STEVE SMITH -- What’s up

Joe Bell and I have taken different routes to the same conclusion. For

Joe, it was the realization that if the Yankees could reach into their

pockets to bolster their $108-million roster, the same could be said of

the developers who are backing Measure T. For them, money may buy a

campaign victory through repeat advertising.

I stopped following professional sports in 1994 after the baseball

strike, when payroll was at an all-time high and character was at an

all-time low. It’s nice to know some things haven’t changed.

But unlike Joe, I don’t begrudge the Yankees their right to buy

whomever or whatever they need to win a pennant or World Series, and I

don’t hold it against the developers who’d like to move forward with a

few special projects around Newport Beach. As far as I’m concerned, if

they made the money legally and want to spend it honestly, have at it.

Planes are meant to fly, boats are meant to sail, and developers, well,

they develop. If the system stinks, let’s fix the system. Until then, the

developers can and will do anything legal with their money.

This is the most important election in Newport Beach in the 15 years

I’ve lived in the area. Voters must decide not only on Measures S and T,

but they must also choose candidates who may vote on the direction of two

more important issues.

I support Measure S because I believe that without it, those in charge

will pack too much development into too little space. I also believe

Measure S will not prevent important projects, such as infrastructure or

safety projects, from being built. To state that the people of Newport

Beach can’t tell the difference between a resort at the Dunes and a new

firehouse is insulting. Voters in Newport Beach are informed and

intelligent, and they will have no trouble determining their own fate

through the votes on major projects that Measure S provides.

Those who claim Measure S will be bad for the city have only to look

at the Castaways for proof that, sometimes, those in charge can’t make it

much worse. Measure S puts the destiny of Newport Beach back in the hands

of the residents and away from those who are poised to lead it down the

wrong path.

But there are more important issues facing Newport voters.

It was one year ago next month that I first heard county Supervisor

Tom Wilson use the term “the clock is ticking” with regard to the

expiration of the 2005 flight moratorium at John Wayne Airport. Since

that time, no progress has been made to convince any federal

decision-makers that we don’t want more flights out of John Wayne.

Instead, the Newport Beach City Council has maintained a “see no evil,

hear no evil” approach to the problem by challenging Measure F -- the

so-called Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative that was passed in

March -- in court and living in a state of denial about the future of air

traffic in our backyard.

A good candidate for City Council is one who will stop squandering

precious time and resources on an airport that will not be built at El

Toro and throw all of his or her energy exclusively into a strategy to

continue the flight moratorium at John Wayne. That person will accept the

olive branch extended eight months ago by the El Toro Reuse Planning

Authority and will join forces to stop airport growth.

The best City Council candidate will also be aggressive in dealing

with the most important problem the city will face over the next few

years. The ideal candidate will use every muscle, every cell, to find,

fine and punish any person or company found to be contributing to the

pollution of our ocean.

The issue of ocean pollution isn’t very sexy, certainly not compared

to the image of big jets flying overhead or gridlock on the Coast

Highway. Fighting ocean pollution is a tough sell. Most of the time, you

can’t see it or smell it and so it becomes one of those important but not

urgent items on the council’s to-do list. But the time has come for the

Newport Beach council to step up its fight against ocean pollution,

whether it means improving pipes or going upstream to track dangerous

urban runoff and illegal spills into creeks and rivers. Whatever the

poison, from wherever the source, the new council must place ocean

pollution at the top of the priority list.

If I can’t appeal to the nature side of the candidates, there is the

economic side to consider. Anyone who doubts the financial implications

of a polluted ocean should check with officials in Huntington Beach.

Don’t forget to vote, and don’t forget to take your kids with you to

make an impression. The Yankees will have it wrapped up by then.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and freelance writer. Readers

can leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at (949) 642-6086.