MAILBAG - April 12, 2007

Nice to see a good company in the paper

I’d like to thank you for the article on Pet Chef Express, (“Dining with confidence,” April 2). They have been my providers of dog food for a number of years, and I was delighted to see the article, and to have the explicit mention of the fact that they control with great care the content of the dog and cat food that they produce and sell.

PEGGY TOLEDANO

Costa Mesa

Publisher, columnist owe Allen an apology

As Ronald Reagan reportedly said, “Well, there you go again.” In this case, both Tom Johnson (“Conflicted in Debra Allen Park,” March 23) and Steve Smith (“Newport council’s policy flip is far from a flop,” April 4) are completely wrong and are guilty of perpetuating the myth of a city hall on the proposed city park land.

Johnson is clearly wrong to write that Newport Beach parks, beaches and recreation commissioner Debra Allen resides within the boundary limitations, where a conflict of interest may be presumed, set by the Fair Political Practices Commission. Obviously, Johnson is reacting to the hearsay accusation of the “unnamed person” who contacted the “unnamed City Council person” that accused Allen of residing within the Fair Political Practices Commission’s distance limitation, and using this hearsay as evidence of wrongdoing. This hearsay evidence has been proved false by a registered land surveyor’s field measurement, performed by a registered land surveyor, as has the financial benefit to the commissioner, as appraised by a licensed and reputable local appraiser. This is actual evidence of no wrongdoing. Therefore, Johnson owes Allen a published retraction and written apology.

This also raises the serious concern that the publisher of the Daily Pilot, and others, are not aware of the Bill of Rights, specifically Amendment VI, where it is included that the accused has the right “to be confronted with the witnesses against him.” These accusers must be named.

Smith continues to be a flop and is wrong to write that the City Council has decided to reopen the options for a city hall on the park land, and that there is new evidence that the commissioner’s home is too close to the park. Of course, he does not state this new evidence because none exists. Smith also owes Allen a published retraction and written apology.

Further, the City Council did not vote to reconsider a city hall at the park location. I was at the council meeting and witnessed the vote to send the issue back to the parks, beaches and recreation commission to hear additional community comments only on the type of park (active or passive) to be built. This action was taken to “inoculate” the city against spurious lawsuits.

Sadly, it is clear, from these columns in the Pilot, that the truth and the admittedly biased Pilot have little in common.

PHILLIP LUGAR

Newport Beach

: Phillip Lugar is a member of the parks, beaches and recreation commission but makes his remarks as a private citizen, not to represent the commission.