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.
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