Latest news with #JudyMorrisHuntingtonBeach
Los Angeles Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Mailbag: Beware of the ‘wolves in sheep's clothing'
If you are a Huntington Beach resident who believes in unrestricted access to knowledge and protecting your freedom to make decisions for your own family, then vote 'yes' on Measure A to repeal the ordinance creating a children's book review board, and 'yes' on Measure B to ensure that any future efforts to outsource library operations to for-profit companies will require voter approval and a majority vote from City Council. This is a critical safeguard to maintain public oversight and the integrity of community libraries. The City Council believes that a 21-person politically appointed, children's book review board is more qualified than you to choose appropriate reading materials for your children. They are not. Accusations that there are 'pornographic' materials in the children's library section have served to divide the community and undermine public opinion about libraries, librarians and their supporters. The mayor handed out images from what they believe to be inappropriate library materials from a booth at this year's Easter celebration. Every accusation is a confession. These people are wolves in sheep's clothing. Do not let them deceive you. The review board, whose decisions are unappealable, has the authority to decide which materials belong in the library based on 'community standards' that have not yet been defined. Materials that enter or remain in the children's book section could eventually align with the review boards' political and religious beliefs. Will no votes ultimately enable indoctrination of young minds under the guise of 'protecting children?' Whatever happened with that MAGA commemorative library plaque? Is this nuclear 'attack on porn' simply helping City Council complete a MAGA agenda item designed to stifle 1st Amendment rights at taxpayer expense? A 'no' vote for either measure is a slippery slope toward government control of thought and information. Vote 'yes' on Measure A to protect parents' rights to maintain control of what their OWN children read, and 'yes' on Measure B to help ensure public libraries stay free and open to everyone. Judy MorrisHuntington Beach Monday I attended my first Huntington Beach City Council meeting, appropriately at the city library. It was quite an eye-opener, as more than 90 people signed up to address the council at the podium regarding Measures A and B. In a nutshell, a 'no' vote advocates for increasing the council's authority in deciding what books to have reviewed by the peer review board within the children's section, and to privatize the library altogether. Once upon a time such notions would only appear in dystopian novels or movies such as Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451' or George Orwell's '1984.' Yes, interesting ideas to conjecture and be entertained by, but surely not something that could really happen here. Do we not live within a democracy with constitutional rights guaranteeing freedom for the people to make their own choices regarding what to write, speak and read? The irony is that not that long ago, these values were most adamantly defended by American conservatives, the same people who bore a flag with a coiled snake emblazoned on the cloth, and the warning, 'Don't tread on me.' Do the advocates against Measures A and B, most of whom identify as conservatives, simply not know what they are doing? Ron TerranovaHuntington Beach As a former Orange County 'Teacher of the Year,' I taught for 40 years, addressing my school board many times. I advocated for school nurses, librarians and lower class sizes. I hoped my school board understood the reality of transmitting a crowded curriculum to more than 30 students every day, all day. In January 2025, Newport-Mesa School Board had the luxury of picking a qualified new board member and they looked forward to working with her. On merit, they selected Kirstin Walsh who has children in NMUSD, has volunteered in the schools for 13 years, is PTA President at Newport Harbor High, has held offices at the elementary and intermediate school PTAs. After carefully vetting four candidates, board members added Walsh to their ranks. DONE! Now, let's get to work, solving school problems. I'm sorry to say that members of our community collected signatures, forcing an election for NMUSD School Board, thus taking about $500,000 from Newport-Mesa's school budget. Their candidate was on the original list of those considered for the school board position, but was not selected. Walsh is the kind of board member I want on the dais when I speak. Parent volunteers, like Walsh, who spend years in our school halls and classrooms, understand the challenges and strengths of school life. I am saddened by the loss of half-a-million dollars from our slim school budget, used to fund an unnecessary election. I hope voters will make it right, and ensure that Kirstin Walsh continues in the position for which she was chosen, on merit. Carrie Luger SlaybackNewport Beach As the June 10 NMUSD Area 5 Special Election approaches, the saying, 'You are the company you keep,' rings true. Claims that Kirstin Walsh, Andrea McElroy's opponent, is a conservative or a non-partisan, don't align with her affiliations. In 2023, NMUSD's progressive majority voted to block schools from notifying parents about their child's gender dysphoria, risking student well-being. Conservative trustees, prioritizing safety, supported notification, but the majority prevailed. School board votes-on academics, safety and fiscal management reflect trustees' values, and the 2023 decision clearly revealed the progressive majority's values. Andrea McElroy champions parental rights and transparency. Walsh claims non-partisanship, yet her Instagram shows her campaigning with Democrats Carol Crane, Ashley Anderson (NMUSD Trustee) and Katrina Foley, vice chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Her campaign is heavily funded by the teacher's union, which endorsed Kamala Harris and the Women in Leadership PAC who advocate for 'leading the fight against conservatives.' This does not reflect conservative values. This election demands leadership for quality education and parental involvement. Walsh's 'non-partisan' label masks her affiliations. Voters deserve transparency. I'm voting for Andrea McElroy, whose values I trust. Lisa Ruggieri HinesNewport Beach As 17-year Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) Area 5 residents and parents, we've raised our children in Newport Beach, where they've thrived in our public schools. Area 5 has long elected conservative trustees who prioritize fiscal responsibility, parental rights and transparency. Taxpayers deserve a voice in this special election and we're voting for Andrea McElroy. Andrea, a business owner and mother, brings proven fiscal accountability and champions parental rights, demanding transparency between families and schools. She and her husband actively serve our community, earning trust from neighbors, educators and leaders like Newport Beach Mayor Joe Stapleton. Her platform supports every child's unique path — arts, CTE, college — ensuring success in a safe, high-quality environment. Andrea, endorsed by the Orange County Republican Party and local police and fire associations, aligns with Area 5's conservative values. On June 10, vote Andrea McElroy — the only conservative in this election. She's a principled leader who will stand for our children and represent our community's values. Kate and Logan MaloufNewport Beach
Los Angeles Times
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Mailbag: Why has the H.B. library's anniversary been politicized?
Regarding the idea of a 50-year celebration plaque to be installed at the library: It makes good sense to honor the fact that we have had our award-winning library for over 50 years in Huntington Beach. The plaque to be installed should celebrate the history of the library. It would be appropriate to, if any names are to be attached, honor those who actually presided over the creation of the library. The council members from that era might be named. The alternative is to present a plaque simply celebrating the award-winning Neutra design and the mid-century modern building, which has meant so much to so many. Plaques are a touchstone to history. They should not be used to celebrate a passing moment in our political history. Kathryn GoddardHuntington Beach A PSA dated Feb. 10 notified H.B. residents of a Feb. 11 Community and Library Services meeting to discuss a proposed plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary of HBPL. Over 300 emails and 30 speakers spoke against the plaque, which was unanimously approved with minor cosmetic improvements suggested. Public libraries should be apolitical. Names of City Council members and politically appointed Library Services Commission members do not belong on this plaque. The MAGA acronym and 'In God We Trust' are not appropriate to include on a plaque that purports to commemorate 50 years of public library services, by any stretch of the imagination. The current City Council has not been supportive of the library. They have been openly critical of educated, highly experienced librarians' choices regarding the children's book collection by alleging that it included pornographic material, but they have yet to identify any such material. One council member has gone so far as to publicly insinuate that a former council member was a pedophile because he stated he would not hesitate to read a book the current council member referred to as a 'pedophile's dream' to his own child. Council's recent emails to residents requesting feedback about their 'petition signing experience' appear to be an attempt to block a legal, democratic grass-roots effort to simply keep the treasured HBPL as it currently exists. Why not request community input in advance, or have a contest for residents to submit their ideas to showcase the library rather than creating a promotional tool for the current council and Library Commission members? This was a missed opportunity for the council to attempt to unite rather than continuing to divide the community. There is no doubt the library is, and has always been, a wonderful place for children. Apparently the folks whose names are listed on the plaque aren't aware that adults are also welcome to utilize and enjoy the library. The approved plaque is an abomination rather than a commemoration. Judy MorrisHuntington Beach There is a reason local election ballots for city council candidates do not list their political party affiliations. Council members are supposed to make decisions that concern the city based on merit, not their own political beliefs. The Huntington Beach City Council once again has again demonstrated they plan to disregard this precedent by repeatedly flaunting their allegiance to our current president and his administration. Speaking for myself, judging on the foolhardy decisions of the past few weeks it appears that keeping our democracy is not high on their list. Our current council was elected by the strategy of running on a slate or roster. Instead of each candidate running on their own capabilities, strengths and ideas, a slate is often backed by a major political party. Much more money is available to the slate than to an individual candidate. This is unfair and certainly doesn't give us the most competent leaders. It gives us leaders who are photographed in MAGA-type hats emblazoned with 'Make Huntington Beach Great Again' with 7-0 in reference to the less moneyed candidates. It gives us leaders such as Councilman Tony Strickland who likes to call his group 'The Magnificent 7' publicly. It gives us leaders who pander to the president and his MAGA supporters pathetically trying to get his attention. (A word of advice on that, be careful what you wish for. The man is known to turn on those he formerly praised.) Now this group has put forth yet another inappropriate and frankly insulting idea. Including the MAGA acronym on a plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary of our Huntington Beach Library. Considering four of the current council members last year caused a public uproar with their plans to mold it into a MAGA version of the perfect library with their unwanted and unneeded 'improvements', they should be ashamed. Huntington Beach needs leaders who put the city's welfare ahead of their own aspirations and political beliefs. I look forward to the 2026 local elections when we have an opportunity to add new council members who will work for the good of our diverse, beautiful, and yes, already great city. Mary FranklinHuntington Beach The chaos, incompetence, authoritarian leanings, and downright vindictiveness of Huntington Beach's City Council was on full display Feb. 11. Members displayed that they consider the Library and Community Services commission, composed of entirely their appointees, as a useful fig leaf but not an actual advisory board. The plaque presented for both the LCS meeting and shown on the council agenda to celebrate Central Library's 50th anniversary was a decoy. It was designed to draw criticism so they could reveal a different plaque to approve at the council meeting, as if they actually listened to public input. Next, take the decisions on the two library petitions. The California election code gives a city council three options to respond to a successfully validated petition: H.B.'s vouncil chose option 3 when they first considered the matter back in January. That left them with either option 1 or option 2, now that the financial impact study has been returned. What they actually chose was 'none of the above' — a decision that shows contempt for the thousands of citizens who signed those petitions and contempt for the law itself. Finally, take the Flowers of the Sky proposal. First, they tried to slide it under the radar on last month's consent calendar. That did not work due to massive public opposition. So, did they hold public hearings? No. Was it on the Library and Community Services Commission agenda? No. Did they listen to the majority of speakers at the council meeting? No. And then they had the audacity and mean-spiritedness to directly and publicly attack private citizen Steve Engle, a member of the H.B. Tree Society, who they recognized just six months ago for his selfless service. Because, with this City Council, if you don't agree with them, you're the enemy. David RynersonHuntington Beach Do not cheapen Holocaust victims. Regarding a recent letter in the Daily Pilot & TimesOC Mailbag, Sunday, Feb. 16, Anne Frank faced death because she was Jewish. Jews transported to concentration camps were used as forced labor until they were sent to death camps and killed. Those Jews who were called to transports but hid were shot on capture. If a Jewish person had a an Aryan spouse, who did not divorce them, those spouses were eventually also sent to concentration camps. On their return, if they survived, they found that all their possessions were gone, everything went through to Aryanization, a process where all Jewish properties were given or sold on penny for dollars to non-Jewish persons, and nothing was returned to survivors. Catholic priests and nuns, who converted to Catholicism but were born Jewish, shared the fate of Jewish Holocaust victims. The Jews were citizens of the countries where they were captured and/or killed. My mother's aunt was an ethnic German Catholic married to a Jewish man. Ella never divorced her husband Emil. Both of their sons were gassed in Auschwitz. Herbert left behind a story in a magazine that kids published for themselves in Theresienstad, before dying at the age of 15. Emil was send to death camp and Ella hid. In 1948 the Czechoslovakian government denied Ella the right to return to her villa. In 1954 the government forced a 'sale' of the formerly Nazi-seized villa threatening to deport Ella to Germany but not allowing Emil to leave. Ella was born in Czechoslovakia and was a Czechoslovakian citizen. The current Czech government keeps the villa based on that sale. Comparing such fates to the return of immigrants in the country illegally to their countries of birth, where the hardship they will face is paying for the costs of their own lives, is absurd. Linda Winsh-BolardBrea
