Platform of Issues at a glance

By Barbara Venezia

I believe City Hall can better serve our community centrally located within the Newport Center / Fashion Island area. As we move forward we need to take a look at all the options of funding, location, and design, with your voice being heard loud and clear.

City Council Appointment Process needs to end. We need to change the City Charter to hold elections when someone can not full fill his or her obligation on the City Council. As Americans it is our constitutional right to determine who represents us. The practice of appointments needs to end.

Water Quality is high on my list of priorities. Not only do I own a home in the Back Bay, but one also on the water on Promontory Bay. I'm a boat owner and enjoy the harbor and the ocean. I`ll work hard to see the Back Bay is as clean as possible as well as our harbor. I will support all projects that help us do that.

I admire the authors of Greenlight 2 and have the utmost respect for them. I supported Greenlight 1, but feel Greenlight 2 is a bit too restrictive. We need to make government simpler not more complex. Let's examine the root of the issue; lack of faith in our City officials when it comes to making decisions regarding growth. So let's make new choices for City Council this election cycle, electing council members that YOU feel will take a common sense approach to growth that includes listening to the people of this City!

We need to develop a "Good Neighbor Policy". Bringing people together is my goal. Local government has become disconnected not only to the residents, but neighboring cities as well. It's unrealistic for our City to operate as though they don't need the support and synergy of the residents as well as the surrounding cities, Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Huntington Beach. Our lives overlap as do our issues. We need to re-connect with open, positive, constructive dialog regarding issues of growth, traffic, and John Wayne Airport.

Police and Fire emergency services personnel have a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan in place, but what about YOUR neighborhood? As citizens we need to take responsibility for our own survival making sure that each neighborhood can sustain itself for at least a week if authorities can not get to us. Organizing within each Homeowners Association in the City can accomplish this. We need neighbors looking after neighbors in a cohesive way. A network of grass roots communication and assistance. We've seen it time and time again on the news, when the worst happens; the true test of our human spirit is how we take care of each other.