A peek at Greenlight’s future

For those living with Greenlight, there was an interesting article in

the Sunday New York Times.

The headline sums it up nicely: “In towns that slowed growth,

backlash stirs.”

The gist of the article, which is focused mainly on towns in

Colorado, is that in areas that enacted slow-growth measures during

financially good times, the political winds are shifting with the

nationwide economic slowdown. Now, opponents of those measures, so

popular in the bountiful years, are pitching convincing cases that

the laws are making the hard times even worse. Growth, they say,

could be the kick start that the local economies need.

In Newport Beach, the potential effect of Greenlight --

destructive or not -- on the city’s economy has long been part of the

debate over the slow-growth/ no-growth/ controlled-growth measure.

But a different question, rising from this article, is: Would a

slowed economy change the political backing for Greenlight?

Phil Arst, the spokesman for Greenlight, says no, for a few

reasons.

“We believe that Newport Beach is unique,” he said in reference to

the city’s beach- and bay-based economy. “We don’t fall into the

norm.”

For that reason, he added, the sweep of the Times article is a

“broad generalization” that doesn’t fit well here.

More importantly, though, Arst points out that Greenlight is not

against all development, but is against development that its backers

do not think is good for the city’s economy. That means no on office

buildings and harbor-front construction, but support for

revitalization, merchants and other small business.

A different view is offered by Richard Luehrs, president of the

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. Luehrs -- who doesn’t see the

economy slowing here any time soon, a prediction that is no way

intended here -- said he could envision a scenario in which a slower

economy might reduce Greenlight’s support.

Fewer jobs would mean fewer people driving to work, fewer people

driving to go shopping, fewer people driving to go to dinner or to

movies. Fewer people driving empties Newport’s streets, reducing the

traffic problems that have been a significant part of the Greenlight

push (recall the group’s fall slogan: BAN Traffic).

And Luehrs, unlike Arst, is worried that Greenlight could hurt the

economy.

“We are concerned about the long-term impact of Greenlight on the

support for the community’s economic base,” he said. “Rejuvenation in

the public’s hands is not good policy.”

Luehrs pointed out, for instance, that most of the recent shopping

center developments--mainly in the Newport Coast area -- were

“entitlements” on the books before Greenlight’s passage in 2000.

Would such economically driven projects earn the public’s support?

As an answer, there is this from Arst to consider: “As every

project is up to the voters, they can vote more in when revenues are

needed. During good times, the voters can be tighter. That is a

built-in mechanism that few other growth control measures have, but

is the foundation of Greenlight.”

Of course, that mechanism has yet to be tested in hard times.

THE ANSWER TO ANOTHER QUESTION

The answer to last week’s question: Who gave Bill Perkins $7,550?

The Committee to Elect Gary Monahan, of course. Interestingly enough,

the vast majority of it was after the election, which helped keep

Costa Mesa Planning Commissioner Perkins from ending his campaign in

debt (Perkins’ committee has $8,200 left).

And Perkins was not the only candidate who needed late help to

keep the coffers from running dry. Former Mayor Linda Dixon, who

ended the year with $1,500 in the bank, received $1,448 on Nov. 11 --

days after she lost her seat. Among her contributors were Ware

Disposal Co., which gave $249, Newport Senior Village of Costa Mesa,

which gave $249, and attorney Wylie Aitken, who contributed $500.

Aitken also appears on the list of contributors to Planning

Commission Chairwoman Katrina Foley. He gave Foley a total of $1,000,

including a $500 donation on Nov. 1.

Foley, who’s ending cash balance is $19, also received

post-election help to pull her out of debt. On Nov. 10, she brought

in $970, including a $300 donation from the Orange County Federation

of Labor Committee on Political Education.

But even more important to Foley’s bottom line was a $2,000

donation on Dec. 16 from Dennis Freidenrich, who is listed as a

“fund-raising strategist.”

Two other one-time or would-be candidates are sitting stronger

than either Dixon or Foley.

Bill Turpit, who pulled out of the council race once Monahan

committed to run again, is in better shape than Foley. His committee

still has $2,800.

As always, one should note that former Councilwoman Arlene Schafer

still has an active committee, “Friends of Arlene Schafer.” That

committee has $3,900 to spend, someday.

A mystery solved

Most interesting thing in the Costa Mesa campaign finance

statements: Apparently, Councilman Chris Steel -- whose job is always

somewhat of a mystery -- is a “self-employed business/investments

consultant.”

Who knew?

* S.J. CAHN is the managing editor. He can be reached at (949)

574-4233 or e-mail s.j.cahn@latimes.com.