Councilman, candidate have answers for ‘a city divided’

ERIC BEVER

I read with bemused interest Mary Fewel’s recent letter regarding

City Councilman Allan Mansoor and me. While I have admired Fewel’s

long-standing efforts to contribute her time and energy in our

community’s best interest, I am a bit baffled as to why Mansoor’s

truthful reporting on candidate’s voting records elicited such a

strong response from her.

Fewel complained that “ ... Mansoor cares a great deal about what

the residents of the Mesa Verde neighborhood think.” That is also a

bit odd, as it is Mansoor’s job as a councilman to care about all

citizens’ concerns, regardless of the location of their homes or

businesses.

In the recent Daily Pilot “103 most influential” exercise, Mansoor

is referred to as the “Costa Mesa councilman who is the lone

representation of the beleaguered Westside.” Earlier this year,

Mansoor presented a substantial list of Westside incentives to the

council.

These incentives won council support and are being implemented by

staff. Obviously, Mansoor cares about the Westside, as well he

should, because it is part of Costa Mesa after all. It appears to me

that Mansoor is fulfilling his obligation to his constituents; how

can that be a bad thing?

Allan and I have both worked voluntarily for several years to help

make positive change in our community, our city, our home: Costa

Mesa. We have both advocated strongly for a stable, safe and

desirable community to live in. We will both continue to do so.

When our leaders strive only for that which will satisfy their

immediate neighbors, we fail as a community. When neighborhood

leaders such as Fewel pointlessly attack an elected official for

doing his job, we fail as a society. We have become a city divided,

and that sad truth must be changed. We are all Costa Mesans, and we

all need to pull together to make Costa Mesa a great city.

With regard to who has done what, it is strange that Fewel’s

preferred candidates have a history of ignoring the plight of the

Westside, much to the peril of the entire city. But then, they have

also negatively affected most of our city in some way or another.

Collectively, they have ignored the El Toro airport alternative,

supported double-density housing at 1901 Newport, supported big-box

projects that negatively affected our neighborhoods, wasted untold

tax dollars on frivolous gestures and neglected needed street and

infrastructure repair. Is this a good way to lead a city?

Some of Fewel’s political friends were on the council when it

acted to repave several Westside streets, but they really had no

other choice. The roadways had become essentially unmaintainable and

practically impossible to drive on. Sadly, not one of those who cite

this overdue repair as proof of their grand legacy has ever led the

charge; they were content to simply go along when the question

finally came up.

Regarding my positions, and what I have done for the Westside, and

city, my record is clear. I have consistently supported an airport at

El Toro. I opposed 1901 Newport because it was twice the density that

was allowed under our General Plan. I support a residential overlay

zone on the Westside because it will increase opportunities for

property owners, supplement our single-family housing supply and help

revitalize the Westside. I have worked to educate myself on, and have

weighed in on, city issues for several years. I also helped found and

lead the Westside Improvement Assn.

I supported the drive to preserve our Noguchi Garden. I have

worked with the school district and arts partners to ensure that our

students benefit once again from the substantial offerings of the

arts partners, which includes the Performing Arts Center, the Pacific

Symphony, the Opera Pacific and South Coast Repertory, to name a few.

I do not support a forced and punitive “Arts in public places”

ordinance that further taxes progress in our city.

I do support restricting use of the job center to people who live

in our city, because 40% of the laborers using our taxpayer-funded

program come from outside of our city. Should we foot the bill for

workers from all over the county? Should we spend our general-fund

dollars to attract 50 to 100 additional day laborers to Costa Mesa

every day? The candidates Fewel supports apparently think so.

One has to wonder why?

I support the continued successful effort by our Police Department

to reduce loitering, vending trucks and push-cart vendors. I also

support the continued presence of an Immigration and Naturalization

Service agent at our jail facility to make sure illegal aliens are

deported after committing crimes in our city.

It is time that we become one city and start doing what is best

for Costa Mesa. I will work to put our citizens first, and I am

pleased to be the only candidate endorsed by Mayor Gary Monahan, and

Mayor Pro Tem Allan Mansoor. With your support at the polls, I will

join the two of them on the City Council to ensure all Costa Mesa

residents will be served better. Our city will see decisive action

and meaningful improvement.

* ERIC BEVER is a resident of Costa Mesa, a planning commissioner

and a candidate for City Council.