Another missed resident, deserving of 103 recognition...

Another missed resident, deserving of 103 recognition

In response to your request for a name that you missed in your

recent DP 103 special section, how about “America’s Most Famous

Pitchman,” as Orange County’s Image Magazine recently coined him:

Costa Mesa’s own Michael Villani?

Though his name is not well known, his face appears many times

daily as the DiTech.com spokesman. A die-hard O.C. resident since

1973, the thought of “going Hollywood” and leaving Costa Mesa has

never entered his mind. In addition, he works hard for, and

generously contributes his valuable time, to many Orange County

charities including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Anaheim and Santa

Ana, as well as Newport Harbor High School, and constantly juggles

his schedule to add others.

Villani is a truly unique member of the Orange County community

and the type of citizen that should be recognized by name as well as

by face.

PAMELA MacPHERSON

Huntington Beach

Airport’s bells and whistles not necessarily a good thing

Last Wednesday morning my wife and I were at John Wayne Airport

waiting for our plane to depart. The fire alarm went off and from

multiple locations came a loud squawking sound and a bright light

flashing. The horn went off for several minutes, but everyone seemed

to be ignoring it and there were no announcements regarding the

alarm.

After the horn stopped, the bright lights kept flashing for

another 10 or 15 minute. I queried a gate agent who said “This

happens every day, but they never tell us anything.”

It makes me wonder if there is anybody in charge of security at

John Wayne.

PAUL EKLOF

Costa Mesa

The Daily Pilot poses the question: “Did (Costa Mesa) city leaders

make the right decision on the redevelopment area?”

No they didn’t. Council members Libby Cowan, Gary Monahan and Mike

Scheafer struck a severe blow to the welfare of the entire city, not

only the Westside. Their no-plan, no-action plan will not only allow

the current problems, existing primarily on the Westside, to continue

and increase, but to expand and overflow into all areas of Costa

Mesa. And even ultimately, negatively impact Newport Beach.

Even though I saw it coming, I am incredulous. They spent

thousands of dollars on a process that wasn’t even allowed to proceed

to the next step of an in-depth assessment of blight in the area. I

can’t imagine a more foolhardy, irresponsible decision on the part of

elected officials, who increasingly prove to be not leaders but

nothing more than mere politicians.

Costa Mesa needs a City Council that bases its decisions on

objective criteria, not on subjective observations or personal

ideology.

ILA JOHNSON

Costa Mesa

We should respect the hard-working pickets

Who are the consumers who ignore the picket lines drawn by a

standoff between the union workers and grocery store management?

Living in our American democracy with fair labor laws gives

grocery store workers the right to picket for fair treatment by the

management.

It is the labor of these grocery store employees that gives us a

large variety of services and goods in the grocery stores that employ

them. Would you know how to stock a grocery aisle and be willing to

work eight hours a day -- or night -- to do it? These employees work

hard.

The daytime staff of pleasant grocery cashiers can attest to the

work ethic of these unfailing workers, many of whom are parents.

These grocery store workers have families, spouses and children. Are

we to say their labor is to be taken for granted?

Most employees have been on the job for years. Many planned to

retire on the benefits they earned. They did earn all these benefits

that management wants to take away from them.

I doubt these employees are going to find their expenses have also

been cut in half when they retire. Their families are not going to

eat half meals, or get half sick. No, they will need their full,

well-earned benefits.

Respect the pickets. Their right to fair treatment was earned. The

same could happen to you, no matter how unique you think your job

might be.

SARAH MOSS

Costa Mesa