Citizen Victory Over City Hall

The recent vote by the Huntington Beach City Council rejecting Beach Boulevard redevelopment was a reinforcement to all citizens that “you can fight city hall.”

This victory, which was clearly “one for the people,” was the result of a remarkable effort by a 21-member citizens group (Project Area Committee). The group, with other community support, successfully challenged a poorly conceived plan presented by the city redevelopment staff, and did so with a grass-roots effort, rarely seen in recent years.

This victory in Huntington Beach is a victory for all citizens who have wanted to oppose city and county governments and have felt “hopeless and helpless.” It can be done.

We in Orange County are confronted daily with the results of irresponsible government. These results are in the forms of high-density growth and decreasing services, and will continue to affect all of us if we remain apathetic.

The victory in Huntington Beach is just the beginning for the concerned citizens of this town. It is the catalyst for gathering more people to share in this responsibility. It is also a signal to city governments that we, the people, are once again awakened.

IRENE C. BRIGGS

Huntington Beach