Laws

Does anybody know where I can obtain a listing of federal laws that the government has no intention of enforcing? Or of prosecuting? You know, like in the Arizona situation, where the government sued Arizona because the Grand Canyon State tried to actually enforce federal immigration laws. The government, having no intention of actually enforcing its own laws, got all worked up when Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer decided to "Do the job America won't do." And now a federal judge has decided that it, for the most part, can't.

We all tend to resist the practice of giving because so little is known about the laws that govern giving, except popular sayings like, it is better to give than receive; the Dead Sea is the Dead Sea, because it continually receives and never gives; as you give, so shall you receive. This is not to say that people are not generous, especially when it comes to tipping or giving to great causes like cancer research or food for the homeless. All of these tug at our heart-strings and open up something within us that compels us to give back.

What does it mean for us to be a nation of laws and not of men? This mainstay of our republic takes into account that each one of us, whether beggar or scion, or president of a bank — or of the country — is human, and thus vulnerable to human frailties. Thus our Constitution places us all in the care of an institution of laws that are (ideally) created with patience and reflection. Then those laws will, in turn, protect and defend us in times of peace or strife, but all while helping us to still maintain our sacred liberties.

It is unfortunate that Steve Smith resorted to silly name-calling in his recent pro-illegal-immigrant column ("Juvenile, divisive and just plain wrong," On the Town, May 6). That is a sign that he has no facts to present. And many ideas he did present were inaccurate. Smith said "we didn't care" that we were importing cheap labor and that "they went to some of our schools" and "visited some of our hospital emergency rooms." Nothing could be further from the truth. Americans do care about our country.

Danette Goulet NEWPORT--MESA -- Local and District PTA presidents will meet today to draft a statewide resolution in support of tougher sexual predator laws. If the state PTA passes the resolution, the powerful lobbying group will join Costa Mesa resident Lynn Vogt in her fight to see stricter laws protecting children. Vogt's crusade began after police showed up on her doorstep last April. They told her that Cary Jay Smith, a registered sex offender, had allegedly kept a journal of his desire to rape, kidnap and kill her 7-year-old son. Police told Vogt that Smith's wife had found the journal entry in his car and turned it over to his psychologist, who in turn notified police.

Agood day-labor center works for the community, for the worker and for the contractor, and it works within the laws of the city, the state and the nation. The problem is I have yet to find a good day-labor center. For the past year, I have looked at the day-labor centers in Burbank, Glendale, Laguna Beach, Pomona and Rancho Cucamonga. I have also seen the informal sites in Fullerton, Garden Grove and Lake Forest. None of them work right. The day-labor centers that do not encourage the employer to screen the prospective worker for eligibility for employment in the U.S. are in violation of the laws and pervert the morals of the community.

Regarding Judge James P. Gray's column, "Immigration system is ineffective" (July 15), yes, the immigration system is ineffective (and unenforced). No, the system has not failed, only the enforcement of the law is failing. Yes, it is the federal government's power to control our borders. The honorable Judge Gray appears to forget who the federal government is. It is us ? the taxpayers, the voters ? and we are up in arms to have our corrupt leaders of the executive, legislative and judicial branches enforce the laws.

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor?s call last week to find stricter ways to crack down on illegal immigrants in the city may be too limited in the eyes of the law, one of the nation?s top constitutional lawyers said Friday. Before enforcing any laws, they would have to be within Costa Mesa?s purview. ?Generally, cities and states can?t enforce federal immigration laws,? said Erwin Chemerinsky, founding dean of the UC Irvine School of Law. ?Only federal law can do that, and Arizona will test that.

A few comments regarding Chuck Cassity’s opinion piece (Sounding Off: “Just say ‘No’ to misguided reform,” Dec. 15). First, health care is 16% of a $14-trillion economy that’s run amok, is bloated and inefficient, and fails to satisfy those covered under it, let alone the tens of millions who have no access to it. The government-run option, Medicare, is one of the bright spots. The biggest fear of those in it is that someone might take it away.

June Casagrande They knew the law was complicated, but they didn't know how complicated. After a detailed and well-attended study session on laws governing residential drug-treatment facilities, the City Council decided Tuesday that the best prescription was another study session. "We need to get a better understanding of state laws and our local zoning ordinances, too," Mayor Tod Ridgeway said near the end of a study session, which focused primarily on federal law. The City Council heard the detailed legal analysis before a nearly full chamber of community members.

The Costa Mesa Planning Commission explored an ordinance Monday that would expand the city's ability to fight public nuisances. The proposed law broadly defines nuisances to include properties that operate without licenses or permits, produce excessive noise, are dangerous to children, are unsightly or place unreasonable demands on police resources. Deputy City Attorney Elena Gerli called the ordinance a collaborative effort in its creation and a more cost-effective, streamlined process than what current code provides.

Newport Beach's city attorney said Monday that the city plans to ask a judge this week to close seven recovery homes found to be operating outside of the law. The proposal comes after an Orange County Superior Court judge ruled Thursday that Morningside Recovery in Lido Village operates in violation of a city ordinance barring commercial recovery centers in residential areas. Morningside Chief Executive Mary Helen Beatificato did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

WESTMINSTER - A burgeoning relationship between a small Christian college in Costa Mesa and a public university in Iraq could help shape the Middle Eastern country's response to gender-based violence in its northern region. Over the span of 15 days, a small team of Iraqi government officials and academics are touring Orange County and studying the local justice system's procedures for crimes against women. Wednesday, the group of about half a dozen Iraqis gathered at Westminster's police headquarters.

A Costa Mesa law school hopes to ease the stress on the California court system, which has suffered severe budget cuts, by offering its newly christened practice courtroom on campus for official legal proceedings. In response to belt-tightening within the state's legal system, Whittier Law School plans to invite authentic trials and arbitration to its facility. Such a setup would benefit students, as well, allowing them to observe the proceedings in the school's fully functioning 4,400-square-foot courtroom, which opened this month.

The 2012 platform for the Democratic Party promised to raise the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.50 per hour and to tie future changes to inflation. Just as with arguments for a "living wage," this sounds like a good and compassionate idea, but it has a false allure. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that about 70% of minimum wage workers are teenagers, college students and secondary earners who are in households that, for the most part, are not poor. Thus, only about 30% of the extra income generated by minimum-wage laws goes to people below the poverty line.

Most people remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in January for his birthday. We certainly do at Fairview Community Church. We always hold a special service in honor of his legacy. But remembering his birth and remembering his death are two different things, just as remembering Jesus' birth and death, at Christmas and Easter, are two different things. We celebrate birthdays - and we love to celebrate Christmas - but most people feel uncomfortable facing Good Friday and the crucifixion of Jesus.

Ahoy! News of the week is that the Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC) is encouraging boaters to support SB 122, which was introduced by Sen. Ted W. Lieu. This bill will prevent the automatic sunset of the abandoned and derelict vessel program scheduled on Jan. 1, and RBOC is supporting this bill to make the program permanent. Many boaters may not remember when then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 716 (introduced by Joe Canciamilla, D-Pittsburg), legislation that will allow law enforcement agencies to remove abandoned vessels from waterways, protecting California waters from deserted boat hazards after Jan. 1, 2006.

A city ordinance aimed at curtailing items being left outside by the homeless won preliminary approval Tuesday night. Officials voted 5-0 in favor of a law that would allow the city to collect and store items on behalf of the homeless in a central location. The Churches Consortium provides storage for the homeless at the base of the parking garage at the Crossing Church on Newport Boulevard, but Assistant City CEO Rick Francis said the location is too far away for some who rely on it and cannot accommodate larger items.

Lindsay Lohan maybe getting a new lawyer if she signs off on a plan to have a  prominent Orange County law firm help represent her on criminal charges she lied about a car crash on Pacific Coast Highway. The latest development comes after her New York attorney was warned by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge that he did not know California law. Paul Wallin, a partner at Wallin & Klarich, said Lohan's attorney, Mark Heller, has asked one of the firm's attorneys, David Wohl, to help represent the actress at trial March 18. "We are awaiting Ms. Lohan's approval," Wallin said.

A Costa Mesa-based law firm announced Wednesday that it has a new executive director. Tony Malkani will lead Rutan & Tucker, one of California's largest full-service public agency and business law firms, according to a news release. Malkani replaces Rich Boden, who joined Rutan & Tucker in 1976. Malkani was last at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, where he was the Newport Beach-based firm's chief financial officer. He will lead Rutan & Tucker's "day-to-day business strategy and operations" with a staff of more than 130, according to a news release.