Costa Mesa needs disbanded panel

I watched the Costa Mesa City Council vote, 3-2, in favor of

dissolving the human relations committee. I am sad and angered by

this decision.

The committee has served our community since 1987, serving as a

learning center, a community liaison and a valuable asset to our

diverse city. It was dissolved by a vote of three, one of those votes

coming from our mayor, Allan Mansoor.

Mansoor’s reasoning behind the decision to dissolve the committee

was that it didn’t belong in government and that it should be a

private operation.

I disagree. I have worked in all our secondary schools and see

what comprises the needs of our young people as well as our city. We

have a large, ethnically diverse population in Costa Mesa. Our city

also contains a large Islamic center, a large Jewish center, a

Buddhist temple, as well as many Christian churches. Our city needs

every resource available to help teach understanding and respect of

different faiths, backgrounds and cultures.

It is indeed the role of the city to help foster better

understanding among its residents. This is not a private affair; it

affects each and every one of us.

I wish to thank Councilwomen Linda Dixon and Katrina Foley for

supporting the committee and voting against its dissolution.

I also want to thank the many members of the committee who

volunteered their time and efforts to this noble committee.

July 19 was a sad evening for our city.

KARIN W. AHLF

Costa Mesa