Commentary: Costa Mesa residents voted for change

This election changed things both nationally and locally. At the national level, a flamboyant businessman completely new to elective office will become president.

At the local level, the voters of Costa Mesa kicked out a sitting mayor and rejected the direction the City Council majority was taking. Costa Mesans for Responsible Government (CM4RG) is proud to have endorsed top vote-getters Sandy Genis and John Stephens, and winning ballot measures Y and AA.

Genis won reelection and Stephens won his first term as a Costa Mesa council member. Working with Councilwoman Katrina Foley, they will constitute a new council majority.

This dramatic change happened because residents felt ignored and were fed up with the attitude and actions of the council majority. As a result, voters firmly put Genis in the lead with 18,091 votes, Stephens close behind with 17,869, and former Mayor Allan Mansoor a distant third with 15,187. Incumbent Mayor Steve Mensinger garnered only 14,660 votes.

Residents passed voter-initiated ballot measures Y and AA by more than two yes votes for every no. Measure Y, known as the Smart Growth Initiative, now gives voters input on certain development projects, and Measure AA will protect Fairview Park from development and preserve it as a nature park. The former council majority vehemently opposed both measures and showed itself to be completely on the wrong side of voter wishes.

Had the old council majority remained in power, Costa Mesa would have become just another high-density, traffic-choked suburban city and forever lost its small-town feel. The pro high-density General Plan recently approved by the council majority gave them carte blanche to continue developing without regard to impacts, resident concerns or neighborhood preservation.

Now with a new majority and Measure Y (as backup), CM4RG hopes the City Council will implement smart-growth policies that respect the previous General Plan’s zoning, preserve neighborhoods, alleviate traffic impacts, and allow for open space.

Public safety is another critical matter that the new council majority can restore.

Because of the reckless leadership decisions of recent years, crime has increased in Costa Mesa. For years, our police department has been short about 30 officers, and our fire department is understaffed by about 20 firefighters. The new council majority is much more appreciative of the work public safety and general employees do for residents. Employee morale and employee retention should improve significantly.

The City Council will have to deal with many tough issues.

Overall, the residents of Costa Mesa will be better off with the new council majority that puts residents’ interests and the best interests of the city first.

This is how it should be.

ROBIN LEFFLER is president of Costa Mesans for Responsible Government.