CM PRESS # 366

Temporary 19 West sign

NEW 19 WEST PERMANENT SIGN INSTALLED AND APPARENTLY TO BE UNVEILED SOON

The new permanent 19 West sign has been installed (it's right behind the temporary sign you see on your left) but, as of this writing, it's still covered with plastic.

Hopefully, the mayor will make a big deal out of unveiling this sign.

As you may recall, a couple of years ago, the CM PRESS, in our ongoing efforts to improve the Westside, asked the City Council to install such a sign; which is part of the Westside Plans.  We did this because it's something that is easily and cheaply done and can focus attention on the Westside and help it become the great part of Costa Mesa that it should be.

Well, to make a long story short, we became a squeaky wheel as we went to almost every City Council meeting after our original suggestion, and during public comments kept asking the council to buy and install a sign.  We figure it was tortuous for the Council to see us at every meeting saying the same thing over and over--it was our version of  "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"--repeated endlessly, and that to shut us up, we figure they finally installed the above temporary sign, and indicated that a more permanent one would replace it after one was designed and fabricated.
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REMEMBER THAT SUPPOSEDLY SPONTANEOUS, GRASS ROOTS, NONPARTISAN DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF CITY HALL?


Here's a photo we took before the rally.

Note the pre-made signs that suddenly and "spontaneously" appeared, apparently out of the back of a  car, so the tiny rent-a-mob grassroots Astro-Turf group of liberals, Democrat Party activists and union members could pick them up and show their spontaneous Playbook feelings.

Notice that the colors and lettering on the spontaneous signs all look similar, as though one or two people made them all.  Also notice the poles holding the spontaneous signs are also all similar or identical.

You can find more photos of this liberal, non-spontaneous, Astro-Turf non-event in CM PRESS # 350 (Sept. 17, 2013), including a photo of  a silver Toyota with the back hatch open right behind where these signs were photographed on the grass.

Folks, the tiny demonstration was not spontaneous, it was not grass roots, it was not nonpartisan.

DEFINITION OF  SPONTANEOUS: Performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse or inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus.
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DOES COSTA MESA NEED MORE YOUTH SPORTS FIELDS?

Many residents who have looked at the supply and demand of sports fields conclude that our supply of sports fields is not keeping pace with the demand.  So, let's just accept this as a given.

The next issue is where do we put new sports fields?

One group says put them in Fairview Park.  Another group says leave the park alone and as natural as it can be.

The CM PRESS comes down on the side of those who want Fairview Park to remain natural.

So, how can we keep both sides happy?

The CM PRESS's answer is that we should find space for sports fields someplace other than in Fairview Park.

Where?  Well, there are creative possibilities that should be explored.  Here are a few of them off the top of our head. You may have some other ideas, so send them in and we'll post your comments:

1.  Replace slums. If the demand for soccer or baseball fields is high on the Westside, then the City should explore buying up some functionally obsolete tri-plexes, razing them and putting in  fields right where people can walk to them and where the demand is greatest.

2.  Bristol Street. There is the large  empty lot on Bristol near Ganahl Lumber that previously was used as a private storage yard. It could be turned into a soccer field. This was the original plan for this land, and we're not sure why it hasn't happened.

3.  Segerstrom Farm. There is the land adjacent to the Segerstrom Farm on Fairview.  Perhaps the Segerstrom family would consider donating, leasing or selling a portion of that land for sports field use. "Segerstrom Family Farm Sports Complex," has a nice ring to it.

4.  Freeway cover. More speculative, but still something that we might want to keep in our long range plans is to cover the 55 ditch (as has been proposed) and put sports fields above the freeway.
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