COSTA MESA : Agency Strikes Out on Loan to Buy Building

Youth Employment Services has been denied a $210,000 loan it requested from the City Council to buy a building in the downtown section of Costa Mesa.

Council members this week voted instead to lend the group $125,000, but agency officials said that would not be enough to buy the building on 19th Street. Giving the money to Youth Employment Services over other groups, council members said, would have amounted to favoritism.

“YES is a very good program,” Councilwoman Sandra L. Genis said. “But we also have the Girls Club, SOY, the Madres, which are all good programs, and it would be nice if they could all have their own buildings.”

Other members expressed concerns that the funds would have to be taken from other development projects. Money in the city’s Community Development Block Grant from the federal government now supplies a number of projects, including the Downtown Community Center and a pair of low-income housing projects.

“My concern is not about the group but that we will be using CDBG funds,” said Councilwoman Mary Hornbuckle. “I would just like to spend it so many different ways.”