Has it only been three years since Costa Mesa’s Allan Mansoor became the Mayor of that city? He has announced that he is stepping down, and he wants his ally Eric Bever to replace him as Mayor.
Here is an excerpt from an O.C. Register article about Mansoor’s resignation: “Mansoor’s stature skyrocketed almost immediately after he claimed the mayor’s gavel in 2004. He encountered a mix of admiration and derision for votes to shutter the city job center, disband the Human Relations Committee and, most prominently, train local police to enforce immigration law, a move that led to placement of a federal immigration agent in the city jail.”
Mansoor’s biggest legacy as Mayor will be the establishment of Costa Mesa’s ICE program. The L.A. Times just published an article assessing that program. Here are a few excerpts:
ICE statistics show that 520 suspects in the Costa Mesa jail were referred to the agency and that 360 of those were deported. One hundred fourteen are “going through proceedings that will lead to their removal,” Hayes said. The other 46 will go before a judge after they complete their jail sentences.
Hayes said the problem is that some of these people will sneak back into the United States. Already, 12 have been rearrested, he added.
Of the Costa Mesa suspects referred to ICE, 39% were charged with felonies, he said. Among those, 51 were arrested on drug charges; 28 on suspicion of assault and battery, which includes domestic violence; 19 on felony warrants; 17 on suspicion of burglary; and 10 on suspicion of theft, Police Sgt. Mark Manley said.
Police arrested about 34% of the 520 suspects on charges of misdemeanors or infractions. Of those, 44 were suspected of driving under the influence, 32 of being drunk in public and 29 of driving without a valid license.
Individuals cited with a ticket for a minor offense may be taken to the jail when they are not carrying identification. In the jail, their immigration status is checked. Previously, those checks were spotty or occurred only after an inmate was taken to the Orange County Jail.
The illegal immigrants make up about 10% of all of those brought to the Costa Mesa jail.
The other part of Mansoor’s legacy will be his disastrous attack on Latino activist Benito Acosta. Ironically, Acosta’s case will outlast Mansoor’s term as Mayor. And I think ultimately Acosta will be found not guilty, again, and Mansoor and the City of Costa Mesa will go on to lose a ton of money when he sues them in civil court. I wonder if Mansoor stepped down so as to not have to deal with that case anymore?
One way we can see if Mansoor stepping down in Costa Mesa will help is on January 15 when the Costa Mesa City Council rehears the proposal to equip many of the storm drain channels in Costa Mesa with multi-purpose (bike) trails. The Costa Mesa City Council voted along partisan lines 3-2, to not even allow public outreach on this item to take place. I hope that readers of this blog will come out to Costa Mesa on January 15 and support allowing thorough public outreach to be conducted on what is a great idea.
Mansoor’s not resigning. His term as Mayor is up, and he is opting not to seek another term. He will revert to being a regular councilmember.
While Santa Ana, Anaheim, Garden Grove, Irvine, Orange, and Westminster have directly-elected mayors, the overwhelming majority of Orange County cities (including Costa Mesa) simply have their city councils select the mayor from among themselves for terms of 1-2 years (some do get more than one term, of course).
Alan Mansoor has been a “Patch
of Blue” in the dark skies over
Costa Mesa. Some have called
him everything but Mayor! The
truth of the matter is that he
has served the people of Costa
Mesa…doing the dirty jobs that
no one wanted to touch. The East
Side of Costa Mesa had been a
real embarrassment…even though
this ethnic enclave was “charming
to an extent”. Something had to
be done to bring law and order to
the community and Mansoor stood
up to the task. Not perfect to
be sure…..but it was a job that
had to be done.
Whether Eric Beaver or Katrina
Foley become the next Mayor is
irrevelant……and in no way
take away from Mayor Alan and
the job he did as the City Chief
Executive. We believe in having
an “elected Mayor”…we believe
in having people “state their
agendas and by an up or down vote
of people – move forward.” Costa
Mesa and Newport Beach….have
failed this test…and just self
elect. With any four votes they choose a new Mayor. Having said that: Who can the people blame when things or agendas go wrong? The entire Council – that’s who!
At least when you have an elected Mayor…you can just either
re-elect or throw that person out of office.
Good luck to the next Mayor…
whoever it may be!
In the meantime, try changing
the City Charter and elect a
Mayor….the next time! Also,
create a Costa Mesa City Map
so people can see where all those
“Photo Enforced Inter-section
Cameras” are!!!
“WEST SIDE…WEST SIDE…WEST SIDE
…..sorry!!!!