Sounding Board -- Joel Faris

I would like to thank Mayor Linda Dixon for her encouraging letter

Thursday listing many of the highlights Costa Mesa is fortunate to call

her own (“Mayor says Costa Mesa sounds perfectly fine”). She listed

shopping venues, entertainment, restaurants and more. However, so much

more was left out.

First and foremost, our city is rich with people. More people here, in

my opinion, have a spirit of independence and friendliness than could be

found in most other areas of Orange County. Our neighborhoods are not

sterile, and they offer true choices to residents seeking to call our

city “home.” Of course, we have some issues that tend to cause friction,

but for the most part, we get along comparatively well.

Also not mentioned is that Costa Mesa is home to a vibrant faith

community: Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (officially just outside our border,

but close enough for them to call themselves part of our city); Calvary

Church; TBN; St. Joachim; Newport-Mesa Christian Center; Harbor Christian

Fellowship; and many, many others offer opportunities of fellowship,

community outreach and worship.

One glaring oversight of our mayor was the Westside. This area is home

to almost 30% of the population (and that percentage is growing), yet

scant attention was given to it. Canyon Park, arguably one of our jewels,

was left off the list of park favorites. Restaurants such as Taco Mesa,

Avila’s El Ranchito, PK’s (the best American/Mexican combination I have

ever seen) and El Chinaco were not even mentioned. The west end bluffs,

adjacent to Talbert Marsh (potentially another jewel, yet just outside

our border) were not given the deserved spotlight.

Our bluffs are just over one mile from the ocean, providing that area

of Costa Mesa with ocean views and cool sea breezes. The senior center

was mentioned, however, much more can be done to make the area around the

center safer for our seniors.

All of this is being mentioned for a reason: In order to govern

effectively, a mayor should be intimately in touch with all areas of a

given city -- all areas. The Westside has definite problems, and Dixon

has promised to make these her focus in this election year; however, many

of the problems have only been glossed over while others are in cycles of

perpetual committeedom.

I have been pleased to see our mayor become more comfortable in her

present role and appreciate her dedication and hours spent on the job.

Now I welcome her to become more familiar with an area in which she

wields so much influence.

Costa Mesa is a wonderful city. I would not want to live elsewhere.

With wise leadership, we have the opportunity to be an even more ideal

city.

* JOEL FARIS is a Costa Mesa resident and activist.