Candidates promise to help seniors

Lolita Harper

Although the song was released long after most of their heydays,

members of the senior center sang a familiar tune during the

inaugural City Council campaign forum: What have you done for me

lately?

Costa Mesa Senior Center officials hosted a lunchtime event that

mixed an informal, getting-to-know-you lunch with a more structured

forum.

Mayor Linda Dixon and Councilman Gary Monahan, who both seek

reelection, Planning Commission Chairwoman Katrina Foley, Planning

Commissioner Bill Perkins and Human Relations Committee member Alan

Mansoor joined a crowd of about 75 people in the senior center

auditorium to answer some questions.

Aside from basic introductions and qualifications, the seniors

wanted to know where the candidates stood on issues of affordable

senior housing and the center’s future.

Mayor Linda Dixon, who sits on the board of directors for the

senior center, outlined her previous successes at the center --

acquiring a 15-seat van and prompting an emergency education program

that Costa Mesa Fire officials teach seniors. She promised to

continue working for the city’s mature residents and said she planned

to research a program that would convert some of the motels along

Newport Boulevard into affordable senior apartments.

Councilman Gary Monahan said the best thing a council member can

do for the center is continue a steady stream of funding.

“I’m not here to offer a blank check to fund everything here, but

this is a program that must continue and whatever funding is needed

will be here,” Monahan said.

Monahan said he would also work closely with familiar developers

to encourage new buildings for senior housing. There are certain

incentives the city can offer for affordable senior housing and he

would exercise that option liberally, if given the chance, he said.

Perkins agreed with Monahan, saying it is crucial to work with

builders who have a stake in Costa Mesa to build more affordable

units. He also agreed that funding for the center was of a high city

priority because it provides mature adults with daily activities.

“I remember my great grandpa would always tell me he just wanted

something to do,” Perkins said.

Foley highlighted her work on the Planning Commission to improve

the Westside, saying it helped the senior center by upgrading street

conditions on 19th Street, which runs just outside of the building.

She also said she wanted to start a dial-a-ride program for seniors

who could no longer drive.

The ongoing redevelopment portion for the Westside provides the

perfect opportunity to encourage developers to consider senior

housing and create special zoning for such residences, she said.

Mansoor said the best thing for seniors is a cohesive council that

is able to get things done. Mansoor called for a pedestrian bridge

over 19th Street that would help link Bethel Towers -- a senior

housing building -- and the senior center. He encouraged cooperation

between public and private entities to fund the senior center and to

assist in housing issues, but quickly returned to his theme of the

importance of good leadership.

He blasted the current council for ignoring the Westside and

promised that area improvement would be one of his highest

priorities.

“The city is focusing on other parts of the city and neglecting

the Westside, and that’s where this sits,” Mansoor said of the

center.

Aviva Goelman, the center’s executive director, concluded the

program -- which Daily Pilot Managing Editor S.J. Cahn moderated --

by reminding each candidate that they promised to improve conditions

for seniors. She offered support to those who are ultimately elected

and said she would make it easy for the candidates to follow through

on their commitments to the center.

“We have a wonderful program director, we only need the money,”

Goelman said.