THE RETURN OF THE SHY PEOPLE AND THE STAKEHOLDERS
Back when revitalizing the Westside was the hot topic and citizens were meeting to decide how to fix the area, there were some in the local government and in the community who said that not all people were being represented and that some people were too "shy" to show up at public meetings but that they were "stakeholders" and had to be heard.
And, how were they to be heard? Why, those who claimed that they would talk for the shy people and the stakeholders said they would hold private living room meetings with the shy people and the stakeholders and then tell the City what they wanted.
Now, why do you suppose these people were "shy" and why were they called "stakeholders" instead of "citizens"? Right.
We were reminded of this the other night at the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting when a staff member said that she had been talking to a man who had an "in" with the people living in the apartments in Mesa North (the Fillmore slums).
We assume she meant that because of this "in" that she could apparently discuss plans for Paularino Park in Mesa North through this guy and not in open meetings of the community as does the Mesa North Community Association--the legitimate organization representing Mesa North.
And the staff member, if we heard her correctly, also indicated that some sort of secret vote should be taken about what to do about Paularino Park.
Now, why does the City of Costa Mesa need an intermediary--an "in"--to talk to people in this city about a problem in a neighborhood instead of talking to all people at a public meeting? And what's this stuff about a secret vote?
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Those are our opinions. Thanks for reading them.
