Creating a rift is not conducive to progress

ERIC BEVER

As a citizen who feels his quotes were improperly framed in the

article “Supporters of redevelopment won’t disappear” by Deirdre

Newman on Friday, I would like to correct the record in a number of

regards:

The expression of my “disappointment” in the Costa Mesa

Redevelopment Agency’s decision is not accurate. Based upon the

city’s total lack of any plan, or any real direction,

I actually expected their decision.

Projects don’t just come to fruition because a consultant has been

hired.

I am, however, “dismayed” that the City Council, which acts as the

city’s Redevelopment Agency, wasted resident’s time and money in a

process it did not support -- again.

In the recent past, I have written a number of letters regarding

the redevelopment issue, primarily to correct some oft repeated

misperceptions, and oddly, the folks at the Pilot continued to

misinform the public. How does a vote regarding a focused study of

blight become a vote to “add territory”?

How does a citizen’s effort to correct a technical error make him

“a resident who feels redevelopment is necessary?” How could anyone

know that redevelopment is necessary if the studies have not been

done?

Without a clear goal, and the detailed information the proposed

preliminary study could have provided, redevelopment is a fool’s

errand. Contrary to the article’s perceived slant, I am not a

supporter of redevelopment.

I am a big proponent of anything and everything that the city can

bring to the table to address the increasingly blighted conditions in

pockets citywide, as this is not only about the Westside.

It is unfortunate that the press feels a need to create a dynamic

of opposing “sides” in this piece. I have had a number of lengthy and

amicable conversations with John Hawley -- owner of Railmakers and

one of those fighting against the proposed addition to redevelopment

territory -- over the past few months and will continue to

communicate with all who are interested in improving the city. A

claim that he and his group of Westside property owners hold. Their

claims however, seem to ring hollow, as they relied heavily on public

disinformation, scare tactics, and fear to make their case.

During my conversations with Hawley, he made it clear to me that

his group will resist any changes that benefit area homeowners, or

open the bluffs to residential use. From what I gathered from Hawley;

Industrialists fear that a stronger homeowner base will doom their

future. And so it goes.

According to folks who attended the redevelopment agency meeting,

the “overflow crowd” was primarily comprised of employees of the

industrialists. Here we go again, allowing folks who do not live here

to decide the future of our city.

For our part, the Westside Improvement Assn., which was founded to

give area homeowners a voice, will continue to work toward an

improved Westside and city, and we hope that the council is true to

it’s word, and does its part as well.

A thorough West 19th Street plan, including a new market center,

aggressive code enforcement, a residential overlay zone on the bluffs

from Monrovia Street west to the city limits, and a concerted effort

to fund needed infrastructure would be a good start.

* ERIC BEVER is a Costa Mesa homeowner, businessman and a member

of the Westside Improvement Assn. Steering Committee.