Commentary: Push for Fairview Park survey is just a ploy

Re: “Mayor wants survey on Fairview Park use,” (Feb. 12):

Costa Mesa’s rookie mayor, Steve Mensinger, is quoted as wanting a “community consensus survey” on the future of Fairview Park, citing as his reasoning “what’s happening now: rhetoric and misinformation.”

With this plan, Mensinger demonstrates an arrogant disregard for the people of the city and a callous dismissal of the time spent by staff and members of the Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee over the past nearly two years, as they conscientiously sifted through ways that the park might be “enhanced,” including the possibility of carving out playing fields in a part of the park.

He ignores the fact that those folks have held open meetings and listened to all sides of the issues, including hearing from representatives of youth sports groups, and benefited from extensive staff presentations on the various elements originally proposed as possibilities for the park. Each quadrant of the park was individually assessed.

At this point, very few changes will be offered to the Parks and Recreation Commission. In fact, that “rhetoric” he mentions are the opinions voiced, and the predominant view expressed during meetings was to keep the park natural.

Mensinger also ignores the protected status of major portions of Fairview Park. Native American sites contain precious historical artifacts, and protected species have habitat throughout the park.

During those many months of deliberations, and despite constant requests for data by committee members, no credible information has been put forth demonstrating the need for more playing fields.

Yes, there is an unfulfilled demand for lighted fields so the kids can practice in the evening during the winter months, but supporters of the youth sports organizations acknowledged that there is no shortage of fields during daylight hours. Instead of destroying the last bastion of natural beauty in the city, more should be done to work with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District to more fully utilize fields on its property, including the installation of permanent lights where appropriate.

Now, as the committee is about to consider the final step — the southeast quadrant, where the Orange County Model Engineers have operated a track for decades — Mensinger sees the handwriting on the wall. He realizes that his goal of turning part of the park into a sports complex may actually fail and is now proposing an end-run — that football metaphor seems appropriate — to try to circumvent the process. The timing of his pitch to the City Council on the day before the committee next meets to consider playing fields on that remaining quadrant seems more than a little coincidental.

As a resident and taxpayer of this city for more than four decades, I’m offended by the way Mensinger and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer choose to use the system to fulfill their own personal political goals. I’m offended by the way they cavalierly fritter away precious municipal resources — dollars and staff time — on their pet projects.

It’s time to speak out against this attempt at self-aggrandizement and disregard for the will of the people. Enough is enough.

Costa Mesa resident GEOFF WEST publishes the political blog A Bubbling Cauldron.