Kathleen Eric
Re: Geoff West's Oct. 11 commentary, "Focus on the Westside must
be for all who live there."
In West's commentary on the Westside he notes that all one hears
these days is "Westside, Westside, Westside. Until recently that was
just so much ambient noise to me." I'm pleased that West has decided
to take note of the ambient noise of the Westside. Perhaps he is
hearing more of a "Westside, Westside, Westside" buzz these days
because the decibel level is rising.
While I am happy that West is taking a more active interest in my
part of Costa Mesa, I don't think his observations viewed from the
safety of his vehicle, compare to living, shopping, walking, working
and surviving on the Westside. Seeing nice homes side-by-side with
decaying homes, next to industrial property, next to "apartments
teeming with activity," is detached from the reality of actually
living in that landscape.
I live and work on the Westside. Sit back. Let me take you on a
brief tour.
The "apartment buildings teeming with activity." That's true. You
have no idea how many people (really) live in the Westside. If you
want to get a more accurate accounting of just how many people a
two-bedroom apartment can hold, you must be around when we have one
of the numerous traffic accidents that occur on my street. The amount
of folks that pours out of the surrounding apartments to rubberneck
[is shocking].
Now, it's no secret that we have some crowded housing over here.
During one of the above traffic drills we watched 25 guys pour out of
an apartment. They weren't just visiting either, as the same 25
poured out of the same unit the next morning to head for the Job
Center. Welcome to the Westside.
One of the problems with Costa Mesa, and particularly the
Westside, is the lack of planning and foresight that went into laying
out this community. Basically, Costa Mesa sprang up like an unruly
weed patch. So here we are today, almost built out and finding
ourselves with an influx of new residents. This influx isn't a
trickle, or even a steady stream. This is a tidal wave.
Our city government is letting us down on handling this problem by
saying that illegal immigration is a "national problem," so their
hands are tied. Even before this recent wave of new arrivals, we were
battling a decaying infrastructure. Some advise us, particularly if
they are in the charity business, that all that we are left to do is
"open our hearts," move over, make room, pay up or move on. Because
we live on the Westside.
