Out with the old, in with the Newport

STEVE SMITH

It’s easy to hate Newport Beach. Like the newly elected politician,

the hot actor or the sports champion, everyone seems to want to take

a shot at No. 1, to be the one to bring down the star.

Having experienced this firsthand while working for someone at the

top, I can tell you that’s not a pretty sight.

Critics of Newport Beach and the surrounding communities of Corona

del Mar and Balboa will point out that the city is one of the least

ethnically diverse in the nation.

It may even be at the top of that list. But you won’t hear or read

anyone describing how the city has purposely kept out blacks,

Latinos, Asians or any other minority by establishing rules

prohibiting them from living there.

You won’t hear or read it because it’s not true. But, good news

doesn’t sell soap, so the rest of the country is left to believe that

this is a closed city.

Sooner or later, everyone comes to Newport Beach. I know, because

I’ve been in Newport when they’re all there.

Trying to get a parking spot or a table at a restaurant is nearly

impossible. But people come, and they wait anyway because it’s worth

it.

Even giant squid think it’s worth it. A few weeks ago, about 500

of the rascals washed up on Newport’s shores.

The biggest was estimated at about 17 pounds that, while it

doesn’t qualify for the lead in “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” is

still a pretty big squid.

The last report I read could only speculate as to why the squid

showed up. But it was Newport Beach on which they landed, and my

guess is that they were there to sample the filet mignon at the

Bungalow on Pacific Coast Highway, which is, in my opinion, the best

steak anywhere.

Newport now seems to be climbing out of its El Toro funk, too.

Whereas a year ago the Daily Pilot had countless letters from a

variety of Newport readers, there seem now to be only a trickle of

the same too-serious airport supporters. Everyone else has moved on.

By doing so, they’ve managed to divert attention back to the benefits

of living in or living near a fabulous part of California.

The common misconception about Newport Beach is that everyone is

at the beach all day, or playing tennis or doing whatever it is that

people in Newport do. That’s the television version of Newport Beach.

But the truth is that the people in Newport Beach work. In fact,

they work very hard.

Most of the wealth you see in Newport Beach did not happen because

someone inherited it or won the lottery. It’s there because someone

worked hard and sacrificed to get it.

These are the people who stayed late when others went home for the

day; who made it a point to focus on their business or career because

they were driven to excel; who, most importantly, took a risk at some

point in their lives when others played it safe.

But again, knocking wealth and success is the easy way. There is

perhaps no group of people in this country more maligned that people

who have money.

It’s an interesting paradox. When we’re kids, we’re told that this

is America, and we can grow up to be anything we want to be.

No one advises us that if we become rich, famous or important,

we’ll have a lot more critics than if we just blend in.

People visiting Newport Beach from other places -- particularly

those visiting from other countries -- don’t see the city the way a

lot of domestic critics do. They understand that none of this was

free or even came cheaply.

Their view supports the world vision of America -- that hard work

is rewarded. In their country, perhaps, it doesn’t matter how hard

one works. The result is the same. So, why knock yourself out?

My biggest concern for Newport Beach is that residents continue to

be vigilant over their beaches.

There is no finer part of the city than those wide, long beaches

and no better place to spend a summer day.

Newport isn’t perfect. In fact, there are some very serious issues

confronting the city right now.

And trust me, I’ll be discussing them. But if you have to have

challenges, it sure is a nice place to work them out.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and a freelance writer.

Readers may leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at

(714) 966-4664 or send story ideas to onthetown2005@aol.com.