Mailbag: If you’re healthy in Newport you may want to thank Gov. Gavin Newsom

If you are alive and well in California, you can pretty much thank the governor in large part for his quick reaction to the coronavirus threat. While far from being out of danger, as many indicators will attest, our relatively successful battle with the virus so far has been a result of the governor’s quick and resourceful actions.

Nowhere, and at no time, has the governor tried to tie his success to his political party affiliation. That is why I find it so distasteful that two of our local leaders have submitted articles this week to local news agencies that are critically implying that the governor has overreacted to the virus.

I could make a pretty good case for underreaction to this grave threat by local leaders, but I do not want to stoop to their level.

To make use of a major catastrophe for political purposes, one responsible for 3,700 deaths in California and close to 5,300 cases in Orange County, not only demeans the authors but, in my opinion, minimizes the suffering of the victims.

Lynn Lorenz
Newport Beach

Place health ahead of partisanship

I had to laugh and then cry when I read Newport Beach Councilwoman Diane Dixon’s commentary bashing the rational and responsible response of Gov. Gavin Newsom to the COVID-19 pandemic (“Commentary: Governor’s order to close Orange County beaches reflects his autocratic approach to leadership,” May 20).

We need to remind ourselves that Dixon is not only a member of an autocratic city council in Newport Beach, but the top vote-getter in the GOP primary for the Republican Central Committee in our district (AD 74). If elected to the state Legislature, Dixon would seek to follow the typical GOP pattern of being a partisan warrior with a “just say no” attitude.

Tim Geddes
Huntington Beach

Few follow the rules at the beach

I walked down to the beach today (May 24) and to my amazement, even with a large sign with big bold red letters clearly saying, “Active Recreational Use Only,” I saw hundreds on beach towels, blankets and the sand.

Who knows? Maybe the powers that be have no inkling as to what’s going on, and all the rule breakers know what’s right.

Bill Spitalnick
Newport Beach

Harley Rouda is responding to the crisis

Last week Rep. Harley Rouda (D-Laguna Beach) flew back to Washington, D.C., to vote for the Heroes Act, pragmatic legislation that we hope Senate Republicans and the president will support in response to the coronavirus pandemic. At a time when trust and confidence in politicians is at an all-time low, constituents in the 48th District can be proud that we have a capable and responsible representative working for our health, safety and welfare.

Caroline Kerr Taylor
Newport Beach

Home developer became a friend

Re “William Lyon, Orange County real estate magnate who foresaw region’s growth, dies at 97,” (May 23): I met William Lyon long before he became known as “The General.” His niece and two nephews and I all became friends in the mid-1950s.

After I graduated from USC and moved to Orange County half a century ago, our paths crossed many times at family functions and civic events.

My fondest memory occurred in New York City of all places. That’s where several Lyon family members and I had dinner together in 1972. At one point, Mr. Lyon, as he was known to me then, asked me about my job as a congressional staff assistant in Washington, D.C. We joked about our politics being as different as night and day. It was a terrific evening.

As we all stood outside the restaurant waiting for cabs, I felt a hand on my shoulder. You can guess who it was. I never will forget the words I heard that night: “Now that you’re working on Capitol Hill, you should call me Bill.”

Rest in peace, Bill. You had a huge impact on people’s lives, especially mine.

Denny Freidenrich
Laguna Beach

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