Choose homespun over corporate

In the Mesa Verde section of Costa Mesa, there are plans to erect a

Kohl’s department store to replace a bowling alley, ice rink and

movie theater. The area’s savior, Mayor Karen Robinson, has called

for a revisit of the plans to replace these family attractions, which

is quite ironic, since Robinson does not have any kids.

But there is more to the Kohl’s vs. family attractions story than

trying to keep a part of Costa Mesa family friendly. But to describe

it, I have to play fast and loose with some information I heard

several years ago.

There is a tremendous benefit to any community when residents make

their purchases at businesses that are based in that city as opposed

to those headquartered in another city or state. As I recall, every

dollar spent at a local shop is circulated four times before leaving

the area. Spend it at a big chain, however, and the profits depart to

Pigsknuckle, Ark., or Wherever, Kan., immediately.

So while many of us believe we are saving money by getting a

discount at a big chain, our thinking is short-term.

In the long run, we are going to benefit more by shopping at

home-grown stores. In short, price is not and should not be

everything.

Community support in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach runs very deep.

Thanks to the generosity of a dedicated core of businesses and

people, many worthwhile services continue to exist and grow. These

people ask for nothing in return, although each of them may secretly

hope that waves of people will beat a path to their door as a result

of their contributions. I don’t see anything wrong with that.

The folks in charge of each of these charitable organizations can

do much worse than issuing a plaque or banner or listing a name in a

program. But they could also do a lot more. They could and should

make sure that people in the community know who is supporting them so

that residents can make a more informed choice about where to spend

their money. That is what you are reading today.

Here is a partial list of the outstanding businesses and people

who have helped make the Costa Mesa National Little League a fun,

affordable experience for hundreds of kids this year: Poseidon Yacht

Services, JLS Enterprises, American Sterling Bank, Marine Terminals

Corp., Hi Tech Collision, Deloitte & Touche, JMC Laboratories, the

Montague family, Charles G. Hardy Inc., FACS Financial Systems and

Jennifer Pritchett/Coldwell Banker Real Estate.

I am not involved with any Newport Beach organizations that

benefit from charitable contributions, but I know the same type of

network we have in Costa Mesa exists there, as well. So I urge all

Newport Beach residents to support the companies that support the

community.

If you don’t know who is contributing to your PTA or Little

League, make an effort to find out. Learn where to buy your pizza,

where to get your tools and where to get your toys -- although for

some guys, they’ll find the tools and toys in the same store.

The Kohl’s debate will rage on. For many residents, it is a

turning point in the life of this city. Plopping down a Kohl’s where

family attractions once existed cannot be addressed in the simplistic

terms of the Libertarians, who claim that the family stuff failed and

therefore deserve to be scrapped. Despite their pleas, this is not

the end of the survival of the fittest fight. If you doubt that, just

ask the mayor.

The controversy reminds me of the day several years ago when

Disneyland eliminated the “Skyway” ride that flew overhead round trip

between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. That ride was scrapped because,

we were told, there were not enough riders to support it.

I rode the Skyway on its last day and recall thinking about how

small that decision was; that the Skyway was more than just a ride --

it actually added a visual dimension to the park that is missing to

this day. Disneyland has not been the same since.

And so it is with Kohl’s.

If this decision had to be based solely on projected tax revenues,

I’d be writing today about what to tell your kids about the war. But

as Costa Mesa runs out of land to develop, there is a nagging feeling

that if residents don’t speak up about Kohl’s now, the merit of

future projects may be decided only by the bean counters.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and freelance writer.

Readers may leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at

(949) 642-6086.