Speaking up, year after year

Tony Dodero

So, Thursday night I attended the annual Newport Beach Mayor’s Dinner

put on by Speak Up Newport, the great group of civic-minded folks who

have been hosting these dinners both monthly and annually for years.

The monthly meetings usually delve into timely topics and issues

and are great forums for residents and journalists alike.

And Steve Bromberg didn’t disappoint with his talk Thursday

either, giving all of us a nice glimpse at what the city has in store

this year -- though he did take a few shots at the Pilot.

It was good to see former mayor Gary Adams, who flew out from his

new home on the East Coast for a guest appearance, and former mayor

Tod Ridgeway wowed the crowd with his new hairdo.

This dinner, though, was different for me. I went stag.

No, my wife didn’t wise up and toss me out of the house. It’s just

tough these days to get baby sitters to watch three kids, so she

stayed home with our kids.

Going without a date reminded me of the first Mayor’s Dinner I

attended in 1993 and the fond memories I have of that night.

That year was the 12th annual dinner and the largest crowd ever,

375 (until the 450 Thursday topped it).

Back then, I was a single young reporter. I emphasize single here.

Before the dinner, Speak Up Newport organizer Jo Vandervort told

me she had placed me at a table where she was pretty sure I would

enjoy the company.

When I got to the dinner, I was curious to find out where I was

sitting.

Vandervort had placed me at a table full of waitresses from the

Hard Rock Cafe, which was a brand-new restaurant in town. Man, what a

great thing to do for a single guy. Thanks again, Jo.

Anyway, my real memories were of the mayor’s speech that night,

really. I remember that Clarence “Bus” Turner was the mayor, and he

said....

Well, OK, I don’t really remember what he said, so I looked up the

story I wrote.

Here’s what I found, and strangely, things hardly ever change:

Privatization, fee increases and cuts in personnel salaries are

some of the choices city officials will need to grapple with in order

to balance yet another “anorexic” budget, Mayor Clarence Turner said

in his State of the City Address Friday.

“Sacrifices will be necessary,” Turner said. “There will be no

sacred cows left in the pasture as we pursue the many potentials to

prepare a balanced budget.”

I do remember that sacred cow quote later got him in trouble with

some protesters from the National Organization for Women, who were

hopping mad over the city’s handling of a sexual harassment case.

They wound up dumping cow manure on the steps of City Hall in

protest, but that’s a whole other story to tell.

Here’s an interesting tidbit. Do you know how Turner, who still

attends these dinners and is one of the all-around good guys, got his

nickname “Bus?”

It’s because, when he was a kid, he looked like the caricature

face used in advertisements for Buster Brown shoes.

Anyway, if you’ve never been to one of the dinners, I highly

recommend getting involved with Speak Up Newport and attend. You’ll

be glad you did.

* TONY DODERO is the editor. He may be reached at (714) 966-4608

or by e-mail at tony.dodero@

latimes.com.