Give them something to talk about

The annual Newport Beach Mayor’s Dinner -- a state of the union writ

small, so to speak -- has been unusual for two years now.

Typically, these events offer little in the way of “new” news,

instead giving nothing more than recaps of how terrific things are.

Last year, then-mayor and now-Councilman Tod Ridgeway broke the

mold and challenged older residents of the city to fight the urge to

keep things as they were at the expense of younger, would-be

residents.

It started a yearlong debate about the Greenlight movement, which

got labeled as being largely the passion of that older crowd.

(Since then, specifically since the November election, the

Greenlight Steering Committee has added “younger” members -- Tom

Billings, for one -- who are more outspoken and provide a different

look to the group.)

With Ridgeway’s words still hovering in the air of the Newport

Beach Marriott, Mayor Steve Bromberg had a pretty tough act to follow

Tuesday night. And while he didn’t start any wars, he didn’t shy away

from chiding malcontents in the city for not recognizing that they

live in “the best city you will find anywhere.”

Overall, the theme of Bromberg’s speech can be captured in a

four-word sentence he used in the middle of his talk: “This is

Newport Beach.”

By that, the mayor -- who has a decade-long history of activism on

Balboa Island -- meant that things are good, real good, in Newport

Beach.

Just a few parts of his speech display this. He talked about how

he was “extremely proud” to be part of the city’s government. He said

he was “very proud” to be mayor. He talked about the “good people”

with him on the council. He mentioned that residents are “happy and

pleased.”

“We want the best,” he stated. “We don’t want adequate.”

What was interesting in the speech is that Bromberg never named

the malcontents (as Ridgeway clearly named his intended targets). But

certainly, the core Greenlighters were in his mind, as well as

residents who think the city’s government and bureaucracy is too big

and too expensive. (Bromberg said the city has privatized enough

services and stressed that the budget would remained balanced.)

He focused, notably, on the city’s general plan update process,

which he called the most important issue facing the city.

And he denied that the process has been in any way “skewed,” a

charge made by various “malcontents.” He even called out those who

disagree to come up with some proof to their charges.

“If you’ve got something, show it,” he said.

He said all that without naming names. But it isn’t Bromberg’s

style to call people out in public. And that, finally, was what was

telling about Bromberg’s speech, as well as Ridgeway’s. Both captured

the personalities of the men speaking.

Bromberg -- a mediation lawyer by trade -- focused on shared

beliefs (“This is Newport Beach”) that all sides in just about every

city debate can agree upon. Greenlighters, by and large, think

Newport is great. Developers think it is. Young residents love it

here. Older residents do, too.

From that point, maybe there will be the chance for agreement on

other issues (Marinapark, for instance, or the general plan update

process).

Ridgeway, who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, spoke his mind

loudly and clear a year ago. It was fiery, and it reverberated for

months.

We’ll see if Bromberg’s has the same life.

ALL THE MAYORS TOGETHER

One of the highlights of the Mayor’s Dinner is the quick coming

together of all the mayors in the room. This year, the group included

Gary Adams (resplendent in a red bow tie, no less), John Cox, Jan

Debay, Denny O’Neil and Clarence Turner.

Ridgeway was not there, the only member of the City Council not in

attendance. John Heffernan was at his first, he said. Both of the new

councilmen, Dick Nichols and Don Webb, were about.

Gary Proctor, unavailable for comment last week about his

political future, was also in attendance. And, like Bromberg and

Heffernan, he is still undecided about whether he will run for

another term.

SOBERING SPEECH FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF

Another highlight, though a sobering one, was the keynote speech

by Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona.

Carona, who has been working with President Bush on homeland

security issues, pointed out that given the county’s population and

economic strength, it is a significant target for an attack.

But, he assured the audience, “Orange County is in very good

shape.”

The county, he continued, is on the “leading edge” of

anti-terrorism work and, in a few years, will be “on the cutting

edge.”

* S.J. CAHN is the managing editor. He can be reached at (949)

574-4233 or by e-mail at [email protected].