Westside meeting focuses on solutions

Jennifer Kho

WESTSIDE -- A Latino Community Network meeting last week about family

issues quickly evolved into a discussion about the city’s Westside.

“The city spends more money on other parts of the city because those

parts are more adamant,” said Phil Morello, a Westside resident. “People

with a lot of money -- the Segerstrom family, Mesa Verde and the Eastside

-- are influencing the Westside. They don’t want things to happen here

that have happened in other parts of the city. I think we should work to

figure out what outside influences there are on the Westside and cut them

off somehow.”

Morello said he is unhappy with the City Council’s decision earlier

this month to start over in creating a Westside improvement plan.

Since 1998, the city has targeted the aging, rundown Westside for

intense revitalization. The now-defunct plan to improve the Westside

included making the neighborhood more pedestrian-oriented, replacing some

existing apartments with townhomes or smaller home developments, and

cleaning up businesses.

Morello said Westside residents should leave the city out of the

planning and try to persuade private industry and businesses to help them

fulfill their improvement goals.

“We have to spearhead this,” he said. “It’s not going to be done

through government. It has to be done privately. When we have a plan,

then we should take it to the City Council.”

Tom Egan, another Westside resident, argued that the council made a

good decision.

“It has been a good thing because it has energized the Westside,” he

said. “Now we can do it right.”

Other residents -- representing at least four different community

organizations -- expressed concerns about litter, parks, family support,

library services, flooding and city services.

The group also came up with a list of possible solutions.

Bill Turpit, a member of the Latino Business Council, suggested

inviting council members to visit the Westside and starting a Westside

Pride campaign.

The campaign idea, which met with murmurs of approval, involved

forming both a marketing plan to highlight positive aspects of the

Westside and a group to work on making improvements, Turpit said.

Other suggestions included a cooking group to build solidarity, a city

service survey and a Westside parks commission.

Several community members said building understanding is one of their

most important tasks. Roberto Torres, a Latino Community Network member,

called the meeting “the beginning of a new hope for Costa Mesa.”

“I thought it was great that the groups decided to work together,”

said Kris Day, another Latino Community Network member. “I think we share

many of the same issues. Hopefully, this will mean positive things for

the Westside.”