David Garrick's article on Sam Abed in some editions of the Oct. 2 edition of the North County Times could not have been more revealing. It contained a quote from Abed that should send shivers down the spine of every resident of Escondido who cares about the growing racial divide that is diminishing the quality of life for all Escondidans.

The damage to the reputation of Escondido, specifically by Abed, could not be more significant.

And Abed doesn't seem to understand what he's done.

This city has seemingly earned the dubious distinction of being one of the most bigoted and racist cities in California, if not the United States.

Abed contributes to the notoriety by making the following outrageous statement: "A good reputation is important, but middle-class families would not stay in this city if we didn't change direction. Poor people and Latinos can't be outside the regulations."

He just doesn't understand what it means to racially stereotype. He needs to be told that his racist slip is showing. Abed's war on the poverty-stricken, immigrants and Latinos bodes badly for Escondido.

The harm that Sam Abed and Ed Gallo have inflicted on this city, from the rental ban debacle to the parking permit fiasco, is real, debilitating and immeasurable. How can lost economic opportunities be calculated? How do we know when businesses decide not to move to Escondido because of the reputation this city has earned?

How do we know when shoppers rule out Escondido because they don't want to deal with checkpoints? Or when families choose another city to buy a house in because they don't want their children exposed to the ugliness of a racially divided community? In the end, how do we measure the collective harm of fear, hate, and ignorance?

While it's not illegal to be racist or mean-spirited, acting on those feelings are not attractive qualities for any community.

Escondido resident Bill Flores is spokesman for El Grupo, an umbrella organization of locally based civil rights groups.