Santa Ana Heights’ quiet annexation

It’s not always the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. Sometimes the

quiet wheel, the wheel that has worked so well for so long, gets the

first shot at the WD40 just because it deserves it.

Well, the cog known as eastern Santa Ana Heights has finally

gotten its share of Newport Beach lube, thanks in large part to three

patient residents who diligently moved toward annexation.

Marlene Hester, Mike Smith and Treb Heining, now officially

Newport Beach residents (hurray!) baby-sat the annexation project for

about 18 months, waiting, watching and learning, as city officials

deliberated their adoption. They filed into City Hall religiously

every second and fourth Tuesday of the month and took their seats on

the left side of the chamber. They sat quietly, with their notebooks,

scribbling interesting tidbits about the annexation and studying the

inner workings of the city they hoped to be a part of.

Why not pound the point home? Get up at every meeting and demand

residency? After all, annexation had been in the cards for decades.

Hester, the veteran of the crew, had been wandering the

unincorporated area of Orange County for 48 years, searching for the

promised land she had been promised for so long. A land where the

average home price is about $900,000 a year. Where affordable housing

is set aside for senior citizens. Where elementary school playgrounds

are right on the sand.

Newport Beach. The land of plenty.

But she kept quiet and stood her ground.

“They knew what we wanted and they knew why we were there. There

was no use wasting their time,” Hester said.

(Activists everywhere, please take notes. If you missed it, here

it is again.)

“They knew what we wanted and they knew why we were there. There

was no use wasting their time,” Hester said.

Ahhh ... music to every city hall reporter’s ears. And the city

clerk and the council members. Really, it’s the best thing for

everyone.

Mayor Steve Bromberg tipped his hat to the attentive trio at the

first council meeting after eastern Santa Ana Heights had officially

become part of the city. The three sat in their usual spot, all

wearing matching blue Newport Beach sweatshirts.

Hester, Smith and Heining said they met with city officials on

private time, succinctly outlined their goals and concerns and

effectively communicated their request. The consistent appearances at

City Hall were just a silent reminder of how serious they were.

“I know it seems kind of silly, but it seemed to serve a purpose,”

Smith said. “We certainly learned a lot, especially in the last 60

days, with the whole Nichols thing.”

(Note: For those of you who have been living under a rock,

Councilman Dick Nichols made some waves this summer in talking about

Corona del Mar state beach.)

Smith said the trio -- who have been lovingly dubbed the three

musketeers -- were there to guard against people firing off at the

council like loose cannons.

“We were like little watchdogs,” Smith said.

The three of them would speak from time to time. Maybe a handful

in a year and a half, but usually about things other than annexation.

Now that they are full-fledged residents, they can saunter up to that

podium any time and give their two cents about their fair city. But

don’t expect them to be at every meeting.

“The three of us have talked about it and we are not going to be

at every single meeting, but we will pop in at some times,” Smith

said.

Hester doubts she’ll ever be at the podium, shrieking a squeaky

tune.

“I really love Newport Beach,” Hester said. “It’s a beautiful

city, and I like the way it is run. I hate to hear insults about it

because I know [the council members] are trying. I have talked to

them personally, and they really have a lot of patience.”

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and

covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or

by e-mail at [email protected].