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A LOT OF HUGHY
Thanks for Mark Petracca's report about Hugh Hewitt's role in promoting Irvine's parcel tax (“The New Hugh,” April 14). I attended a forum where Hewitt was slated to present the reasons for the parcel tax. I was looking for answers but was instead subjected to the cheapest form of demagoguery.
Hewitt reminded me of the late Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, who, when asked a tough question, had one reply: “I love Chicago.” Regardless of the question or the challenge, Hewitt kept repeating the same reply: “Look at the poor teachers who would lose their jobs.” He never bothered to explain the causes of the crisis or demonstrate where the shortfall was. He also acted as the “moderator” in this forum, accepting only written questions and selecting the ones supporting his view. When he finally closed the forum, many of us were really angry.
I asked him where I could see the income statement of the school district—supposedly the reason for the layoffs. “I don't know,” he said. Will commercial parcels be taxed, too? “I don't know.”
Later, I talked to a teacher. How much money was donated last fall after a previous parcel tax failed, and what was done with the funds? “I don't know.”
The reality is that excellence in schools, as in any other area, might require additional payment—by the business community as well as by individual residents. The promoters of the parcel tax, however—who included Irvine leaders who claim to be “anti-tax” and “pro-business”—chose to obscure the hard facts, relying instead on cheap demagoguery.
Hanna Hill
Irvine NO RISK, NO GAIN
I read the review Rebecca Schoenkopf wrote on the Laguna Art Museum's Risk show (“Risky Business,” April 7). I think it is sad that she is an uptight homophobic [sic] who can't let her hair down!
After attending a bunch of fund-raisers, I thought this one was a breath of fresh air because it wasn't the same old uptight socialites standing around, waiting to have their photo taken for the society page.
This was not a high-end fashion show. This was a fund-raiser so people could have fun and raise money for the Laguna Art Museum!
By the way, was I the too-short model or one of the hags? And Ms. Rebecca, let us all see how you look in a G-string and while in one raise $20,000.
Honey Liston
via e-mail
Rebecca Schoenkopf responds: I don't know, Honey; which do you think you were? And just so you know, I look fabulous in a G-string—but I have a real job. Ooh—was that too mean?
BUSIER THAN THE DEVIL
Re: Todd Mathew's “Magnet Night: How to attract the fans to a loser”: When I saw the April 7 issue of the OC Weekly, I was excited to see that the Angels had made the cover of one of our local publications. I have never read your publication before, and after reading your negative comments on the Angel organization, I don't plan on reading it anymore. I'm so tired of the complaints that I hear from all the Orange County baseball fans and beyond. As a lifelong fan, I'm just lucky to have a team to root for here in Anaheim.
Starting today, I will make every effort to write in response to any publication that has something negative to say about the Angels. Yes, I agree that the organization has not made many moves to better the team, but people need to stop worrying about the past and look to the future of this team. I don't blame the way they play when all they hear is that they need new players to take first place in the American League West.
Instead of taking the time to criticize our team, we should be talking about how we can help make our team better. By becoming better at loyalty than scrutiny, I think this team would have something more to win for! Try printing something positive about this team, and let me know how the team reacts to that.
Ken Sipes
via e-mail KILLING IS GOOD
Reading R. Scott Moxley's “Gypsies, Tramps and Bigots” (White Trash Disco, March 24) was fascinating. The Holy Bible clearly states that God states all homosexuals will end up in eternal hell fire; furthermore, God showed us His view of homosexuals when He wrote Leviticus 20:13: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
The Reverend Donald Spitz
director, Pro-Life Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia
R. Scott Moxley responds: Advocating executions for homosexuals is just a part-time hobby for the good reverend. Spitz's real venom, as demonstrated at www.armyofgod.com, is reserved for physicians who perform legal abortions. He joyfully calls for their brutal assassinations.
