Personal attack or constructive criticism?

Steve Bromberg

Phil Arst, the Greenlight spokesperson and steering committee member,

recently wrote a community commentary, “Seeking sense and civility in

Newport,” Aug. 1. In that article, he attacked a number of

individuals, most specifically, our city manager, Homer Bludau, for

making a “personal attack” on Arst. Bludau had referred to Arst as

“disingenuous” relative to a prior Arst commentary. Arst then goes on

to talk about civility in government and how we should all work

together, and in the same breath actually goes on the attack

throughout the remainder of his article.

I felt that Arst’s article was pretty mean-spirited, which gave me

the idea to write this article.

A lot of residents will watch City Council meetings and read

selected articles in the newspapers; however, what I have found is

that many people are not sure how our local process of government

works when it comes to addressing the City Council or working with

city staff. I thought this might be a good time to review some of

those issues and at the same time, I will refer to some of the

examples referenced by Arst.

If you have been watching your local government, you may note that

within the last 2 1/2 years or so, this City Council and city staff

have become extremely responsive to its residents and that we embrace

public outreach on major issues that affect the city. Of course, we

cannot be everything for everyone, nor do we try and do that and as a

result, there will be people who will disagree and criticize what we

do, and that is the American way. There is nothing wrong with that.

However, when someone starts taking criticisms as personal attacks,

then it is reasonable to question that individual’s motives.

First, let’s take a look at Arst’s concern that he and Greenlight

were “personally attacked.” Let’s also look at a few very real and

hard facts. Arst is the spokesperson for and a steering committee

member of Greenlight, which has become a political party. Greenlight

has had its challenges in the last couple of years. In the last

election, Alan Beek, the individual who is affectionately referred to

as “The Father of Greenlight,” ran for City Council against Don Webb,

who had been a public servant in the city for 33 years. Webb won the

election by a respectable margin. Considering that Beek is probably

one of the most honest and finest people I personally have ever met

and worked with, the fact that the people did not vote in “The Father

of Greenlight” suggests that the voters in this city are happy with

its present local government.

Due to a number factors, including that residents in this city are

pleased with their local government, people have been leaving

Greenlight. This is fact, not fiction, and Arst, who is their

political guy so to speak, is doing everything he can to try and show

we, the city of Newport Beach, are pretty much inept and wasteful

with taxpayer money. Well, it’s not working and I personally believe

that Arst is very concerned about this and he is trying everything he

can do to try and knock our city government. Arst didn’t like it when

our city manager suggested that he attempt to understand the issues

and facts before attacking those issues.

Your City Council members are citizen politicians. We are your

neighbors and, technically, the job is supposed to be part time.

Nonetheless, it is still politics, and although we probably have a

higher level of civility then most other cities around, it still can

get testy and it does on occasion. When I hear a politician, and Arst

is very much a politician, complaining about personal attacks, my

only reaction is “give me a break.” If you are in politics, you know

to expect adversity as well as heated discussions; however, to

suggest what really is a criticism is a personal attack is truly

disingenuous.

Come on now. In the last 2 1/2 years, Arst has filed six or so

complaints against the City Council with the District Attorney’s

office. Each complaint was reviewed and rejected as being unfounded

by the District Attorney’s office, and it finally got to the point

where the Daily Pilot even entered the fray and suggested that this

type of conduct could be viewed as “the boy who cried wolf.”

My first taste of true politics in action was when I was seated as

a councilman in 2000. Immediately after that the City Council, under

the leadership of then Mayor Gary Adams, commenced the process of

implementing Measure S -- or the Greenlight Law -- and, quite

frankly, I’m proud to say we did an exemplary job. I know that’s a

self-serving comment; however, I believe it to be true. Even

Greenlight at that point in time complimented the City Council for

the manner in which that implementation was accomplished. It pretty

much went through without a hitch and those hearings went on for

hours over a six week period.

It is so easy to take criticism as a personal attack and I

recognize that there can be a fine line between the two.

Being a professional mediator, I learned a long time ago that if

you are to be successful in any form of negotiation you need to

criticize with well-meaning intent, but you should check the egos and

the personal agenda at the door.

Take another look at Bludau’s article and determine for yourself

whether or not this was a personal attack on Arst or whether or not

it was a very constructive criticism that set the record straight

factually, without conjecture. It seems so many times that those who

will stand on that proverbial soap box and demand free speech, are

the first ones to try and quell that speech if it opposes their own

beliefs.

This information might also be helpful to someone who wishes to

speak at one of our meetings.

Every council meeting has a public comment time. That is the

chance where anyone can talk about almost anything they want to for

three minutes -- and people do this all of the time. This is not a

debate nor is it intended to be. Council members will not get into a

dialogue with a speaker during public comments. However, if a speaker

during public comments states a non-truth, embellishes or is simply

incorrect, the council is permitted to, and many times will, clarify

that issue for the speaker and the public. If it becomes clear that

the speaker is being disingenuous, temperatures may rise. Our policy

also reflects that if a council member engages in such clarification,

it is to be brief. The goal is to be sure that the public has

accurate information.

The next opportunity for an individual to speak would be on an

actual agenda item, and each item is opened to the public and anyone

can address that issue and only that issue for a period of five

minutes. Although there is more room for a dialogue at that time, the

procedure is pretty much the same.

Our city is running very well. Out of the 34 cities in Orange

County, we have risen to the top on financial issues as well as

service to residents. There is no loss or degeneration of service to

Newport Beach residents and you seem very pleased with this. Why is

that? Because you have a City Council made up of your neighbors who

care and a city staff that is responsive.

There will always be those out there who will take shots, however,

it is your responsibility as a citizen to analyze what is going on,

and to do so objectively.

I’ll be in touch.

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Steve Bromberg is the mayor of Newport Beach.