Commentary: Look at the changes — just what Costa Mesa needs

Our family has resided on the Westside since before Costa Mesa was incorporated in 1953, which means we have seen a great deal of change.

Lately, we have been hearing a lot about the fruition of some long-needed improvements to our city. Still, there are those who do not want to see change.

Anyone who lives in Costa Mesa cannot help but notice the improvements along Harbor Boulevard. It is well worth the inconvenience of dealing with a bit of construction to view the beautiful landscaping that is coming to completion. However, it is both amusing and frustrating to hear people talk about how things used to be and wonder aloud why things can’t stay just the way they are, or were.

Our old California bungalow rests on land that was once reserved for tomato fields. Down the street, about where Cla-Val is located today, there was once a chicken farm. Gee whiz, we sure wish it was still just tomato fields and chicken farms. Too late. The word has long been out that we live in paradise. People have been flocking to California, and particularly the coastal area of California, since long before our old home displaced that tomato field.

The overlay zoning approved some years ago to revitalize neglected areas of Costa Mesa is just now starting to be utilized. These plans are good, solid tools for improvement. Any project submitted under the overlay zoning is subject to the same gauntlet of rules, codes and regulations that have always been in force, plus the restrictions of that particular overlay zone.

During the research for perfecting the overlays, an extensive study was done that officially designated many areas of our Westside neighborhood as “blighted.” No matter how nostalgic one might be for the past, blight is not charming.

By the way, the density allowed for our city is far less than many other cities. Still the “no-growth” people are not happy. If our city had been under the leadership of the no-growth people, the Westside would have continued to slide into slum-like conditions, all the under the guise of keeping things as they wereand should forever be. This is like hoping your children will never grow up.

Not everyone likes change, even when it is positive, but the fact is this: Costa Mesa is a desirable town, and getting even more attractive.

With our current council, we have a balanced budget and a surplus in our coffers. This surplus is a pretty big deal., considering that Costa Mesa was on the brink of financial disaster prior to their intervention. Having a surplus does not mean, “Woo Hoo, let’s head for a big shopping spree at South Coast Plaza!” It means we are on the right track with our budgeting calculations.

There are always people who complain, berate and criticize, but never seem to have any ideas to fix what is broken. Then there are those brave souls who do what they promise: balance budgets, fix streets, take on unpopular sacred cows (unions) and risk everything to do the right thing.

We would like to see the improvements that have begun continue, and so we will vote for the candidate who has a track record of doing what he promised, Mayor Jim Righeimer, and the man who has been brave enough to jump on the improvement train, Lee Ramos. We believe they will continue with the much-needed rehabilitation of our budget, infrastructure and fearsome and dreaded pension conundrum.

Public office is not for the faint of heart. We need strong leadership and citizens who are not just opinionated, but informed, and willing to accept the challenges of a changing world.

CHRISTIAN and KATHLEEN ERIC are longtime Westside residents and business owners.