This past month’s Deer Canyon deliberations highlighted an unhelpful divide between Anaheim’s districts. Chairwoman Lucille Kring kicked things off at the Planning Commission Sept. 30 with comments insisting that Anaheim Hills “do their part,” then supported the decision to squeeze 500 unaffordable luxury apartments into a small, high-risk canyon, despite real fire and evacuation concerns. The plan would instead rely on a new police tactic to keep people sheltered in place to manage evacuation traffic. It’s a perspective shaped by an ideological fog that seemed to cloud the chambers as seven individuals attempted to balance differing district needs but ultimately failed to show fairness. Kring’s attitude ignited a wildfire in the hearts of Hills residents who were beginning to lose hope, propelling them like bottle rockets to the hearing at City Council, this past Tuesday.
And even there, two Councilmembers perpetuated that fog of unfairness, with Carlos Leon focused on his own block’s high housing density, and Norma Kurtz (up for election this week) proclaiming that INEVITABLE GROWTH would reshape Anaheim EVERY EIGHT YEARS as part of some inexorable march toward utopia. These comments flew in the face of significant data and justification from the community outlining fire risks in Anaheim Hills. The idea that all housing development must move forward equally in all districts seemed to outweigh, to these Councilmembers, the immediate dangers this project would unfairly impose on thousands of our neighbors.
Treating issues fairly is different from treating them equally. If Anaheim Hills residents were to voice concerns about fireworks in their neighborhoods on the Fourth of July, it wouldn’t be “NIMBYism”; it would be a safety issue. Fireworks are allowed citywide on the Fourth of July, except a large portion of Anaheim Hills, where they’re banned for good reason. Fire risks are significantly higher than in the flatlands near Disneyland. Obviously. This isn’t an “us vs. them” argument; it’s about acknowledging the specific dangers and unique challenges each area faces. A fireworks policy decision simply cannot be applied equally across our city. A full ban for the sake of equality would be unfair. And a full approval across our city could prove to be deadly.
However, on Tuesday, Norma Kurtz cast a vote that ignored these distinctions, citing the need for housing. Carlos Leon also voted to approve the project, mentioning his own block’s density as if it were justification. But decisions like these shouldn’t impose additional harm on one neighborhood just because another also faces similar challenges.
Shouldn’t our city officials cast votes that prioritize each district’s unique needs, ensuring progress without sacrificing safety?
Norma Kurtz further argued that cities transform every eight years due to development and other changes. But if change is inevitable, why isn’t it happening everywhere?
If we’re going to progress as a city and look at eight-year intervals, why not extend this message to Disneyland and other businesses falling behind in the name of progress and innovation? Disney launches fireworks at 9:30 p.m. every night despite major advancements in technology since 8 years ago. Drone shows are gaining in popularity across the country, especially on the fourth of July. An air quality study hasn’t been released in 8 years to evaluate the impact on concerned residents. That sure doesn’t seem fair.
We’re not going to solve the housing problem overnight. And we no longer have orange groves along Main Street, as Norma Kurtz reminded us, but we should be able to take care of some of this low-hanging fruit. I guess only time will tell…
– Hannah Heim
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