Give new peninsula trees a chance

Donald H. Glasgow

My comment to you and others has to do with “enough is enough”

when it comes to publishing so many letters to the Daily Pilot from

people who have opposed the entire idea of progress in Balboa by not

wanting the ficus trees removed.

While it is proper to listen to and respect opposition to

community issues, this one is totally out of balance in favor of a

small group of Balboa Peninsula residents who did not want those

trees removed. My guess would be, given a chance to draw a line in

the sand and choose sides, that overwhelming support for removal of

those trees would have prevailed. That was not the case.

The “duel” on this issue took place in your newspaper, which is

unfortunate. I am aware that “late in the process” dueling took place

between the opponents and the city. It saddens me that this matter

has been portrayed as a “we against them,” “David versus Goliath”

issue because proper due process did take place between our highly

competent city staff, council members and representatives of the

opposition. I believe Councilman Steve Bromberg articulated these

facts accurately in his excellent published “letter to the editor”

soon after the trees were removed (“It’s time to move past the ficus

fracas,” Sept. 24).

It would seem to me that all residents of Newport Beach are living

in this city for a wide variety of reasons, but aren’t we in this

together? Should we not learn from the incidents of the ficus trees

removal that proper attention to the details of what our city leaders

are doing requires vigilance throughout the process and not just when

that process is nearing conclusion, when only emotions take over?

I believe the city process was designed to avoid such

circumstances. It is also a process that is open to microscopic

examination along the way. In hindsight, it seems to me that the

ficus tree incident, at the end, could and should have been avoided

had the opposing residents given more careful attention to the

details as they emerged.

Now on to a very important fact which seems to have been

overlooked throughout the process. Everyone who participated or was

intrigued by the Balboa ficus trees removal should take a drive

through the business district of Corona del Mar and gaze with pride

at how great new trees can look.

About two to three years ago the Corona del Mar Business

Improvement District, Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce, Corona del

Mar Residents Assn., virtually every homeowner association in Corona

del Mar and the Corona del Mar Vision 2004 plan embraced a massive

program of “reforestation” of the business district of this special

village. Without any incidents or negative publicity, 100 old ficus

trees were removed and replaced with 100 king palm trees and 100 Hong

Kong orchid trees.

Almost three years later, all of these trees are thriving. They

are very happy, the businesses are very happy, the residents are very

happy. Everyone is happy. The outcome has exceeded all expectations.

These new trees are only two to three years into their mission. The

Corona del Mar business district is much cleaner, the sidewalks and

curbs are no longer disturbed by invasive roots, plus all sewers and

waterlines are free to perform as designed and expected. Everyone is

completely satisfied with this project and it is saving our city a

great deal of money.

Further on Corona del Mar. Immediately after the old trees were

removed and the new trees planted, everyone noticed the unsightly

condition of some of the business facades. That soon changed with an

amazing amount of remodeling, painting, new awnings, potted plants

and plenty of attention to the basic fundamentals of operating a

business -- tender loving care. What an improvement.

This is an added benefit of the Corona del Mar “reforestation”

project. Take a look. I know everyone will agree that this

significant change of trees in the business district of Corona del

Mar was needed and turned out magnificently. I know too that the

“reforestation” of the business district of Balboa will also turn out

magnificently. Once again, in the end, all residents of Balboa

Peninsula will likely take great pride in their revitalized

“downtown” business district after the construction work is completed

and the new trees planted. Community pride will take over; all the

past citizen tree wounds will be healed.

The time has arrived when this entire Balboa “reforestation” issue

should be placed on a high shelf out of sight. Let’s get on with the

overdue revitalization of that special place in Newport Beach. Then,

every resident of the peninsula will catch community pride fever.

* Don Glasgow is chairman of the Corona del Mar Business

Improvement District.