Quality of Staff at City Hall in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa makes substantial investments in staff planners, staff attorneys and staff engineers. The City Council also retains private law firms, planning consultants, traffic consultants and financial planners.

Now comes Sandra Gennis, a staff member of the Newport Beach Planning Department. Gennis regularly attends Costa Mesa City Council meetings. She regularly lectures the council on its lack of knowledge and information. She rejects the findings of professional financial consultants, traffic planners and attorneys. She deems the staff biased and badly informed.

In short, Gennis believes she has a complete understanding of what is good for our city and what is not. She is the perfect spokeswoman for this elitist new group of know-it-alls who know what’s best for all of us.

There are other members of this exclusive club. Councilman Dave Wheeler is a shrill defender of freedom of speech--if you subscribe completely to his point of view. Dr. Steven Goldberger doesn’t mind a differing opinion if you don’t mind temper tantrums and insults. Goldberger’s wife tries to appear patient but regularly scolds the unfaithful.

We’re missing some of the no-growth nobility from years past. John Gardner embarrassed himself in Costa Mesa and moved to Newport Beach. Jim and Patricia Aynes have gone elsewhere to promote their political platforms. Doug Yates quietly moved out of town not long after assuming the mantle of the now defunct Mesa Action.

It must be terribly frustrating for these types in Costa Mesa. To be constantly confronted with common sense and practical attitudes must be infuriating. A flourishing, solvent city with every cultural, educational, commercial and employment opportunity must send their fragile sensitivities into spasms.

Fortunately for Costa Mesa, when the going gets tough, these types get going and get out of town. Sound reasoning usually prevails.

BRIAN K. THERIOT

Costa Mesa