Doug Sutton
For the last two years, I've spent considerable time and energy
presenting positive, detailed input to the Costa Mesa City Council
and in our local papers on issues I believe important to Costa Mesa.
So I thought my opinions had been widely and publicly voiced.
Personally, I think Mayor Linda Dixon is well-intentioned and has
given Costa Mesa her best four years. I commented in the Daily Pilot
on July 17 (Community Commentary, "Costa Mesa has reached a
crossroads") that "while I believe Dixon has tried, she has clearly
shown she's not up to our considerable challenges."
Anyone elected to public office must be aware her actions will be
scrutinized. My concerns are for Costa Mesa, my communications are
neither personal nor attacks. Four years ago, I voted for Dixon; this
time around, I'll vote for someone else. Here's why:
The Huscroft House: Dixon fought valiantly to save and move the
Huscroft House to Fairview Park, arguing it had great community
value. She held a community meeting to rally support and argued with
passion from the dais that restoration could be led and largely done
by community volunteers and that this would be a wonderful
community-unifying project. When the Home Ranch project passed four
months ago, the Segerstroms committed $200,000 to the project, yet no
community planning group has even been set up.
When asked about the Huscroft House recently, Dixon referred the
question to staff. I think the community could build two "replica"
homes for what it will take to restore this Santa Ana legacy.
Noguchi Gardens: It is incomprehensible to me that Dixon fought
with such passion to protect the public value of privately owned
Noguchi Gardens "in perpetuity," but doesn't find Costa Mesa's
greatest natural resource, Fairview Park, worthy of similar
protection. Clearly, the "passive" viability of Fairview Park is at
much greater risk and the park is something this council can protect
any time it chooses.
Dixon has said our schools are fine. Our schools are not fine.
It's a shame Estancia High School canceled its exciting program
allowing qualified students to take Orange Coast College classes.
It's a shame so many Mesa Verde families send their kids to
alternative schools. It's a shame our mean performance isn't higher.
And it's a shame the mayor doesn't recognize the community advantages
in dramatically improving educational opportunities for Costa Mesa
kids.
Councilman Chris Steel got the Segerstroms to ante up for the
