Op-Ed: Let’s Get Irvine On The Right Track Again
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Irvine Watchdog or its volunteers. Irvine Watchdog welcomes all views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by Irvine residents and welcomes their posts for the Opinion section. We want to hear from you! If you would like to submit an Op-Ed, please review our guidelines and send it to us HERE.
By: Frank McGill
The overwhelming issue in Irvine today is the fact that the City Council is very much in bed with FivePoint developers. The city council has not been responsive to the needs of Irvine residents but only with serving the bottom line for FivePoint. And the council is operating with little transparency. As a result, there is massive development without the necessary infrastructure put in place first. So now we have traffic congestion, school crowding, and loss of open space.
We already have council members that promised one thing when they were a candidate but acted differently once elected. This time, we need to elect candidates that have demonstrated that they will say “NO” to big developers. Of all the candidates, only three have done so: Ed Pope, Jaci Woods, and Frank McGill. They were loud and visible in opposing Measure B when it counted. The other candidates were either supporting Measure B or silent.
We need to get a new majority on the city council first and foremost. Until then, all other issues are a distraction. Afterward, we can build the Veteran’s Cemetery, manage development, tackle traffic congestion, provide transparency at city hall, increase developer fees, require more open space and landscaped setbacks with development, synchronize all of our traffic signals, expand the shuttle bus system, etc.
Irvine became famous as a master planning community but it has gone off the track in recent years. It is still a great place to live and work but the current city council is rapidly spoiling the nest. Let’s get Irvine on the right track again.
3 Comments
Jane Olinger
October 25, 2018 at 2:14 pmI support, and am voting for Ed Pope for Mayor and Jaci Woods and Frank McGill for the Irvine City Council. All three must be elected! If FivePoint wins just one seat, FivePoint builder will continue to have a majority on the City Council. Kev Abazajian and Farrah Kahn would make very good City Council members. But please think about this…If they beat Woods or McGill they, in turn, are very likely to be beaten by PRO-DEVELOPER candidates Anthony Kuo, Carrie O’Malley or Lauren Johnson-Norris…Builders are putting a lot of money in their campaigns. That’s what I mean by, “DON’T SPLIT THE VOTE”! YOUR GOOD INTENTIONS WILL LOSE THE ELECTION FOR US ALL.
John
October 26, 2018 at 9:06 amEnding up with another developer-backed majority is a great concern. However, with all due respect, to file papers at the last minute then state, “Don’t split the vote” seems a bit disingenuous. McGill and Woods decided to run last minute when we already had great candidates who had been campaigning for months, if not years. Other candidates were following all the issues and not just Measure B. If there was a genuine concern about splitting the vote, Mr. Agran could’ve supported one or two of the existing candidates, especially since many of them voted No on B, to help ensure the vote is indeed not split. Because as much as I respect Frank and Jaci, as they are wonderful people whose characters I hold in the highest regard, I do not believe they are the two best candidates.
frankmcgill
October 26, 2018 at 12:09 pmThe “No on B’ team of Ed Pope, Jaci Woods, and Frank McGill entered the race after and because the city council refused to honor the mandate of 63% of the voters to build the Veteran’s Cemetary as originally planned, located, financed, and approved. During the “No on Measure B” campaign, the other candidates were asked to join but they chose to support Measure B or remain silent. We need council members that have demonstrated that they have the courage and commitment to say “NO” to big developers. Until we have a new majority on the council that not only “talk the talk” but also “walk the talk” we will have more of the same with FivePoint developers calling all the shots.
Comments are closed.