Here is another roundup of some of the most thought-provoking reader comments of the week. Comments are selected by our editors and subject to editing for grammar, spelling, clarity and length.
Click on each topic’s headline to see the article in question.
‘Dirty Politics’ in San Diego
Shameful that this article is published with such flimsy sourcing. Norberto [Santana, editor-in-chief] must be so proud to join the ranks of Gawker, the Daily Caller, the New York Post and London’s Daily Mail.
I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. It’s a disturbing trend in the articles — non-news, gossip, one-sided reporting, etc.
— You’re Correct
Rex [Dalton, author of the article] makes a good point about everyone’s failure to get to the bottom of the [San Diego Mayor Bob] Filner rumors during the election. I think as uncomfortable as it is to read about, it’s the role of the press to be watching and reporting on elected officials.
This is really strange behavior, just like it was really strange for former [Orange County] Supervisor and Assemblyman Chris Norby to be sleeping in a bush outside the county courthouse.
The story says this was common knowledge among politicians and the press corps, not just a one-person allegation. So as strange as it is to read, I completely understand why Voice of OC reported it.
— Stunned
Personally I don’t think the media should entertain accusations of moral turpitude made by one political enemy against another without hardcore proof, like a cellphone photo or at least a report and follow-up investigation by the cops. Otherwise, it’s way too easy to damage an innocent man’s political career.
And it makes no difference to me which political party the accuser belongs to; there have to be some rules to the game. And I think the line should be drawn at unproven and unreported accusations that involve serious offenses of moral turpitude. That’s a blow below the belt, if you ask me.
My point is that such an accusation should not be media worthy without further substantiation, especially considering that these two are apparent political enemies. Once it makes it to print, then the onus is on Mr. DeMaio to somehow prove that it was a false accusation — an impossible task since it’s one man’s word against another’s.
I guess it’s open season on whoever the target politician happens to be.
— Beelzebub
The fact that masturbation in a public building may or may not be a crime is not relevant.
No question — many people masturbate. But how many do it in a bathroom during public meetings if they are public officials? The behavior is odd enough that at the very least it raises questions about the mental health and judgment of the individual.
I guess if folks think that DeMaio’s judgment is sound and he is mentally healthy, then they should put their future in his hands (regardless of where his hands have been).
— Truevoice
There’s a reason why this story has gone unreported. Because it’s stupid.
(1) Credibility. There’s no evidence, just the word of some sleazy politicians playing games. Where were these people when Filner was sexually harassing women?
(2) Even if it was true, so what? He was in an empty restroom. It’s a victimless crime. The only outrage comes from homophobes and hypocrites who seem to think that’s worse than being a sexual predator like Filner.
—Naughtypundit
Anaheim Chamber of Commerce Audit
The arrogance of this crowd is clear: They believe they get to make up the rules to suit their own agendas, and they treat the public treasury like their own piggy bank to be doled out to their friends at will.
Now it is time for the performance audit and a full-scale forensic audit. After all, [Councilwoman] Kris Murray made sure those charities were audited before getting a fraction of what we give the chamber.
And if it is [Todd] Ament [president and CEO of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce] holding up the current audit, the contract should be cancelled immediately — no arguments or excuses, no blaming the mayor and twisting his prudent caution into what they want to spin as reckless behavior. Or these folks are going to find themselves explaining to a judge what they see as the public benefit gained by this money.
Yes, there is supposed to be a public benefit tied to spending public money. You do not get to just give it to anyone you want simply because they served you a nice lunch — even if it did include friends you don’t normally get to see outside of a council meeting.
— Cynthia Ward
Greed is good. Embrace it. Love it. Live it. In fact, greed may be the one thing that can save us.
Don’t believe me? Greed was the foundation for this country. The brave souls who risked their lives to settle in a new country did so out of self-interest.
Our forefathers recognized the importance of self-interest in the Declaration of Independence, where they emphasized our unalienable right to pursue happiness.
— Subcomandante
$54,371 for Public Documents
It sounds like the Voice of OC wants someone to comb through what are probably hundreds of thousands of emails coming into or being sent from the Health Care Agency or being sent internally.
That has to be labor-intensive, and the Voice should be required to pay the actual cost for its fishing expedition.
The problem may be in determining what the actual cost is, however.
— Equal Time
That is such BS. The state has a database record of every script written by any certain doctor. It is how they track abuse. They also can flag individual patients who doctor-hop to get narcotics.
The claim that they can’t pull this is absurd. They just don’t want to.
— Kate
Come on, Voice, go to court and get those records. I have a transcript of a county information technology person testifying under oath that these emails are kept on the server and are readily accessible for over ten years.
The county uses Microsoft Outlook, so you can put in a subject, date, sender, receiver, etc. and pull up these emails in a matter of minutes. Saying otherwise is just not true.
I can, however, understand that the county would have to redact patient info due to HIPPA requirements, but you could get emails that contain no personal data.
— Cacityguy
Kring’s Flip-Flops
Ryan, everyone has an opinion. Since you describe this article as a criticism, I’m sure you’d agree it belongs in the opinion section.
The real point of this article, which you no doubt see, isn’t about an elected official changing positions. (News flash: Everyone changes their mind on some things at some point.) Adam [Elmahrek, Voice of OC reporter] is claiming [Anaheim Councilwoman] Lucille Kring changed positions because of campaign contributions. That is hugely different.
Adam provides no evidence, just some blustery campaign rhetoric (hardly unprecedented) and fallacious logic.
— Matthew Cunningham
I dunno, Matt. Architecture of the piece seems pretty clear to me.
(1) Pre-election position.
(2) Campaign.
(3) Accrual of debt.
(4 and 5, you pick) Debt relief and change in position.
(6) Discussion of relationship between 4 and 5.
Is the evidence on (6) rock solid? Well, that’s up to the reader. I think calling the logic fallacious is a bit of a stretch, as would be a claim that it was rock solid or definitive.
Is the relationship between her debt, its relief and her change in position worthy of public discussion? Yeah, I think so. I think she has this one coming.
— Ryan Cantor
Union Protests and Transit Funds
Public sector workers are supposed to have the citizens we serve at the forefront of our thoughts.
Public transit provides thousands of jobs, and it also provides transportation for millions of citizens, particularly the poor, the working poor, the disabled and the elderly, which is exactly the population we are supposed to serve. It is unacceptable to hold hostage these funds all for selfish reasons of unreasonable and unsustainable pensions that I, as a public worker, do not want or need.
I am perfectly capable of putting my money into my own investments and Social Security and cannot believe that we are being represented by a union that makes us all look like carpetbaggers and robber barons.
Union leaders need to stop posturing. You gave away the important things like raises and retirement medical, but you hang on to pensions that are unrealistic and unfair as well as stupid perks like bilingual pay, special seniority for union reps. You are forgetting who it is you serve.
It is called common sense, and you all need to get some or we will wind up with nothing. And the public will suffer, because the only people left in public service will be those who have no care for the public and no intention of serving anyone but their own selfish selves!
Union leaders? Get real and get over it! You are embarrassing us!
— Kate
Sentenced to Valley Fever?
” ‘I just feel like my life’s on the line here, and I don’t know what’s going to happen after this,’ Baca said in a phone call from Mule Creek prior to his transfer.”
Gee, I wonder if the person Baca was convicted of murdering got to express how they felt their life was “on the line” prior to Baca murdering them?
The idea of anyone who has committed murder (or rape or assault or robbery) sitting around whining about his treatment is funny in a sick kind of way. I guess prisoners don’t get the whole irony thing.
— SnotOtter