Adams wondering if it’s the thought that counts

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- The three kings brought them to the newly born Jesus.

Over the centuries, other royals kept up the tradition, even going as far

as giving their own children away to form stronger bonds with foreign

leaders.

But while gifts given by government leaders rarely go to such extremes

these days, they still play an important part in strengthening ties.

Newport Beach is no exception, and the city’s mayors have always

handed out presents to visiting dignitaries and while traveling abroad.

Just last month, when Mayor Gary Adams headed to Ensenada, Mexico, to

witness the arrival of boats in the Newport to Ensenada International

Yacht Race, he took with him a lithograph depicting a city scene.

So far, so good. But when he saw a similar work of art hanging on the

office walls of his Ensenadan counterpart, Adams decided that something

had to be done.

“It was then that I realized we should freshen up our gift supply,”

Adams said.

This week, he told his council colleagues that the city’s gifts were

an embarrassment and paled in comparison with those given by others.

While the city regularly hands out book bags, mugs and T-shirt with

Newport Beach’s seal, a cabinet outside the council chambers displays

elaborate gifts such as a golden miniature boat, Japanese dolls and a

sculpture of dolphins riding on waves.

“We need to purchase some nice things,” he said during the council’s

first budget study session. City officials said they’d set aside money to

take care of the matter.

His predecessors said they supported the idea.

“I think it’s very important for a city to somehow acknowledge

dignitaries,” said Evelyn Hart, who was mayor in 1983 and 1984.

During her tenure, Newport Beach tied the knot with Okazaki, Japan,

its first sister city, in 1984. Antibes, France, would follow six years

later and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico become the third one in 1991.

Hart said gifts weren’t that impressive during her time, either. Once

she took a half-dozen T-shirts with a city design that had been

discontinued to Ensenada, she said.

On a trip to Okazaki, Hart brought along a painting by a local artist

that she bought herself. In return, the city’s mayor gave Hart a portrait

he had painted of her. At the sanitation district, she received a vase

made of recycled glass, and schoolchildren presented her with 1,000 birds

made out of paper.

“They gave me really thoughtful gifts,” she said.

Tom Edwards, the city’s mayor from 1997 to 1998, also cheered on Adams

for proposing to shop for gifts.

“I think Gary’s on the right track,” Edwards said, adding that he

remembered giving paintings and boats made out of crystal. Also, Newport

Beach had donated a fire engine to Cabo San Lucas in the past.

“You have to constantly be on the lookout for extending courtesies to

other people,” he said.

And Councilman Dennis O’Neil, who served as mayor in 1999, said he

would fully support a purchase of new gifts.

He added that most of his presents had been limited to mugs, book

bags, pins and keys to the city.

“Nothing really significant,” he said. “It’s more of a gesture, a

courtesy, a gracious thing to do. It’s not to try to overly impress

somebody.”

Although, O’Neil added, Okazaki had given Newport Beach’s residents a

“marvelous granite carving” sculpture, which sits outside the Newport

Beach Central Library.

“That was a rather impressive gift, and now the whole city enjoys it,”

he said.