Letters to the Editor: An apology from Righeimer to Foley would go a long way in restoring civility on the dais

Can there ever be civility on the dais among Costa Mesa City Council members? At the end of each council meeting council members have a chance to make comments that they may not have addressed earlier.

On Nov. 21 Councilman Jim Righeimer took advantage of this opportunity to make the execrable remark that “there was a cancer in Costa Mesa, and that cancer is Katrina Foley.”

Behavior like this is beyond any boundaries of decency and is reprehensible, reflecting on the characteristics of the speaker rather than the target. What kind of malignancy prompts such a hateful outburst? Councilman Righeimer owes Councilwoman Foley an apology, and all Costa Mesa council members need to make and keep a commitment to civility.

But I won’t hold my breath.

Robin Leffler

Costa Mesa

The writer is writing as an individual and not as a member or representative of any group.

McCarthy’s complaint against Foley is ‘questionable’

I have read “Complaint alleges event organized by Costa Mesa Councilwoman Foley improperly mixes charity and political fundraising” in the Nov. 29 Daily Pilot. The unsuccessful 2012 City Council candidate, Colin McCarthy, filed a complaint regarding advertising for charity events.

This questionable complaint supports former blogger Geoff West’s implication in his Nov. 10 commentary that Republicans will attack Councilwoman Katrina Foley because they are afraid she will win the mayor election in 2018.

Local Republicans have every right to be afraid of the highly educated, articulate, competent and dedicated public servant Foley, particularly because they haven’t yet offered a candidate with qualities and experiences equal to hers.

They may try to position their new associate, Mayor Sandra Genis, as a somewhat comparable candidate. However, her reputation has been sullied by her unexplained and unjustified support of her previous adversary, Councilman Jim Righeimer, to remove Foley as mayor.

Foley will have the support of the voters in 2018 because, if Genis runs, her behavior and McCarthy’s questionable political actions will not play well in the 2018 election.

Charles Mooney

Costa Mesa

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