Mailbag: Watchful neighbors are the best protection

Two questions asked at a recent community meeting prompted these thoughts.

First, I have concerns about Assembly Bill 109 and early prisoner release. AB 109 has hurt our communities, and now Proposition 47, which deals with reduced penalties for some crimes, promises to do the same.

We need to write to our state representatives and let them know how we feel. Lawmakers need to be aware of how their decisions affect our family oriented neighborhoods.

Second, should citizens consider arming themselves? While I believe in the 2nd Amendment, I suggest we start at the basics and first get to know our neighbors.

Have small group meetings to discuss the issues in your neighborhood and ways to watch over one another. Create a street contact list so you can contact each other if needed. Share incidents or suspicious activity observed in your neighborhood. Have a barbecue on your street and invite the Costa Mesa Police Department.

Host a Neighborhood Watch meeting to gain helpful prevention information. The mere presence of Neighborhood Watch signs are not enough to deter unwanted activity. It is the neighbors being watchful, watching out for one another and reporting all suspicious activity, no matter how unimportant it may seem, that will help in a greater way.

Yes, we do have to rely on our police to protect us and our city leaders to provide us with a safe city, but as neighbors we are the first line of defense for each other.

Imagine if a disaster hit and we had to survive on our own for a period of time. We would have only each other to depend on, so why not practice neighbor dependency every day?

Remember this is our city, and our neighborhoods, so why not keep control so we can keep it family friendly? Make the criminal element uncomfortable and unwelcome.

Personal protection is important, but none of us wants to be responsible for hurting the innocent neighbor.

Mike Brumbaugh

Costa Mesa

The writer is a Costa Mesa code enforcement officer but is stating his opinions as a private citizen, not on behalf of the city.

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Trade deal would lend too much power

Once again the most transparent administration has intentionally left its citizens in the dark.

Remember former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying that we have to pass healthcare to find out what’s in it? Now we have DMV-style Obamacare, and the president wants more power, such as the authority to single-handedly approve trade and immigration rights without voter input.

Wake up, people, this is not democracy. Stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Restore checks and balances.

Helena Foutz

Huntington Beach