The Legacy of Supervisor Riley

The death of Tom Riley is the loss of a great leader, both in military and county government service.

As a former planner for Orange County, I am particularly impressed with the role of “the General” in providing south Orange County with several large wilderness parks. These beautiful remnants of our county’s once vast resources will likely be his greatest lasting contribution to Orange County.

However, I also noted your quote Feb. 20 from Tom Rogers, “. . . there’s no way to repair the damage he’s done. He destroyed the jewel of California, the south [Orange County] area.”

During the 1970s and early 1980s, while county planners were discussing the obsolete question “Will South County be an urban place?” entire cities were being approved and built in Riley’s “Fabulous Fifth” district.

Using the principle of “district prerogative,” virtually any development which went before the Board of Supervisors was assured an unquestioned 5-0 vote. This was to the detriment of North County cities, as people and capital continued to creep south due to strong demand for move-up housing and slick real estate marketing campaigns.

Yes, a great man has died and he will be missed by many. However, let’s not stumble over ourselves with accolades without a sober look at what his leadership has wrought.

MARK TOMICH

Irvine

* The article on the passing of Supervisor Thomas Riley failed to thoroughly examine his legacy.

The development of South County and the toll road were a disgrace. Riley bucked the developers and insisted on parks and low-income housing? What about revisions he allowed that made population density so high it provided an excuse to build a now publicly funded toll road? What about extraordinary developers’ profits made by allowing them to squeeze living units together? In a county with higher population density than most major cities, this man’s actions were disgraceful. Explaining his culpability in the county bankruptcy in a few short sentences, moreover, is an insult to each of his constituents.

He certainly should have spent more time studying information he was paid to understand. The Times should have devoted more space to this, the single biggest catastrophe in Orange County political history.

A county with our political history and culture demands sincere investigative journalism rather than articles on the charming personalities, outside interests and work habits of our past, present and future elected officials.

The Times would better serve the community by distancing itself from our elected officials and examining them in the harsh glare that their actions deserve.

JUSTIN MASSEY

Dana Point

* A mighty oak has fallen. Orange County has lost one of the giants of the 20th century with the passing of Tom Riley.

As an elected leader, he saw his constituency as his flock. This was a man of strong faith, high ideals and great vision. Our family mourns his passing. PHILIP and

DIANE BETTENCOURT

Newport Beach