Commentary: Explaining my candidacy for Costa Mesa City Council

I read with curiosity Jeff Pettis’ commentary about why he’s running for Costa Mesa City Council. As his opponent in the race for District 6 (the Eastside), I found his explanation a bit puzzling.

After speaking to countless Eastside residents and businesses over the past several months, I have heard a decidedly different story about what the pressing issues are for our community. Most folks are concerned about their (and their neighbors’) health, anxious about their jobs and financial security, and worried about whether their kids will return to school anytime soon.

We face unprecedented public health and economic crises — these are the serious matters our new council member will need to tackle.

Our mayor and council have done an outstanding job not only establishing programs and policies to help sustain our businesses but also managing to pass a balanced budget for the fiscal year in the middle of the pandemic. To save the city from financial disaster, the council cut costs to eliminate the $24-million budget gap created when South Coast Plaza and other critical businesses closed in March. Through deft labor negotiations and the use of restricted disaster reserves, the council ensured that city services were properly maintained.

I agree with my opponent that addressing infrastructure and protecting private property are very important, and the current council has, in fact, made great strides in these areas over the past four years. The city has paved miles of roads, installed traffic-calming medians and completed ambitious infrastructure projects, including a new library, fire station and the Arlington bike and walking trail. They also invested in a five-year IT infrastructure project, which is moving forward.

Moreover, police and fire staffing has increased, our crime rate has decreased as sober-living homes were reduced by two-thirds, and we found permanent housing for 137 individuals since April 2019, when our shelter opened.

My opponent’s tired tropes — pitting expenditures on city employees against other city expenses — will not solve any of our crucial issues.

Right now we need to pivot our focus to our economic recovery, helping our businesses to operate safely and successfully, and diversify our revenue sources so we can deliver high-quality city services.

I am running for City Council because we need a serious leader who has the experience, expertise and dedication to guide the city through this critical time. For nearly 15 years, I have passionately served our community, working as a board member of the Costa Mesa Community Foundation and currently as the vice chair of the Costa Mesa Planning Commission. In both roles, I’ve made the tough decisions that keep our neighborhoods safe, grow our economy and help our community thrive. And as a land use attorney and urban planner who has worked with and within governments, I know how to deal with both the citywide and district-specific issues and get the job done.

Our current city leadership has proven to be stable and dependable during these tough times. As the Eastside’s council member, I intend to work closely with my colleagues, build on their progress and help Costa Mesa prosper.

Jeffrey Harlan is an Eastside resident and candidate for Costa Mesa City Council District 6.

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