Land takeover fight gathers steam

Eron Ben-Yehuda

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- With the City Council inching ever closer to

reinstating the city’s power to buy Downtown residential property by

force, a group of residents vowed last week to let the voters make the

final decision.

“This is going to have to be put on a referendum ballot or we’re going to

lose our way of life,” Main Street merchant Jinx Verona said to a crowd

of about 50 people who gathered at the Shed restaurant and bar last week.

The council plans to redevelop major swaths of Downtown, including the

400 and 500 blocks of Pacific Coast Highway, where a multimillion-dollar

hotel, retail and restaurant complex has been approved, to the dismay of

many in attendance.

“The heartless people that run this community are saying ‘Screw you

guys,’ ” said Bob Bolen, a resident and local businessman.

But a referendum could stop the city from moving forward even if the

council, as expected, passes an ordinance reinstating residential eminent

domain authority next month, said resident Jim Lane. The power expired by

law in 1994.

To qualify for a referendum, 10,000 signatures must be gathered within 30

days after the council approves the ordinance, said Bill Westermeyer, of

Santa Monica-based Progressive Campaigns, a company hired to help with

the petition drive.

The fact that so many signatures must be gathered in so little time

shouldn’t discourage anyone, he said.

“I’m not saying this is easy,” he said. “(But) it’s definitely doable.”

To pay for the estimated $50,000 cost of the referendum effort, Lane

collected about $20,000 in donations so far, he said. For a campaign

headquarters, resident Billy Stade offered his store on 116 1/2 Main St., where he used to run the Closet.

Volunteers, though, will determine the group’s success and support will

come from residents who gathered enough signatures for a ballot

initiative against plans to build a Wal-Mart on Talbert Avenue, said

resident Barbara Boscovich, a leading opponent of the retailer.

“This is not just your fight, it’s the city’s fight, it’s the people’s

fight,” she said.

By the end of the meeting, the crowd seemed ready for the challenge

ahead.

“When we’re done and we win, we’re going to have the best party,” Verona

said.