Time for improvement on Westside is now

In a desperate attempt to stave off what should be the inevitable, a

group of Westside Costa Mesa industrial property owners, who

themselves, for the most part, live in Newport Beach, have formed an

alliance to prevent their property from being included in the

downtown Costa Mesa redevelopment area. These business owners, who

are polluting our city and occupying the most desirable property in

Costa Mesa, should not be driving the train when it comes to what

course the city takes in conducting the business of Costa Mesa. It is

presumptuous of them to attempt to do so. Contrary to what Mayor Gary

Monahan states, their request to have their property excluded from

the redevelopment area is most certainly not reasonable.

It is also presumptuous of them to believe that a few cosmetic

improvements in any way ameliorate the negative impact their

businesses have on the residents of Costa Mesa. Those pollutants

produced by the factories affect every resident of Costa Mesa, not

only those on the Westside. Residents of Costa Mesa, both on the

Westside, to the north and on the Eastside, are exposed daily to air

unfit for humans and contaminated by some of the businesses owned and

operated by industrialists who care little for the health and well

being of the citizens of Costa Mesa.

And why should they? They don’t live here. Why should they care if

Costa Mesa is becoming more like some of the most undesirable cities

in the state every day?

Well, they don’t, but those calling the shots in Costa Mesa,

namely the City Council, people elected to make decisions in the best

interests of their constituents, most assuredly should care. But they

do they? It is high time those people sitting on the dais over there

at City Hall step up to the plate and do what is best for Costa Mesa,

rather than catering to selfish business owners who reside elsewhere.

And that includes his honor, the mayor.

I consider myself business friendly, but there must be a balance.

Apparently, some at the helm don’t think so.

Unfortunately, health issues are not the only problem here. The

quality of life in Costa Mesa is being severely compromised in

another way. The inappropriate industrial use of what should be the

premier residential area of the city is impacting the city by

causing/contributing to the social problems which include, but are

not limited to, an unprecedented growth of a population that cannot

afford to live here. This population must depend on the ever-growing

and expanding charities and other social services.

Employers from the industrialists on down who exploit a permanent

underclass of immigrants need to take a close look at their actions.

These immigrants, from day workers to nannies and gardeners, are

often paid low wages under the table with no benefits. This requires

them to be subsidized with an attendant need for more taxes to

support the social services.

Wake up, people. The resultant social services are costing you

more in taxes than you save by exploiting these individuals.

The time to rezone Costa Mesa’s bluffs and utilize the area

properly is long overdue. Come on, Costa Mesa citizens, tell your

elected representatives to start representing your interests and not

those of outsiders who care little for our city other than to use it

for a dumping ground for conditions they would never tolerate in

their own city.

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Ila Johnson is a Costa Mesa resident.