa Mesa for more than 35 years and believe that our mayor, Jim Righeimer, is not following the rules he recently established for the weekly council meetings. I am sorry he was hurt by recent remarks from a blogger, but he is a politician and thus must have a thick skin.

If he is allowed to use council meeting time to voice personal hurt and concerns, then we as residents must also be allowed the same privilege, especially for things the council members do and say that are hurtful and concerning to many of us.

With all the things that are happening in our city, it seems crazy that the Daily Pilot makes his hurt feelings front-page news. It is time that Mayor Righeimer put the residents of Costa Mesa first.

Barbara Maberry

Costa Mesa

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Is mayor running sole proprietorship?

Re: “Government should not be run like a business,” (April 1): Letter writer Diana Gardiner asserts that government “…is not a business and should never, ever be expected to run like one.”

Regardless of whether Costa Mesa should be run like a business, what kind of business has actually been delivered by Mayor Jim Righeimer? Is it like a corporation where leaders have to work within many constraints? Or is it like a sole proprietorship with relatively few constraints?

Righeimer’s actions over the three years since his team announced the idea of running the city like a business suggest it is the sole proprietorship form of business.

Here’s something the U.S. Small Business Administration website says about sole proprietorship: “… you have complete control over all decisions.”

Further, “You aren’t required to consult with anyone else when you need to make decisions or want to make changes.”

This comports with Mayor Righeimer’s demonstrated leadership style. First, he appears to have exerted complete control over all decisions. For example, few, if any, of his proposals have been voted down. This is not the norm in free-spirited Costa Mesa politics.

Second, constituents’ suggestions in public meetings are routinely ignored; this signals, especially in a small city, that he doesn’t feel obliged to consult with voters.

This kind of politics would be unusual coming from democratically elected officials anywhere. This is because elected officials normally are carefully responsive to their electorate, much as corporate officials are respectful of the constraints of the corporate system.

Tom Egan

Costa Mesa

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‘Noah’ is a great Hollywood production

The film “Noah” is Hollywood’s latest jump on the exploitative bandwagon.

However, this excellently made, Enochian-perspective interpretation is a must-see. Russell Crowe is a believable and likable Noah, macho with a sprinkling of sensitivity. This film is everything we loved about Bible films as kids, yet excellently done.

Ralph Freda

Newport Beach

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Overturn Citizens United ruling

Endorse state Senate Bill 1272, which would overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling in California.

I am very concerned that recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings disenfranchise voters by making them feel that casting their ballot is a rather hopeless exercise, and allow too many elections to be swayed by all the propaganda money can buy.

I feel too that the large corporate funds buy deregulation of common resources.

Pat Schilling

Irvine

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Corporations are people? In what world

I can’t even fathom an acceptable reason for the Supreme Court to equate people and corporations.

Corporations are “people” for liability reasons, not for any other. If you kill a corporation, there is no death penalty.

Peter Halatsis

Costa Mesa

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