Geography has little to do with leadership

Allan Mansoor

Geoff West’s recent letter to the editor about Westside candidates

for the Costa Mesa City Council was so inaccurate and full of baloney

it is laughable. (“The Martins have landed” Community Commentary,

April 13.)

West says about Martin Millard, who does not even live on the

Westside, that “it is his activism and influence that makes a

narrowly focused Westside majority on the City Council a frightening

possibility in November.”

Then, he talks about “another slate of Millard candidates” and

says, “we should ask ourselves if those are the kinds of people we

really want to run our city for the next decade.”

Millard does not pull anyone’s strings. He writes and expresses

his ideas just like West. As evidenced by Millard’s recent

newsletters, he clearly is not happy with some of my recent

decisions. Millard also strongly supported the double-density 1901

Newport project. I voted against it.

I happen to live on the Westside of the city. When I first moved

to the city in 1976, I lived in Mesa Verde. Later, I lived on the

Eastside for a few years. I bought my home on the Westside because it

was affordable and has great potential.

When I ran for council there were other candidates from other

parts of the city. I think I stood apart because of my stand on the

issues, not because of where I lived. Even though I live on the

Westside of the city, I took a strong stand on the airport, traffic

and development and other quality of life issues.

Yes, there are clearly some problems on the Westside that need to

be addressed. Anyone who opens his or her eyes can see that the

Westside needs some attention. But the fact of the matter is that I

do my homework on all city issues and have taken the time to return

people’s phone calls from all parts of the city.

When an issue is brought before the council by an individual, I

look at it objectively, regarding the facts, and not according to who

brought it forward or where they live. So, I take offense that West

implies that I am narrowly focused. All of these things were said

about me when I ran for office and, now, here we go again.

So, who is West so concerned about?

I know of only two potential candidates who are from the Westside.

Is it is Planning Commissioner Eric Bever West is concerned about?

During the time he has been on the Planning Commission, Bever has

established himself as someone who is reasonable, clear and

articulate, and someone who does his homework.

Bever has also been active on past issues such as preserving the

Noguchi Garden California Scenario in north Costa Mesa; supporting

the Eastside small lot subdivision ordinance; and voicing opposition

to the Centerline light rail system, which is a more regional issue

that will have a negative affect on Costa Mesa if built.

He has been a strong voice for following the spirit of the city’s

general plan, which in turn can help limit traffic in our city. Had

Bever been on the council -- instead of withdrawing his nomination

for an appointment after a contentious council gridlock -- perhaps we

would not be battling the double density 1901 Newport project.

Bever is also working to expand student participation in

outstanding arts programs that are offered to Newport Mesa Unified

School District students free of charge but have been severely

underutilized for nearly 10 years.

The second Westside candidate is Mike Berry. Mike and Judi Berry

have been budget watchdogs. They examine and scrutinize the Costa

Mesa city budget on their own time to the benefit of everyone in the

entire city. To my knowledge, the Berrys are the only residents who

do this.

Mike Berry also stays current on airport issues that have

traditionally affected the Eastside but now affect other parts of the

city. Mike and Judi Berry have voiced strong opposition to the

Centerline project and the double density 1901 Newport project.

So, who is it that West is so afraid of?

Perhaps West would feel more comfortable with some of the other

potential candidates who, while on the Planning Commission, voted in

favor of the double density 1901 Newport project and the Kohl’s

“big-box” department store.

There have been times when council members hailed from everywhere

in the city but the Westside. Did anyone say, “Oh my, it’s a narrowly

focused Mesa Verde majority?” Does anyone think that narrowly focused

majorities in the past have neglected the Westside?

I want the Westside to be as clean, safe and quiet as the rest of

the city. So please tell me who it is that is so frightening? Because

the way I see it, the Westside residents that West fears are the very

residents that are taking time out of their lives to improve the

quality of life in all parts of the city.

West’s reckless comments further divide us into north, east and

west. His bias against people who live on the Westside makes him

sound more and more like the “Martin” he so despises. All I hear from

West is complaints and no real solutions.

Hopefully the voters will look at the candidates based upon their

positions on the issues during the upcoming election, without regard

to where people live.

* ALLAN MANSOOR is a Costa Mesa City Councilman.