Mayor defends his comments

Faced with mounting criticism of comments he made after Wednesday's fatal shooting, Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor on Monday expressed sympathy for the victims while continuing to defend his opinion that the violence was a result of "job centers, soup kitchens and a high concentration of downscale rental units."

Costa Mesa needs to "remove the welcome mat," Mansoor said a day after 23-year-old Israel Maciel was killed and four others injured in a drive-by shooting in the 1300 block of West Baker Street.

Police have not determined whether the shooting was gang-related and have not ruled out any motive.

"The families of the victims have my deepest sympathy, but clearly my comments were directed at the criminals that were involved in this incident," Mansoor said.

"In speaking with parents and families in the community, they clearly want us to remove the welcome mat in terms of crime and criminals. And, yes, we need to remove the welcome mat for the gang members and other criminals," he said.

Mansoor's comments have drawn support from some in the community and anger from others, notably a 17-year-old boy wounded in the attack.

Recovering from a gunshot wound that pierced his back, passed through his neck and clipped his ear, Raul Lopez said Mansoor is wrong about his apartment complex.

"He doesn't know what he's talking about," Raul Lopez said of the mayor's reference to "downscale rental units."

"If he lived here, he would get the scene," Lopez continued. "If he lived here he would understand. If he came, he would see that there are a lot of hardworking people and no gang members."

Several other residents at the complex who had read or heard about Mansoor's comments also were critical.

"He wants to get re-elected, and he wants to keep the groups that are against illegal immigrants happy so they'll vote for him," said Hector Rodriguez, who has lived in the city since the 1970s.

Added resident Armando Guevara: "He's talking about soup kitchens. What does that have to do with what happened here?"

Mansoor, who is running for reelection for the council in November, said he has received many supportive calls.

Ned McCune, a 30-year resident of Costa Mesa, said he wants equal frankness from other council candidates.