Letter to the Editor

Not only is Phillip B. Greer way off base, he is out of the ballpark

(Letter to the Editor -- “City should have talked to Newport Coast

residents,” Jan. 24). His letter contained several serious errors that

need to be addressed.

Greer stated that the city of Newport Beach should have talked to

Newport Coast residents prior to the annexation proceedings. In fact,

more than 1 1/2 years ago, representatives of the city made it clearly

known to all communities that they would be available to meet and discuss

the annexation with any group requesting further information.

The only community to respond was the Santa Lucia Homeowners Assn.

After the meeting, with information provided by the city and the Newport

Coast Committee of 2000, the majority of the residents were supportive of

the proposed annexation. However, at no time prior to the annexation did

Greer request that city representatives attend his homeowners association

meetings to provide information and answers to questions.

Greer stated that a Daily Pilot article (“Challenge to annexation

tossed aside,” Dec. 5) was written to hide widespread disenchantment that

exists in Newport Coast for the annexation. We would be very surprised if

the Pilot had this agenda in mind when the article was written.

Furthermore, Greer’s statement pertaining to the disenchantment is far

removed from the truth. The vast majority of residents in Newport Coast

and Newport Ridge supported the annexation and the efforts of the

Committee of 2000.

Contrary to another assertion by Greer, during the annexation

negotiation period, residents were kept informed of all matters by the

use of newsletters, general meetings and through information posted on

the Newport Coast Committee of 2000 Web site (o7 www.newportcoast.orgf7

).

After four years of negotiations, the committee was able to secure an

agreement that benefited the community with a financial package

consisting of $25 million and other substantial financial and

service-related benefits.

Greer stated he secured signatures from 1,100 individuals indicating

their dissatisfaction with the annexation process. Again, he misstated

the facts on this matter. County records indicate there were 3,412

registered voters in the Newport Coast and Newport Ridge during the

annexation proceedings. While 853 votes were needed, only 658 valid

signatures came in.

Furthermore, Greer cannot claim responsibility for all 658 votes.

There was a mailer sent to the entire community by another resident that

produced signatures, as well as votes sent directly by individuals

unconnected with Greer’s efforts. These facts negate Greer’s main

contention that people had no opportunity to vote on the annexation

issue. In point of fact, the community did have an opportunity to vote,

and it chose to not oppose the annexation. In the end, and according to

applicable law, there were simply not enough signatures to trigger a vote

on annexation.

Greer also claimed that he “represents” 1,100 residents. However, the

actual number is probably a fraction of what he believes it to be. Many A

Simple Vote petition signatures were duplicates, and many were obtained

from non-Newport Coast and non-Newport Ridge registered voters.

Furthermore, if residents had been told the truth when A Simple Vote

collected signatures, Greer’s constituency would likely shrink even

further. We believe that the petition workers for A Simple Vote

misrepresented the facts in their zeal to collect signatures. They

reportedly told residents that the city would completely disregard the

pre-annexation agreement and take over all the parks, renege on its

promise to pay for tax relief and raise taxes for infrastructure

improvements in other parts of the city.

None of this is true. Many residents said they signed the petition

just to get these folks off the doorstep because their tactics were so

aggressive. Finally, and again contrary to what Greer stated in his

letter, the Aviation Committee for the city has taken the position that

it is opposed to any aircraft flights over the Newport Coast area.

The Newport Coast Committee of 2000 Steering Committee was selected by

board members of the majority of homeowners associations, and Greer

attended several of the committee’s meetings. While Greer’s position on

the annexation was clearly in the minority, and he is obviously a poor

loser, at least he is consistent. He filed a lawsuit against the county

and lost twice trying to get a court order to stop the annexation.

Then he lost trying to have the judge disqualified. Supporting

documents in his lawsuits contain facts about events that never occurred.

We find it curious that in over four years of the Committee of 2000’s

existence, never once did Greer raise the issue of fairness with regard

to the protest period versus a general vote on annexation.

It is our opinion that the true motivation behind all of his recent

behavior is simply self-promotion. We have always believed in the

democratic process, and clearly the will of the majority of the residents

prevailed on the annexation issue. When Greer didn’t get his way, he

criticized the process instead of accepting the will of the majority and

electing to work within the system.

Perhaps Greer should stop reading “Looking Out For No. 1” and instead

consider picking up “How To Win Friends And Influence People.”

At the forthcoming Newport Coast Advisory Committee meetings, all

voices will be heard, and their input will be seriously considered prior

to the formation of recommendations to the Newport Beach City Council.

A public forum is an outstanding opportunity for all positions to be

heard, and we have every reason to believe that this process will in fact

take place.

JIM McGEE

GERRY ROSS

DAN WAMPOLE

AL WILLINGER

Newport Coast

* EDITOR’S NOTE: The letter writers are steering committee members of

the Newport Coast Committee of 2000.