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$38.3-Million Surplus

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Dr. Stephen Goldberger has spoken out against (Costa Mesa) development north of the freeway, yet in his latest letter (Times, Feb. 5), he boasts about a $38.3-million tax surplus as our delivery from “dense urbanization.” What Goldberger doesn’t mention is that this “surplus” is a byproduct of those same developments.

Moreover, $38.3 million is not enough.

The total costs of needed traffic improvements in the north end of town amounts to about $140 million, to be paid by developers. Furthermore, the present needs of the rest of the city are about $45 million.

In the same letter to the editor, Goldberger recommends using this $38.3 million on street and traffic improvements.

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An excellent idea. Of course, it would require a vote of the people to supersede the Gann spending limitations. Two years ago it was Goldberger who led the campaign against this very idea when he and his band of naysayers opposed Measure C. Measure C was passed by a 2-to-1 margin.

Goldberger goes on to say that with the defeat of Home Ranch, now we can “put parks on those vacant sites.” I assume he is talking about the Segerstrom property. I wonder, does Goldberger want the city to use its surplus revenue to try to buy vacant, north-end property?

To buy all the vacant property in the north end of Costa Mesa would cost taxpayers in excess of $400 million. To landscape it would cost another $50 million, and to maintain it would cost us, as taxpayers, about $1 million per year from now on. That leaves us about $411 million in the hole, with no traffic improvements.

With Home Ranch we had our chance at parkland. Goldberger fought against that idea too.

Goldberger finishes his letter by suggesting a moratorium on all major projects until “we agree on a future plan for the city of Costa Mesa.” Goldberger will never agree on a plan. He gets his power by disagreeing. He can control someone else’s property with a moratorium. To agree would be to give up power.

DONN HALL

Costa Mesa

Hall is a former mayor of Costa Mesa and vice-chairman of the community group Mesa Pride.

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