WHAT’S UP -- steve smith

My family moved to Los Angeles from Chicago in 1963. Back then, the

tallest building in Los Angeles was the 12-story City Hall and a train

ran through the middle of Beverly Hills each day. They called Los Angeles

a city, but that was someone’s cruel joke. Los Angeles was soft, slow and

sleepy and I loved it.

By 1986, I had lived in Gardena, Torrance, South Central Los Angeles,

West Hollywood, North Hollywood, Agoura, South Pasadena and Sherman Oaks,

with a six-month job stretch back in Chicago in 1977. No, I was not

running from the law.

Wherever I went, I longed to get away from what I had in Chicago and what

I saw happening to Los Angeles. I wanted to get away from the grit and

tension of the city. So, in 1986, it took me about a moment to make the

decision to move to Orange County from Sherman Oaks.

I had lived in the San Fernando Valley for seven years, but in that time,

it had changed from a quiet suburb to a crowded, smelly metropolis. By

1986, the main street, Ventura Boulevard, was one long strip mall.

I had been traveling to Orange County on a regular basis for business

reasons for a couple years and whenever I came down, I had a good feeling

-- as though it was the place to be.

I liked the relaxed pace, so I left the valley to hook up with my

girlfriend, Cay, now my wife, and live in a different sleepy suburb

called Costa Mesa. Now, our family spends a fair amount of time next door

in Newport Beach, where we often shop or eat or just pass through.

In the Daily Pilot on Jan. 13, all but one of the members of the Newport

Beach City Council declared their opposition to the Greenlight

initiative, which would slow down growth in Newport Beach. Tom Thomson

said he wasn’t ready to give his opinion. The next day, all six readers

polled vowed to support Greenlight. Two days ago, all of the seven

writers to the Pilot opposed the new Dunes resort. Greenlight opponents

may dismiss the gap as being unscientific and therefore invalid, but I do

not. I believe these people represent the feelings of the majority of

Newport-Mesa residents.

We don’t want to limit growth, we want it to be more thoughtful than it

has been. We’re labeled “anti-growth” or “anti-development,” but that’s

merely for convenience. What we are is concerned. We’re concerned that in

the push for a bigger tax base or so-called “progress,” we’re sacrificing

the very qualities that attracted us here in the first place.

We don’t want John Wayne Airport expanded. We don’t want the new Dunes

resort to finish what the Castaways homes started. And we don’t want

Fashion Island to lose its charm by squeezing in a few more office

buildings and some additional retail space. That’s not why we moved here

and it’s not why we stay.

And we don’t want to prepare for the inevitable growth that the crystal

ball people tell us is coming. Perhaps if we don’t prepare, we’ll scare

away the newcomers instead of setting ourselves up to attract them.

The debate over Greenlight reflects the growing gap between the two

visions of Newport-Mesa. On one side, we have city officials whose

knee-jerk reaction to a financial problem is to erect more buildings. On

the other side, we have residents who want to preserve the beauty of the

area for themselves and their families.

Personally, I like the slower pace. It’s another case where less is more.

But we’ve still got that difference between what the City Council wants

and what residents need, and the issue needs to be addressed.

Should Greenlight pass, officials should take it as a clear signal and

not try to usurp it with incidentals which may stall the matter in court.

The bottom line, should it pass, will be the message to slow down.

Some critics contend that the planned developments and opposition to

Greenlight are only a function of developers who have the ear and wallets

of the City Council. That’s not an issue that has mattered in many other

cities where substantial growth took place, so let’s not get sidetracked.

The issue is the two visions of the beautiful city of Newport Beach.

A developer once admonished me, saying “Not all development is bad,” to

which I replied, “I agree. Just don’t try to tell me that all development

is good.”

Los Angeles lost its charm, in part, because of thoughtless

overdevelopment and financial myopia. It would be a shame to see that

happen here.

Besides, I’ve got a personal reason for opposing too much development.

I’m sick and tired of moving.

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

reached at (949) 642-6086 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .