Mailbag: Maintain the Westside’s industrial character

Re: “Vintage car museum gets green light from Costa Mesa planners,” (Jan. 27):

The original building at 729 Farad St. was built in 1969 by Baxter & Cicero Sailmakers to be a sail loft. This was a bustling time for the boat-building industry in Costa Mesa. The building was designed by Bill Ficker, a local architect who won the America’s Cup as skipper in 1970.

When the boat-building companies went elsewhere, so did the sail making. When our sail business needed to downsize in the early 1980s, the building was sold to Books on Tape. Unfortunately, it was a short-lived industry.

Baxter & Cicero is still alive today, as mostly a boat cover manufacturer in Costa Mesa. I am very interested in keeping West Costa Mesa businesses alive and industrial. I want to be able to pass on my 75-plus-year-old manufacturing company to my kids. I do not welcome the home developers.

Joan Susman

Costa Mesa

*CMPD staffing is a little more nuanced

Re: “Rally supports Costa Mesa police and firefighters.” (Feb. 3):

In the article, reporter Bradley Zint writes, “In recent years, the Police Department has experienced staffing shortages — the department has around 100 officers, down from its authorized strength of about 136 — and other cuts to programs. City officials are actively recruiting.”

When the political issue started, the authorized strength in the Costa Mesa Police Department was 168 safety, or sworn, personnel. At the last report there were 87 active officers staffing the force. About 100 sworn officers comprise the current staffing, but some are sick, on leave and so forth.

This contrast will provide context when talking about crime in Costa Mesa

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Paul Matheis

Irvine

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Political opposites can get along

Re: “Political Landscape: A liberal walked into a conservative’s bar ...” (Feb. 4):

Kudos to the courageous seven who showed up last week at Skosh Monahan’s for an apparently civil discussion of political differences dubbed “Drinking Liberally or Conservatively.” They were the brave remnants of 600 people who were sent an email invitation.

The turnout is an indication of how little dialogue exists between people on the right and the left — in Orange County and the nation as a whole. Few are willing to listen to the other side and perhaps get new insights about what is best for the body politic.

The country is now more polarized than at any time in recent history, especially in the past 20 years, as reflected in the huge chasm between Democrats and Republicans in a Congress that has accomplished very little in the past two years.

People retreat to their media comfort zones and are deprived of the full picture of complex geopolitical situations. And it appears that politicians behave much the same way. We could use lots more barroom or living-room dialogues like the one at Skosh Monahan’s.

Benjamin J. Hubbard

Costa Mesa

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Build a bridge at PCH, Orchid

Please gather funds for a street bridge over East Coast Highway at Orchid Street. This action will relieve traffic congestion and spare the toll-road change.

The Newport Beach Civic Center managed a walk-over bridge — in addition to the bunny statues.

Mary Gilchrist

Corona del Mar

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Councilman is making bad calls

Newport Beach Councilman Scott Peotter has put the last straw on the camel’s back.

Peotter, the carpetbagger from Irvine, came to our community, it seems, to wreak havoc. First, he opposed the removal of wood-burning fire rings, which damage the health of the population. He wrecklessly insisted on the wood-burning. Now he and his colleagues have placed the 60 firepits into the law.

He demonstrates great disregard for our community, both health-wise and in terms of getting anything meaningful accomplished. It’s time for us to consider recalling him.

R. L. Pick

Corona del Mar