READERS RESPOND

AT ISSUE: Will people in Costa Mesa abide by a boycott of businesses that do not show their opposition to the city’s planned enforcement of immigration laws?My family will not boycott Costa Mesa businesses that do not post the signs in their window. In fact, we will make it a point to give our business to those who favor Mayor Allan Mansoor’s immigration-enforcement plan.

What Nativo Lopez and his gang are attempting to do is extortion. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “extort” as, “to obtain from a person by force, intimidation, or undue or illegal power.” What Lopez is telling these businesses is that if you fail to post these signs we will hurt you and take away your livelihood.

What will happen when they learn their boycott fails to produce their desired results?

Will they feel the need to increase the pressure?

Why doesn’t Lopez go to Mexico and teach the people there how to revolt against the corrupt Mexican government that is the root of the poverty and poor living conditions that causes so many to flee their country?

EILEEN GARCIA

Laguna Beach

Nativo Lopez clearly has strong views on immigration, as do many Americans, but in my view, the Costa Mesa City Council is acting both cautiously and with fairness in its decision to have police instructed in arrest procedures that may involve illegal immigrants.

I lived abroad as an immigrant, as my wife was from northern Europe. In order to get a European Union drivers license, not only did I have to surrender my California license, but I had to show permission to live and work in the country.

America is a nation of immigrants, it is true, but we are also a nation of laws, and sometimes the clash is difficult to reconcile. I support the cautious approach of the council and the deft touch of the police in how this is being handled.

WILLIAM R. ORTON

Costa Mesa

Actually, I plan to boycott the businesses that do put the signs in their windows. I also feel it is extremely unfair to put our local businesses in such a position. It’s certainly a no-win for them and they shouldn’t be forced to take sides.

SUSAN FLANNERY

Costa Mesa

No way. I will go out of my way to patronize businesses without signs.

ED SCHECK

Newport Beach

I will not participate in the planned boycott. The group’s tactics sound like a form of extortion.

Businesses would be wise to appear neutral. The signs could offend and turn away many customers who agree with the city’s new policy.

TRACY CLEVIDENCE

Costa Mesa

Nativo Lopez is proposing a boycott of Costa Mesa businesses that do not display his sign opposing the proposed city ordinance regarding illegal immigrants.

I would like Lopez to take note: I for one, will not buy from businesses that display the poster.

I will spend at those businesses that do not display the poster and support the ordinance, the Constitution of the United States of America and the laws that comprise it. Draw your line in the sand, and let’s get it on.

JOHN L. STUART

Costa Mesa

I will not support the outrageous request by Nativo Lopez to boycott Costa Mesa businesses. I am outraged to read that Lopez is asking Latinos to boycott local businesses and refuse to cooperate with the Costa Mesa Police Department. I can’t believe that someone would attempt to harm a whole city. Instead of partnering and trying to work toward a solution, Lopez wants all residents of Costa Mesa to pay.

Would Lopez want someone to stand by silently as a crime is committed against him because someone asked them not to cooperate with police? I don’t think so. So why would he want the whole city to suffer?

The tactics proposed by Lopez are similar to the ideas of extremists who want to divide people and countries.

If Lopez feels that the council is driving a wedge between the community with its proposal, then he must realize that he is just as guilty.

I have to ask: What results is Lopez looking for? Is it a divided city?

Riots? A city full of people pitted against one another?

The diversity of Costa Mesa is what makes it a great city. Whether we are Latino, white, black, Asian or something else, we are all brothers and sisters.

I consider Lopez as my brother, but I take offense when someone attempts to separate me from my brothers and sisters.

So I say to all people of Costa Mesa, regardless of origin, we must stand together to find a solution to keep us united.

MIKE BRUMBAUGH

Costa Mesa

I will be boycotting the business that have the signs in their windows.

LUPE MORENO

Santa Ana

Regarding this whole idea of businesses having to put certain signs in the window, I seem to remember reading about certain human beings in the mid- to late-1930s in Germany being “encouraged” to hang a yellow star in their shop window or sew a patch onto their sweater? It scares me that a group that wishes to assist illegal immigrants would attempt to use extortion.

I will go out of my way to shop at the stores that do not have one of these signs. I’ll take my protest one step further with the stores that caved into the demands of this so-called immigrant-rights group and order food or attempt to purchase expensive items, and at the cash register, I’ll ask them about the sign in their window. When they explain it, I’ll tell the owner or employee that I no longer wish to purchase those items because it would be un-American for me to buy from a business that doesn’t believe in the rule of law.

We have immigration laws -- laws that, sadly, the federal government can’t seem to enforce, and now it has come to cities and states having to do this on their own. Maybe if the federal government actually enforced our immigration laws cities like Costa Mesa wouldn’t have to do it for them.

BRIAN MILLER

Irvine20060209iu35rkncKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Nativo Lopez’s group has called for a boycott of Costa Mesa businesses that do not display a sign against the city’s planned immigration enforcement.