FAIR GAME:The great, communicating councilman

In yesterday’s Community Commentary (“Comments on anti-gang proposal ignore real issues”), Costa Mesa City Councilman Eric Bever took on the issue of ridding our local streets of gangs and gang activity. Obviously he’s a big proponent of it. And why not?

During the last year there have been several notable examples of apparent gang activity in and around Costa Mesa. I think most area residents, me included, would look at this issue and agree with Bever in concept.

The problem with this councilman is that I always seem to find his approach to the solution as attacking and defensive. He also seems to attempt to blame everyone who doesn’t fully agree with him.

To me, though, despite Bever’s desires to become the great communicator, he always seems to stumble and bumble along the way. In this latest case, Bever seems contradictory in his own comments.

Bever voiced concern about being “treated to the usual hack comments claiming racist motives and the typical laying the blame at the feet of the Costa Mesa City Council majority.”

Obviously he dislikes the stereotype labeling. Who can blame him?

He doesn’t want to be known as a racist, and I’m convinced that at some point in the future he may even take on an issue that doesn’t involve race issues or race implications to prove it.

On the other hand, Bever doesn’t seem to have any problem with doing some of his own stereotyping, most notably, several paragraphs later when he says the “socialist left-wingers want government to be bigger and to do everything for everybody.”

His message is simple: Don’t stereotype me as a racist, you socialist left-winger.

He also points out that the “columns and letters regarding the council’s recent gang initiative study session were curious at best. All the various commentators failed to get to the bottom of the real issues.”

I’m glad he used the word “all” and reminded us that he did indeed realize that he himself was certainly included in this group.

Finally, he closed his commentary by urging “the residents of Costa Mesa to enthusiastically support ridding our streets of violent criminal street gangs.” Almost imploring us to “not be distracted.”

I have to say I’m with him on this one. Let’s fight the gang issue!

Arguing about something as stupid and as trivial as moving seats around on the council dais and taking several meetings to do so would, well, be a distraction in my book.

So I appreciate your on-target comments. Nobody could say it quite like you.

Thankfully.