Kids These Days:

At the June 16 Costa Mesa City Council meeting, Councilman Gary Monahan proposed a series of budget cuts, many of which affect the city’s at-risk children, by saying, “Some of you are going to think I am heartless, and I am sorry.”

And as he ran down his shopping list of cuts, Monahan tried to justify the ax by claiming he was being fiscally responsible to the city’s taxpayers; however, when it came time to discuss eliminating the after-school program at Rea school, Monahan began to reveal his true agenda. At one point, he said, “Are we supposed to provide free programs because people are working and can’t baby-sit their kids?”

Earlier, Councilwoman Katrina Foley asked him if he would consider sponsoring a fundraiser at his restaurant so kids could try to raise some of the money back. Monahan did not reply “yes” or “absolutely” or “as soon as possible.” He said, “Have them send me a letter requesting it.”

These comments are insights into Monahan’s state of mind, also known as “tells,” and based on them, Monahan needs to go find his heart.

Taking a hatchet to youth programs often used by disadvantaged kids is easy. The kids don’t vote, and their parents on the Westside are probably less likely to vote than other residents. You want to pick on someone? Pick on someone your own size, but don’t make these kids suffer because you can’t manage the budget.

Monahan, Mayor Allan Mansoor and Councilman Eric Bever, all of whom voted to cut youth programs, cannot make the connection between providing educational and athletic programs for children and the realization of these kids that the path to success is in school, not in the street.

Mansoor displayed his sheer ignorance of the connection when he asked, “Why can’t [the Westside residents] purchase a portable basketball hoop and share the cost?”

Why, Mr. Mayor? Because a portable basketball hoop is not a replacement for the mentoring, tools and role models that these programs provide, that’s why. Because a portable basketball hoop does not support the hard work done by the Police Department, the recreation staff, the school teachers and the many volunteers who grind it out day after day on our streets trying to give these kids a better life — that’s why.

The root of all of this is that Monahan, Mansoor and Bever do not understand the difference between spending on kids and investing in them.

Foley understands it and commented that the city can invest a little now in the programs or spend a lot later through the Police Department.

They do not understand that the city’s departments do not operate in vacuums; that they are dependent on each other to create the city all residents want — one that is safe, clean and vibrant.

One of the keys to understanding their lack of vision is to note that neither Mansoor nor Bever have children of their own.

That would not be so bad, but one of them, Mansoor, ran his last City Council campaign claiming he was pro-family and even sent out a postcard on which he was posing with someone else’s kids.

Mansoor’s hypocrisy continues with this statement on his state Assembly campaign website: “Allan R. Mansoor believes in lower taxes, balanced budgets and putting parents and families first.”

Late in the meeting, Monahan tried to justify the butchering by saying, “I’m trying to take a hard look at the budget. If you don’t agree with me, come up with something else.”

A few minutes later, Mansoor said, “I’m open to suggestions.”

OK, here are two. First: The Parks and Recreation Commission just approved a basketball league permit that will net the city about $39,000 in revenue. Use that money to restore as many of the recently cut youth programs as possible.

Second: Benito Acosta was arrested in January 2006 for disrupting a City Council meeting, and the city is the subject of a resulting lawsuit supported by the ACLU, scheduled for trial in October.

Costa Mesa’s expense for the Acosta fiasco is way out of proportion to the crime — $130,000 as of November 2007 and is considerably more since then. This is not fiscally responsible behavior; it is reckless spending.

Save taxpayers any further expense by telling Acosta and the ACLU that you want to use any settlement money they expect to receive, as well as any savings in staff expenses, to restore or create Westside youth programs.

The city’s massive budget deficit provides a perfect face-saving exit strategy, and it will cost nothing to ask.

As pro-family guys and fiscally responsible councilmen, Mansoor, Monahan and Bever will support the idea.

That’s what leaders would do. Foley and Leece tried in vain to stop the June 16 onslaught, with Leece saying at one point, “You’re taking the heart out of the city, and it’s not necessary.”

No, it’s not necessary, but it’s too late.

STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and a freelance writer. Send story ideas to [email protected] .