‘In God We Trust’ to get place in Newport council chamber

The official national motto, “In God We Trust,” will be placed in the Newport Beach City Council chamber, the council decided Tuesday night.

Council members voted 5 to 1, with Councilman Keith Curry absent, to put the phrase in 4-inch white lettering above the back window of the chamber at City Hall.

Mayor Ed Selich voted no.

“I received letters of opposition to it from residents,” he said. “It seemed to me it wasn’t worth causing dissension or disharmony by placing it in the chambers.”

Councilman Kevin Muldoon brought forth the idea, following the lead of many cities nationwide that have placed the phrase in their city halls.

Doing so has prompted criticism in some cities from opponents who believe it violates the principle of separating church and state.

In Newport, several critics of the idea sent emails to the council.

“America’s foundations are built on separation of church and state,” resident Denys Oberman wrote. “The city should not exhibit nor demonstrate any favoritism concerning such beliefs and does not need to do so to fulfill its rightful mandate of responsibility.”

Muldoon said he doesn’t view the move as controversial and said the separation of church and state “was intended to protect the church from the state’s abusive power.”

Seperation of church and state was “never intended to create a secular society or erase God from our history,” he said.

Street repair project

The City Council moved forward Tuesday with a $3.2 million street rehabilitation project for Dover and Westcliff drives.

The council voted 6-0 to award the contract to All American Asphalt. The work will stretch along Dover between East Coast Highway and Irvine Avenue and on Westcliff between Irvine Avenue and Dover.

The Dover Drive medians between East Coast Highway and Westcliff will be rebuilt and landscaped with native drought-tolerant plants, according to a staff report.

Construction is expected to begin in June.