Westside group must see things through

The rehabilitation of Costa Mesa’s Westside provides tough decisions

and situations. Given the history over the last decade, it doesn’t

appear that Westside advocates have been able to make much progress.

So it only makes sense that those involved in the Community

Redevelopment Action Committee stick with it as long as its work

lasts.

A little more than a handful of committee members considered

leaving the group to go out on their own to seek Westside

improvement. As wonderful as it would be to see a smaller group than

the action committee -- originally about 80 members, it’s dwindled to

about 30 -- it seems it would be a mistake at this point, and the

group made the right decision not to create a splinter group.

The action committee has been hard at work since it began meeting

in June and, though consensus has often been difficult to find, its

work is near an end. All of its members need to hold on through the

final few laps to ensure that its decisions are well rounded and not

made in vain.

If the final outcome lacks support from the committee’s members,

that would be the right time to speak out against what should have

been an ideal step toward Westside improvement.

Any group that springs up after the action committee’s work ends

should seek city endorsement if it plans to have real worth in the

scheme of things. Otherwise, its work toward redevelopment would

stand a lesser chance of success. The Westside, as anyone can attest,

needs some help sooner than later.

But any group or groups that step up in the future should be

diverse enough to represent every Westside resident. No one person

has a perfect solution for the city’s Westside. Only together can the

right vision succeed.