Stand Back! Thar She Blows!
Uh-oh! Uh-oh! Stand back! It looks like the guy over at the CM Press is about to blow another gasket! This time he's really peeved at the whole Costa Mesa City Council for their response to the question posed by the Daily Pilot in an article today entitled, "Purging gangs from Costa Mesa may take several forms". The question was, "What do you think is the best way to eradicate gangs in Costa Mesa?" He was so angry that I bet there was steam coming out of his ears!
Each of the council members, in their own way, agreed that a multi-facted approach is best, stressing education and intervention. To no one's surprise, the New Majority expressed stronger views about enforcement, but they were not far off from the positions taken by the minority members, Katrina Foley and Linda Dixon. All, combined, encourage me that there might actually be a consensus reached on this issue. It's about time!
However, the CM Press author continues his rant about alligators and swamps - comparing the areas in town he thinks are slums to the swamp and the residents (Latinos) to alligators. It's clear that he continues to view anyone without white skin to be sub-human - hence the alligator and swamp analogy. If he had his way, he would be on the first bulldozer, leveling every high-occupancy apartment house in this city. It's unclear whether he would permit the residents to leave first or not.
I expect, at the next City Council meeting on Tuesday, that the CM Press author will jump to the speaker's podium and rip the City Council for their less than stellar - in his view - response to the question posed by the Pilot. I'm thinking this poor guy is suffering from some unfulfilled career move. I bet that, from the time he had an inconsequential bit role as a reporter in a really crappy "B" movie back in the mid 70's, he's wanted to be a real reporter - hence, the creation of the CM Press. I suspect he perceives himself as Jimmy Olson, ace reporter, only a whole lot smarter. Maybe if we began calling him "Ace" instead of Your Neighbor he'd feel better about himself.
Sadly, he just doesn't understand the difference between reporting and propaganda. He can't tell facts from fabrications. So, he'll continue to rant and rave and whip some of his acolytes into a frenzy with his racist puke and pretend he's providing "news" to his readers. Pathetic is the word that comes to mind.
So, let's see if the City Council can join together and provide direction to this city on the issue of gangs and gang violence. From their responses, there seem to be kernels of some very good ideas waiting to be developed. Keep your fingers crossed.
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 1/11/2007 03:12:00 PM
5 Comments:
I like this idea “The Man In Black” has. The only way to clean up the slums in Mesa del Mar is for the city to purchase the land. The slums should be replaced with high-density senior housing. The cut though driving won’t be any better just slower.
I also am in strong support of the Marina in Sheep hills. Although I have heard this one since 1968.
I personally really love the “Drain The Swamp” analogy. The reason I think it is so apropos is that I can visualize all of those very dangerous gang members that are the alligators being displaced. Once we have thousands of alligators on the street, what will we do next? What will they do next? Let’s take CMPress at their word and watch the alligators leave the swamp. They then get high paying jobs and buy a house, right? Probably not. I suspect that the demand for shelter at rates they can pay increases and they start living in places that we would not expect. Your neighbor’s garage, the car they drive – parked in front of your house. Yes, some will move to Santa Ana, but all will not be able to. The housing availability in Santa Ana will be exhausted as well. So what have we really done?
I will tell you, we have created a greater divide between the “haves” and “have nots”. I can make one guarantee to you. When that happens, crime will increase. Why? You figure it out, it’s not that hard! You can’t possibly protect yourself and your belongings from someone who is motivated to take them from you because they don’t have even the barest of basic necessities.
So, let’s face reality. What can be done to reduce crime? Certainly get hard-core criminals of all races off the streets and in jail. Second, build a community that provides jobs and housing so that the inevitable inflow of immigrants have a place to land, jobs to fill and a way to be a part of our economic growth and prosperity. That is what they come here for, not to join gangs and live a miserable and dangerous existence. You can try to beat them back, but you will not win. Their resolve for a better life for themselves and their families is far too great. Let’s channel that motivation into something positive!
Stop with the "let's bulldoze the slums" drivel. Even if the city had the bucks to purchase these places, you need a willing seller. And as far as I know, none of the "slums" are on the market. The only alternative is condemnation through eminent domain. The mayor has pledged eminen domain won't be used in this city. If and when the "slums" come onto the market, let private developers buy them up, tear them down and build for-sale housing.
I have seen nine for sale signs over the last year in front of the old Army barracks. The city would not buy the whole square block at one time. Lets just say the city purchased five of the nine lots that sold this year. In ten years time we would have something much better. I remember this area being a slum as far back as 1976 when I worked at the Pantry grocery store at Barker and Fairview.
Eminent domain does not work because the city would have to purchase the land, find the tenants a new place to live and rebuild low-income housing. A developer requires a high-density project to make a profit, ex: the empty shopping mall.
Now, help me here, but I recall many advantages to Senior housing at the density level that will turn the profit for the Developer/City.
People, please go dust off your old college Econ 101 texts. What don’t you get about supply and demand? Then dust off your old psych 101 texts and re-read the section on something Maslow referred to as a hierarchy of needs. You can tear down, build up, redevelop to your heart’s content, but you still need a place to put the people you displace. Do you think they will juts pack up and move to Kansas?
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