Mayor Ernie Kell

When will our elected politicians stop neglecting the Constitution of the United States? Any politician in the city of Long Beach who authors censorship laws on scrambled, adult programming (on cable television) should be arrested for disobeying the First Amendment. Do Mayor Ernie Kell and the City Council actually believe that they are representing their constituents, or do they believe that they sit on top of "Higher Moral Ground" than "the rest of us"? JOE NICASSIO Long Beach

Mayor Ernie Kell still just doesn't get it. He says, "If you drive through the city you would never know we had civil unrest. You just couldn't tell." (Times, April 29). Maybe from behind the tinted glass in his city-financed gas guzzler you can't, but those of us who live in the real world can tell, and we're reminded of it every day. Try using the Department of Motor Vehicles at Willow and Pacific. You can't. It was burned to the ground. It's now a big, unused parking lot. Try shopping in the Wrigley supermarket that was turned to rubble and never came back.

Councilwoman Jan Hall has endorsed Councilman Tom Clark in his bid for Mayor Ernie Kell's position in next spring's election. Hall, who represents the 3rd District, ran against Kell last year, taking about 40% of the vote in a runoff that Kell won. Clark supported her in that contest. "Tom Clark's concern for our city is evidenced in his longtime dedication and participation as a member of the City Council, as mayor for seven years, in addition to his extensive community service with many local organizations.

When will our elected politicians stop neglecting the Constitution of the United States? Any politician in the city of Long Beach who authors censorship laws on scrambled, adult programming (on cable television) should be arrested for disobeying the First Amendment. Do Mayor Ernie Kell and the City Council actually believe that they are representing their constituents, or do they believe that they sit on top of "Higher Moral Ground" than "the rest of us"? JOE NICASSIO Long Beach

In the article, "A 'citizen diplomat' seeks ties to Long Beach in Moscow," (Southeast/Long Beach sections, Jan. 1), Richard Madeira "dismisses arguments that he and other citizen diplomats are Kremlin dupes." But having long made a study of America's leftist/pacifist-peace movement, it is my considered opinion that many of them are. The fact that Mayor Ernie Kell "is eager to have a Soviet sister city" is understandable. Mayor Kell along with three other City Council members are, or have been, members of the Long Beach Area Citizens Concerned--and similar left-wing groups around the country are pressuring their city governments to do the same.

Mayor Ernie Kell says it's time to get rid of the Queen Mary. He says it can't earn its keep, so it's got to go. I don't agree with the mayor that this important focal point of the Long Beach oceanfront has to go, and it certainly doesn't help us attract development interest in the Queen Mary when our Long Beach mayor predicts that the ship will have to be sold for scrap. The problem is that the city lacks leaders with the vision and intellect to achieve optimum development of the city's assets.

I found Jan Hall's "hit piece" mailer against Mayor Ernie Kell to be insulting to me and embarrassing to our city. She claimed that Long Beach is "for sale" and commission positions are being bought with political favors and contributions. How ridiculous! Shame on you, Jan, for castigating all the fine men and women who donate their time and talents to the service of our city. Is being elected mayor so important that you are willing to besmirch the good character of so many people?

Mayor Ernie Kell launched his reelection campaign for a second term last week, declaring that he has accomplished much as the city's first full-time mayor. Kell, a former councilman and mayor before the job became subject to public citywide election, sounded familiar themes as he spoke to a crowd of supporters on the patio of his east Long Beach home. Among his achievements he cited the creation of education and historic preservation offices at City Hall and support of human services.

Mayor Ernie Kell still just doesn't get it. He says, "If you drive through the city you would never know we had civil unrest. You just couldn't tell." (Times, April 29). Maybe from behind the tinted glass in his city-financed gas guzzler you can't, but those of us who live in the real world can tell, and we're reminded of it every day. Try using the Department of Motor Vehicles at Willow and Pacific. You can't. It was burned to the ground. It's now a big, unused parking lot. Try shopping in the Wrigley supermarket that was turned to rubble and never came back.

From May 1 to May 18 I was activated into duty with the rest of the California Army National Guard. Although it did disrupt my life and put many holds on my career and education, I understood this to be an important and life-saving mission. I also understood my duty when I enlisted. I was happy and honored to help defend and protect the cities of South Los Angeles that were ravaged during the riots, including my own Long Beach. I also felt very proud of the rest of the citizen-soldiers who gave up whatever they were doing to respond to the call of help.

From May 1 to May 18 I was activated into duty with the rest of the California Army National Guard. Although it did disrupt my life and put many holds on my career and education, I understood this to be an important and life-saving mission. I also understood my duty when I enlisted. I was happy and honored to help defend and protect the cities of South Los Angeles that were ravaged during the riots, including my own Long Beach. I also felt very proud of the rest of the citizen-soldiers who gave up whatever they were doing to respond to the call of help.

Mayor Ernie Kell says it's time to get rid of the Queen Mary. He says it can't earn its keep, so it's got to go. I don't agree with the mayor that this important focal point of the Long Beach oceanfront has to go, and it certainly doesn't help us attract development interest in the Queen Mary when our Long Beach mayor predicts that the ship will have to be sold for scrap. The problem is that the city lacks leaders with the vision and intellect to achieve optimum development of the city's assets.

Public restrooms inspired Mayor Ernie Kell's first veto this week, but it was quickly overridden by City Council members who decided that users of a North Long Beach park shouldn't have to wait for toilets. Citing the city's money shortage, Kell vetoed a package of budget adjustments because they included $236,000 for construction of new restrooms at Houghton Park. "It's a fiscal issue," Kell said later.

Councilwoman Jan Hall has endorsed Councilman Tom Clark in his bid for Mayor Ernie Kell's position in next spring's election. Hall, who represents the 3rd District, ran against Kell last year, taking about 40% of the vote in a runoff that Kell won. Clark supported her in that contest. "Tom Clark's concern for our city is evidenced in his longtime dedication and participation as a member of the City Council, as mayor for seven years, in addition to his extensive community service with many local organizations.

Mayor Ernie Kell launched his reelection campaign for a second term last week, declaring that he has accomplished much as the city's first full-time mayor. Kell, a former councilman and mayor before the job became subject to public citywide election, sounded familiar themes as he spoke to a crowd of supporters on the patio of his east Long Beach home. Among his achievements he cited the creation of education and historic preservation offices at City Hall and support of human services.

Mayor Ernie Kell endured round after round of political fund-raising dinners to win election last month to a two-year term. Then, as if to demonstrate his stamina for long-winded testimonials and hotel banquet food, he decided to throw one more big bash--an inaugural ball. "It makes a statement to the people," said Kell, who was sworn in Tuesday as the city's first full-time elected mayor.

Mayor Ernie Kell endured round after round of political fund-raising dinners to win election last month to a two-year term. Then, as if to demonstrate his stamina for long-winded testimonials and hotel banquet food, he decided to throw one more big bash--an inaugural ball. "It makes a statement to the people," said Kell, who was sworn in Tuesday as the city's first full-time elected mayor.

Long Beach resident Eugene Kovalenko, who wants to sing on his grandfather's grave in the Soviet Union, practiced a little in front of the Costa Mesa City Council last month when he sang in both English and Ukrainian to urge the adoption of a sister city in the Soviet Union. But the crowd was hostile and the council--facing signs that read "Communism Kills" and "Keep KGB Puppets out of Costa Mesa"--voted against the proposal.

He drives through the neat and cozy neighborhoods he represents in east Long Beach and calls them "Middle America." To Ernie Kell, that means a place where people are nice and productive and hard-working--attributes that admirers use to describe Kell himself. From humble beginnings and a childhood spent on a North Dakota farm, a background he likes to emphasize on the campaign trail, Kell has attained considerable success in the business and political worlds.

I found Jan Hall's "hit piece" mailer against Mayor Ernie Kell to be insulting to me and embarrassing to our city. She claimed that Long Beach is "for sale" and commission positions are being bought with political favors and contributions. How ridiculous! Shame on you, Jan, for castigating all the fine men and women who donate their time and talents to the service of our city. Is being elected mayor so important that you are willing to besmirch the good character of so many people?