Advertisement

EDITORIAL:Time to reach out to improve city, dispel negativity

Congratulations to Mayor Allan Mansoor and newly sworn-in City Councilwoman Wendy Leece. Winning election to the City Council last month was just the first step for the duo who campaigned together and was a resounding victory for those who have called themselves “the improvers.”

When Mansoor was unanimously selected for another two years as the city’s mayor on Tuesday, it was a clear sign that the course of the city will continue down that path.

Mansoor won another major victory last week when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents began to staff the city jail to check the immigration status of the incarcerated. Mansoor had proposed to train the city’s police officers to check the immigration status of those in Costa Mesa’s jail, so the federal government’s offer amounted to the same thing for a lot less expense and hassle.

Advertisement

With that issue seemingly resolved, now would be a good time to see Mansoor and Leece reach out and dispel a perception that ran rampant in the campaign — that they have something against Costa Mesa’s large Latino community.

The two have insisted that is not the case. They just oppose illegal immigration and want to enforce the law. And who can argue with that? And the truth is that we believe them.

But unfortunately, the perception among many in the Latino community is that they have been under attack from City Hall. And while that may not be true, that is certainly the prevailing thought.

That’s the sad fact about perceptions. They’re difficult to shake.

And it’s especially frustrating when the conventional wisdom clashes with the facts. For the person or institution wronged by such false perceptions there’s nothing that can be said to change minds.

After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, some prominent black leaders accused President Bush of not caring about black people. The president objected, but do you think his denials were more powerful than his decision to appear at this summer’s NAACP convention? Clearly not.

Why is that? Because actions are far more persuasive than words.

One of the clear messages from the November elections is that Americans want our leaders to work together. Partisan politics is out. Bipartisanship and consensus building is en vogue.

Mansoor and Leece can best win over their political enemies by reaching out to the Latino community. Volunteer some time to help needy Latino families in Costa Mesa this holiday season. Meet with prominent Latino community leaders and seek their counsel on major issues facing the city.

Even if they end up disagreeing, it helps when opponents feel their concerns are being listened to. It’s really not much to ask for.

We realize that Mansoor and Leece need to represent their political base. But there is a bigger, broader constituency that also needs their attention. Giving them some of that will go a long way toward bringing the city together to achieve one common cause that is near and dear to Mansoor and Leece and those who support them — the improvement of Costa Mesa.

Advertisement