Mailbag: Here’s one way to save water – grow a beard, guys

Back in the 1870s, when my grandfather served in the Assembly, most men had beards. Ditto my baby boomer friends during the Vietnam War. .

I think it’s time to bring back the beard. It’s one way men, from the beach to the boardroom, can do their part to conserve water in a very parched California.

While I agree with much of what Gov. Jerry Brown recently said about water reductions, I believe we can do more. To begin with, how about when men shave in the morning? Imagine the water that could be saved if men grew beards and only shaved their necks once a week?

Yes, they might look a little rough around the edges, but think of all the water they’d be helping to conserve. Leadership starts at the top. I strongly urge the governor to start growing his beard. This will reinforce everything he is saying about the need for everyone to reduce their water consumption in California.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

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Commissioners should be local

I attended the Costa Mesa City Council meeting Tuesday night and was amazed, again, at how our council majority mismanages our city. I was concerned that even though both Councilman Jim Righeimer and Mayor Steve Mensinger expressed that they did not select some folks for city volunteer commissions because they did not meet the qualifications, they could not tell what the qualifications were! In addition, they eagerly accepted a gentlemen who does not live or have a business in Costa Mesa.

Mensinger even stopped the meeting after he finally stated that he would not say what the qualifications were for a post that he voted down a candidate because “she isn’t qualified.” My question is, why is the council majority so afraid of having a give and take on commissions? And why can we have folks with no connection to Costa Mesa on commissions?

Susan Shaw

Costa Mesa

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The spike in public-records requests

Re. “Records requests in Costa Mesa at all-time high,” March 28: Thank goodness for Fairview Park Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee member Anna Vrska! I do not know her but I hope she keeps digging.

Two of the council members are suing the Costa Mesa Police Assn. Who gave the OK to make a gravel walkway at Fairview Park near Estancia High School over grounds that should not be disturbed? That all came as an expense to the taxpayers, as the gravel had to be removed.

Then there is Fairview Park. A committee studied it for months (at least), and I never knew what bits of knowledge were gleaned from the study. It must not have been what Mayor Steve Mensinger was looking for and now he wants another study. The article by Bradley Zint was very informative, and I hope we see more like it in the Daily Pilot.

Ardy Hurst

Costa Mesa

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Miscommunication in the NBFD

Re : “Union vote takes aim at Newport fire chief ,” (April 2): The news article reports a lack of communication. In Vietnam my captain told us guys, “Let me know, OK? “ We said, “Yeah , OK.” So , we talked and thereby protected lives.

Al Wonders

Newport Beach