Mailbag: Make good use of the Fairview center’s reuse

I am encouraged that the Costa Mesa City Council is considering the many uses for the land of the Fairview Developmental Center. I assume that it will propose a plan to purchase the land.

The recent Daily Pilot article, “City leaders ponder future of developmental center,” (Sept. 10), shows how we must be resolute and demand that our City Council follow through on plans for permanent and supportive housing for the homeless.

It was late 2014 that a Costa Mesa community workshop gave an “Introduction to Supportive Housing” presentation. There has been no visible follow-up to this proposal.

When the City Council begins to recognize that Fairview Developmental Center may soon close, only Councilwomen Katrina Foley and Sandra Genis stated that the land should be used for the public uses of supportive, transitional housing, veterans housing and recreation.

I would remind the council of Senate Bill 82, now signed by the governor, that housing must be built on the property and 20% of the units need to be accessible and affordable by the disabled.

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer wants to allow 500 to 550 homes on the property. Mr. Righeimer has told us of his service on the board of Mercy House and the Orange County Housing Commission, yet this background never seems to inform his choices of housing for the residents of Costa Mesa. To my ear, he only promotes high-density housing at market values.

I would encourage and demand that the council look to the needs of Costa Mesa residents for safe places to live, play and recreate in planning for the use of the land that may soon be vacated by the State Developmental Center.

Margaret Mooney

Costa Mesa

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Dressing down has me down

This comment is long overdue. This is in response to the Commentary article, “What a fine mess we’re in with this dressing-down trend” from Jack Price, which appeared in the Aug. 20 Daily Pilot.

This article says everything I’ve been thinking for a while now. It used to be so much fun getting dressed up to go out to a special restaurant for a special occasion or just to have a lovely evening out. No more.

I can’t believe there is not even a “nice” dress code anymore. My one specific memory of a situation like this was going to the Ritz Restaurant. You used to walk in and everyone was dressed to the nines.

For the last couple of years before they closed, we’d walk in and see men in shorts and flip-flops and women pretty much the same. I’m not that old, but it was so disappointing and really took away the wonderful dining experience.

I hope in Newport Beach someone decides to open another wonderful restaurant, that not only has wonderful food but an elegant atmosphere.

Shelli Zeller

Newport Beach