Resignation would save the city money I...

Resignation would save the city money

I appreciate Mayor Steve Bromberg’s analysis of why he and the

other five Newport Beach city councilmen have asked Councilman Dick

Nichols to resign.

I, too, heard similar comments by Nichols last October during the

campaign. Unfortunately, I cannot respect a public official who seems

so out of touch with the times.

I enthusiastically support a recall and will work to replace him

with a more qualified member of our community.

Nichols needs to be replaced. It would be an honorable act if he

were to resign and save our community the $70,000 cost of a special

election.

ALEXANDRA MCKAY

Corona del Mar

Celebration of diversity celebrates the country

Three cheers for Mayor Steve Bromberg for setting the record

straight and for his insightful synopsis of what the Nichols matter

really means to all of us. As we celebrate our Independence Day,

maybe we should all take a moment to reflect upon what it means to be

an American. America was created as a haven for those who had

experienced religious persecution. This country has been built on the

notion that all people are welcome and encouraged to participate in

our community affairs and our democratic institutions. The melting

pot analogy is not just a concept -- it is our reality and it is what

gives our country its strength. There is nothing “politically

correct” about it.

Immigrants to many other countries are not invited to integrate

into the community. They are excluded, held at arms length,

perpetually “different.” What ends up being created is a sizable

disenfranchised, disaffected and increasingly angry minority. Think

of the North Africans and Middle Easterners in many European

countries today. Gratefully, that situation stands in marked contrast

to what our immigrant experience has been here in the United States.

To quote New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman: “ ... American

power and wealth flow directly from a deep spiritual source -- a

spirit of respect for the individual, a spirit of tolerance for

differences of faith or politics, a respect for freedom of thought as

the necessary foundation for all creativity, and a spirit of unity

that encompasses all kinds of differences.”

What makes me proudest to be an American is when I look at a group

of my children’s friends, classmates or teammates or at any

assemblage of the brave men and women who make up our nation’s

fighting forces today and see an array of black, Asian, Latino and

white Americans. Our diversity, inclusiveness and tolerance are the

cores to our strength as a people and a nation.

My Irish American ancestors were no doubt treated with the same

disdain Nichols apparently feels for those he calls “Mexicans.” How

quickly we forget. We are all immigrants. It’s just a question of

timing. Let’s all celebrate the birthday of this great country and

the ideals for which it stands -- without excluding anyone from the

party.

THERESA BURKE CHASE

Newport Beach

Once Nichols is gone, how about all the gates?

As I take pen in hand, I cannot refrain from making a comment

about the Nichols situation. To be consistent, if you get rid of

Newport Beach City Councilman Dick Nichols, you should also get rid

of all the gated communities designed to keep “you know who” out.

MIKE MANG

Corona del Mar