Picking a Name for a New City
I have really enjoyed getting petitions signed for the new combined communities. Meeting people is fascinating, and it has certainly enlightened me on what really interests the people of this valley who concern themselves with cityhood.
Congestion is the No. 1 concern of the people. Gridlock has become a major impetus to spurring the cityhood drive. Close behind that problem comes the future development of the area. County planning, of late, has come in for some criticism.
The third most articulated reason for creating this city is its name. And that is a real positive topic of conversation.
I have learned that we have some very creative minds. The name of a city brings into play “right-brain thinking.” It also causes pocketbook concerns. There is a strong consensus for the name Saddleback in the title. There is an equal amount of support for names with a Spanish flavor, as in Rancho Viejo.
Originally, I liked the name Lake Forest Hills, but some of my friends think it sounds too much like an advertisement for a cemetery. So I have backed off and now support Spanish Hills. It is not that I am spineless. It is just that I want a name that generates a positive image.
THOMAS WHALING
El Toro
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