Community commentary -- Marian Bergeson

It is disappointing to see recent ads attacking police and fire

officials, myself and others for opposing the Greenlight initiative.

This is very atypical of the character of those pictured in the ads.

To suggest that the rationale for opposition is based simply on developer

interests and influence is woefully naive.

Attacking those who have put the city’s interests as a highest

priority is indeed troubling.

As the former longtime chairwoman of the state Senate Local Government

Committee, I have promoted local cities as the entrusted body to

implement accommodations for necessary services, appropriate revenues,

developing and maintaining the local character of our cities.

We elect citizens to do these things through a well-defined public

process. Yes, we may not like all of their decisions, but we have the

responsibility of electing people whom we think can best reflect our

values and our views. We have recourse by changing our elected officials

if we don’t like their decisions. That is the premise of our

democracy--representative government!

We are enjoying a burgeoning economy and have long forgotten the

recession of the early 1990s. Now that there are more employed folks

driving back and forth to work, to the shopping malls, recreational

pursuits and sometimes driving from homes in the Inland Empire because

they can’t afford the pricey housing of Newport Beach, the reaction seems

to be “we have to put an end to all of this!”

However, we must recognize that we can’t stop growth unless we want to

eliminate the opportunity of becoming grandparents. However, we can plan

for a better future with responsible planning, effective transportation

and environmental controls utilizing new technology to continue to clean

up our air and water. Can you remember the choking smog of just a few

years ago, now greatly reduced?

As we know, the city provides critical services such as public safety,

local streets and roads, public trash collections, parks, recreation,

libraries, museums, arts, planning and zoning. These services must be

balanced by an income stream that is predictable now and in the future.

The city also must adhere to certain elements in its general plan that

are prescribed by state law, as well as the environmental safeguards

dictated by federal, state and local regulations. Our elected

representatives are entrusted with these responsibilities and are held

accountable.

Yes, most certainly we need more citizen participation, working

together rather than tearing down a process and degrading individuals and

neighbors who want the same quality of life.

Whether Measure S would have triggered 12, 25, or 55 elections had

Greenlight been in effect will never be agreed upon. The initiative

requires a 10-year “rolling” retroactive application to each general plan

amendment in each zone. Interpretations will differ in honest

disagreement.

This is not the real issue, however. The real issue is that the

Greenlight initiative is just bad policy.

Expansion projects, such as schools, hospitals, churches, parks,

office space, shopping mall renovation, small businesses, etc., going

through numerous permits, environmental review requirements at the

Planning Commission level, then to the City Council, would then possibly

have to wait up to two years for a municipal election because of the high

costs of a special election. The cost of that election would have to be

shared by the applicant and the city.

What about the cost of educating the public on factors involved with

complicated land-use requirements and environmental impacts in an

objective manner, free from campaign rhetoric?

What about the cost of tearing a city apart after we have all worked

together to maintain a community that is safe, with good schools for our

children and efficient services in an environment that is our pride and

joy?

What about the cost of failing to concentrate on our greatest

environmental threat--the expansion of John Wayne Airport?

We can all be activist citizens and encourage frank, open discussions

on critical issues. Let’s recognize that each of us have a responsibility

to work within a system that will work for all of us. We need leaders who

can lead and inspire the trust of our community.

It’s a good time to think about that as each of us go to the polls.

* MARIAN BERGESON, a member of the state Board of Education, is a

former state secretary of education, state senator, assemblywoman and

county supervisor. She lives in Newport Beach.