READERS RESPOND -- What are your thoughts about the possible school

donation?

A few residents have reacted with suspicion and cynicism to the news

of the Segerstroms’ $2 million gift to our Costa Mesa schools, but their

comments are unfair and misinterpret the public planning process for a

project such as Home Ranch.

Development agreements are used by local governments for large private

projects that take years to build. They spell out both what the owner is

entitled to build, and what additional benefits the owner must contribute

to the community.

Segerstroms requested a development agreement for Home Ranch, then

they and the city asked different groups what benefits the community

would value most. Educational improvements were at the top of the list.

So the Segerstroms added their school funding idea to the development

agreement’s list of community benefits.

Now some are criticizing the Segerstroms for offering Costa Mesa the

very thing that almost everybody told them we need. Such criticism

doesn’t make sense or seem at all fair to me.

Home Ranch was a pretty good project without the $2 million for the

schools. With it, it is just that much better for Costa Mesa.

BILL TURPIT

Costa Mesa

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Bill Turpit is secretary for the Latino Business

Council and the Latino Community Network.

I think it is a wonderful thought on the Segerstroms’ part, but I

think the idea is a form of blackmail and I question their tactics as

well. I am all for the kids and education. The schools could certainly

use the funds in a variety of ways, but I am opposed to further

development such as the Home Ranch proposal.

There has been way too much development already. We are constantly

scarring what little land and open space there is. I feel there must be a

better way. While the Segerstrom family has done a good deal of good for

the community, I am opposed to the development and I am opposed to this

idea.

RALPH ROLLINS

Costa Mesa

What do I think about the proposed $2-million gift to Costa Mesa

schools? Despicable is the first word that comes to mind. This is the

same “money-will-buy-anything” mind-set of George Argyros

(ambassadorship), Gaddi Vazquez (presidential appointment) et al. that is

prevalent in Orange County. Segerstroms do a lot for the community, but

they took some bad advice on this one. True philanthropy is anonymous.

DAVID BARTH

Newport Beach

I remember a few years ago the developer of this parcel came to the

city with a monstrous plan to build a cluster of skyscrapers. The whole

community was outraged, and that courageous city council asked for a

vote. A great majority of the people said no. Now the same developer

comes back with a new, modified plan nicely decorated with a lot of money

promises, asking the city to give it a permit to build.

As a resident of Costa Mesa who loves the town, I wish and I hope the

current City Council will consider the case not influenced by the glamour

of money, but by what is right for the people live who in the area. This

piece of land is positioned in a very critical place in the city, and if

it is built wrongly the people and the town are going to suffer in the

years to come.

Since I can’t vote for the project, I wish that the current council

members decide in our behalf what is right for all of us and the town.

TIM KATALANOS

Costa Mesa

The Segerstrom family making a generous contribution to the Costa Mesa

school zone is a welcome idea.

However, there are two glaring problems with accepting the current

offer: First, donations of this magnitude should be well-thought out and

planned in concert with the contributors, superintendent, school board,

administration and the community. It should be focused on a major project

that has the support of the entire community and results in pride

throughout the community.

The second problem is that the offer sounds like a bribe. No one, not

the Segerstroms nor the community, can feel good or proud about offering

or accepting bribe money. Corporate goodwill is very important to every

community where companies do their business. But it only works when not

being used to manipulate for a concession from the community to achieve a

business goal.

With the excellent talent in C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, the Home Ranch

project can be made to stand on its own merits.

Let’s separate the two issues (the Home Ranch project and a

contribution to major school improvement projects) so everyone can

continue to be proud of the Segerstrom family, and we can all be doubly

proud of potential improvements to our schools and community.

BILL JORTH

Costa Mesa