Costa Mesa Mayor Alan Mansoor has been taking a lot of hits on this blog – but whether or not he really has ties to Martin Millard is a matter of conjecture, from what I can tell. However, it is clear that Millard is a first-class jerk.
While we cannot ascertain exactly what Millard’s influence on the Costa Mesa City Council is, we can at least look at how the City of Costa Mesa is run. And, to be fair, I think we ought to compare the way that city is run to what we see in the City of Santa Ana.
For starters, go to the Costa Mesa website and compare it to the Santa Ana website. What a difference! Costa Mesa’s website tells you about their local meetings – and you can even sign up for email notifications. And you can access agendas, meeting information, RFP’s, and more. Scroll down the page and you will even find a link to the Costa Mesa city budget. Amazing. You can even find archived video recordings of city meetings.
Costa Mesa’s website also features city news. Santa Ana doesn’t even have a public information officer! And you cannot find archived council meeting videos on the Santa Ana website.
Costa Mesa’s website also offers archived information regarding all of their commissions. And isn’t it interesting that their Redevelopment Commission meets at 6:30 p.m., whereas the Santa Ana Redevelopment Commission meets at 3:30 p.m. Guess which city actually wants their residents to be involved in civic affairs?
I could go on, but by all means, please go and look at the websites yourself. The differences will be startling. And that’s not all. Costa Mesa has a balanced budget. They are also meeting all of their pension liabilities without any problems.
Meanwhile, it appears that Santa Ana City Manager Dave Ream is working on another assessment scheme, this time to pay to fix our roads. Funny how Costa Mesa manages to meet their obligations without resorting to increasing our taxes!
I would be remiss if I didn’t metion that Costa Mesa has THREE public libraries, whereas Santa Ana has just one. According to Wikipedia, Costa Mesa has perhaps one-fourth the population that Santa Ana has. So the residents of Santa Ana are VASTLY underserved when it comes to our libraries.
Obviously Costa Mesa is much better administered as compared to Santa Ana. Costa Mesa even limits council members to two consecutive terms! That means that Mansoor is on his last term.
The question you have to ask is why would anyone waste time attacking Mansoor when we really ought to be going after Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido. Mansoor is presiding over a well-run city – you sure can’t say that for Pulido. And we can’t rid ourselves of Pulido – he refuses to let the voters decide whether we should have mayoral term limits.
I will admit that I don’t like the Costa Mesa immigration policy that resulted in the arrest of a Guatemalan worker who committed an infraction while riding his bike. However, I thought that the Santa Ana Council’s decision to ban Wal Mart superstores was equally ill-advised.
Bottom line – the people of Santa Ana need to take a long hard look at their own city rather than point fingers at our neighbors to the south. And we ought to demand that our city leaders open up the books rather than trying to pry open our wallets again. We could learn a lot from Costa Mesa – they know how to run a transparent government. You can’t say that for Santa Ana!
Flowerszzz,
Save your breath. You’re trying to reason with many folks who think only Hispanics should be on the City Council or hold Senior Staff positions in Santa Ana. Many of the folks here believe the City is responsible for the deterioration of neighborhoods, rather than the overcrowding, poverty and cultural differences of so many residents.
Blaming the City relieves them of the pesky little detail of having to acknowledge that what the current leadership has achieved, in spite of the City’s problems, is downright amazing. Granted, most of these achievements have occurred on the far North and South ends of the City, but those are the only areas most developers are willing to invest in. Without those developments, the City would be in even worse financial straits.
Morning Coffee
#51 , #52 and # 53 . I don’t expect your kind to agree with me . My intent is to present how many of us see your arguments and what we see your strategy to be . I can be as determined on my position as you all are on yours . Your problem now is that many of us think this way . Our solution is to empower this community towards economic development so to solve the issues that so anger you . We understand these issues are present and need a solution . Our solution is just different than yours . The nature of your solution is what is perceived as hateful . Not every one in the westside and similar communities are illegal , People can read between the lines . In reference to how illegal immigration inpacts us citizens – recent Register articles stated findings of various public and private studies including UCI economists that found : (1) A 4% overall salary increase due to illigal immigrants in the workforce (2) No negative economic impact after adjusting for their economic contribution vs, public service usage . The data indicates a tendency towards a positive overall contribution (3) Foreign born immigrants are likely to be jailed 1/5 less than the native born . Illegal immigrants are even less likely to be jailed than the foreign born . (4) The children of immigrants in 20-30 years will be directly responsible for funding the public services needed by the baby boomers. Without this influx of population and movement to middle class the US economy would be in danger of failing . You can stay ignorant , stomp and scream or you can participate in the social engineering that is necessary for the economic stability of the nation . Don’t take my word for it , research it .
Mr. Lomeli,
“Your kind”??
My kind is an American citizen. My kind is law-abiding. I’m not ignorant, nor do I need to stomp or scream to make my point. My point is the law of the land.
You are the one who is sadly ignorant, as your position is defenseless. The people you support are illegal aliens, not undocumented workers. Are you truly ignorant enough to be unaware that the vast majority of U.S. citizens are heavily against illegal immigration and are sick and tired of people like you telling them that they must accept millions of illegal intruders in their midst?
There is no such thing as economic stability when those very same illegal aliens send most of their illegal earnings home to central and south america, while utilizing public services that they don’t contribute to.
The study you cite? More evidence of your ignorance. That study shows that current illegal aliens are cannabilizing their predecessors – causing immigrants who arrived in the U.S. prior to 1990 to take wage hits of 17 – 20%. Illegal immigration is even bad for other immigrants – you just can’t win, and you know it.
The 4% increase to native born workers is almost statistically irrelevant.
Other studies show Californians paying an average of $1200 per year for the costs of illegal immigration, and a total cost to CA of $10.5 BILLION dollars.
You can allude to reading between all the lines you want, but our position is the bright line between illegal and legal – we don’t need to deal in innuendo and supposition – that’s your game.
You have no defense for the activities of those you support, so you resort to hate speech and wild accusations. Pretty pathetic.
So take your indefensible arguments and the illegal aliens who you support and go stand in front of a LULAC rally – there at least someone will agree with you.
Mr. Lomeli,
Your “solution” is economic empowerment of illegal aliens. Your “solution” is for U.S. citizens to further reward illgeal aliens. That isn’t a “solution” – that is complete abdication of our laws, traditions, and history.
The ONLY solution is for each and every person here illegally to seek legal status like everyone else. That’s it.
You mention that every Latino in Costa Mesa is not illegal. Where was that ever in dispute? Do you really think that those who immigrated legally support those who break the rules and bypass the line? The opposite is true.
I welcome legal immigrants of every race and ethnicity from every part of the world as my neighbors and fellow Americans. I will do everything I can to keep illegal invaders out, and demand that my government do the same.
#55 So you choose to stay ignorant . I see you are a one issue debater . You ignore facts and choose not to educate yourself because you can’t go past the “law of the land” . That is the call to arms for your kind . Read post # 52 , that is how she refered to those of us that think alike . I am just applying her word back to your group. Your points of argument are factless talking points used to carry your agenda forward. Take a breath along with a valium an relax buddy , your are going to get yourself ill over this .
#56 i said empower this community – my this community I refer to the Hispanic community . Take a US history class on immigration so you get a better perspective on our laws traditions and history . It is an eye opener .
Lomelli – from the sounds of your ramblings it is obvious who the racist is here. Because someone has a different opinion then yours, of how to solve an immense problem that the citizens of the united states are facing – they must be a racist or a hater….are you friends with pedroza? He acts that way as well. I will admit, there are some that are haters or extremists on both sides. The TRUTH is – the solution is in the middle of BOTH extremes on this issue.
I have much love for mexican culture. I love how the families are so close and together. That is one thing that has gone awry in American culture – the family is supposed to be of utmost importance. My family travels to Mexico often, infact just were recently there for a week in February.
My suggestion is for you to lay off the sauce for a while, so that you can think rationally.
#59 I have not called you a racist and will never do so . I have an oppinion(not ramblings) as you do . I respect your ability to state your oppinion . I am glad you have an affection for the Mexican culture . We should all appreciate different cultures and encourage their celebration . I will stay off the sauce as you say and relax when you do the same .
Lomelli – do you even live in Costa MEsa?
To Ilegal es no bueno
You can always tell when you’ve kicked Lomelie’s ass. He immediately resorts to that condesending speech about settling down and taking it easy as if anyone that disagrees with him must be mentally inferior or incapable of extended debate
Lomelli – what did you mean by “your kind” Then…lol. BTW, I do not drink so your time has begun.
Mr. Pedroza,
I am a one-issue debater – the issue that is the subject of the debate! Should we be debating the price of tea in china concurrently with the illegal immigration and its impact on Costa Mesa and Santa Ana debate?
Recent illegal immigration from south of the border is ENTIRELY unprecedented in U.S. history. The PPIC report you cited earlier states that the foreign-born population in CA increased 40 percent between 1990-2004.
Digest that number for a minute.
California has historically been at the very forefront of immigration, with a huge foreign- born population. The amnesty of 1986 caused a large influx, and still the entire foreign-born population almost doubled after that in only 14 years. The vast majority of those immigrants during 1990-2004? PPIC states that a “very large number of those individuals were poorly educated Mexican laborers.”
There are your facts – from a report you thought bolstered your arguments.
Why do you assume that we are intolerant and hostile, with “calls to arms”? What do you call the immigration marches? Was that a provocation? Accept our refusal to obey your laws or we revolt? What sort of nonsense is that?
Historical immigration was not wholesale illegal invasion, and you know it. Dismissive little posts to the contrary are a waste of time.
Stop equating the “Hispanic community” with the illegal immigrant community. I know many native-born 100% ethnic Mexicans who are equally disgusted by illegal immigration and the negative impacts on our communities.
We are a nation of laws, and are historically intolerant to illegal activity. We publish the names of people arrested for drunk driving even before they are convicted. Police dramas are mainstays of our TV shows, yet you like to ignore that cultural fact.
We’re not talking about “hating” Latinos or Hispanic culture. We are talking about demanding that people obey the law. It really is amusing how you take that simple concept and try to twist it into some malicious and intolerant one.
As I have said before, Hispanic culture is inseparable from CA culture – and CA is a much more diverse state than any other in the nation. You ignore that inconvenient statement, I know.
You forget that Californians passed Prop. 187 in 1994 – 13 years ago, with 59% of the vote. Sen. Art Torres called 187 “the last gasp of white America in California.” More race baiting, and not by “us”! Fact is, “whites” alone didn’t pass 187, and the numbers back that up. I think Prop. 187 went too far and was too punitive, but it was indicative of the extreme sense of frustration with the unprecedented illegal invasion. This is not a new issue, so spare me your history lecture.
When is enough enough, Mr. Lomeli? The US admits almost 300,000 central and south Anericans legally each year. I wonder how those millions, who took the legal (and difficult) path feel about you and your ilk? Are they part of your monolithic and group-thinking “Hispanic community?” If so, they must feel like suckers for wasting all that time and money taking the legal path. Do you make fun of them behind their backs, or openly?
Let’s see if I can bring this back to being somewhat on topic and more productive.
CM is better than SA in one way I know, graffiti removal, and they are attempting to make changes to better the area. CM PD is talking about using remote trail cameras, something we in SA are looking into as well, to stop the lil rascals that are tagging the business complex (Pomona & 17th) where I work. The graffiti removal truck is very prompt and very efficient at removing it from buildings, sidewalks, signs etc. They are faster than here in SA, at least here on the W side of town.
One very bad development in SA of late, is removal of Det. Ramona Ruiz from the tagger work crew program. Her tagger work van was given to Park & Rec (and sits unused as I understand it) for a “mentoring program” for the little darlings who, (say it in a George Carlin, “happy voice”) “paint public and private property, with there own pallet of sprayed expressions”. They don’t need a soft, warm, fuzzy, new age mentoring program. They need, hard labor fixing their spray painted crap off walls, and cleaning up areas they trashed. This mentoring program is the same tired new age BS. It cost more taxpayer money, and is at this point, lacking funding or labor, so does nothing, as I understand it. Mona worked her kids for a long time, and it at least served the public interest in cleaning up the city. No doubt also taking a few of the kids out of the tagging game.
CM is at least helping their PD with the tools to help businesses stay in town, instead of dismantling a good, productive and needed remediation program.
Poster 65,
There are concrete steps our country could take to alleviate the problem.
1. Make it easier to come here. Currently it is a VERY lengthy process. Charge more, hire more people and let’s speed up the process.
2. Screen those who are here and give those who are law-abiding green cards, after charging them a penalty. Also, no citizenship for those who came here illegally – ever.
3. Stop allowing people to make their kids citizens by having them born here. If the parents are undocumented, the child should be a citizen of their home country.
4. Open up trade with Cuba. There is no reason to trade with China and not Cuba. It is retarded not to.
5. Spend more money in Latin America. Socialist Hugo Chavez is threatening to take the entire sector. We must not let that happen. We need to counter him as much as possible.
6. Allow those who are here already to go home without penalty and to return if they have been given a valid green card. Many people will come here seasonally and go back home more often.
BTW, Art Lomeli is a good man – he is brave enough to use his real name when he posts. It is easy for anon posters to rip him, but I respect him a lot more than the anon posters who attack him all the time. I am proud to call him a friend.
Art,
All excellent ideas. I have stated that my solution is to have everyone take the steps to become legal (not deportation, BTW). If the federal government passes reform, great! Ilegal es no bueno, but legal? Welcome, neighbor.
I have a lot of respect for Mr. Lomeli. I disagree with him, but respect his passion and conviction. I wouldn’t take the time to reply if I didn’t think debating him was worthwhile. His views are representative of many, and that is what I am trying to counter and dislodge – the honest belief of many that opposing illegal immigration is racist, intolerant, and anti-Latino.
That stubborn belief is, in my opinion, one of the reasons the divide is so great.
I am new to this blog, and perplexed by all the anonymous posts. I’ll keep the pen-name for a while. I’m still trying to figure out who the players are.
Lomelli,
One of the reasons this issue has taken so long to resolve is because advocates for either side try to play some kind of race card in this issue.
As a point of reference, my father received his citizenship about a year ago. So please don
POST #67
Art,
You must have posted as I was typing my opinion.
I strongly agree with points 1-5. Point 6 I agree with if you are referreing to allowing legal seasonal workers back. Let’s not be completely ignorant. There is HUGE value these workers bring to our economy. I would just like to make sure they are adhering to the laws of this nation and paying for services used.
Richard Rios
-To give Lomelli credit, he does have the faith in his stand to put his name on it.
Pedroza – for a change I kinda like what you wrote. Although perhaps you could explain to me what trade with Cuba has to do with this issue? Maybe I am dumb and missed the connection.
As to lomelli, I have nothing against him, and as you and I have gone round & round, you know I like debate and to hear others points of view….I gave him my views, and he told me I was a Latino hater, and kept infering to “my kind” – although I am not exactly sure what that means – lol. I just hate that jump….I mean you got mad at me the other day and said because I did not like you that I must not like latinos in general…. come on now!
Rios, I applaud your father and welcome him as a citizen to this fine country! That is awsome and you must feel proud. Please keep talking about this issue as someone with hands on experience – it is needed!
Flowerszzz,
We already manufacture a lot of goods in Mexico. If we formalized trade with Cuba, many of those goods could then be routed to Cuba, via Mexico. That would be a HUGE boost to Mexico. They would get more jobs, and export fees for products sent to Cuba.