City should follow Graham’s example

The squeaky wheel gets the grease -- and in some cases the dough for

their project.

In all the squealing for an underground rail line for the city’s

portion of the CenterLine system, Costa Mesa officials should look to

one of their own noisy cogs for tips on how to beat a topic into the

ground -- literally.

Mesa Verde resident Robert Graham has been asking the city to pay

for a study for a 19th Street bridge that would connect the major

city thoroughfare to Huntington Beach, via a bridge over the Santa

Ana River Crossing.

While city leaders are vehemently opposed to the idea, Graham, has

suggested such a bridge could raise property values, draw new shops

to the area and allow Westside residents greater access to the beach.

Costa Mesa officials repeatedly tell Graham they are waiting for

the collaborative Santa Ana River Crossing Study to be completed,

which will analyze the benefits and detriments of a 19th Street

bridge in the Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and

Fountain Valley region. Further, the city does not have discretionary

funds to pay for a study on something there is no support for.

But how does the city know there is no support if the study has

never been done, Graham asks? He just wants a study, not the bridge.

Just a report that would analyze whether it could be good for Costa

Mesa. Then the city can take an informative stance on the issue, he

says.

What’s the harm in gathering more information before killing the

idea?

Although he has been shot down several times he keeps the fight

alive. The persistent advocate speaks at nearly every City Council

meeting, always finding new and inventive ways to call attention to

the project.

Think a burrowing owl has nothing to do with a possible bridge at

19th Street? Think again. I guarantee Graham could find a way to link

the two. Perhaps he would say, “If there were a bridge at 19th

Street, the owl could get to Huntington more easily and burrow over

there. Then we could build out Fairview Park as we see fit.”

OK. His associations are more cogent but nearly as far-fetched.

Costa Mesa City officials could take a page out of the Robert

Graham handbook for beating a dead topic with a stick, as they find

themselves in a similar position with the Orange County

Transportation Authority in regard to building portions of the

CenterLine rail system underground. County officials agree it is

feasible to put pieces of the line in subterranean territory but say

the costs to do so, or even to study the idea further, are too high,

considering feeble federal support.

According to various business leaders in the South Coast Metro

area, an underground line would be far less intrusive, more effective

and efficient, than an overhead rail. These influential business

bosses -- which include members of the Segerstrom clan -- are

bolstered by Costa Mesa politicians, who are asking county officials

to at least consider a study for putting a part of the line

underground.

We’re not asking for it to go underground, officials have said. We

are just asking that you gather all the information about the

possibilities before you shoot it down.

Now, if Graham had a exclusive rights to that argument, he could

sue the Costa Mesa City Council for copyright infringement.

But wait, instead of putting Graham on the other side of the fence

-- or bridge -- city officials could use him to their benefit. Take

advantage of his uncanny ability to rehash a single subject and

unleash him on the OCTA board.

Take OCTA agenda item No. 9 from the most recent meeting:

“Purchase Order for Liquefied Natural Gas Fuel Tank Vacuum Pump.”

County officials recommended the authority execute an agreement with

a fueling company for no more than $38,494.78 for two pumps.

Now, apply the Graham-esque masterful skill of twisting it into

something about the CenterLine and you might have this argument:

The county is about to spend nearly $40,000 on two pumps for

Liquefied Natural Gas Fuel Tanks and when it hasn’t even fully

explored other transportation options, such as all the alternatives

for a light rail system. Sure natural gas is what is being used now,

but what about when the CenterLine gets up and running? Will it still

be as important? And speaking of CenterLine, how is it that officials

can so easily sign off on something that could one day be outmoded,

yet it can’t even support the gathering of information for the

CenterLine? Undoubtedly an imminent step in terms of regional

transportation. Let’s break from the shackles of conventional

thinking and invest in the future. Perhaps we should really explore

the regional transportation.

I know it is not the most logical or educated argument -- it

really doesn’t make much sense -- but that is not the point.

The point is to keep nagging, keep yelping, badgering and

repeating your position until someone does something about it.

Graham got a city committee to recommend the study of a 19th

Street bridge to the City Council. Councilman Allan Mansoor even

supported the study. There is still a far way to go for support of

the study, but Graham has at least gained a little ground.

Take heed CenterLine advocates. Put away that WD-40 and hammer

your greaseless argument into the consciousness of the decision

makers.

Squeak, squeak, squeaking all the way to the bank.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or by e-mail at

lolita.harper@latimes.com.