Mailbag: Legal woes, costs mounting under this administration

I read “Commentary: City is gaining on its most serious issues” in the May 28 Daily Pilot.

It struck me as another puff piece by Costa Mesa’s mayor. It sounds like he wants everyone to forget all the blunders of the past few years and focus on the good things that have happened, whether he caused them or not.

Some of the most serious legal problems in Costa Mesa history have occurred since Jim Righeimer was elected. The Orange County district attorney is investigating the 60th anniversary party fiasco. U.S. Fish and Wildlife is continuing to investigate the mysterious and illegal gravel path that was created in Fairview Park. Many thousands of taxpayer dollars have been spent by the city to repair the eco-damage done by this path.

The mayor’s commentary made no mention of his campaign to minimize public input. He unilaterally changed the public comments part of City Council meetings so that many people must wait until the end of the meetings to be heard.

He formed a secretive task force to address group homes. Meetings are not open to the public, nor is a record made of these proceedings, even though taxpayer dollars are being spent.

The mayor claims to be a fiscal conservative, yet we’ve seen no real proof of that. Millions of dollars in legal fees have been spent on various actions that should have been avoided.

So before we believe that the city is gaining, we have to consider whether all we’ve lost still leaves a gain. And then we must decide whether the gains we may have made occurred because of the mayor’s efforts or despite him.

Joseph Weber

Huntington Beach

The writer, an attorney, maintains his practice in Costa Mesa.

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Overturn campaign finance law

Why aren’t there at least 200 co-sponsors to overturn Citizens United in the House?

Energy company owners like the Koch brothers and the horrible Supreme Court decision regarding Citizens United undermine our elections, our democracy, all American progress, our health and safety, the middle class, tax fairness, innovation and a chance for a booming economy and the American dream.

Thad D. Solloway

Costa Mesa

Parking attendants, please

One recent Saturday morning I drove all over the Balboa Pier parking lot looking for a spot while seeing several other cars doing the same thing, wasting gas and much time. I finally had to give up and go elsewhere. There was no “lot full” sign at the entrance.

At Big Corona, the state has mandated that the system of taking a ticket on entry and paying an attendant on exit be maintained because it’s a state park. Humans are there to monitor capacity and put out the “lot full” sign when needed.

The Balboa Pier relies on the honor system, a trust that visitors will use the self-service machines to pay. Relying on the honor system to maintain this source of city revenue is simply stupid, as is eliminating human employees.

Ed Kusby

Newport Beach