Friday, March 3, 2006
Annexation Vexation
Not too long ago I read in our excellent local community
newspaper, The Daily Pilot, that our neighbors in Newport Beach
have decided to move forward with their plans to annex West
Santa Ana Heights. Apparently the negotiations between their
representatives and those from Costa Mesa have failed. I must
say that I'm not surprised. Tomorrow the Daily Pilot will carry
a story that Costa Mesa is moving forward with it's own
annexation plans. According to that article, Costa Mesa will
also move forward to annex most of the 412 acre Banning Ranch,
prime bluff top property overlooking West Newport. Let the
tug-of-war begin.
Even though the West Santa Ana Heights land falls within Costa Mesa's sphere of influence, the good people who live in the area in question, between Irvine Avenue and Red Hill adjacent to the Santa Ana Country Club, have told us in no uncertain terms over the past couple years that they have absolutely no interest in becoming part of Costa Mesa. This really is a no-brainer for them - and would be for me, too. Why wouldn't you choose to become part of a city where the property value is approximately 4 times greater? Why wouldn't you choose to continue with a Newport Beach mailing address? Why wouldn't you prefer to be part of a city that manages to get things done instead of one that continues to demonstrate an uncanny ability to shoot itself in the foot every time an important issue comes up - like this one, for example? Would you willingly, knowingly, want to become part of a city where a racist calls the tune for the city council majority? Would you willingly want to be swept into the turmoil that exists in Costa Mesa today as a result of our young jailer/mayor's plan to usurp the federal government's responsibility for enforcing immigration laws? Of course not - neither would I.
At stake is some pretty sizable redevelopment dollars, which are apparently attached to Santa Ana Heights and, at least with this current Board of Supervisors, can't be freed-up as long as the annexation issue is unresolved. That would seem to be an incentive for Newport Beach officials to negotiate in good faith, but in politics you just never know.
Some may recall that our lame duck councilman, Gary Monahan - back when he was mayor - publicly advised the sub-committee chosen to negotiate with Newport Beach to "Play Hardball". That was great advice! Monahan put our negotiators in the position of playing with our cards face up, against a city ready, willing and able to take advantage of our ineptness. It would be like going into a duel with an empty gun. That will be yet another piece of his legacy after a dozen years on the dais.
10:59 pm pst
Even though the West Santa Ana Heights land falls within Costa Mesa's sphere of influence, the good people who live in the area in question, between Irvine Avenue and Red Hill adjacent to the Santa Ana Country Club, have told us in no uncertain terms over the past couple years that they have absolutely no interest in becoming part of Costa Mesa. This really is a no-brainer for them - and would be for me, too. Why wouldn't you choose to become part of a city where the property value is approximately 4 times greater? Why wouldn't you choose to continue with a Newport Beach mailing address? Why wouldn't you prefer to be part of a city that manages to get things done instead of one that continues to demonstrate an uncanny ability to shoot itself in the foot every time an important issue comes up - like this one, for example? Would you willingly, knowingly, want to become part of a city where a racist calls the tune for the city council majority? Would you willingly want to be swept into the turmoil that exists in Costa Mesa today as a result of our young jailer/mayor's plan to usurp the federal government's responsibility for enforcing immigration laws? Of course not - neither would I.
At stake is some pretty sizable redevelopment dollars, which are apparently attached to Santa Ana Heights and, at least with this current Board of Supervisors, can't be freed-up as long as the annexation issue is unresolved. That would seem to be an incentive for Newport Beach officials to negotiate in good faith, but in politics you just never know.
Some may recall that our lame duck councilman, Gary Monahan - back when he was mayor - publicly advised the sub-committee chosen to negotiate with Newport Beach to "Play Hardball". That was great advice! Monahan put our negotiators in the position of playing with our cards face up, against a city ready, willing and able to take advantage of our ineptness. It would be like going into a duel with an empty gun. That will be yet another piece of his legacy after a dozen years on the dais.
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